5 Best Telescopes For Kids

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Are your kids interested in astronomy? Do they go gaga looking at the stars in the night sky? Maybe you have even bought them some books on astronomy or the sky, but they never get enough. Then, it’s high time you get them the best telescope for kids so they can see the beauty up close and personal.

What’s the Telescope For Kids?

We don’t want to waste a second of your time. So no long intro here, what is the Telescope For Kids in 2022?

At a Glance: The Best Telescopes For Kids to Buy

We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product.

There are so many telescopes out there to choose from, but not all are ideal for your child. How do you choose which will be best for your little ones?

Children’s interests change quickly and often, so you can never be so sure how long they will be into stargazing. It would be useless to invest in an expensive and highly specialized telescope only for your child to lose interest after a few weeks.

With this in mind, I decided to do some deep digging on the best kids’ telescopes out there. During my research, I discovered that it’s not always just about the price. There are many other features you need to look at as well. We’ll get to that shortly.

My Top Choice: The Best Beginner Telescope For Kids

When stargazing at night, you definitely want your children to enjoy a crystal clear view of the moon and stars and be able to take a mini-tour of the Milky Way.

But you don’t want a telescope that is too heavy to carry around. You can get all this, and much more, from the Orion 10015 StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope.

Best Kids Telescope Reviews

Nowadays, kids have gadgets that we never even dreamt of, from scooters and smartphones to drones… The list is endless. They’re way more tech savvy than we are, usually, and they need toys that can keep up with them.

The section below contains a comprehensive review of the best children’s telescope available on the market today, their key features, pros, cons, and much more so that you’re sure to buy one your kids will love.

1. Orion 10015 StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope (Teal) – Best Overall

The Orion StarBlast 4.5, a product of the renowned telescope producer Orion, is a top-rated beginner telescope for older kids. It has consistently remained the unrivaled choice as the best children's telescope for a whopping fifteen years.

Since its performance is above the average beginner kids' scopes, it remains a top choice for many intermediaries who are looking for a grab-and-go telescope. Thus, even when your kid no longer uses the scope, you can still use it to enjoy the intriguing views of the night skies.

Once you order this telescope, do not be surprised by its large box. It is shipped pre-assembled, so there’s less work for you.

Other accessories included in the box are: two Explorer II 1.25-inch eyepieces, EZ Finder II reflex sight, eyepiece rack, collimation cap, and a Starry Night astronomy software. With these, your child is guaranteed unlimited fun as they explore the stars and planets.

Pros:

• The 4.5-inch aperture coupled with the fast f/4 focal ratio gives very bright and clear images of planets, stars, moon, and other heavenly bodies on a wide-field view
• Easy to use and to assemble because it is shipped pre-assembled
• The wide tabletop base makes it very stable when placed on a small table (or crate)
• It is compact and easy to carry around

Cons:

• It does not include a case to store it and transport it

Do not be fooled by the simple design of the Orion 10015. Actually, it is made from higher quality materials than other scopes in its price range.

2. Aomekie Telescope for Kids Adults and Astronomy Beginners – Best For Learning

If your child loves technology, you can buy him or her robots for kids. However, if his passion is in science, you can consider a telescope for kids.

 One of the best options available is the Aomekie Telescope for Kids, Adults, and Astronomy Beginners.It is extremely light and very portable. Apart from that, it is easy to use, making it perfect for amateur adults too.

One unique feature of this telescope is the smartphone adapter which enables you to observe images using your phone. On top of that, you can take and share those awesome pictures of the moon, stars, and planets using your phone.

Also, there is a durable aluminum tripod which will hold the telescope steadily to ensure a comfortable stargazing experience. 

Pros:

• The 70 mm aperture gives fairly bright and crisp images on a large field of view
• There are two magnification eyepieces that boost the focusing ability of the telescope
• Includes a star target planisphere that helps your child to learn various stars
• Like all refractors, it has a 1.5X erecting eyepiece for upright images that can easily be identified by your child
• The glass used is optical coated to ensure the user’s vision is protected

Cons:

• It's a bit tricky to set up

3. MaxUSee 70mm Refractor Telescope   – Best For Young Kids

This is a great telescope made with children in mind. However, you will still need to guide them the first few times so they can get the hang of it.

Your child will enjoy testing the various magnification lenses that come with this scope for a more exciting sky exploration experience. The manufacturer of the MAxUSee 70mm Telescope has also included a 1.5X erecting eyepiece for upright images that are easier for your kid to identify.

That's not all: there is a moon mirror that will allow your little one to have a clear and more detailed look at the moon.

Pros:

• It has a 70 mm aperture for brighter and clearer images
• With a magnification range of 16X-200X, you can even zoom in on stars that are very far away
• The 5X24 finder scope makes locating objects in the sky even easier
• There are four eyepieces to give a wide range of options for viewing the sky
• Lightweight and portable
• No tools required to set it up

Cons:

• Tripod is a little too short
• You can only see up to an overhead angle of 45 degrees from the horizon

Other than the short tripod, the MaxUSee 70mm Refractor Telescope's focal length and aperture still outshine many other scopes that are within the same price range.

