Guides

In-depth articles on choosing the right telescope, understanding optics, and getting started with astronomy.

A set of telescope eyepieces laid out beside a telescope under early evening sky

Best Telescope Eyepieces (2026)

The best telescope eyepieces in 2026, scored across 28 models: picks for planets, deep sky, and complete starter sets that upgrade any telescope.

August 15, 2026

A Celestron Luminos wide-field eyepiece standing on an observing table at night

Reviews12 min read

Celestron Luminos Review: Every Focal Length Scored

We scored all six Celestron Luminos eyepieces and read every owner thread. Which focal lengths are worth it, which to skip, and what to buy instead.

August 15, 2026

Educational7 min read

ZWO Filed a New FCC Certification for a Smart Telescope (July 2026)

ZWO cleared a new FCC certification on 23 July 2026, authorized on 5 GHz bands no shipping Seestar uses. Here is exactly what the filing shows, and what it does not.

August 9, 2026

Alex Lindgren on an exposed granite mountaintop on a clear winter night, standing beside a Celestron NexStar 8SE with the Milky Way arc behind

Reviews17 min read

Celestron NexStar 8SE Review: The Honest Verdict

Data-driven NexStar 8SE review: 80/100 overall, where the single-arm mount falls short, what you can really see, and who should buy it at $1,499.

July 14, 2026

Alex Lindgren lifting a padded telescope case from a vehicle hatch at a wooded trailhead, the compact Seestar S30 beside it

Reviews11 min read

Seestar S30 Review: ZWO's $399 Smart Telescope

Honest Seestar S30 review: 90/100 overall, what the $399 smart telescope images well, its Moon and planet limits, and S30 vs S30 Pro vs S50.

July 14, 2026

Astrophotographer with a tracking deep-sky imaging rig under a dark night sky

Buying Guides18 min read

Best Telescopes for Astrophotography (2026)

We scored 150+ telescopes on astrophotography capability. Here are the best scopes for wide-field DSO, planetary imaging, and smart automated setups.

June 6, 2026

Alex Lindgren at a backyard observing site with a Dobsonian reflector, hands on the altitude bearings, viewing through the eyepiece

Educational13 min read

Dobsonian vs Newtonian Telescopes: What's the Difference?

A Dobsonian IS a Newtonian. The only real difference is the mount. Here's why that matters more for what you can do with the telescope than the optics do.

June 6, 2026

Beginner astronomer adjusting an app-guided 114mm reflector telescope on a suburban backyard deck at dusk

Buying Guides17 min read

Best Telescopes Under $300 (2026)

We scored every telescope under $300 and rescored the two reflectors that used to top this list. The honest picks, from a $100 grab-and-go to a 102mm refractor, plus the Dob worth stretching for.

June 5, 2026

$Alex Lindgren on a wraparound cabin porch at nautical twilight, observing through a small refractor telescope on a photo tripod by the railing$

Buying Guides15 min read

Best Telescopes Under $200 (2026)

The best telescopes under $200 that are worth buying, scored across 7 dimensions. Why the two most popular budget reflectors moved to the avoid list, and what to buy instead.

June 4, 2026

The Moon as seen from NASA's Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II flyby

Observing Guides13 min read

Artemis II Moon Telescope Guide: How to Observe the Mission from Your Backyard

NASA's Artemis II crew completed a historic lunar flyby. Here's how amateur astronomers can observe the same features with a backyard telescope, plus what comes next.

April 7, 2026

Alex Lindgren reviewing the ZWO Seestar S50 on a kitchen counter with the Seestar app open on a tablet beside it

Reviews17 min read

ZWO Seestar S50 Review: Is It Worth the Hype?

Honest Seestar S50 review with real-world performance data, score breakdown, comparisons to DWARF 3 and S30, and who should buy this $499 smart telescope.

April 3, 2026

Smart telescopes arranged on a table under a starry night sky

Buying Guides17 min read

Best Smart Telescopes (2026)

We ranked every smart telescope from $275 to $4,599. The ZWO Seestar S50 leads the pack at $499, but the best pick depends on your budget and goals.

March 30, 2026

DWARFLAB DWARF 3 smart telescope set up under a night sky

Reviews13 min read

DWARFLAB DWARF 3 Review: Dual-Lens Smart Telescope Tested

Hands-on DWARF 3 review covering real-world performance, dual-optics system, comparison to Seestar S50 and S30, and who should buy this $549 smart telescope.

March 30, 2026

Premium telescope setup in a backyard observatory with the Milky Way overhead

Buying Guides19 min read

Best Telescopes Under $1,000 (2026)

The best telescopes under $1,000 you can actually buy: GoTo Maks and SCTs, a GoTo Dobsonian, a parabolic 130mm, an 8-inch Dob, and the smart scopes still in stock. Scored, not guessed.

March 29, 2026

Binoculars and a small telescope side by side on a blanket under the stars

Educational14 min read

Binoculars vs Telescope for Stargazing: Which Should You Buy?

Should you start with binoculars or a telescope for astronomy? An honest comparison of what each shows you, plus when to upgrade.

March 29, 2026

Child looking through a telescope at the night sky

Buying Guides26 min read

Best Telescopes for Kids (2026)

Age-appropriate telescope picks for kids 6-14 that won't end up in the closet. Scored for ease of use, portability, value, and honest optics.

March 28, 2026

Telescope pointed at the night sky with Saturn visible

Buying Guides24 min read

Best Telescopes for Seeing Planets and Galaxies (2026)

The best telescopes for seeing planets like Saturn and Jupiter, plus galaxies and nebulae. Ranked by our planetary and deep sky scores.

March 28, 2026

Five different telescope types arranged on a hilltop under a starry night sky

Educational20 min read

Types of Telescopes Explained: A Complete Guide

The 5 telescope types in our database, how they work, what they're best at, and who they're for. Real data from 152 telescopes.

March 28, 2026

$A Newtonian reflector and achromat refractor side by side under a night sky$

Educational20 min read

Reflector vs Refractor Telescopes: Which Design Is Right for You?

Data-driven comparison of reflector and refractor telescopes, including the mirror-quality trap most guides skip. Real specs, scores, and prices from our database.

March 27, 2026

Beginner telescope set up on a backyard patio at dusk with the Moon visible in the sky

Buying Guides19 min read

Best Telescopes for Beginners (2026)

We scored every telescope in our database on beginner-friendliness, value, ease of setup, and now optical execution. Here are the 7 best starter telescopes you can actually buy today.

March 26, 2026

Collection of telescopes at various price points arranged on a wooden surface

Buying Guides15 min read

Best Telescopes Under $500 (2026)

Every telescope under $500 we track, scored across 7 dimensions including optical execution. A parabolic 130mm with app guidance leads, a GoTo Dobsonian follows, and the old value-score favourites are out.

March 25, 2026