The Best Telescopes Under $1000 for Newbie Space Hobbyists

Are you on a tight budget and looking to explore the cosmos? If so, you might wonder whether you can get telescopes under $1000 that work just as well as the more expensive ones. To help you out, I’ve compiled a list of the best telescopes under $1000 that are perfect for beginners.

Considering Your Location

It's important to consider where you live. If you reside in a light-polluted area like a city or a suburban city, you might want to give serious thought to purchasing a telescope. However, if you're willing to travel to a darker, more rural area, where starlight is less obstructed, you'll have a much better experience. Even from cities, you can still see planets and bright objects like the Pleiades cluster. Refractor telescopes, with apertures between 100 to 127mm or 150mm, are often easier to use.

Types of Telescopes

Newtonian telescopes require periodic collimation, which can be a bit frustrating. If you prefer electronic mechanisms to assist you in pointing the telescope, you might want to expect to spend a few hundred dollars more. Alternatively, you can download a star chart app on your phone. If you're looking for the cheapest option with the biggest aperture, consider a Dobsonian telescope, which is similar to a Newtonian but doesn't require any tripods.

While Dobsonian telescopes come with sample eyepieces that might not be optimal, investing in eyepieces with at least a 60-degree field of view and a flat field is recommended. The flat field gives you a more clear and consistent viewing experience without the "fisheye" effect.

General Consensus

Based on my work with the Houston Astronomical Society and discussions on sites like CloudyNights and Facebook, an 8-inch Dobsonian telescope is often considered the best all-around starter telescope. However, it's important to consider your specific needs, including price, specific interests, and ease of storage and transportation. A Dobsonian telescope combines a classical Newtonian optical assembly with a simple rocker-box mount, providing excellent stability and ease of use.

Factors to Consider

Generally, the larger the aperture, the better for visual astronomy. Larger apertures gather more light and allow for more detail resolution. The cost per inch of aperture for a Newtonian OTA tends to be better than other designs, such as refractors and Schmidt Cassegrain Telescopes (SCT). An 8-inch Newtonian OTA can often be found for around $300, while an 8-inch SCT is likely to run closer to $1,000, and an 8-inch refractor might be priced well into the thousands.

Maintenance and Setup

Due to their simplicity, Dobsonian telescopes require very little maintenance. Proper collimation, a skill easily learned, is the only regular maintenance needed. They also don't require power, unlike "GoTo" Dobsonians, which can be a significant upgrade in cost but are set up much faster. Other types of telescopes, such as SCTs or refractors on German Equatorial mounts, may take upwards of 30 minutes to assemble and align.

Recommended Telescopes

For those looking for an 8-inch Dobsonian telescope on a budget, you might consider the Apertura AD8, Zhumell Z8, or Orion XT8. If you find these prices a bit high, an 8-inch Newtonian DIY telescope like the Orion XT6, which runs under $300, could be a good option. For those who need something slightly smaller but still powerful, an 80mm Newtonian (130mm) like the AWB OneSky Skywatcher Heritage 130P is a solid choice outside the US, or the Zhumell Z130.

For those who are still deciding, a decent pair of binoculars at a lower price point might be a more accessible choice for now.