8 Best Telescopes in India For Viewing Planets & Galaxies (2024)

To get better visuals of planets, stars, galaxies, and deep space, you need the best telescope in India, which is Celestron AstroMaster 130 EQ Motor Drive Telescope. You can use this reflector telescope for astronomical purposes as well as astrophotography. Together with the 130 mm objective lens diameter and 650 mm focal length, watch the moon’s craters, Saturn’s rings, and faraway nebulas with ease. So, if you are a beginner, rest assured that it will solve your requirements.

Based on factors like optical design, mount, aperture, focal length, magnification, light-gathering power, and price, we have listed a total of 8 worthiest telescopes to buy in India (2024). So, let’s explore what they are good at!

The Best Telescopes In India At A Reasonable Price (2024)

How Useful Is Celestron AstroMaster 130 EQ Telescope?

This equatorial mount telescope has an aperture of 130 mm, which increases the light gathering ability, allowing you to watch distant planets and galaxies that are not visible to the naked eye. Hence you can get the absolute delight of seeing the Andromeda galaxy, the rings of Saturn and Jupiter with its 4 moons.

You get to magnify the images upto 307x, which is very useful for exploring deep space. Besides, its motor drive will rotate the scope automatically to follow the celestial objects, which keep changing with the earth’s rotation. This is a great benefit for astrophotography with a long exposure time.

While your physical location and weather conditions greatly influence the clarity of images produced, you can adjust the two wheels below the eyepiece to get a sharper quality. With the sturdy steel tripod, you don’t have to worry about the stability of the floor-standing telescope either. As a result, you can watch the objects from whatever location you want.

I highly recommend using this telescope with Celestron AstroMaster Accessory Kit to obtain the best result.

How Useful Is Power Seeker 70Az Telescope?

Ordinary telescopes allow viewers to see only the nearest celestial objects, like the moon. But, if you want to gaze at planets like the Saturn and Jupiter, the Celestron Power Seeker telescope is the best fit for you. Being a refractor telescope, you can view both terrestrial and extraterrestrial objects.

This telescope comes with an altazimuth mount for greater stability during stargazing. One can easily use this unshakeable telescope to get a brighter view of the planets and galaxies.

Apart from it, the adjustable eyepiece with 165x magnification allows you to focus in any direction of the deep space. It has 3 Barlow lenses that magnify the subject with high clarity. As a result, you can view any part of the galaxy in a better way, with the absence of haziness.

At the same time, the easy-breezy assembling facility makes it suitable for beginners. Even if you have no prior knowledge and experience, you can view your favourite celestial planets with ease.

How Useful Is Celestron Travel Scope Telescope?

If you love watching deep space and also travel a lot, Celestron Travel Scope Telescope is your perfect choice. As it is compact in design and weighs only 1.5 Kg, you can carry it easily inside the backpack included in the package. Visit a stargazing destination, mount it on the tripod and explore the fantastic views of the stars, planets and galaxies.

Besides, the altazimuth mount gives stability when adjusting the telescope horizontally and vertically. Though it does not come with Barlow lenses, you can buy them separately and use with this Celestron Travel Scope Telescope.

Having two eyepieces of 10 mm and 20 mm with a 5×24 finderscope, you can adjust the telescope to get crisp and sharp images of the celestial objects. The eyepieces offer different magnifications, and the 45° erect image diagonal produces right-side-up images of celestial objects through this refractor telescope. Along with that, the finderscope will help you quickly centre a celestial body in your eyepiece for easier observation.

How Useful Is Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ Telescope?

Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ Telescope strongly supports the gadget using the equatorial mount. You also get the freedom to adjust it to your whims using the two slow-motion knobs available. Hence, you can suit the telescope to your wishes rather than shifting your position.

Using 20 mm and 4 mm eyepieces, you can watch the night sky with sharper clarity. If the observers have the urge to view or study the intricate details of the galaxy, they can do so using the 3 Barlow lenses. Hence, you can view the details of the solar system at a greater magnifying strength.

A telescope must be user-friendly to help the viewers fully focus on stargazing. Celestron 80EQ is a good choice as it comes with essential accessories to watch the craters of the Moon or the rings of Saturn. The built-in tray is helpful for storing the related accessories properly.

The telescope is highly useful to anyone who wants to avoid any fuss. Its installation procedure is easy and works without any external tools. You get to stargaze at night and watch birds during the day effortlessly without any difficulty.

You also get access to Celestron’s astronomy software filled with as many as 10,000 objects, sky maps, and supreme quality images. This aids in planning your astronomical observations and astrophotography.

How Useful Is Celestron PowerSeeker 60EQ Telescope?

It is good for observing anything clearly aiding both terrestrial and astronomical observations. View your favourite planets and galaxies using this high-definition telescope. As it has 3 Barlow lenses, you can increase the magnification and attain its maximum useable power.

While investing in a telescope, you may be worried about its durability. However, with the supreme build quality, Celestron PowerSeeker 60EQ Telescope will last for years to come. The fully coated lenses and sturdy frame make them suitable even for your kids.

In terms of installation, the telescope is also very easy to set up. Even beginners who aim to be astronomers can practice well with ease. Gather knowledge using Celestron’s Starry Night Software which encompasses an enormous database of celestial bodies, and plan your next observing session.

How Useful Is Celestron FirstScope Telescope?

If you are a beginner with no earlier experience of using a telescope, it is your ideal choice. The Dobsonian mounting is easier to use than the equatorial mount, which is available in the previous telescopes listed.

