Best Telescopes to Buy This Holiday Season (2025) – Ultimate Buying Guide

Updated on October 02, 2025 | By Jameswebb Discovery Editorial Team 

The 2025 holiday season is the perfect opportunity to spark curiosity about the cosmos. With a vast range of telescopes available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate stargazer, or an expert astronomer, this guide covers 70+ top telescopes—including smart scopes, refractors, reflectors, and Dobsonians—complete with affiliate links to help you buy the perfect telescope for your needs.

How to Choose the Right Telescope

Before diving into our comprehensive list, consider these key factors:

• Aperture Size: Larger apertures capture more light, revealing fainter details in the night sky.

• Mount Type: Alt-Azimuth mounts are simple to use, while Equatorial mounts are ideal for tracking celestial objects and astrophotography.

• Portability: Compact, lightweight telescopes are travel-friendly; larger scopes offer better performance but are less mobile.

• Technology: Smart telescopes with Wi-Fi or smartphone integration simplify locating and tracking celestial objects.

• Budget: Telescopes range from ~$50 for beginner scopes to $2,500+ for advanced models.
  
  

Telescopes for Beginners

Perfect for casual stargazers and young learners, beginner telescopes are easy to set up and user-friendly.

• Celestron FirstScope 76 – Compact tabletop reflector for kids; lightweight and easy to set up.
  
  

• Celestron Travel Scope 70 – Portable refractor, ideal for quick night sky observations while traveling.
  
  

• Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ – Affordable alt-azimuth refractor with clear optics and tripod.
  
  

• Celestron Inspire 80AZ – 80mm refractor with tripod and smartphone adapter for easy observation.
  
  

• Gskyer 60mm AZ Refractor – Lightweight and compact, perfect for first-time astronomers.
  
  

• Gskyer 70mm AZ Refractor – Improved aperture for brighter and sharper views.
  
  

• Gskyer 80mm AZ Refractor – Excellent entry-level telescope with smooth alt-azimuth mount.
  
  

• Gskyer 90mm AZ Refractor – Larger aperture for more detailed beginner views.
  
  

• National Geographic 70mm Reflector – Affordable reflector with decent optics for casual stargazing.
  
  

• National Geographic 90mm Refractor – Clear lunar and planetary views with upgraded aperture.
  
  

• Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ – Beginner-friendly equatorial reflector for learning tracking and star-hopping.
  
  

Telescopes for Intermediate Users

Intermediate telescopes offer larger apertures, sharper optics, and often include GoTo or tracking capabilities.

• Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ – 114mm reflector with equatorial mount, perfect for deep-sky objects.
  
  

• Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ – 130mm Newtonian reflector, ideal for planets and star clusters.
  
  

• Celestron Omni XLT 102 – 102mm refractor with premium optics for detailed lunar and planetary observation.
  
  

• Celestron SkyProdigy 130 – Smart auto-alignment telescope, easy to set up for intermediate users.
  
  

• Celestron Astro Fi 90 – Wi-Fi enabled telescope with smartphone integration.
  
  

• Celestron NexStar 4SE – Compact Schmidt-Cassegrain with GoTo mount, portable and precise.
  
  

• Celestron NexStar 5SE – 5-inch SCT, excellent for planetary observation.
  
  

• Celestron NexStar 6SE – 6-inch SCT, ideal for more serious intermediate astronomers.
  
  

• Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ – Guided stargazing using StarSense technology to locate 4,000+ celestial objects.
  
  

• Celestron Ultima 80 – Smooth-mounted refractor, perfect for casual observers.
  
  

• Celestron Ultima 100 – 100mm refractor for brighter and sharper views.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher Heritage 76 – Tabletop Dobsonian, easy for casual stargazing.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher Startravel 80 – Travel-friendly refractor for planetary and lunar views.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher Evostar 80ED – High-quality ED glass for crisp imaging.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher Evostar 120ED – 120mm APO refractor for detailed observations.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher Explorer 130P – 130mm Newtonian with GoTo mount.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher Explorer 150P – 150mm reflector with superior light-gathering.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher Startravel 120 – Compact 120mm refractor for astrophotography on the go.
  
