Whether you are a casual observer or a more serious astronomer, you know that nothing compares to the incredible fascination that comes with observing the sky. The opportunity to see the magnificence of galaxies, planets and stars up close is truly a breathtaking experience that will make you see the world from a completely different perspective. However, if you intend to experience the night sky in a particular way, you will need a high quality telescope. And you don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune on a good telescope, as the best telescope under 200 years old can easily meet all your stargazing needs.

 

In recent years, the number of people getting into stargazing has increased dramatically, which has led to a rise in the number of companies manufacturing stargazing tools. While this can be a good thing in the sense that buyers have more options to choose from, the availability of many options also means that it is very difficult to choose the right model from the sea of options. To make it easier for buyers, we have compiled a list of the seven best telescopes under 200 euros, taking into account key criteria such as telescope type, aperture, focal length, mount and eyepiece.

With this article, we want to enlighten buyers on everything they need to know before buying the right telescope for under €200. Having put a lot of time and effort into the creation of this guide, we hope to be able to achieve this. Immediately following this paragraph you will find a comparison table designed to give you an idea of what to expect. Next, you’ll find a product review section where each telescope on our list is comprehensively reviewed, before finally arriving at the section of our buying guide that contains tips and recommendations you’ll need for the task ahead.

The 7 best telescopes for under 200

Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ

The Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ is without a doubt one of the most popular scopes on the market today. Although it is quite affordable, the scope is almost as powerful as a professional grade model. It comes with a 3x Barlow lens, which allows you to enhance your stargazing experience. With its high-quality lenses, impressive 127mm aperture and stable German equatorial mount, you can be sure that this is the best telescope for stargazing under 200 and is designed to help you observe celestial objects with the utmost clarity. It can also be considered an economical option for astrophotographers.

The telescope has a focal length of 1000 mm, which is quite decent. In addition, it is equipped with a handy aluminium tripod and a tray for storing your accessories. This telescope provides a lot of detail. In addition, the Celestron PowerSeeker has slow-motion controls that allow you to easily follow the movement of celestial objects. The telescope’s straight image optics also allow you to observe objects on land.

Overall, this Celestron telescope is a great performer for its price. It is recommended for budding astronomers, amateurs and scientists. Apart from the fact that aligning the telescope takes some learning, this option does not have many unpleasant surprises.

Celestron 21061

The Celestron AstroMaster 21061 70AZ Best Telescopes for Under 200 is probably one of the most popular and well-known telescopes on the market. But the instrument is not only popular, it actually has features to match its popularity. Featuring a dual-purpose altazimuth mount, this refractor telescope can be used to observe both terrestrial objects and the night sky.

In addition, the Celestron model is equipped with a 70 mm objective lens, which is the usual size for low-cost models. This camera offers a great combination of price and quality. It is also equipped with two eyepieces (20 mm and 10 mm), which means that both offer a magnification of 45x and 90x respectively. The purchase includes an accessory tray and a star pointer sight.

One thing we don’t really like about this camera is that it comes with an unstable tripod. While the construction and durability of the telescope itself is not in question, the stability of the tripod is questionable. Many customers have complained that the tripod can sometimes be too unstable, especially when held by small children.

Orion 10015 StarBlast

The Orion 10015 Starblast is an excellent viewfinder for beginner and intermediate astronomers, as well as for anyone looking for a high-quality portable viewfinder. Weighing only 13 pounds, this device is quite compact and easy to carry. Plus, it comes pre-assembled, making it a very user-friendly choice. Best of all, it has a 114mm aperture, which is very impressive since most scopes in this price range have a 70mm aperture.

The telescope’s high quality optics and fairly generous aperture size allow for clear images with lots of detail. You can even discover nebulae and galaxies if you take it to a remote location. In addition to the telescope itself, you will also receive Starry Night astronomy software, which is a great way to increase and reinforce your children’s interest in astronomy. In addition, the Orion StarBlast comes with two eyepieces (17mm and 6mm) to get you started.

In addition, you get 2x Shorty Barlow lens which is a great addition to the Best Telescopes for Under 200, especially if you’re looking to enhance your stargazing experience with some extra lenses. Overall, apart from the fact that the collimation process is time consuming, the Orion 10015 StarBlast offers excellent value for money. Its superior quality ensures its popularity with your family for many years to come.

