With the best computerized telescopes, you don't have to have a lot of knowledge about astronomy to find and view galaxies, nebulae and star clusters; the software will do it for you. So if you type in what celestial object you wish to view, the telescope will automatically move to the right position.
This means you don't have to spend time poring over complicated charts, making stargazing a more fun, relaxed and accessible activity for non-experts. Computerized telescopes can be very expensive, though, so in our list we've also included some affordable options for beginners on a modest budget.
So whether you’ve never used a telescope before or are an stargazing veteran, you'll find the perfect choice for you below. Also check out our guides to the best telescope eyepieces and the best telescopes for kids.
Best overall
Our top pick is a smart telescope that not only lets you view distant galaxies and nebulae but also photographs them for you. Its database contains 5,000 celestial objects and 37 million stars, which it can automatically locate for you. Read more below
Best value
Like the idea of a smart telescope, but don't want to spend as much as the first pick on our list? Then we recommend the Unistellar eVscope eQuinox. It doesn't have a built-in viewfinder, but instead has a camera that beams images of the night sky to your phone or tablet. Read more below
Best pro
With this Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, you'll be able to get a close and clear look at Saturn's rings, and thanks to the fantastic tracking accuracy, you'll be able to take awe-inspiring images of deep-sky objects by attaching your camera. Read more below
Best for newbies
A small step down in price and complexity from our number3 pick, this forgoes some of the bells and whistles to streamline functionality and save on cost, making it more accessible for those new to astronomy or astrophotography. Read more below
Best for portability
While it's quite expensive, this telescope can be assembled in seconds and doesn't need to be disassembled between uses like other truss tube models making it ideal for those that want to take it with them in the car to multiple locations. Read more below
Best budget
The Celestron Astro Fi 130 is nicely affordable and easy to use. Unpacking and assembling takes approximately 15 minutes and you should be able to get stunning views straight away without the need for collimation, a welcome factor for many. Read more below
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One of a new breed of smart telescopes, the Unistellar eQuinox 2 navigates to and zooms into the most distant galaxies and nebulae for impressive views. Not only that, but the telescope also photographs the views for you. There is no eyepiece - instead, you view the images on your smartphone or tablet. In its database, there are over 5000 celestial objects and over 37 million stars, which it can automatically locate for you in the sky.
Traditionalists might find it a bit frustrating because of the requirement to synchronize the telescope with the Unistellar app. However, most people will find it pretty easy to set up, and doing so will instantly open up a world of night-time viewing. You can even use the app to sign-up and take part in citizen science projects and help with asteroid occultations, planetary defense tracking and similar projects.
Like the idea of a smart telescope, but don't want to spend as much as the first pick on our list? Then we recommend the older Unistellar eVscope eQuinox. Like the Equinox 2, it doesn't have a built-in viewfinder, but instead has a camera that beams images of the night sky to your phone or tablet.
At its core, it’s a 4.5-inch reflector telescope fitted with a Sony IMX224 CMOS image sensor to power its Enhanced Vision (EV) views of galaxies, nebulae, open clusters and globular clusters. It allows up to 10 smartphones and tablets to connect to its own WiFi network to see and download its images, and offers 64MB of storage.
This is the budget-priced model in the Unistellar range, which also includes the eVscope and eVscope 2. This has slightly less resolving power than the eVscope 2 (making it more difficult to split close double stars), a tighter field of view, less detailed images (its natively 1.2-MP images are up-rezzed to 4.8MP using software interpolation) and no electronic eyepiece.
Its lack of an eyepiece makes sense from a cost-saving perspective, and it adds two hours of battery life. But it does make it more difficult to focus the eQuinox. Instead, there's a Bahtinov mask built into its lens cap that helps get stars really sharp, but it’s a manual process. Since it’s a reflector telescope it occasionally needs collimating.
While this scope isn't ideal for those new to using telescopes, we think it is one of the best optical systems available. With this Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, you'll be able to get a close and clear look at Saturn's rings, and thanks to the fantastic tracking accuracy, you'll be able to take awe-inspiring images of deep-sky objects by attaching your camera.
You don't need batteries or an external power supply for this computerized telescope, just remember to plug it in to charge before your evening of astronomy. A single charge will give you 10 hours of viewing pleasure. It also works as a power bank which you can use to charge up your other devices.
