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what telescope should i buy

For most people, the best first telescope is a 4.5-inch to 5-inch Dobsonian or a simple app-guided reflector : it gives strong views, is easier to use than many cheap tripod scopes, and won’t be outgrown too quickly.

Best pick by use

  • Best overall beginner choice: Celestron NexStar 130SLT. It has enough aperture for planets and some deep-sky viewing, plus automatic target-finding, so it’s one of the easiest “serious” starter options.
  • Best value manual option: Astronomers Without Borders OneSky Reflector. It has a 5-inch mirror and offers strong performance for the money, though you’ll need to learn manual alignment and use a tabletop setup.
  • Best simple, hassle-free option: Celestron Inspire 100AZ. It’s an easy-to-use refractor that works especially well on the Moon and planets, and it’s widely recommended for beginners.
  • Best budget pick: Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ or similar app-guided starter scopes. These are cheaper entry points, but they show less detail than larger-aperture models.

What to buy first

  • If you want the best experience for the money , get a 5-inch Dobsonian or a 5-inch class reflector.
  • If you want easy setup and less frustration , get a GoTo or app-guided scope.
  • If you mainly want the Moon and planets , a good 4-inch refractor is fine.
  • If you want to photograph galaxies , a beginner telescope is usually not the first thing to buy; many beginners do better starting with a camera tracker or a dedicated astro camera setup.

What to avoid

  • Very cheap “department store” telescopes with tiny tripods and huge magnification claims.
  • Tiny apertures with shaky mounts, since stability matters more than flashy numbers.
  • Buying for magnification alone; aperture and mount quality matter much more.

Simple recommendation

If you want one straightforward answer: buy a 5-inch Dobsonian if you want the best learning-and-viewing value, or the Celestron NexStar 130SLT if you want the telescope to help find objects for you.

TL;DR: Dobsonian for value, app/GoTo for convenience, 4-inch refractor for Moon and planets.