Advocate III
There are some cool basic telescopes from Celestron and others. That said the difference between a $100-$200 telescope and a $500-$700 telescope is really significant. It's more about the steadiness and quality of the mounts and computer assistance than anything. The optics are better too of course but even less expensive telescope will make the moon look amazing. Planets benefit from a little more magnification. But when you go out to dark skies and start looking at dim, faint objects, aperture (diameter of the lens or mirror) makes a huge difference. So... buy the biggest aperture telescope your budget can handle for that. The other thing to consider is how much computer help you want. A telescope that is computer driven or works with an app on your phone will help you find a lot of things to see much more easily. Without that you need some good charts and a basic familiarity with the night sky. BTW, even regular old binoculars are really good too for viewing the moon and some wider star formations. They can be little harder to hold still but I love them.
A few of options at really different price points:
Entry level, ~$100
Travel Scope 70 DX Portable Telescope with Smartphone Adapter | Celestron
Get a new perspective on nature and the Universe with the ideal day-to-night telescope, Travel Scope 70 DX. This refractor telescope includes a full height tripod and lots of bonus accessories, include a smartphone adapter so you can capture images and video through the eyepiece. It all packs up...
www.celestron.com
Basic computer/phone compatible, ~$200
StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ | Celestron
Celestron has reinvented the manual telescope with StarSense Explorer—the first telescope that uses your smartphone to analyze the night sky and calculate its position in real time. StarSense Explorer is ideal for beginners thanks to the app’s user-friendly interface and detailed tutorials. It’s...
www.celestron.com
Best starter telescopes that are very high quality, ~$500 - $800 (not cheap but very good)
NexStar 4SE Computerized Telescope | Celestron
Celestron’s signature orange-tube telescope combines advanced features and excellent optics in one easy-to-use system, the NexStar 4SE. It’s the perfect choice for your first serious telescope, offering striking views at an economical price. Our Founder’s Vision, Reimagined for the 21st...
www.celestron.com
NexStar 5SE Computerized Telescope | Celestron
Celestron’s signature orange-tube telescope combines advanced features and excellent optics in one easy-to-use system, the NexStar 5SE. It’s the perfect choice for your first serious telescope, offering striking views at an economical price. Our Founder’s Vision, Reimagined for the 21st...
www.celestron.com
NexStar 6SE Computerized Telescope | Celestron
Celestron’s signature orange-tube telescope combines advanced features and excellent optics in one easy-to-use system, the NexStar 6SE. It’s the perfect choice for your first serious telescope, offering striking views at an economical price. Our Founder’s Vision, Reimagined for the 21st...
www.celestron.com
Break the bank, ~$1700. (I think this is the optimal combination of large aperture and portability, but it's a lot of $$$).
NexStar Evolution 8 Telescope | Celestron
"This robotic WiFi telescope is the coolest app-cessory in the galaxy"-Wired.com "5-star overall rating"-BBC Sky at Night Magazine The NexStar Evolution is the first Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with integrated WiFi. Leave your hand control behind and slew to all the best celestial objects with...
www.celestron.com
Here are a couple of shots I've taken with a small 3 inch telescopes. They look much smaller through an eye piece but this is the kind of detail you can sometimes see... if the atmosphere if stable and clear.