The NexStar Evolution 8" can be controlled wirelessly using your phone or tablet with the Celestron app which features SkyAlign technology. With your location settings turned on it can pinpoint exactly where you are in no time at all and you can use the 'tap and go' interface to quickly find the desired sky object, or search through the database of over 120,000 objects.
It has its own Wi-Fi, so you don't need another internet connection, either. It also comes with a handset if you'd prefer to use less tech or if your smart device has run out of juice. Additionally, it has several convenient features, such as two accessory trays for storing eyepieces, integrated handles, and the charging port we've already mentioned.
This is a more affordable offering from Celestron (versus the NexStar Evolution 8-inch we discussed above). A small step down in price and complexity, the NexStar 6SE forgoes some of the bells and whistles on the NexStar Evolution 8" to streamline functionality and save on cost, making it more accessible for those new to astronomy or astrophotography.
Bring some spare batteries or a long power lead with you because the 6SE is powered by 8 x AA batteries (or an AC power cord) rather than housing rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The batteries do drain pretty quickly so for back garden sky sweeping we'd recommend purchasing an AC power cord and saving the AAs for when you can't access a power supply.
The 6SE doesn't have built-in Wi-Fi meaning it can't be controlled by your phone, instead, it is operated solely using the hand controller. Some people prefer this no-fuss, no-bright phone screen method, and it means you're not going to lose connectivity during your session.
It's still quite heavy at 9.53KG but is still far lighter than the Evolution 8-inch's 16.1KG. The build quality is excellent and the optics are flawless, providing clear views without color fringing as well as an excellent tracking system that doesn't drift off target. This makes it an excellent candidate if you're going to be using your telescope for astrophotography.
The Sky-Watcher 250P can be assembled in seconds and doesn't need to be disassembled between uses like other truss tube models making it ideal for those that want to take it with them in the car to multiple locations. However, users will need a power supply as there is no option to insert batteries.
Although visually it looks like it wouldn't hold collimation for any sustained length of time, it does, so you don't need to worry about realigning the components during your observation time. It even has 10 different slew speeds (from 1x to 1000x) making it possible to whizz to your favorite celestial objects in no time. Its database contains 42,900 objects and it’s capable of saving up to 25 custom presets, too.
The great thing about this computerized telescope is that it can be operated completely manually if you don't want to use the GoTo functionality. You'll find this scope sitting around the $1500 mark which is quite pricey, but we think it’s worth the money because you're paying for the portability and ease of use.
The best computerized telescope for those on a budget
Specifications
Optical design: Newtonian Reflector
Aperture: 130mm
Focal length: 650mm
Focal ratio: f/5
Magnifications (with eyepieces supplied): x26 and x65
Finderscope: Star Pointer red dot finderscope
Mount: Computerised Altitude-Azimuth Single Fork Arm
Resolving power: 0.89 arc seconds
Highest useful magnification: x307
Reasons to buy
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Simple set up
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Right-side up viewing is possible
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Affordable price
Reasons to avoid
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Quite big
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Wi-Fi connection isn't 100% stable
The Celestron Astro Fi 130 is nicely affordable and easy to use. Unpacking and assembling takes approximately 15 minutes and you should be able to get stunning views straight away without the need for collimation, a welcome factor for many. It's pretty big but still light enough to move without too much difficulty.
You control the telescope on the Celestron SkyPortal app on your phone using the telescope's Wi-Fi. Whilst scanning the sky, the app provides detailed information about the object in view to help astronomers learn during observation. There have been some reports in the community that the WiFi connection isn’t perfectly stable. This shouldn’t be much of an issue except for the fact there’s no hand controller, so operation is limited to the app only. If it stops working that means users have to physically rotate the whole tripod and manually move the telescope up and down to change positions.
However, there is a nifty mount (which doubles as the lens cap) for holding your smartphone in place to take pictures through the telescope. You're never going to get the best quality photo using your phone camera, but you should be able to manage some impressive shots of the moon and brightest stars. Consider this a bonus add-on rather than a key feature.
The fully coated glass optics are great, enabling astronomers to see the rings of Saturn, the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, the Orion Nebular, and so on. You can also use the scope in the daytime thanks to the star diagonal providing right-side-up viewing.
