Recommended Astronomy Equipment for Beginners
Buying your first telescope should be exciting, not confusing or intimidating. These are some useful choices for getting started, whether you want to enjoy the view through an eyepiece or take pictures of the night sky. You don’t need to buy everything on this page. Start with the telescope that fits your interests, then add accessories as you need them.
Support CCAS: We participate in the Agena Astro affiliate program. When you use the product links below, CCAS may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Recommended Telescopes
ZWO Seestar S50 Pro
For beginners interested in astrophotography
This all-in-one smart telescope uses a phone or tablet to find, track, and photograph celestial objects. It’s a convenient way to capture colorful images of nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters without assembling a complicated imaging system. Unlike a traditional telescope, you view the results on a screen rather than through an eyepiece.
We also recommend finding a larger tripod to upgrade the tiny one included with this telescope.
Celestron NexStar 6SE
For beginners who want to observe through an eyepiece
The 6-inch NexStar 6SE offers views of the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, star clusters, and brighter deep-sky objects. Its computerized GoTo mount can find and track targets once the telescope is aligned. It includes a 25mm eyepiece and a red dot finder. We recommend the accessories below when you purchase this telescope.
Useful Telescope Accessories
These accessories improve your observing experience, and are meant to be used specifically with the NexStar 6SE above.
Explore Scientific 16mm 68° Eyepiece
A comfortable step up from a basic starter eyepiece
This 1.25-inch wide-angle eyepiece gives a more expansive view than many standard starter eyepieces. In the NexStar 6SE it provides about 94x magnification, useful for the Moon, star clusters, and a variety of brighter targets.
Celestron PowerTank Lithium
Rechargeable power for computerized telescopes
A portable power supply is useful for observing away from electrical outlets and avoids the recurring cost of disposable batteries. Check that the supplied cable and power output match your telescope.
Celestron NexStar Carrying Case
Protect your telescope in storage and transport
A padded carrying case can help protect a NexStar optical tube when you take it to a club observing night or a dark-sky site. This model is intended for compatible NexStar 4, 5, 6, and 8-inch optical tubes.
Support CCAS While You Shop
CCAS is an affiliate of Agena Astro. When you follow the links on this page and make a qualifying purchase, our club may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us continue providing public stargazing, astronomy education, and community outreach.