Orion vs Celestron Telescopes: Which is Better?

If you’re just getting into astronomy and you’re looking for the basic tools to get started, Orion has some of the most affordable offerings available. For under $50, you can get their Infinity series 50-millimeter refracting telescope with a precision Alt-azimuth mount, three eyepieces with different levels of magnification, and an aluminum tripod for mounting.

For a bit more, you can step up to their Adventure Scope or StarPro AZ lines. Here you can move up from a 50-millimeter refractor to a 70-millimeter refractor with a 700-millimeter focal length and slow-motion control cables.

Beginner

If you’re looking for a budget-priced beginner telescope that’s still got the features you need to have fun observing outer space, then you can’t go wrong with Orion. Their Observer II Altazimuth Refractor Telescope is well under $100 making it very affordable to get started in astronomy. In fact, Orion offers several telescopes and packages around the $100 price point to give you plenty of options for getting started.

StarMax 90mm TableTop Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope

Compact but plenty powerful, the StarMax Tabletop Telescope brings portability to stargazing. At just 6.5 pounds and 20 inches tall, this device is small enough to bring with you on trips where the night sky will be more visible, like when you’re camping. Unfortunately, no carrying case is included to keep it safe during travel.

But just because it’s small doesn’t mean you’ll be missing out on anything. This telescope includes two eyepieces to ensure that you’ll be able to get the full picture. One eyepiece offers 50x magnification, the other provides an impressive 125x. This will allow you to see Jupiter and all four moons if conditions permit.

The 90-millimeter aperture allows viewing of brighter deep space objects such as nebulas, galaxies, and the surface of the moon. But it’s not going to be quite as bright as you might see with a much larger telescope. Still, it’s an affordable way to get started with astronomy and will allow you to clearly see many heavenly bodies.

Intermediate

If you’ve graduated past the beginning stages of astronomy and you need a more serious tool for continued astronomical study, Orion still has you covered. Starting at about $300 and ranging up to around $600, their intermediate lineup offers improved features and functions over their beginner-friendly offerings. In this range, some of the models are even completely computerized, offering one-touch navigation that will point your telescope to the exact right spot with the touch of a button.

StarSeeker IV 102mm GoTo Mak-Cass Telescope

With computerized motion and a massive GoTo database of more than 42,000 celestial objects, the StarSeeker IV 102mm GOTO Mak-Cass Telescope can help you take your astronomy to the next level. You’ll just need to properly align the telescope, then you’ve got one-touch capabilities at your fingertips.

Input the object you want to see and the telescope will automatically focus on the right spot for you to view. Even better, you’ll be able to manually aim the telescope without losing your alignment! But the backlash or lag can be substantial, making it difficult to manually track objects.

Thanks to the extended focal length of 1300 millimeters and the f/12.7 aperture, you’ll be able to see razor-sharp detail in far-off planets and other space objects. Once you locate an object, you can relax and let the StarSeeker track it while you view. No more losing your target as the skies change during the night.

Included with this telescope are two 60-degree eyepieces that offer 57x and 130x magnification respectively. You’ll also get the 90-degree diagonal for more comfortable viewing, plus the GoTo hand controller for easily inputting coordinates to electronically control the telescope.

Advanced

When it comes to high-end, professional-level telescopes, Orion has quite a few offerings. Ranging in price from $1,000 to $9,500, they’ve got offerings for every budget. These are top-of-the-line telescopes with incredible features. Some include cameras and mounts, many are computer-controlled, all will allow you to see the sky as you’ve never seen it before.

Orion 10135 SkyQuest XT10g Computerized GOTO Dobsonian Telescope

Completely motorized and electronically controlled, the Orion SkyQuest XT10g Computerized GoTo Dobsonian Telescope will help you discover the heavens as you’ve never imagined. It’s got a massive 10-inch aperture reflector that gathers tons of light, enabling you to see great detail in celestial bodies that are many lightyears away.

With GoTo technology, you can easily locate any of 42,000 charted heavenly objects with the press of a button. Then, the XT10g will automatically track your subject so all you have to do is observe. And with a maximum usable magnification of 300x, you’ll be able to see detail in celestial objects that are far past the range of lower-end telescopes.

