Are you looking for a telescope by which you can get lost in the deep sky or Galaxy? If the answer is yes, then this article is perfect for you. In this article, we will review the five best reflector telescopes based on price and quality. Using these telescopes, you can observe the celestial objects as well as terrestrial objects. You can observe the moon, Mars, Andromeda galaxy and thousands of different objects. Cannot wait to find out more? Go through the full article to know more about the telescopes.
What is Reflector Telescope
Reflector telescopes use single or more than one curved mirrors for reflecting the light and form the image of an object. In the reflector telescope, the image is reflected on the mirrors and the reflected image is projected on the eye. It produces a reversed image on the eye. For this reason, it is not suitable for terrestrial object viewing. You can get a powerful reflector telescope by spending less money. So, it is good for beginner or amateur users.
Our Recommended Best Reflector Telescopes
Among a lot of reflector telescopes that are currently available on the market, we chose 5 reflector telescopes based on the price and quality. All the telescopes are good for beginners or amateur users. Kids, adult or any person can use these telescopes easily. But the choice is yours. We can assure you that all the telescopes worth the money.
1. Celestron – PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope
Are you an amateur who wants to learn and see beyond our world? If the answer is yes, then the Celestron PowerSeeker 127Q is an ideal telescope for you. It is designed based on a combination of value, quality, features, and power for beginner users. The main problem a beginner user faces is smooth and accurate pointing to the object he wants to observe. For this reason, it features a German Equatorial mount which provides a slow-motion altitude rod.
This telescope can be used by adults and kids because of its compact and portable design. So, you can take this telescope to your favorite places or just sit at your backyard and enjoy the night sky.
This telescope includes two eyepieces: 20mm and 4mm. To give you a view of a wide range of celestial objects, it provides a 3x Barlow lens which triples the power of each eyepiece. With this feature, you can zoom an object between 150x – 450x.
Powerseeker 127Q uses fully coated glass optical components which enhances image brightness and clarity to provide crisp, clear and beautiful objects viewing. Its erect image optics are good for terrestrial and astronomical use.
The most interesting and important thing about this telescope is, you’ll get a free “The Sky” Level 1 PC software. You will be able to locate and identify hundreds of thousands of celestial objects on your computer by using this software. This will be very helpful for you and your family members especially the kids will love it for sure.
The package comes with all the necessary things you will be needed. For storing accessories conveniently, it provides an accessory tray. You can download free software that has information about ten thousand celestial objects and printable sky maps which seems very attractive. You will also get an aluminum-made travel tripod.
This is best for beginner users who don’t have any prior knowledge of using a telescope. It is easy to use, no tool-setup is needed. You can see the moon, Saturn-ring, Mars, and beyond our solar system – Andromeda Galaxy, the Orion Nebula and more with your family and kids.
This is not best for traveling because it weighs more than 7 Kgs and with a dimension of 30.9 x 16.9 x 8.5 inches, it won’t be easy to move easily. You cannot attach your own DSLR camera if you love to do astrophotography.
2. Orion 09007 SpaceProbe
Are you a serious beginner or intermediate telescope user who wants additional performance like targeting deep-sky objects? Orion’s largest aperture SpaceProbe is the best solution for you. Its short tube version is more compact than a standard size which will be very helpful for you to move to your favorite suitable places. Its optical tube measures 24 inches where the standard size of this telescope measures 33 inches.
The focal length of this ST’s 130mm primary mirror is 650mm (f/5) which can yield a wider range of field of view. This can produce brighter images. This type of aperture is generally seen on the more powerful telescope which is far time costlier than Orion’s 09007 SpaceProbe. To reduce diffraction spikes and light loss, there is a secondary mirror that is held in an advanced holder.
As a beginner or intermediate level user, the most crucial thing is optical alignment. For this reason, it includes a collimation cap and also a center-marked primary mirror. So, it will be easy for you to align the telescope perfectly. It features sturdy and precise EQ-2 equatorial mount and the slow-motion hand controls will help you to accurately point the objects you are observing.
The 25mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece used with the SpaceProbe 130ST will provide a 26-power view. This eyepiece provides moderate magnification. So, it will be very helpful for exploring interesting objects in the sky. You will be amazed to see the crisp, beautiful sights of the moon, Saturn, other galaxies, stars etcetera.
An amazing thing about this telescope is you can observe the space if it’s cloudy too. It comes with a free Starry night astronomy software. This software is available on Windows and MAC. The software is capable of realistic sky simulations. You can plan your observations by using this software too.