While this telescope weighs only 2.4 Kg, it is compact and portable too. It does not require any complex setup process, and it comes pre-assembled. Thus, you can use it at your home and also carry during your travel. Being one of the most easy-to-use telescopes in India, you can observe and enjoy the celestial bodies in peace.

Its 76 mm objective lens diameter is enough to gather all the light to focus on the moon and planets of the solar system. But, it cannot give clear views of some star clusters and nebulas lightyears away due to the limitations of the optics. However, it is a good choice to start stargazing from the price point (under ₹10000) and basic features.

How Useful Is Pullox Reflector Astronomical Telescope?

If you are looking for a good telescope around ₹10000, but do not prefer Celestron, this astronomical telescope from Pullox is your perfect choice. It is made in India, reasonably priced and suitable for adults and kids with supervision.

Without the need for any other tools, its installation is hassle-free. This reflector telescope comes with 3 basic lenses (20, 12.5 and 4 mm) that can be set up with 2 more Barlow lenses (1.5x and 2x) and a moonlight lens. It comes with a 1.5x erector that adjusts the image horizontally and vertically at ease. You can set up this device on your own and contact Pullox, the manufacturer, for any problem, and they will solve it in days.

This telescope comes with an altazimuth mount on a steel tripod that holds the equipment properly. Align the finderscope with the main scope and focus on any stars or planets using the eyepiece. Magnify your target up to 175x (highest) and 88x (lowest) using the eyepieces while centring the view.

How Useful Is SSEA Refractor Telescope?

This is another made-in-India telescope like our previous pick from Pullox. In this telescope, a 60 mm large aperture with a reasonable light-gathering ability provides spectacular views of the moon and nearby planets. Not only for stargazing at night, but you can also use this telescope for bird watching and wildlife monitoring during the day.

The installation and control procedure of the SSEA telescope is fairly easy, so it is a perfect gift for kids at your home. It comes with 3 eyepieces to adjust your view up to 175x magnification. The best thing I like about this telescope is its compact and sleek design.

After investing in a telescope, you would want to use it properly with no technical difficulties, and if you find any, contact SSEA customer support, and they will be happy to help you.

How to Choose The Best Telescope To View Planets And Galaxies?

India is one such country where a telescope is a must-have gadget for astronomers and astrophotographers who love viewing planets and galaxies. Watching the night sky is an exciting activity while camping in a tent or at home. While high-end binoculars help in stargazing, but they are often not enough to view the far-away galaxies and nebulas.

At the same time, dust and light pollution alteres the dynamics of visibility. So, you need a telescope with high clarity, a large aperture and focal length. Here we have shortlisted the key decision-making factors which are essential to select a suitable telescope in 2024.

Types of Telescopes

• Reflector Telescope: The reflector telescopes work best for studying the deep space as they have a higher light-gathering capacity with no chromatic aberrations. While these telescopes are more affordable, they are bulkier, heavier and need more maintenance. This type of floor-standing telescope is ideal for home use.
• Refractor Telescope: Refractor telescopes are usually costlier than reflector telescopes, but they are more portable, lightweight and do not require heavy maintenance. Besides using at home, refractor telescopes are also good options for stargazing for beginners during travelling and camping.
• Catadioptric/ Compound/ Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope: These telescopes are basically a combination of reflector and refractor telescopes. They are trusted by professional astrophotographers as well as astronomers to observe the galaxy. However, due to advanced technology, compound telescopes are costlier than other types of telescopes.

Mounting of the Telescope

aperture/ Objective Lens Diameter

In telescopes, the aperture is the diameter of its objective lens. It plays a vital role in telescopes as they decide the light-gathering power and how finely you can view objects. In general, the higher the aperture, the better the image produced. An aperture of 60-130 mm works excellent for studying deep space.

While a lower aperture (60-80 mm) is good for viewing the moon and nearby planets, you need a higher aperture (80 mm and beyond) to spot and watch distant galaxies and nebulas.

The selection of the objective lens diameter also depends on the environment’s illumination. In a brighter region, the telescope aperture needs to be greater, even above 80 mm. While in an isolated area with lesser light, telescopes with 60 mm aperture work great.

The Focal Length

Most telescopes have a focal length in the range of 400-1200mm. A short focal length will give a wide field of view, but the objects in the field of view will appear small. On the other hand, a long focal length will give a narrow field of view (small area of sky), but the objects in view will appear larger.

Short focal lengths are ideal for looking at deep space or photographing the milky way. Long focal lengths are most suitable for focusing on specific celestial objects and studying fine details, for example, the craters of the Moon and the rings of Saturn.

Magnification

Besides aperture and focal length, magnification is another important factor in choosing a good telescope. It is defined by the ratio of the objective focal length to the eyepiece focal length. So, to achieve a higher magnification, the eyepiece focal length has to be shorter. Using Barlow lenses is another way to increase the magnification of the telescope.

The highest useful magnification is determined by multiplying 2 by the aperture (mm). On the other hand, the lowest useful magnification can be calculated by dividing the aperture (mm) by 7. For example, if the aperture of a telescope is 80 mm, its theoretical highest useful magnification is 160x, and the theoretical lowest useful magnification is 11.4x.

Eye Relief

This is another important factor to consider, especially if you wear spectacles. It is the distance from the eyepiece within which your eye can get a full view angle. For people wearing spectacles, you must choose a larger eye relief. This would give your eyes enough space to view the celestial objects properly.

Watch the following video for a visual representation on how to choose a telescope.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)