One of the biggest draws to this device is the computer-controlled GoTo software. But you’ll need a 12V power supply if you want to use any of the motorized features. You’ll also need to make sure it’s properly aligned to start with. Once you do, you’ll be able to manually adjust the telescope as desired and it will still retain its alignment so you can return with the push of a button.

Beginner

If you’re looking for a solid place to get started with astronomy, Celestron’s beginner lineup is packed full of inexpensive options so you can start finding and following your favorite heavenly bodies right away. In fact, there are more than a dozen telescopes in the Celestron lineup that you can get for under $100.

The PowerSeeker models start below $50 and come in a variety of builds. You also have FirstScope models and Travel Scope portable telescopes available in the same price range, giving you plenty of choices for picking the right telescope to get started with.

AstroMaster 76EQ Newtonian Telescope 

The AstroMaster 76EQ is an affordably-priced entry-level telescope that is perfect for beginning astronomers to get started with. It’s got high-quality optics that are fully coated and produce a clear and crisp image. This is an ideal telescope for observing the moon, stars, and even other planets in our solar system. But you’ll probably want to get an eyepiece with more magnification for getting a more detailed view.

Still, this one comes with two eyepieces, 10-millimeter and 20-millimeter, to give you some options with how you’re observing. You’ll also get an adjustable-height tripod to set the telescope on. It’s surprisingly stable with 1.25-inch thick legs made of steel tubing.

This telescope features two slow-motion control knobs to allow precise control. You can use them to make precision adjustments to find and follow celestial objects. And like with all of Celestron’s products, this telescope comes with a two-year warranty so you’ll be able to observe the skies for years.

Intermediate

Once you’ve graduated past entry-level telescopes and you are ready for something a bit closer to professional quality, Celestron has many intermediate-level offerings that will open up new doors for you and expand your reach into the universe.

The StarSense series begins around $400 and offers smartphone control. The NexStar lineup also starts around the same price and provides fully computerized telescopes that can find almost any object in space automatically once you input the coordinates.

This can make it considerably easier and far faster to locate and follow your favorite heavenly bodies, especially since the computer can follow them for you while you sit back and observe.

NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope

How many celestial objects can you find and name in the sky? Certainly not as many as the 40,000 objects you can set your Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope to find. All you have to do is push a few buttons to tell it which objects to locate, then, let the computer do the work. In a few seconds, your telescope will be pointed directly at the objects you wish to observe. Even better, the telescope will continue to follow them as the earth rotates and the sky seems to move. All you have to do is observe!

This telescope is designed to let you see far out into space, observing the planets in our solar system in greater detail than you’ve likely ever seen before. With a 130-millimeter aperture, the NexStar 130SLT lets in enough light to let you see past the reaches of our solar system, though you’d see even more if you upgraded the eyepieces.

With this powerful telescope, you can see the rings around Saturn or the cloud bands that surround Jupiter. And thanks to the SkyAlign technology this telescope is equipped with, you will be able to get it aligned quickly with no hassle.

Advanced

If you’ve been studying the celestial world for years and you’re ready to move on to the top-tier telescopes that can view the farthest reaches of space, then the most advanced telescopes in Celestron’s lineup are going to suit you well. These devices start at about $2,000 and go up from there, reaching prices over $8,000.

For the price, you’ll get a lot of telescope. They’re all computer-controlled, allowing you to find any object in space with the touch of a few buttons. More importantly, these telescopes are ultra-powerful. Some sport rare-earth glass lenses, all of them have lenses free of coma and field curvature. No matter which one you choose, you’ll be able to see space with brand new eyes.

CPC 1100 StarBright XLT GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain 2800mm Telescope

If you want a powerful telescope with top-notch functionality and you’re not afraid of the high sticker price, then the Celestron CPC 1100 StarBright telescope is a great choice. This 11-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is equipped with Star Bright XLT optical coatings that allow for maximum light intake, giving you the brightest and most detailed view possible.

This telescope comes with a heavy-duty tripod to mount it on. Two-inch steel legs will hold the telescope steady and a fully computerized dual fork Azimuth mount makes it easy to maneuver the telescope however you see fit. Plus, the internal GPS on the StarBright means that it can locate nearly any celestial object with the push of a few buttons.

You’ll get a handy remote control with this telescope as well. This makes it possible to view important information or make adjustments while you’re viewing without having to step away or break your concentration.