Best Telescopes for Kids

Buying a telescope for your child is a bit of a dilemma. If you suspect that their interest in astronomy will vanish in a few weeks, it doesn’t make sense to shell out serious money for a good quality telescope. However, if you buy them a cheap junk telescope that doesn’t show much other than the moon then who can blame them for quickly losing interest and moving on.

In the $50 to $100 price range there are a few low budget, entry-level telescopes that should allow a child to view the moon and some planets. They are not specifically marketed towards children but they are easy to operate and small enough for them to handle on their own.

Look for a used telescope

Consider buying a used telescope. You might be able to find a gently used, better quality telescope at a significant discount. Check out local and online classifieds, eBay or Amazon – yes even Amazon sells used and refurbished telescopes.

If your child loses interest in astronomy, you can always use these same avenues to sell a telescope that’s no longer being used to cut your losses.

What is the best telescope for kids?

If you think your child is legitimately serious about astronomy as a hobby or if it’s something you are interested in and plan to share and enjoy together then any of the telescopes recommended in our Best Telescope For Beginners or Best Budget Telescope are perfectly suitable for children and much better quality than the telescopes recommended below. Larger Dobsonian telescopes will obviously require the help of an adult to move and setup.

Nearly all telescopes on tripod mounts under $100 are not very good. This is mainly due to the unstable mounts which result in shaky views, difficulty focusing and poor tracking. A tabletop Dobsonian reflector telescope solves these issues with its sturdy and smooth mount. Tabletop Dobsonians also offer the lowest cost per inch of aperture giving you more light gathering ability than other types of telescopes. They perform better than almost all other telescopes at this price point. But you’re not going to find the perfect telescope or even a really good telescope for under $100.

Most low budget telescopes are not something that will be used for years to come. They’re more of a cheap introduction to astronomy. You can use one to gauge a child’s interest before they either move on to something else or want to upgrade to a better quality and larger aperture telescope.

What can you expect to see?

To be totally honest, have low expectations. Low budget telescopes are not much better than toys. They have small apertures, low quality optics and the accessories are just not very good. The short focal lengths will limit the magnification you’re able to achieve.

Children are mainly interested in viewing the moon and planets. While this is definitely possible with a low budget telescope, the views are underwhelming and not that impressive. You should be able to observe the standard favorite objects for kids including our moon, Jupiter’s cloud bands and 4 moons as well as Saturn’s rings and largest moon Titan. The planets will appear very small, some as tiny points of light.

The moon and planets are unaffected by light pollution, however deep-sky objects will require dark skies and optimal viewing conditions. Deep-sky viewing will be limited to the brighter objects that will still appear faint and fuzzy. Some double stars will be visible.

Do not point the telescope at the sun without a proper solar filter! It’s important that your child understands this and the consequences of damaging their eyes.

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Best Reflector Telescope For Kids

Orion SkyScanner 100mm Tabletop Reflector

The Orion SkyScanner 100mm Tabletop Reflector Telescope is a definite step up from the lower budget telescopes. It is a quality entry-level telescope and earns our Best Reflector Telescope For Kids award. Despite being priced at the upper end of the $100 budget, it’s still considered a good value.

The SkyScanner has improved optics over the lower cost telescopes. The almost 4″ (100mm) aperture parabolic primary mirror has 73 percent more light gathering ability than a 76mm aperture mirror. It has a focal length of 400mm and a focal ratio of f/4. The parabolic primary mirror eliminates spherical aberration which results in sharper and clearer images. However, coma is still noticeable around the edge of the field of view.

The Dobsonian base is a simplified altazimuth mount meant to be placed on a table or other sturdy surface. It is solidly constructed and has three rubber feet to reduce vibrations and eliminate wobble. The azimuth and altitude rotations are smooth and the optical tube can be locked into position with the adjustable altitude tension knob. The bottom of the mount has a built-in adapter for attaching the telescope to a camera tripod with a 3/8″ or a 1/4″-20 threaded post. You can also remove the optical tube from the mount and attach it to a compatible altazimuth or equatorial tripod mount with a narrow dovetail saddle, common with most of Orion’s mounts.

The SkyScanner comes with a battery-powered red dot finder, the EZ Finder II, worth about $40 on its own. Red dot finders do not provide any magnification like a finderscope. Looking through the viewing window, align the red dot on the celestial object you want to observe. Once the red dot is centered on the target object, look through the telescope’s eyepiece and it should be in view.