Reliable telescope designed for serious amateur astronomers
Specifications
Optical design: EdgeHD
Aperture: 203mm
Focal length: 2032mm
Focal ratio: f/10
Magnifications (with eyepieces supplied): 50x
Finderscope: 9x50 optical finderscope
Mount: German equatorial computerised with servo motors
Resolving power: 0.69 arc seconds
Highest useful magnification: 480x
Reasons to buy
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Amazing optics
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Three f-stop configurations
Reasons to avoid
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Initial setup is tricky
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Needs sturdier mount for long exposures
The Edge HD has wonderful optics, allowing you to easily see all the Messier Objects, Saturn's Rings and clusters as individual stars. EdgeHD is an improved Schmidt-Cassegrain with additional elements, which means the image is sharper when peering down it.
Astronomers are given maximum flexibility with three different f-stop configurations (f/10, f/7, and f/2) which all give aberration-free pinpoint stars across the width of the sensor. Users can attach a camera to the telescope and it will give awe-inspiring deep-sky images thanks to its excellent tracking, although we'd recommend a sturdier mount if this is going to be the main focus.
The setup is a little different from other scopes on this list; Celestron calls the process 'All-Star Polar Alignment'. Essentially, owners need to use Celestron Software to find and align two stars, not just the North Celestial Pole, which may not always be visible. It requires at least some prior knowledge of how to set up a telescope and the night sky and therefore is not an ideal beginner tool.
This telescope is most suited to astronomers who want a reliable all-round, portable performer. This is especially true for those that want to view and photograph the Moon and planets, due to its 1500mm focal length. It can be used for long-exposure photography or deep-space objects. If taking deep-space photos is your main reason for wanting a telescope, though, bear in mind there are better options on this list as you'd ideally need a sturdier tripod.
The Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 SynScan AZ is quick and easy to set up, offering a fully computerized mount with accurate and reliable GoTo technology, you can be exploring the solar system in no time at all. The database has over 42,900 objects for you to explore at the touch of a button. It also comes equipped with a hand control instead app or software connectivity, which we like, and it can be powered by either a 12V DC Power Supply or 8 AA batteries.
A computerized telescope, also known as a GoTo telescope, uses a computer to locate and track celestial objects. Computerized telescopes have a built-in database of thousands of objects, including stars, planets, galaxies, and nebulae. They can also be used to track comets and asteroids.
How do computerized telescopes work?
Computerized telescopes function by way of a motorized mount that controls the positioning of the telescope as it points toward the night sky. In a bid to reduce vibrations on the instrument itself, they often feature a hand-held control to avoid the physical touching of the telescope. They can also be aligned using dedicated computer software when hooked up to a laptop. However, increasingly they can connect to apps on a smart device for full control and functionality.
Whether using an in-built hand-held control or an app, computerized telescopes often come with databases filled with tens of thousands of celestial objects for you to discover. Once properly aligned it takes just a few moments to dial in your desired object and, at the touch of a button, your telescope will slew to it and, in most instances, continue to track it. With a camera attached, this enables astrophotographers to take out-of-this-world long exposures of deep space.
Are computerized telescopes easy to use?
Yes, computerized telescopes are easy to use. You don't need any special skills or knowledge: simply select the object you want to observe from the telescope's database and the telescope will move to its position in the sky automatically.
How to choose the best computerized telescope
The right computerized telescope can turn stargazing into a breeze. But with a vast selection on the market, choosing the right one for your needs takes a bit of forethought. The most important factor is aperture, the size of the main lens or mirror. Bigger translates to better light gathering, but keep portability in mind. A four-inch aperture is a great starting point for beginners.
Next, look for a stable and user-friendly mount. Alt-azimuth mounts are simpler, while equatorial mounts excel at tracking objects for long exposures. The telescope's software should be intuitive and have a large object database. And think about extra features too, such as how precisely the telescope tracks objects, whether it can be expanded with accessories, and the warranty options.
How we test computerized telescopes
To make sure telescopes perform in practice, our tester assess how accurately each model points and tracks objects, using bright stars as benchmarks. They also check the GoTo system's ability to align itself with the night sky, to ensure it locates celestial targets precisely. We also pay attention to the telescopes software's interface and database for clarity and ease of use. Plus we put the telescope through its paces, measuring how quickly it slews to objects and how well it handles wind and vibrations under real-world conditions.
Jase Parnell-Brookes is an award-winning photographer, educator and writer based in the UK. They won the Gold Prize award in the Nikon Photo Contest 2018/19 and was named Digital Photographer of the Year in 2014. After completing their Masters Jase has spent a good chunk of two decades studying and working in photography and optics shooting and writing all over the world for big-name brands and media outlets. Now the Channel Editor for Cameras and Skywatching at Space.com their speciality is in low light optics and camera systems.