The compact size, aperture, and a good viewing angle makes it a perfect amateur telescope. You can move easily with this telescope.
It is not that great as a more powerful and costly telescope. So, you cannot expect to observe the surface of Mars. Though you can observe Mars and other Galaxies, it will not be a good choice for you if you want to go deep in the sky.
3. Meade Instruments 216006 Polaris 130 EQ
This telescope is a very good choice for you if are a beginner or intermediate user. This has the largest aperture of 130mm. So, it will be able to deliver a bright and clear image of the objects in the sky. It is a perfect gateway for you to the cosmos. This telescope is capable of produce images of the moon, Mars, other galaxies like Andromeda.
Once polar aligned, you will be able to see deep sky objects because of its larger aperture. The equatorial mount and slow-motion control will allow you to locate celestial objects easily because it rotates with the earth. This telescope comes with three different eyepieces: 26mm for low magnification, 9mm for medium magnification and 6.3mm for high magnification. So, you can view a wide range of celestial objects.
The 216006 Polaris telescope includes metal German equatorial mount and slow-motion control so that you can track the objects easily. This comes with a 2x Barlow lens which can double the magnification of each eyepiece. The red dot viewfinder will help you to keep track of the objects you want to observe.
The astronomical software and the instructional DVD are very useful for beginner and intermediate users. You can easily use the telescope by watching the instructional DVD. You can also plan your observation by the free software provided with the telescope.
The larger the aperture, the better the view. This telescope is equipped with a larger aperture and German equatorial mount with slow-motion control. It comes with three different eyepieces for a wide range of view field.
The software is available for Windows only. So, if you have a MAC computer, you cannot use the software which has information about ten thousand celestial objects.
4. ToyerBee Telescope 76mm Aperture 700MM
If you are looking for a telescope by which you can observe the moon, Jupiter’s moon, Saturn’s ring, and other terrestrial objects, then this telescope is for you. But let me remind you that it is not that great to observe the galaxies or Mars’ surface. It is perfect for beginners, kids, and adults. The focal length of the telescope is 700mm. But the aperture is not that great. The aperture is 76mm which is perfect for terrestrial objects viewing and our galaxy’s objects viewing.
The installation of the telescope is very easy. All you need to do is follow the instruction manual and ten minutes! No extra tool is required. So, if you have kids in the house, they can easily observe the sky.
It comes with three eyepieces: H20mm can produce 35x magnification, H12.5mm can produce 56x magnification and the H4mm can produce the magnification of 175x. It also comes with a 2x Barlow lens by which you can double the magnification of each eyepiece.
The tripod comes with the telescope is adjustable from 21’ to 41’. So, kids and adults can easily use the telescope. The product includes a tray for convenient storing of the accessories. The telescope is 360 degrees rotatable. So, you won’t miss the object you are observing.
The main objective of this telescope is to give you an easy and very simple installation procedure. The simple and easy installation makes this telescope usable not only by the adults but also by the kids of your house also.
It does not come with any software. It is a major problem with this telescope we think. The aperture (76mm) is not that great for viewing other galaxies like Andromeda, Orion of Nebula, or the surface of the moon or Mars. It is actually made for very beginners. But you can use the telescope for terrestrial objects viewing in which it is great we think.
5. Zhumell 76mm AZ Reflector Telescope
In terms of quality, features, and price, the Zhumell 76mm AZ reflector telescope is a good choice for everyone. To gather enough light, it features a 76mm aperture by which you can easily observe different celestial objects like planets, star clusters, moon etcetera. Though the aperture is not that great, still it can produce brighter and crisp images of the objects. It makes it a perfect telescope for the beginner.
It comes with two eyepieces: a 25mm eyepiece for low magnification and 10mm for high magnification. You will also get a 2x Barlow lens by which you can double the magnification power of each eyepiece. The best thing about this telescope is that it didn’t consider the accessories though the price is pretty much lower than any other telescope on the market. The package comes with a full-height aluminum tripod and accessories tray.
Another interesting feature in this price point is the red dot LED finderscope. To focus an object at the center of the eyepieces, it projects a red dot onto the glass window. All you need to do is place the dot on top of your desired object. It will be centered on the eyepiece automatically. So, kids will also be able to use it easily.
The installation of the telescope is very easy. An instruction manual is provided. Just spend a couple of minutes and follow the manual. You are ready to observe the object of the sky. The weight and the size of the telescope made it compact and portable. You can easily move with the telescope or just sit at your backyard and enjoy the view of the sky.