  

• Celestron LCM 114 – Tabletop 114mm reflector, simple and effective.
  
  

Telescopes for Expert Users

Expert-level telescopes include large apertures, advanced optics, and computerized or smart features.

• Celestron NexStar 8SE – 8-inch SCT with GoTo mount, ideal for deep-sky exploration.
  
  

• Celestron NexStar Evolution 6 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope – Wi-Fi enabled smart SCT for remote control.
  
  

• Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 – 8-inch SCT with rechargeable battery and Wi-Fi integration.
  
  

• Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25 – 9.25-inch SCT, excellent for high-magnification planetary and deep-sky imaging.
  
  

• Celestron CPC 800 GPS – Computerized telescope with GPS alignment and advanced tracking.
  
  

• Celestron CPC 925 GPS – Large aperture SCT with computerized mount for serious enthusiasts.
  
  

• Celestron CPC 1100 GPS – 11-inch SCT, ideal for astrophotography.
  
  

• Celestron EdgeHD 800 – 8-inch SCT with EdgeHD optics for imaging without field curvature.
  
  

• Celestron EdgeHD 925 – 9.25-inch EdgeHD for deep-sky astrophotography.
  
  

• Celestron Advanced VX 8-Inch Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope – 8-inch SCT with equatorial mount for precise tracking.
  
  

• Celestron C8-A XLT – Classic 8-inch SCT with upgraded optics.
  
  

• Celestron C9.25-A XLT – High-performance 9.25-inch SCT.
  
  

• Celestron C11-A XLT – 11-inch SCT, ideal for deep-sky observation.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher Skymax-180 PRO – Maksutov-Cassegrain, high magnification for lunar and planetary observation.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher FlexTube 200P – 200mm Dobsonian with collapsible tube for deep-sky observing.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher FlexTube 250P – 250mm Dobsonian, massive light-gathering power for faint objects.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 – Maksutov-Cassegrain with high-contrast planetary views.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTi 130P – 130mm smart tabletop Dobsonian with automated tracking.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher Dobsonian 8 – Classic 8-inch Dobsonian for deep-sky enthusiasts.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher Dobsonian 10 – 10-inch Dobsonian for faint galaxies and nebulae.
  
  

• Sky-Watcher Dobsonian 12 – 12-inch Dobsonian, ultimate deep-sky performer.
  
  

• Unistellar eVscope eQuinox 2 – Smart digital telescope with enhanced vision for deep-sky imaging.
  
  

• Unistellar eVscope 2 – Next-gen smart telescope with app control.
  
  

• Vaonis Vespera Smart Telescope – Compact smart telescope with automated image capturing.
  
  

• ZWO Seestar S50 – Advanced telescope for astrophotography.
  
  

• Celestron SkyMaster 25x100 – High-powered binocular telescope for lunar and planetary views.
  
  

• Celestron SkyMaster 20x80 – Large binocular-style telescope for astronomy enthusiasts.
  
  

Tips for Buying a Telescope This Holiday Season

1. Know Your Goals – Are you observing planets, deep-sky objects, or photographing the sky?

2. Check Portability – Larger telescopes offer more detail but are harder to transport.

3. Consider Smart Features – GoTo and app-enabled scopes simplify star-hopping.

4. Read Reviews – User experiences reveal ease-of-use, setup, and image quality.

5. Budget Wisely – Don’t overspend if you’re a beginner; focus on quality optics within your price range.
   
   

Conclusion:

This holiday season, gifting a telescope is not just a present—it’s an invitation to explore the universe. From beginner-friendly models like the Celestron FirstScope 76 to expert telescopes like the Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25, there’s a perfect option for everyone. By considering your experience, observing goals, and desired features, you can confidently pick the telescope that will provide years of astronomical adventures.