Two 3-element 1.25″ eyepieces are included with the SkyScanner. The 20mm eyepiece provides 20x magnification and the 10mm eyepiece provides 40x magnification. Remember, magnification is calculated by dividing the focal length of the telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece (400mm/20mm = 20x power). Both eyepieces are low power and provide wide fields of view but they are not capable of showing details of the moon and planets. For that you’ll need a short focal length eyepiece like a 3.2mm or 4mm which would provide 125x and 100x magnification, respectively. The SkyScanner performs better than the other low budget telescopes when it comes to viewing deep-sky objects.

The 1.25″ rack and pinion focuser is standard for low cost telescopes. The dual focus knobs make smooth adjustments.

Although the secondary mirror is adjustable, the primary mirror is fixed to the optical tube and cannot be collimated.

As a bonus, the SkyScanner comes with a “special edition” version of its Starry Night astronomy software. It can simulate the sky for different dates, times and locations.

It has a fully assembled weight of only 6.2lbs with a 15.7″ long optical tube. A child should be able to move and operate this tabletop telescope on their own. Even if your child graduates to a larger, better quality telescope, it might be worth keeping the SkyScanner around as a grab-and-go or travel telescope.

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Best Refractor Telescope For Kids

Meade Infinity 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope

A refractor is what most people picture when thinking of a telescope. If your child has this image of a telescope in their mind then it may be difficult to convince them that a different type of telescope is better.

The Meade Infinity 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope is a decent entry-level telescope to get your child started with astronomy. It is the Best Refractor Telescope For Kids under $100 and is priced midway between the Celestron Cometron FirstScope and SkyScanner. A bonus feature of refractor telescopes is that they also can be used during the day to view birds, wildlife, ships, landscapes and landmarks.

The Infinity 70 has a 2.8″ (70mm) aperture, a focal length of 700mm and an f/10 focal ratio. The aperture is small and the optics aren’t great. The long focal length offers more magnification but a smaller field of view. Chromatic aberration will be noticeable at higher magnifications and appear as color fringing around bright objects.

The tripod is an altazimuth mount constructed from aluminum. As expected with telescopes in this price range, the tripod is lightweight, wobbly and susceptible to vibrations. The height is adjustable from 29″ to 50″. You can track objects with the basic slow motion control rod which moves the telescope in small increments by turning a knob. An accessory tray attaches to the tripod and can hold extra eyepieces.

The battery-powered red dot finder is a must-have for finding the celestial object you wish to observe and orienting your telescope towards it.

Two fully-coated 1.25″ Modified Achromat eyepieces are included. The 26mm eyepiece provides 27x magnification and the 9mm eyepiece provides 78x magnification. The Infinity 70 also comes with a 2x Barlow lens which doubles the magnification of the eyepieces to 54x and 156x. You get a wide range of magnifications (27x, 54x, 78x, and 156x) right out of the box which is more than the other kids telescopes offer. This telescope is better suited for the moon and planets than for deep-sky objects although some binary stars can be observed. You should be able to see Jupiter’s cloud bands and moons, and recognize Saturn’s rings, however the planets will appear very small.

Using the 90 Degree Erect-Prism diagonal will correctly orient the image seen in the eyepiece both horizontally and vertically unlike a reflector telescope where the image appears flipped upside down. One disadvantage is that the prism diagonal reduces the sharpness of the image. The 90 degree diagonal also allows a more comfortable viewing angle especially when the telescope is pointed near the zenith.

The 1.25″ rack and pinion focuser is typical for cheap telescopes. The shaky tripod can give you some difficulty focusing.

The telescope and tripod have a combined weight of only 7.5lbs which should be manageable for older children to move around and setup.

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Best Lower Budget Telescopes For Kids

When it comes to lower cost telescopes for kids, there are 3 main options. All are tabletop Dobsonian reflectors with similar specs and performance. They each have a focal length of 300mm, a focal ratio of around f/4 and a spherical primary mirror. One is not necessarily better than the others. They all suffer from the same flaws and limitations. The main differences are found in the accessories (finders, eyepieces, tripod adapter and Barlow lens).

Celestron Cometron FirstScope Telescope

The build quality and finish of the Celestron Cometron FirstScope are surprisingly good for a cheap telescope. It has a 76mm (3″) aperture primary mirror and a focal ratio of f/3.95.