This a beginner level telescope. So, the aperture is not that good I think. But at this price point, we cannot complain. For terrestrial objects and our galaxy’s object viewing, this will be a good choice in this price range.
Best Reflector Telescope Buying Guide
If you are a beginner level user, then this section should be followed before buying any telescope.
Reflector or Refractor: There are two types of telescope: refractor telescope and reflector telescope. Make sure which type of telescope you want. If you don’t know the difference between these two types, then follow the next section of this article.
Aperture: The more the aperture, the more light will be gathered. So, make sure that the aperture is good enough.
Eyepieces to: consider: Different types of eyepieces should be included in the package for different types of magnification. So, keep it in mind that you get more than one eyepieces with the telescope.
consider: Different types of eyepieces should be included in the package for different types of magnification. So, keep it in mind that you get more than one eyepieces with the telescope.
Mount Selection: What type of mount is used in the telescope is another consideration. Because it helps you to adjust and install the telescope perfectly for viewing celestial and terrestrial objects.
Better Lens Better Magnification: The lens provided with the telescope is very important. It can enhance the magnification power of the eyepieces. Make sure you get a good lens with enough enhancing magnification power.
Portability: If you move a lot, then take a deeper look at the weight and size of the telescope.
Accessories: Make sure that you get all the necessary accessories like tripod, accessories tray etcetera with the package.
Before buying any telescope, we think these considerations should be followed strictly.
Reflector vs Refractor Telescope
Before buying a telescope, you must know the main differences between reflector and refractor telescope.
Projection: In the reflector telescope, the image is reflected on the mirrors and the reflected image is projected on the eye. But in the refractor telescope, the light and images are gathered by lenses and then the image is projected and magnified on the eye.
Aperture: Reflector telescope generally comes with big aperture whereas the refractor telescope tends to be of smaller aperture.
Size Consideration: In terms of the size of the telescope and quality of the produced image, the refractor telescope is better than a reflector. The refractor telescope is small in size and tends to produce a sharper and brighter image.
Money Consideration: You can get a big reflector telescope by spending less money than a refractor. So, if you are a beginner and don’t want to spend much money then we suggest you go for the reflector.
Types of Image produced: The reflector telescope produces a reversed image on the eye but the refractor telescope projects a normal image. So, for terrestrial object viewing, the refractor telescope is more useful than a reflector.
Maintenance: The reflector telescope needs more maintenance than a refractor. The installation process is more complex in the reflector telescope too.
These are the basic differences between reflector telescope and refractor. You should consider these differences before buying a suitable one.
How to Use a Reflector Telescope
The reflector telescope needs adjustment before using it. So, you should have a little knowledge about using a reflector telescope. The steps of using a reflector telescope are given below:
Know the Telescope: Get yourself familiar with the name and functions of individual eyepieces, lock, lens, and knob. You can have these in the instruction manual of the telescope.
Every manufacturer has its different type of lock for locking the eyepieces in place. So, you should practice to change and lock different eyepieces in place.
Finderscope Pointing: Now, it’s time to find the finder scope. You have to use it to adjust the telescope. For this reason, you have to find the locations of the screws which are surrounding the finder scope. Then you can align the telescope easily.
Find a dark and open place and place the telescope. Put the low power magnification eyepiece. Remove the lens cap. Then rotate the telescope until the object comes into view. Adjust the telescope until the object is centered on the eyepiece.
Now, it is time to explore the galaxy. Feel free to use the telescope. The telescope is now aligned perfectly. Study the star charts before finding and exploring the object you want to observe.
FAQ
Q: Can I use a reflector telescope for astrophotography?
Ans: Yes. But the telescope has to be made this way that a camera can be set on to it. Otherwise, you have to use other tools instead of your camera.
Q: What can be seen through the reflector telescope?
Ans: You can observe the celestial objects as well as terrestrial objects. You can observe the moon, Mars, Andromeda galaxy and thousands of different objects.
Q: Can I travel with this type of telescope?
Ans: Yes. But a reflector telescope weighs more than a refractor telescope. The size is generally too big. So, you may find it difficult to move with this type of telescope.
Q: What is best for a beginner telescope user: reflector or refractor?
Ans: In terms of maintenance and installation, the refractor telescope is better than the reflector telescope.
Conclusion
After reviewing all the telescopes, we can ensure that the telescopes we reviewed are best in this price range. If you are a beginner user and don’t know where to start, we recommend you to buy any of the telescopes mentioned above. We hope you will be able to decide which one to buy and which one will be best for you after reading the whole article.
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