No matter who you are you probably enjoy star-gazing and when armed with a telescope, we can experience the beauty of the planets and galaxies up close! It is an exciting feeling, indeed, to feel as if you can reach out and touch the stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having a portable, grab-and-go telescope can intensify that feeling even more. Some days you want to watch the moon and planets, like Jupiter or Venus, out in the backyard. Other times you want to travel to the mountains, to the deserts, or at the park, to explore the glorious beauty of the solar system and the deep sky. However, you don’t want to lug around a heavy telescope or one with many parts that could break or get lost in transit. Portable telescope that is grab-and-go is the solution for such cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A portable telescope can complement your bulky 10-inch Orion or 14-inch STC or could serve well as your only telescope. Also, if you are an entry-level astronomer, a \u201cgrab and go\u201d telescope strikes the right balance for a starter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this guide, we review the best travel telescopes for the money.<\/p>\n\n\n
In this price range, the telescopes you find are limited by what you can see and their build quality. These telescopes are not the most-rigid, plus you are not guaranteed to see amazing views but even so, they have an advantage when you are looking for a cheap telescope \u2013 one that you can carry around and not worry about damaging. Telescopes below this price range are fun as a toy for kids or younger, beginner hobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the best travel telescope under $100, we recommend the Celestron DX Refractor<\/a>. We also wrote here about another Celestron 70mm Travel Scope<\/a>. They are more or less identical and both would serve the same purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a beginner astronomer, this telescope comes equipped with all the necessary accessories you need to begin. It is portable and equipped with a complete starter kit. The compact-sized refractor is well-suited for basic stargazing and terrestrial viewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Celestron travel scope uses a 70mm achromatic refractor lens. Compared to the 50mm model, this aperture size has a higher light-gathering ability \u2013 by up to 36% when compared with the 50mm lens systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Combined with fully coated lenses, the 70mm travel scope delivers high-resolution views. As pointed out, don\u2019t expect outstanding clarity compared to pricey telescopes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On a clear night sky, you can gaze at a meteorite shower and if you are lucky, you could even spot space shuttles. The moon is as close as it can get with striking details. Also, you can see Jupiter cloud belts, Saturn\u2019s rings, Venus and Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inside the package, you also get two Plossl eyepieces \u2013 a 20mm eyepiece and a 10mm one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the 70mm travel scope is lightweight, the frame isn\u2019t cheap as you would expect. The OTA is carbon fiber construction, a lightweight material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When assembled, this little pet weighs only 3.3 pounds and the lightweight frame fits into a well-padded backpack for easy transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 70 DX uses a manual Alt-Azimuth mount fixed on a tripod. Although non-computerized, the mount has precise tracking capabilities. The aluminum tripod can be adjusted but it is not incredibly stable. For this reason, focusing or panning does not feel smooth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another feature that will delight you is the Smartphone holder. This Smartphone holder is paired with a remote Bluetooth release function. When connected, you can capture photographs on your Smartphone using the Bluetooth function. Even so, you will have to fiddle with the Camera holder before you can align everything but it works well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It takes minutes to assemble the telescope and you won\u2019t need any tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBright views<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Design and mechanics<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Smartphone photography<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Assembly<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Accessories<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Pros<\/span><\/th> Cons<\/span><\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Large aperture for under $100
Easy to set up
low-priced
Bluetooth communication
Clear, bright views
Suited for Beginners
Quality eyepieces<\/td>Lacks GOTO capability tracking
Not suitable for the veteran astronomer
Cheap finderscope
Flimsy tripod
Manual tracking<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n