4. Gskyer Telescope, AZ70400 German Technology Astronomy Telescope, Travel Refractor – Great For Bird Watching And Stargazing

A lightweight, portable, and decent telescope is what every nature enthusiast looks for—the Gskyer Telescope offers exactly that. This makes it a top choice for many hikers and outdoor lovers.

This scope is made from a high-quality aluminum alloy tube to ensure it beats the test of time. With two eyepieces, you can enjoy various levels of object clarity and a boost to the overall performance of your telescope.

When you buy the Gskyer Telescope, you also get a one-year warranty and free lifetime maintenance.

Pros:

• All images are enhanced by the use of optical glass for users' vision protection
• There is a 5X24 finderscope with a mounting bracket and crossline to help your kid in object identification
• Has an adjustable aluminum alloy tripod
• Easy to set up
• Includes a backpack for easy portability

Cons:

• The mount is not very stable

Avoid adjusting your telescope to full length for a more stable mount. This way, you will enjoy your outdoor exploration with no hiccups.

5. Celestron – 70mm Travel Scope – Best Travel Scope

The last entry on this list is very popular and one of the most purchased telescopes for beginners by the world's renowned top quality telescope manufacturer, Celestron.

If you are looking for a scope to use for daytime bird watching or stargazing at night, then this would be a perfect choice.

This telescope comes with a 5x24 finderscope which is a real savior when you are trying to locate and center objects in your eyepiece. Also, the focal ratio of f/5.7 and focal length of 400mm allows you to enjoy the properties of top professional telescopes but at a cheaper price. 

As if that’s not enough, you can connect your camera to the Celestron Travel Scope and record your awesome views of the birds, stars, or moon at night.

Pros:

• Includes a backpack case for easy portability and storage
• Has two eyepieces (high power and low power) for an ultimate adventure both day and night
• Includes a free Starry Night Software for easy identification of stars in any given location
• The 70mm aperture gathers enough light to give very clear views
• Tripod can be adjusted to different heights as needed
• You get a two-year warranty on purchase and unlimited support from the technical team

Cons:

• The tripod is shaky when adjusted to full length
• The focuser and finder are made from plastic

To add on to its numerous top features, this scope will wow you with its ability to spot wildlife that is far away, making any outdoor adventures even more exciting.

My Overall Choice Of The Best Telescope For Kids

The Orion 10015 StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope is a definite winner. It has a simple design that is easy to use for kids while still providing top quality features at an affordable price.

Best Value Telescope For Kids

If you are looking for a cheaper option that will provide all the basic features of a quality scope, then go for the best beginner telescope for kids, the  MaxUSee 70mm Refractor Telescope.

Telescope Vs Binoculars

• Binoculars have two eyepieces and two lenses, while a telescope has one eyepiece and one lens. This gives binoculars a larger field of view than a telescope. On the other hand, the telescope will usually show clearer images.
• Telescopes provide a more stable view than binoculars.
• Most times, a telescope will have a greater magnification than binoculars. 

Reflector Vs Refractor Telescopes

• A reflector telescope uses concave lenses to collect, focus, and to magnify light while a refractor telescope uses convex lenses.
• The refractor telescope is better for observing planets and the moon, whereas the reflector telescope is preferred for deep sky objects such as galaxies.
• Reflector telescopes are cheaper to make as compared to the refractor telescopes.

What To Consider When Selecting The Best Children’s Telescope

There is nothing worse than purchasing a scope for your daughter, son, or grandchild only to find that you made a wrong choice. A costly mistake is if you accidentally buy a toy rather than the real thing. It’s important that you keep the following factors in mind when shopping for a telescope for your kid to help you choose well.

Portability

Go for a telescope that is compact and lightweight enough for you to carry around. Some telescopes are sold with free storage cases to make their portability and storage even easier.

Aperture Diameter

The aperture diameter, also referred to as the objective lens diameter, is the most crucial aspect of any telescope.

A large diameter allows more light into the telescope to give brighter and clearer images. On the flipside, telescopes with very large apertures are bigger and heavier overall which makes them cumbersome to move around with.

Magnification

If you have to choose between a scope with high magnification and one with high aperture, go for the one with a higher aperture. You can adjust the magnification of a telescope simply by changing the eyepiece you are using, while the aperture diameter cannot be adjusted.

Comfort And Stability

If your child is going to be using the scope for long periods of time, select a telescope with a stable base. This will offer ultimate comfort during use.

Set-Up And Ease Of Use

Go for a telescope that is child-friendly and does not require too much guidance on setting up and usage.

The Type

There are two major types of telescopes: reflector and refractor. If you intend to use the scope just for night vision, then a reflector would be a great choice. However, if you intend to use it for daytime viewing, it is highly recommended that you invest in a refractor scope.

Also, note that refractor telescopes are often heavier and longer than reflector scopes.

Price

As stated earlier, the interest of kids can change quickly. So, you don’t want to break the bank trying to impress them with a very specialized professional telescope. 

If your kids show consistent interest, then you can upgrade to more specialized models.

Conclusion

Hopefully, these kids telescope reviews and the buyers guide has equipped you with all the information you need to find the best telescopes for kids.

When you compare the price, performance, and features of all the telescopes discussed above, it is clear that the Orion 10015 StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope beats them all. In fact, its functionality can only be matched by other professional telescopes.