Ever since the 16th century astronomer and mathematician, Galileo Galilei, peered through his mirror telescope and gazed out into the heavens, proclaiming with awe and wonder, the magnitude and grandness of the Universe, humanity have followed in his footsteps since that great and historic Galilean moment.
Ever since then, we’ve studied, explored and gazed at everything in the heavens, using the magnificent powers of a telescope. Kids having that natural tendency to explore and be curious, the telescope is one of the most suitable items you could get for them, in satisfying their natural sense of curiosity.
| Home Planetarium | Name | Top Benefits | Discount Link |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Our No.1 Pick Celestron First Scope with Smartphone Adapter |
| Check On Amazon |
 | Celestron Travel Scope |
| Check On Amazon |
 | Celestron 70AZ Power Seeker |
| Check On Amazon |
 | Celestron 70AZ Astro Master |
| Check On Amazon |
What to Look for in choosing a telescope for a child?
Kids telescopes come in all shapes and sizes with different specifications. If you’re not familiar with the subject of telescopes, you might rush off and buy the first affordable telescope you see, as a result of this, you may get the telescope that isn’t the right fit for your child. The key factors to look for when choosing a telescope for your kids are; Aperture, Focal Length, Magnification and Computer Control.
Aperture
Aperture is the total diameter of the lens (or mirror) of your telescope. Similar to animal vision, the wider and larger this lens diameter or aperture, the more you can observe. This, therefore makes the aperture the most important factor of basically any telescope.
Focal Length & Magnification
In lay man’s terms, the focal point, is simply the point where two light rays meet. Thus, the focal length would be the distance from this point, to the lens. The longer this distance (or higher the focal number) the clearer and larger your image will appear.
Computer Control
This is not the most important feature, but it’s good to have, as it automatically moves the telescope, while tracking or locked onto a celestial object in outer space.
Best Telescopes for Children
- Celestron First Scope with Smartphone Adapter
- Celestron Travel Scope
- Celestron 70AZ Power Seeker
- Celestron 70AZ Astro Master
The different types of telescopes for children
Now that you have a better understanding, of what key factors to look for when buying your telescope, that’s half the battle. The other things to know in getting the right telescope for your kids, depends on the age group, those above six and those below six.
Best Telescopes for Children Under Six
When it comes to telescopes for kids under six, there are quite a few factors that go into the design of them. Such as lower height levels adjusters, relatively smaller in size, durability (they are kids after all) and the simplicity of their operations. These are basically refractor telescopes. Here is out top pick for a child under 6 years old.
Celestron 21024 FirstScope Telescope Plus Accessory Kit
A uniquely designed telescope, that pays tribute to both Galileo Galilei and the rest of history’s most notable astronomers, by printing and wrapping their names around the telescope.
Despite its large, 76-millimeter primary mirror, FirstScope features a lightweight, compact design that is also mobile. It comes complete with two eyepieces, 20 mm and 4 mm and has a 75X magnification capability, as well asa 76-millimeter optical tube.
The Accessory kit increases the power and unleashes the full potential of the telescope. It comes with a 12.5 mm Eyepiece -1.25″, which increases the magnifying power to 24x, as well as a 6 mm Eyepiece -1.25″, which increases the power to 50x. The accessory kit, also comes with a moon filter – 1.25”, which reduces the brightness of the moon and improves contrast. It comes with a 5×24 FinderScope& Bracket, which makes it easier to locate astronomical objects with the Telescope.
Pros
- Extremely light and portable
- Visually attractive design, which pays tributes to historical astronomers
- Solid mount with good motions
- Good fit and finish all round
Cons
- Limited to little instructional setup instructions
- No finder
- Limited basic magnification (though can be expanded with Eye Piece in separate kit accessory)
Celestron 21035 70mm Travelscope
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The Celestron 21035 70mm is an incredibly compact telescope that’s designed for the road. It weights only a few pounds, measures only 14×18 inches and comes with an excellent, sturdy travel case. This kids’ telescope, is perfect for your next road trip, vacation, or summer camp, as therereally isn’t anything better. It’s the ultimate mobile telescope.
