Best Telescopes For Kids

If your kid, or a special child in your life, has shown an interest in the vast expanses of space, one of the greatest gifts you could give them is a telescope. Far greater than any photograph book - you can show them the wonders yourself.

Astronomy is a complicated process, but it doesn’t have to be difficult for beginners; the equipment you need will come without all of the overcomplicated bells and whistles, so you won’t need to work at NASA to work it, and nor will the kid!

Knowing where to start with picking one out can be tricky, too, as there are many on the market, each professing to be exactly what you’re looking for. That’s where we come in, presenting five of the best telescopes that any young space cadet will love.

If you need further convincing on the benefits of introducing a telescope into a child’s life, or just want to know what characteristics to look out for, our Buyer’s Guide has everything you need. It’s clear, concise and to the point - no waffle here.

Still got questions, worries or frustrations? Try consulting the FAQS section right at the end. We’ve searched for and answered some of the most common queries from fellow customers with similar concerns - yours may be one of them!

Looking For a Top Tier Telescope? Here’s Our Top Pick:

Best Telescopes For Kids Buying Guide

The Wonders Of Space - Why Get Your Kid A Telescope?

As they are naturally inquisitive beings, kick starting a kid’s exploration of physics is an excellent way to get them invested in STEM subjects, It’s even more beneficial with girls, as they’re naturally drawn away from such endeavors by bias.

Checking out the night sky with your child, especially if you also have an interest in space, can be an excellent chance for some bonding time together, even more so if you have some good facts or wisdom to impart. Who doesn’t love cocoa and stars!

Not only can they explore the galaxy, but learning to use and take care of a piece of scientific equipment like a telescope is an excellent lesson in responsibility, especially if you’re starting them off early.

There are other activities you can do together off the back of using a telescope, like drawing, writing, watching documentaries or movies - it opens up a whole new world of hobbies and interests for your kid, away from the dreaded internet!

If your kid struggles with their confidence, mastering skills around using their fine motor skills, verbal reasoning, logical thinking and vocabulary is a huge self-esteem boost, especially if you praise them on a job well done.

As well as encouraging them towards STEM subjects, you’re also teaching them plenty more skills, like learning some independence, understanding theories (if they’re old rough!) and other desirable traits for the rest of their lives.

A telescope is something that the whole family can enjoy, which means that instead of staying inside and playing a board game or video game or watching Netflix again, you can get outside for fresh air all together, which may be a rarity for some. 

Features To Consider:

Age Range: Depending on how old your kid is, they’ll either want a toy, or an actual functioning telescope. You can obtain both very easily, but make sure you identify which one you need and choose accordingly! Always check manufacturer recommendations.

Investment In Space: If they’ve never suggested they might like to know more about what’s going on in the sky, it could be worth seeing if there are other cool pieces of equipment they might like, for instance binoculars for bird watching or a metal detector for going on treasure hunts.

Durability: Especially the case for younger children, but in general, kids are clumsy and messy creatures. Even the most careful and capable can have accidents though, so picking up the sturdiest product you can get is your best bet. Look for aluminum and other strong metal materials.

What’s In The Box?: Of course, you’re shopping for a child and not yourself, but depending on your budget, you might want to focus on how much the telescope has to offer. Will it zoom out far enough? Can you use it effectively to check out the sky?

Or is it a glorified plastic tube…

Simplicity: Obviously you or another responsible adult will be there to help your child use the telescope, but anything overly complicated and they’ll likely become bored very quickly. Make sure it’s easy enough to work and figure out together!

Safety: Believe it or not, looking at the brighter objects in space can be potentially dangerous without the right protection. Coated lenses that are thick enough to keep your eyes safe from light refraction are an imperative, and shouldn’t be skipped.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need an expensive telescope to enjoy astronomy?

You might believe that only NASA-style equipment that costs thousands or even millions of dollars are capable of bringing the glorious reaches of space to your very own eyeballs, but you’d be wrong.

As long as you have a good viewing location, a clear night and some patience, even the most basic of telescopes can show you the stars and the moon at the very least, and a decent high-street offering can pick up the planets, too.

Perhaps if your kid gets older and is still equally as invested in astronomy, it could be worth upgrading to a bigger and better model, but starting out with a beginner’s telescope is your best bet. Who knows if they’ll get bored and give up after one try!

Also, it’s worth pointing out that, whilst a hundred dollars is a lot to spend, many of the other gifts your child asks for would cost a lot more, and it’s a worthy investment if you do have the money to treat them.

How much magnification do you need to see the planets?

For observing the nine (if you count Pluto, which we do here!) planets of our solar system, you’re going to need a magnification of around 180x, which will enable you to see even Jupiter and Saturn, though perhaps not in high definition.

For a clearer view of their greatness, you’ll want a magnification of around 380x, which will offer you a clearer resolution and make for better photographs if you’re that way inclined. Not every single child’s telescope will accomplish this!

Don’t be disheartened if the ‘scope you’ve opted for isn’t able to do quite as much as you’d like - there’s still plenty of things to check out at lower magnification, including star clusters and planetary nebulae. Just wait until there’s clear skies above! 

What does a beginner’s telescope need?

Perhaps the most important consideration regarding telescopes is the aperture, which essentially refers to the diameter (or length) of its main lens. As you might guess, the bigger the lens, the further out into space you’ll be able to see!

Aiming for around four or five inches in diameter should enable you to see the planets, and going for any bigger will result in a model that’s not especially portable, which won’t really be suitable for a younger future astronaut.

There are tabletop and full size telescopes available - it’s up to you which one you go for, but the full size ones only cost a little more and offer a much more realistic stargazing experience.

Magnification wise, you don’t need anything more than 200x for a beginner, as you’ll still get a decent view of the stars, planets and other nearby objects, without breaking the bank on a super expensive, high end or professional level design.

If you’re buying a telescope for an especially young user, durability should be a priority - it’s still a piece of equipment, even if it’s a toy, and you want it to last long enough for them to get enough use out of it!