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Refractor Telescopes

Refractor telescopes use a front lens to gather and focus light. They give sharp, high-contrast views of the Moon, planets and double stars, there is no mirror to align, and they are ready to observe within a few minutes of setup. We carry 13 refractors from $99.99 to $4,499.99.

The range runs from simple National Geographic starter scopes through Explore Scientific air-spaced doublets and ED apochromatic triplets, up to the Lunt MT Series, which is the only refractor here that works as both a night sky telescope and a full hydrogen-alpha solar telescope.

What to look for

1

Aperture first

Aperture is the lens diameter and it sets how much light and detail you get. A 70mm shows lunar craters and Saturn's rings. A 102mm to 127mm resolves far more planetary detail and splits tighter double stars.

2

Doublet or triplet

Air-spaced doublets like the AR series are the value choice for visual use. ED and FCD100 triplets control colour fringing far better, which matters most for astrophotography and high-power planetary work.

3

Focal ratio

Fast f/5 to f/6 tubes give wide fields and suit imaging. Slower f/8 to f/10 tubes give higher magnification per eyepiece and cleaner planetary views.

4

Day and night use

A refractor with a solar filter or a dedicated solar etalon becomes a daytime instrument too. The Lunt MT Series is built for exactly this, and any of these tubes can take a white light filter.

Recommended refractors

Three that cover most of the range, from a first telescope to a tube you will keep for decades.

Best first scope

National Geographic 70mm AZ Refractor

Light, quick to set up and honest about what it does. Moon, Jupiter's moons and Saturn on a simple alt-azimuth mount.

$99.99
 Best all rounder

Explore Scientific AR127 Air-Spaced Doublet

127mm of aperture at a doublet price. Enough light for deep sky targets and enough resolution for serious planetary sessions.

$449.99
 Best day and night

Lunt MT Series Universal Refractor

A true dual-use tube. Observe deep sky at night, then fit a Lunt etalon and blocking filter and watch prominences on the Sun the same afternoon.

From $619.99

Using a refractor on the Sun

Every refractor here can be used safely in daylight with the right filter in front of it, and Lunt Solar Systems makes the parts that do it. A white light wedge shows sunspots and granulation. A full aperture hydrogen-alpha etalon set plus a blocking filter shows prominences and surface texture. The Lunt MT Series is designed around this, and the FirstLight 80mm CF combo ships with a solar filter already included.

Lunt MT Series Refractor Solar Filters & Etalons Dedicated Solar Telescopes FirstLight 80mm CF with Solar Filter

Common questions

Is a refractor better than a reflector?
Neither is better, they trade different things. A refractor gives sharper, higher contrast images per inch of aperture and needs no maintenance. A reflector or Dobsonian gives you far more aperture for the same money, which wins on faint galaxies and nebulae.
What does ED or apochromatic actually mean?
Ordinary lenses focus different colours at slightly different points, which leaves a violet halo on bright objects. ED and FCD100 glass in a triplet design pulls those colours back together. It costs more but it is what makes a refractor usable for astrophotography.
Can I use a refractor to look at the Sun?
Only with a purpose built solar filter fitted in front of the objective, never with anything that screws into the eyepiece. Lunt makes white light wedges and full aperture hydrogen-alpha etalon sets for this. Unfiltered solar viewing causes permanent eye damage within seconds.
Which refractor works for both night sky and solar?
The Lunt MT Series Universal Refractor, from $619.99. It is a normal apochromatic refractor at night and accepts Lunt's etalon and blocking filter modules for hydrogen-alpha solar observing by day.
Do these come with a mount?
Some do. The National Geographic scopes and the FirstLight combos include a mount and tripod. The ED, AR and Lunt MT tubes are sold as optical tubes, so pair them with something from Mounts & Stands.
How much aperture do I need for planets?
70mm to 80mm shows the main features. 102mm to 127mm is where cloud belts on Jupiter, the Cassini division and Martian surface detail become routine on a steady night. Beyond that you are usually limited by atmospheric seeing rather than the telescope.