Emarth 70 mm refractor telescope

With its very compact construction, the Emarth 70mm refractor telescope is the perfect choice for celestial and terrestrial observations. Once you have set up the instrument on the low-power eyepiece, the finderscope will help you find the images. The angle of view can be adjusted using the handle on the mount. Without a doubt, this model is best suited for beginners, amateurs, students and children.

It also weighs less than three pounds, making it one of the best small telescopes for under $200. It is absolutely ideal for family trips as it can be easily carried in your backpack without any problems. Its compact design is also ideal for young children, who will find it perfect for their little hands. The camera comes with a small aluminium tripod (which measures only 40 cm), a viewfinder, two eyepieces (10 mm and 25 mm) and a map of the moon and stars.

This small scope is also easy to use and set up. If you ever get stuck, there is an instruction manual in the package to help you find your bearings. In addition, the manual contains a free lunar map, which will give you an idea of what you are looking at. In addition, the Emarth unit has a straight image diagonal, so that the images come out right side up, which makes this unit also suitable for terrestrial observation.

Meade Instruments 216002

Designed for amateur and novice astronomers, the Meade Instruments 21600 Refractor Telescope offers a breathtaking experience that will leave you wanting more. This excellent instrument from Meade Instruments perfectly combines top quality optics and a robust equatorial mount with exceptional value for money, making it your ideal access to the cosmos.

This excellent telescope is an impressive choice for amateurs and beginners in search of discovery. With an 80mm aperture, the Meade Instruments 216002 will provide clear, bright images for the enjoyment of novice astronomers. Whether you’re looking at Saturn’s rings, the polar caps of Mars, Jupiter’s moons or just terrestrial objects, this telescope allows novice observers to explore the solar system, the universe and beyond.

The Meade Telescope is equipped with three eyepieces that offer low, medium and high magnification, as well as a red dot finder to help you focus on the sky. It also comes with a stable tripod and a sturdy equatorial mount that makes it easy to stargaze all night. As a refractor telescope, it is very solidly built and doesn’t require much maintenance, so beginners don’t have to worry about ruining it while improving their skills. Besides being difficult to assemble, this device does not have many drawbacks.

Orion StarBlast II 4.5

Orion is a great manufacturer of high quality scopes and that explains why this list features three of their products. Whether you’re looking for a lightweight, easy-to-carry telescope or one with high-quality optics, Orion’s StarBlast II is a solid option that should be considered. This device comes in a very compact form, making it ideal for children. But just because it’s small doesn’t mean you won’t be able to see large images through its lens. On the contrary, even distant objects such as galaxies will come out sharp when this scope is combined with the perfect magnifying lens.

This device has a focal length of 450 mm, which allows you to see terrestrial objects clearly. It also includes a sturdy mount and a copy of the Starry Night software. You also get two eyepieces (25 mm and 10 mm), which offer 18x and 45x magnification respectively. The supplied mount is very robust and durable, which helps to reduce vibration.

The low magnification eyepiece will allow your child to effortlessly find objects in the night sky. The only real drawback we found with this device is that it is time consuming to assemble. All things considered, the fact that assembly is a one-time process makes it easy to overlook. Also, this scope doesn’t need to be collimated all the time, which is a huge advantage if the device is mainly used by your children.

Is it possible to find a decent telescope for under $200?

Telescopes are an incredible gateway to the heavens for anyone who is intrigued by space science and wants to explore the infinite vastness of the world. Of course, it is possible to find a decent telescope for under $200, although they usually come with some limitations. These are ideal for amateurs, who are just starting to get interested in astronomy and want to take it step by step. While the best telescopes under 200 euros are just as useful as the more expensive models, they are generally criticised for lacking high-end features that enhance your viewing sessions.

This is why manufacturers focus on the main feature that a decent telescope should have: a high quality lens and optics. The primary lens or mirror is usually of good quality and is likely to provide a good image, sufficient to observe the Moon, the planets of our solar system and the stars effortlessly. However, not all objects appear perfectly sharp, so pay attention to the eyepieces and the maximum magnification that a certain model can provide.

 

Features to consider when choosing best telescope under 200

While a telescope can be one of your most important possessions when you find the right model, it can be a source of endless frustration for you when you end up with the wrong model. We don’t want you to be an unhappy buyer, so consider the factors below before choosing a telescope.