As should be expected, the optics of the Cometron FirstScope are not very good. The short focal length and large central obstruction are less than ideal for viewing at higher magnification. The spherical mirror makes it difficult to focus even above 60x magnification due to the resulting spherical aberration. Coma aberration will be present near the edge of the field of view.

The tabletop Dobsonian mount is stable with smooth motions. It swivels 360 degrees, rotates up and down, and has an adjustable tension knob. You will need to place the telescope on a sturdy table or stool in order to provide a comfortable viewing height. The rubber feet provide better surface grip and reduce vibrations.

Setting up the telescope is quick and easy as no tools are required. The optical tube comes preassembled to the mount. All you need to do is remove the dust caps, attach the finderscope and insert an eyepiece into the focuser.

There are actually two versions of the Celestron FirstScope that are roughly the same price. The FirstScope has a white mount and a black optical tube showing the names of famous astronomers and scientists. The Cometron FirstScope has a black mount and a white optical tube. Besides these styling differences, the Cometron version comes with a 5×24 finderscope. The FirstScope does not include any finder and should be avoided for this reason. While a 5×24 finderscope is not great, having a finder is better than nothing at all making it easier locate celestial objects and point the telescope in their direction. The numbers 5×24 indicate that the finderscope has 5x magnification and a 24mm aperture.

The Cometron FirstScope comes with two 1.25″ Kellner eyepieces: a 10mm (30x magnification) with a 1.5° field of view and a 20mm (15x magnification) with a 3° field of view. The included eyepieces are low power and not really that great for planets but do offer a wide field of view. It is possible to view brighter deep-sky objects like Orion nebula. Buying an additional eyepiece with higher power for more lunar and planetary detail would cost almost the same as the telescope. That money would be better spent on buying a better telescope. It should also be mentioned that the eyepieces included with the Cometron FirstScope are better quality than the FirstScope’s eyepieces.

At f/3.95, the Cometron FirstScope is considered to have fast focal ratio. This means that the light entering the telescope has a steep angle and even the smallest turns of the focuser knobs can cause the image to lose focus. The 1.25″ rack and pinion focuser does not hold focus very well under the weight of the eyepiece. As mentioned previously, the telescope’s limitations make focusing difficult even at medium power. The focuser does come with a dust cap which is nice to have.

Collimation is not possible as the primary mirror is fixed to the optical tube and cannot be adjusted.

The Cometron FirstScope is extremely portable weighing only 4.3lbs with a 10″ long optical tube. It should be no problem for a child to handle on their own. Even if you’re not a kid, its small size and weight make it ideal to use as a grab-and-go or travel telescope to take in the car on a road trip or to go camping.

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Orion FunScope 76mm Tabletop Reflector Telescope

The Orion FunScope 76mm Tabletop Reflector Telescope is nearly identical to the Cometron FirstScope in terms of specs, build quality and finish but it’s slightly more expensive. It too has a 76mm (3″) aperture primary mirror and a focal ratio of f/3.95. There are some minor differences with the finder and mount.

The FunScope performs similar to the Cometron FirstScope and also suffers from optical issues due to the short focal length and spherical primary mirror. Achieving focus at medium and high power can be difficult. Coma aberration will be noticeable around the edge of the field of view. On the positive side, a short focal length also means a wide field of view which allows you to see more of the sky. This makes it easier to find and track celestial objects.

The tabletop Dobsonian mount is solid and sturdy with smooth movements. It uses a single-arm to hold the optical tube and an adjustable tension knob controls the up and down motion. The base of the mount includes a tripod adapter which is a nice feature not included with the Cometron FirstScope. The adapter allows you to mount the telescope onto a camera tripod if you are not near a table. Make sure to use a heavy duty tripod to avoid vibrations. The mount and optical tube are already assembled in the box. To complete the setup, attach the finder using thumb screws and insert an eyepiece. The optical tube and focuser also come with dust caps.

The FunScope comes with a red dot finder to help you accurately aim the telescope at objects in the sky. The EZ Finder II is a battery-powered red dot reflex sight with zero power (no magnification). It costs about $40 if purchased separately.

The FunScope includes a 10mm 1.25″ eyepiece (30x magnification) and a 20mm 1.25″ eyepiece (15x magnification). They are decent 3-element fully coated eyepieces. The eyepieces are good for low power, wide field viewing but not the best for viewing any details of the moon and planets. You may want to consider purchasing a Barlow lens or a short focal length eyepiece for high power views. Keep in mind that these extras will add to the cost of the telescope which could have been spent on a better quality telescope instead.

