Kids Handheld Telescope
Amazon
Children love looking up at the stars and imagining distant galaxies, but with just your eyes, you can only see so much. Telescopes for kids can help them explore stars and planets, stimulating both their imagination and STEM skills.
Telescopes work by using a lens or curved mirror to gather and focus light from the sky, so you can see the stars and planets more clearly. The ability to collect light is related to the diameter of the lens or mirror (a.k.a aperture); the larger the telescope's aperture, the more you can see.
Worried about knowing which is the best telescope to buy? Trust the science-backed testing at The Good Housekeeping Institute. The GH Little Lab is comprised of engineers who evaluate toys and science tools for accuracy, ease of use, and safety. Plus, we test with kids of all ages who use the toys and provide the kind of unbiased feedback only kids can. These picks are from top tested brands, telescopes with innovative new features, or products with rave online reviews.
What's the best telescope for my child?
When buying a kids telescope, there are many factors to consider, but we recommend focusing on telescope type, aperture size, ease of use features, and cost. Telescopes are available in three general types:
- Refractor telescopes are the most common type of telescope for kids and the most affordable. A long tube attached to a lens magnifies objects in the sky or ground.
- Reflector telescopes use a curved mirror instead of a lens for greater clarify and quality with clearer views of the sky than refractor telescopes, but cannot be used to magnify objects on Earth.
- Compound telescopes combine the best of both refractor and reflector telescopes as they have both lenses and mirrors to see clearly images in space and Earth side. Note these are very pricey tools not suitable for young children, but better-suited for teens.
Shop the best telescopes for kids of 2020 to explore galaxies near and far, far away:
1
Best Refractor Telescope for Kids
Portable Refractor Telescope
Celestron amazon.com
$129.99
For under $100, this refractor telescope from Celestron has over 3,000 rave Amazon reviews for being easy to set up and use, capturing clear images of the Moon and wildlife on Earth. It has a 70mm aperture and comes with two eye pieces (20mm and 10mm) to see celestial objects more clearly. A tripod and carrying bag are also included for easy toting on adventures.
- Under $100
- Included tripod and bag
- Clear images of wildlife and space
- Some reviewers wish the plastic material was more durable
2
Best Reflector Telescope for Kids
AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope
Celestron amazon.com
$399.70
This reflector telescope is popular for super clear images of planets, likely thanks to the 114mm aperture. With excellent accessories included, such as two eyepieces, a tripod, a downloadable astrology software program, and a StarPointer red dot finderscope, this telescope is ready to go out of the box. Reviewers love the clarity on this telescope for the $250 price point.
- Clear view of celestial objects
- Reviewers found it easy to focus
- Smart phone adapter must be purchased separately
3
Best Value Telescope for Kids
Kids Refractor Telescope
MaxUSee amazon.com
$49.99
If you want to save money while still giving your kid an easy to use telescope, this pick is less than $40 and has a minimal design. This refractor telescope from MaxUSee has a 40mm aperture to see the sky somewhat clearly with better views on ground. Reviewers say this is the "perfect beginner telescope" with clear instructions, making it easy to use. It also includes a Moon mirror to help reduce glare when viewing the Moon and a built-in compass to analyze the stars more easily.
- Just $38
- Easy-to-understand instructions
- Smaller aperture can cause blurrier images
4
Best Beginner Telescope for Kids
Nancy B's Science Club MoonScope
Educational Insights amazon.com
$59.99
In our testing, parents loved that this telescope from Educational Insights because it includes a book and lots of slides to keep children entertained while learning. This telescope is a working model designed for younger kids with everything they'll need to see the moon, including 18x and 90x magnifications, finder scope, and Moon filter to reduce glare. The tripod makes it easy to set up and the 22-page journal provides lots of guidance on what they should be looking for.
- Tons of educational tools included
- Colorful designs
- Focus can be challenging
5
Best Portable Telescope for Kids
Refractor Telescope for Kids 70mm Apeture Travel Scope
SOLOMARK amazon.com
$99.99
Before buying a travel telescope, make sure it's easy to set up and carry. This refractor telescope with 70mm aperture includes a backpack specifically designed to hold the telescope and accessories. There's a mobile phone adapter for easy viewing and snapping pictures. Reviewers rave that it's easy to carry and set up when on the go, but the tripod can be a bit wobbly.
- Included backpack for easy carrying
- 70mm aperture
- Mobile phone adapter
- Some reviewers note that the tripod can be shaky
6
Best Astrophotography Telescope for Kids
Inspire 80AZ Refractor Smartphone Adapter Built-in Telescope
Celestron amazon.com
$385.00
Not every telescope is compatible with cameras and snapping a picture through the lens can lead to blurry images. This telescope has a smartphone adapter built in for easy astrophotography, capturing clear images. With an 80mm aperture on a refractor telescope, reviewers enjoyed the crisp views of the sky as wall as of birds and nature too.
- Built-in smart phone adapter
- Clear photos
- No-tool set up
- Some reviewers say it's best to purchase an additional package for more magnification options
7
Best Toy Telescope for Young Kids
GeoSafari Jr. Talking Telescope
Educational Insights amazon.com
$54.99
Don't wait 'til nighttime to explore stars and planets with your little one. This Educational Insights telescope features images from NASA with hundreds of fun facts about space, so you can explore space indoors. The knobs and buttons are designed to be easy to use with little hands. Although you cannot actually see space outside with this telescope, it's a great toy to encourage STEM learning.
- Hundreds of fun facts and interactive quizzes
- Audio available in four languages
- Designed for little hands and kids under 6
- Shows images from NASA not the sky
8
Best Telescope for Advanced Star Gazers
Orion 10016 StarBlast 6 Astro Reflector Telescope
Orion amazon.com
Once your kid or teen masters the basics and it's time for an upgrade, look no farther than the Orion StarBlast 6 Astro Reflector Telescope. It has a 150mm (6 inches) aperture for clear images of stars and nebulas beyond our own galaxy. Coming pre-assembled, setup is a breeze, but note that it's a tabletop telescope without a tripod.
- Crisp images beyond our own galaxy
- Impressive 150mm aperture
- Delivered pre-assembled
- Tabletop design; no tripod
Emma Seymour, Good Housekeeping Institute Product Testing Analyst, Textiles, Paper and Plastics Lab Emma Seymour is a test analyst in the Textiles, Paper and Plastics Lab at The Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates fiber-based products ranging from bedding to clothing.
Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping Institute Chief Technologist & Director of Engineering Rachel is the chief technologist and director of engineering at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all labs.
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Source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/childrens-products/g33608427/best-telescopes-for-kids/