Type

There are three types of telescopes and each has its strengths and weaknesses. They are classified according to their ability to capture light and how they use it. Refracting telescopes are better than all other types for observing through light pollution. In addition, they are ideal for planetary and lunar observations.

Reflector telescopes, on the other hand, are ideal for deep sky observation and do not perform well in light pollution. These optics require regular alignment and adjustment if used regularly.

Compound telescopes use a mixture of reflecting and refracting elements. They are ideal for general sky observation, and work well even in light pollution areas. However, these models are high-end telescopes and have therefore not been included in the list.

Aperture

Aperture is always one of the first considerations when buying any telescope. Although it sounds somewhat complex, the aperture of a telescope is essentially the diameter of its mirror or lens, depending on whether it is a reflecting or refracting telescope. The larger the aperture of a telescope, the brighter the images you can see through the lens. If you are looking for a telescope with a large enough aperture, we recommend the Orion 10015 Starblast Telescope.

The mount is another key factor you need to consider when buying the right telescope for less than £200. When it comes to buying a telescope, there are two main categories of mounts you should be aware of: equatorial and altazimuth.

Equatorial mounts – We recommend equatorial mounts for those interested in advanced astronomy; this type of mount is generally not suitable for novice astronomers due to its complexity and intricacy. An equatorial mount has a north-south axis and an east-west axis, also called the polar axis. To be parallel to the polar axis of the earth, you will need to tilt the north-south axis. Telescopes with an equatorial mount include Meade Instruments 216002, Orion Observer 80ST and Orion StarBlast II 4.5.

Altazimuth mounts- On the other hand, altazimuth mounts involve using a telescope in altitude and azimuth, which makes it easy to see where its name (often abbreviated to alt-az) comes from. These mounts are suitable for novice astronomers and people who are just beginning to take an interest in observing the sky. Telescopes with alt-az mounts include the Celestron 21061, Orion 10015 and the Emarth 70mm refractor telescope.

Eyepiece

An important part of choosing an astronomical telescope is understanding the importance of eyepieces. There is no greater secret to enjoying a great stargazing experience than discovering the ideal magnification for the earthly objects you intend to observe. If your magnification is too high or too low, the celestial objects you are looking at may either appear excessively bright to understand or excessively dim to even see. You should choose your preferred type of eyepiece according to the type of target you intend to observe. For example, if you are looking to observe galaxies and planets, you should consider a high magnification, low power eyepiece.

Construction quality

For your scope to last a long time, it must have a high quality construction. One of the good things about telescopes is that they are not machines that can be broken easily and normally they are never in danger of being damaged. It is obvious that a telescope must be able to withstand knocks or falls, and even a shock. However, the stability of the telescope is even more crucial.

The longer the range, the more accurate and precise its tracking and pointing will be. If you intend to photograph the things you see in the glittering sky, or if you simply don’t want to deal with a device that shakes all the time, this will be very important to you.

Weight

Depending on the type of person you are, this factor may or may not be important to you. If you intend to use your telescope in one place and never travel with it, then weight may not really be a point of interest to you. Besides, half the fun of having a telescope is showing it off. To do this, you may decide to travel with the telescope.

On the one hand, you should bear in mind that girth and weight are two different characteristics. Even if a telescope weighs a ton, it can be compact and vice versa. Therefore, don’t just make a judgement on the basis of weight alone.

Additional features

It is also important that you consider additional features such as accessories, warranty, instructional DVDs, etc. Buying a telescope with a good warranty is usually a sign of confidence for buyers, and will give you peace of mind. You should also consider whether the telescope comes with additional accessories such as a tripod, instructional DVDs or a map of the Moon.

Our verdict

The clear winner of this round is the Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ. As the most popular model on this list, this telescope has features that justify its popularity. The device comes with two eyepieces of 20mm and 4mm that give you 50X and 250X magnification respectively.

Our runner-up is the Celestron AstroMaster 21061 70AZ telescope, which, despite being one of the best units on this list, is also one of the cheapest, which is somewhat ironic. This unit is also very versatile as it can be used to observe both celestial objects and the beautiful night sky.

Our third choice is the Orion 10015 Starblast, which we think is also the most suitable option for beginners. One thing most buyers will appreciate about this device is that it comes pre-assembled, making it really easy to use.

If you haven’t found the right telescope for your needs, we suggest you stretch your budget a bit and check out our reviews of telescopes under $300 and under $500.