The rack and pinion focuser accepts 1.25″ eyepieces. The steep light cone from the fast focal ratio causes the focuser to be very sensitive, losing focus with even minor adjustment of the focus knobs.

You will not be able to collimate this telescope as the primary mirror is glued to the optical tube.

As a bonus, Orion has included a Moon Map which names and describes over 260 features on the moon including various craters and mountains.

Weighing only 4lbs, the FunScope is extremely portable. It shouldn’t take up much room in your car if you are planning to take it on a trip or go camping.

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Meade LightBridge Mini 82 Telescope

The Meade Instruments LightBridge Mini 82 Telescope is the smallest telescope in Meade’s lineup of tabletop Dobsonians. The largest of which, the LightBridge Mini 130, is one of our recommended Best Budget Telescopes. The LB Mini 82 is well-built and the all white design looks good. It has a slightly larger 3.2″ (82mm) aperture primary mirror and a slightly faster f/3.7 focal ratio than the Cometron FirstScope and FunScope.

Like the other lower budget telescopes, the LB Mini 82 also has a spherical mirror and the optical performance is not much different. Comatic and spherical aberrations will be present, affecting the quality of the views and the ability to focus especially at higher magnifications.

The tabletop Dobsonian mount is made of particleboard. It operates like a see-saw on a lazy susan, moving up and down, and rotating 360 degrees. The bottom of the mount has rubber feet to improve grip and stability. A large adjustable knob controls the friction of the altitude motion and can lock the optical tube in place.

A standard red dot reflex sight is included as the telescope’s finder and is mounted on the top of the optical tube.

The two eyepieces that come with the LB Mini 82 are a 26mm that gives 12x magnification and a 9mm that gives 33x magnification. The addition of a 2x Barlow lens is a welcome bonus not included with the other lower budget scopes. The Barlow doubles the magnification of each eyepiece giving you 4 different powers (12x, 24x, 33x, 66x) with only 2 eyepieces. Despite the added magnifications from the Barlow, a higher power eyepiece would still be necessary to view greater details of the moon and planets.

The 1.25″ rack and pinion focuser has large dual focusing knobs. The f/3.7 focal ratio is the fastest of the lower budget telescopes and results in a steeper angle of light entering the telescope. This makes precise focusing more difficult as a minor turn of the adjustment knobs can quickly knock the image out of focus.

The LB Mini 82 is the lightest of the low budget options weighing in at a mere 3.8lbs. Even young children should be able to manage moving it with no issues. It’s small enough to fit on a bookshelf and would make a nice display piece.

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Comparison of Accessories

	Celestron Cometron FirstScope	Orion FunScope 76mm	Meade LightBridge Mini 82
Finder	5x24 finderscope	red dot finder	red dot finder
Eyepieces	20mm KE - 1.25" 10mm KE - 1.25"	20mm - 1.25” 10mm - 1.25”	26mm - 1.25" 9mm - 1.25"
Barlow Lens	No	No	Yes
Focuser	1.25" rack & pinion	1.25” rack & pinion	1.25" rack & pinion
Tripod Adapter	No	Yes	No

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Conclusion

If your only willing to spend $100 or less on a telescope for your child, buying one with the largest aperture for your money and a sturdy mount will give them the best opportunity to explore the night sky. A tabletop Dobsonian telescope should give you the most value and meet this criteria.

The Orion SkyScanner 100mm Tabletop Reflector Telescope is our best overall telescope for kids. It provides a solid mount and the largest aperture with better optics than the lower budget telescopes. If your child has their heart set on a refractor style telescope, the Meade Infinity 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope is good option that provides 4 different powers for viewing and can be used during the day to view objects on land. The Celestron Cometron FirstScope Telescope, Orion FunScope 76mm Tabletop Reflector Telescope, and Meade LightBridge Mini 82 Telescope are close in price and performance with similar specs. If you prefer the finderscope, go with the Cometron FirstScope. If you like the red dot finder and bonus Moon Map or if you want to mount the telescope on a tripod, buy the FunScope. If you’re not interested in buying an additional eyepiece, the Barlow lens included with the LightBridge Mini 82 will provide a wider range of magnifications.

While none of these telescopes are perfect, they should be enough to give your child a decent introduction to telescopes and astronomy.