It comes with two eyepieces for different magnification, Celstron’s great “Sky X” astronomy software, and a side-mounted manual viewfinder. It’s easy to set up, offers great optics, and is light, portable, and very affordable. We recommend it for kids who want to carry it with them and also for younger children because of its low weight and great price.
Pros
- Portable, light and easy to set up
- Full colour and detailed instructional manual
- Represents great value
Cons
- Not that much power
Celestron 21036 PowerSeeker 70AZ Telescope
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When it comes to telescopes for kids in this age category, the Celestron PowerSeeker definitely tops the list. In addition to its light and easy controls, as well as being easy to setup, it possesses a whooping 175X magnification capability, allowing young gazers to see in crisp details. The PowerSeeker has been designed to deliver top quality, as well as the perfect star gazing experience for the aspiring astronomer. As a result of this, it also comes with its own astronomy software package, for mapping and printing out sky maps.
Pros
- Portable, light weight, easy to setup without any tooling or experience required
- 175X magnification, places the optical ability, top of the line within its category
- Correct Image Prism and relatively long focal length
- Affordable and Durable
Cons
- Doesn’t have computer tracking of celestial objects
- Has plastic finder and Barlow Lens
Best Telescopes for Children Above Six
For parents who are looking to get something more long lasting, that can grow with their kids, and could also be shared together in a common activity, then these telescopes listed here will be the preferred options, not just for the kids, but for adults as well.
Celestron 21061 AstroMaster 70AZ Refractor Telescope
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A dual-purpose telescope, that is suitable for both nighttime and daytime view. The AstroMaster 70AZ provides bright, clear images, allowing viewers to see fine details in their subjects. It has a “stick-handle” clutch that allows for smooth and accurate pointing. The permanently mounted red-dot star pointer is also great: Since it can’t be moved, it will always be accurate, making it easy to quickly point the telescope at the right spot in the sky.
The Celestron’s free SkyPortal app for iOS and Android devices to fully experience the potential of the stargazing. Hold your phone up to the sky and identify thousands of objects with a simple tap.The AstroMaster stands out from others with its smart “quick release” tripod mount, which makes it very easy to set up and break down, especially in dark. It’s a great beginner telescope for children over six, which they can happily grow up using.
Pros
- Lightweight, easy to use refractor telescope, that even a child could set it up
- High aperture for broader image capture
- It’s one of the single most popular beginner’s telescopes on the market today
Cons
- Refractors can suffer quite badly from ambient heat from the ground distorting the images you see, so ideally set up the telescope away from any type of heat source
- The tripod was obviously designed for use by children so adults might find it a little short
Celestron 21036 PowerSeeker 70AZ Telescope
Click here to the latest price and availability
When it comes to telescopes for kids in this age category, the Celestron PowerSeeker definitely tops the list. In addition to its light and easy controls, as well as being easy to setup, it possesses a whooping 175X magnification capability, allowing young gazers to see in crisp details. The PowerSeeker has been designed to deliver top quality, as well as the perfect star gazing experience for the aspiring astronomer. As a result of this, it also comes with its own astronomy software package, for mapping and printing out sky maps.
Pros
- Portable, light weight, easy to setup without any tooling or experience required
- 175X magnification, places the optical ability, top of the line within its category
- Correct Image Prism and relatively long focal length
- Affordable and Durable
Cons
- Doesn’t have computer tracking of celestial objects
- Has plastic finder and Barlow Lens
Conclusion
Before purchasing a telescope for your kid, it’s important to make sure you know the different factors and features to consider before splashing that cash, in ensuring you’re getting the right telescope for your kid. However, out first options would be the Celestron PowerSeeker 70 AZ and Celestron 21024 FirstScope.
