Best Telescopes For Kids
Peering through telescopes opens the door to the universe. Kids looking through these amazing tools for the first time no doubt experience a sense of wonder they will remember for the rest of their days. It expands their young minds to help them realize the world is more than their backyards and that they are merely one tiny member of a tiny planet nestled among an unending black sea of stars and planets.
Fun with telescopes provides your kiddies with yet another way to learn about the world they live in and helps promote a sense of wonder. Their imaginations are in for a treat when they start thinking about astronauts, alien planets, other galaxies, and who else inhabits a universe that is currently described as infinite.
Make gazing at the stars and planets something for you and your little ‘uns to do together with a telescope made especially for small hands. Find the telescope ideal for your kids to enjoy by picking from the Top 10 Best Telescopes for Kids of 2017. The comprehensive list offers high-quality options destined to help your children love the stars above them.
What’s Here: On this page, you will find the top 10 best telescopes for kids. Rankings are based on overall popularity and consumer ratings to help you find the perfect telescope for your youngling.
For Shoppers: For each of the telescopes recommended in the 2017 list, links are provided to purchase the tool online from a trusted and safe merchant – online resources are hand-picked for online availability, security and price. Links to reviews are also provided, where available.
What’s Here:
1. X-Shop Kids Telescope
2. Easy To Use Kids Telescope By Schaarkspark
3. Lunar Telescope For Kids
4. TwinStar 50mm Refractor Telescope Pak Bundle
5. Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. My First Telescope
6. Black Twinstar 60mm Compact Kids Telescope
7. GEERTOP 90x Portable Astronomical Refractor Tabletop Telescope
8. TwinStar AstroMark 50mm Refractor Telescope Kids Pak Bundle
9. TwinStar 60mm Compact Refractor AstroVenture Telescope in Silver
10. Balance Living Refractor Telescope with Tripod
Top 10 Best Telescopes for Kids
1. X-Shop Kids Telescope
Ages 8+
Easy to use and ideal for beginners, this telescope from X-Shop offers three different magnification eyepieces.
It is also highly-portable so your young stargazer can move around your property looking at different stars and planets.
You will not have to worry about your little ‘un breaking the telescope five minutes after opening it because it is comprised of plastic!
This is a truly great product that provides children with a new hobby. Seeing the moon’s craters is not exactly a possibility, however as a starter piece it is definitely worth the affordable price. The telescope is incredibly lightweight and easy to assemble, and comes with a little holder for making stargazing simple and fun. Encourage your child’s interest in the stars and planets with this portable piece before graduating to bigger, more complex telescopes. Take it with you camping and anywhere else the sky is open.
2. Easy To Use Kids Telescope By Schaarkspark
Ages 8+
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Another easy-to-use-, easy-to-set-up gem, this telescope by Sharkspark features three magnification options, as well as a finder, drawtube, and other nifty pieces. Magnifications include 20x, 30x, and 40x options, with the focal length 170mm. The tripod makes observing the night sky a much steadier process while the finder means gazing upward is easy and fun.
Think of the telescope as the “head start” your kids need to learn more about our amazing universe. It does not come with directions, but assembly is so simple even a cat could do it. (Okay, maybe not). Renowned as a wonderful piece for the money, do not be surprised if your little ones want to spend their evenings looking at the heavens instead of watching TV! Learning how to use the telescope without losing what you are looking at takes a little time, however it is still a great product offering children the chance to learn more about what is above and around them.
3. Lunar Telescope For Kids
Ages 6-15
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High-quality optical lenses and a one-minute setup make the Lunar Telescope for Kids a great buy. The ‘scope is crazy-easy to use and features a 100% satisfaction guarantee. It even comes with a real piece of meteorite from the depths of space so your youngling can add to his or her rock collection. Nice, right?
Optical lenses offer kids the opportunity to view the moon’s craters via 18x wide view and 90x close-up eyepieces. The planets are too far away to view with this telescope, however your children will still get a better idea of what makes up the universe with this product. This is especially true if you live in a more remote area where the stars and planets create a glittering night sky. The tripod is a little wobbly so you will have to set it up on super-sturdy ground.
4. TwinStar 50mm Refractor Telescope Pak Bundle
Ages 6 and up
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A wonderful bundle for the young stargazer, the TwinStar 50mm Refractor Telescope Pak Bundle comes with a moon map, 12 glow-in-the-dark stickers, and the Ultimate Factivity Collection Space Book. A full-size tripod and altazimuth mount are also included, as is a step-by-step color photo guide (available online).
Magnification options include 30x and 48x using .965″ eyepieces, with other important specs including a 50mm Anchromatic objective lens and a 600mm focal length. Easy to set up and use, this telescope provides awe-inspiring views of the moon as well as Saturn’s rings, binary star systems, the Orion Nebulae, and Beehive star clusters. Scanning the day or night sky is simple and fun with this outstanding kids telescope.
You may have a little trouble focusing the TwinStar 50mm Refractor Telescope, however with a little work (and a lil love) your kids will have a tool that makes planet and star viewing a whole new experience in awesomeness. It provides you with a great gift any time of year!
5. Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. My First Telescope
Ages 4-6
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This colorful telescope for little stargazers does not require focusing to enjoy a closer view of the moon. Toddler-friendly and easy-to-use, the 10x magnification is ideal for little eyes. Perfect for viewing objects over 100 feet away, the ‘scope is part of the award-winning GeoSafari Jr. line and proudly supports STEM learning.
The Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. My First Telescope comes with two sizeable eyepieces that include comfortable goggle and nose cut-outs to make using the telescope easy for first-timers. Other specs you need to know about it include a built-in digital mirror, focus-free 10X magnification, and a tripod for tabletop viewing. The telescope weighs a mere 2 pounds.
Keep in mind the My First Telescope from GeoSafari Jr. is what it is–a colorful kiddie telescope. If you are expecting to see the moons of Jupiter you are going to be disappointed! Regardless, the product is a wonderful tool for toddlers and little kids, and will no doubt pique their interest in the heavens and all they entail.
6. Black Twinstar 60mm Compact Kids Telescope
Ages 6 and up
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A sleek black telescope ideal for beginners, the Twinstar 60mm Compact Kids Telescope includes a 6mm and 20mm eyepiece as well as a 2x Barlow lens and 1.5x erecting eyepiece. Magnifications are 15x and 50x. It is easy to use–simply point it to see what you want.
The telescope is lightweight, easy to assemble, easy to handle, and offers fantastic views of the stars and planets. A perfect piece for viewing the craters of the moon, the telescope also makes gazing at at least four of Jupiter’s Jovian moons a real possibility. Binary stars and the rings of Saturn should also be available for viewing with this high-quality beginner telescope.
While the telescope does not come with directions, setup is pretty self-explanatory. Stability can be an issue so be sure to set it up on solid ground. Otherwise, enjoy a wonderful, educational toy that will no doubt keep your kids gazing upwards for a long time!
7. GEERTOP 90x Portable Astronomical Refractor Tabletop Telescope
Ages 3-8
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This portable telescope from GEERTOP is ideal for star gazing and watching birdy-birds. It comes with a slew of fantastic magnification options and makes a great telescope for older children due to its metal and glass parts. Consider it a wonderful gift for your responsible older child–one that demonstrates your faith in his or her abilities.
The GEERTOP telescope offers 18x, 27x, 60x, and 90x magnification, as well as a refraction type/focal length of 360mm. Theoretical resolution is 2,800 arc seconds. The altitude-azimuth mounting can be moved vertically and horizontally. This ‘scope also comes with three eyepieces, an aluminum table top tripod, and high-quality optical glass lens.
Renowned as a great starter telescope, the product offers excellent viewing once it is aligned to the object in question. It is perfect for your little ‘un who is totally and completely obsessed with the stars. Give it as a gift or surprise to provide a doorway to a whole new world.
8. TwinStar AstroMark 50mm Refractor Telescope Kids Pak Bundle
Ages 3-7
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The TwinStar AstroMark 50mm Refractor Telescope Kids Pak Bundle comes with a step-by-step online color assembly guide in addition to a map of the moon, glow-in-the-dark stickers, and Redshift 8 computer software. An altazimuth mount and full-size tripod are included, making this a great first telescope for your little shavers. It takes mere minutes to put this piece together and take it apart.
Specs include a 600mm focal length, 50mm Achromatic objective lens, 30x and 48x magnification from H20mm and H12.5mm, and .965″ diameter eyepieces. The telescope is subsequently ideal for close-up views of the stars and planets, including binary star systems, Saturn’s rings, the Beehive star clusters, and more. It is also ideal for bird watching or obtaining a closer view of nearby mountains.
You may experience a little difficulty getting the telescope to focus, but once you do your kids are in for a treat on clear nights. The moon’s craters are easy to view with this ‘scope, and provide little kids with a great way to spend an hour or two in the evenings.
9. TwinStar 60mm Compact Refractor AstroVenture Telescope in Silver
Ages 6 and up
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Another point-and-look telescope, the TwinStar 60mm Compact Refractor AstroVenture Telescope Silver offers 6 and 20mm eyepieces, full-size tripod, and altazimuth mount. Magnifications are 15x and 50x with included eyepieces. The eyepieces are 6mm and 20mm.
A telescope so easy to use and set up it does not come with instructions, this educational toy offers outstanding views of the Big Dipper among other binary star systems. The main craters of the moon are also perfectly visible, and your kiddies can add a lunar map to help identify specific star systems and planets, including Saturn and Mars!
Perfect for the child interested in astronomy, the TwinStar 60mm Compact Refractor AstroVenture Telescope Silver is particularly ideal for 8-year-old kiddies with a burgeoning love of all things starry. Parents and grandparents frequently rave about how awesome this telescope is…you might want to get in on the gazing action yourself!
10. Balance Living Refractor Telescope with Tripod
Ages 6 and up
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The Balance Living Refractor Telescope with Tripod offers kids the chance to gaze at stars and planets 50 to 100 times closer! Images are fabulously-crisp and fantastic, making this a wondrous educational toy. It also comes with the 100% Balance Living guarantee.
Specs include 125cm, adjustable tripod and a 50mm lens with a focal length of 600mm. As with all of the other kids telescopes on this list, the Balance version is easy to assemble. It is built to withstand extreme temperatures as well as the wind so your child can enjoy it in all kinds of weather.
A great product for a great price, your kids will likely enjoy years of fun with this telescope. The stand is a wee bit weak, but considering the price it is still worth buying. Simply place the ‘scope on sturdy ground or a solid table for hours of stargazing fun!