Picking a telescope comes down to four decisions: how much aperture you need, which optical design fits how you'll use it, whether you want to observe the Sun as well as the night sky, and what fits your budget. This guide walks through all four so you can shop with confidence instead of guessing.
Start with aperture, not magnification
Aperture is the diameter of a telescope's main lens or mirror, and it's the single most important spec. A bigger aperture gathers more light, which is what actually makes the Moon, planets, and deep-sky objects look brighter and sharper. Magnification comes from the eyepiece you use, not the telescope itself, so don't judge a scope by how many "times" it claims to magnify.
| Aperture | What you'll see well | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 70 to 80mm | Moon craters, Saturn's rings, Jupiter's four largest moons, bright star clusters | National Geographic 70mm AZ Refractor |
| 100 to 127mm | Sharper planetary detail, cloud bands on Jupiter, brighter deep-sky targets | Explore Scientific AR127 Doublet Refractor |
| 150mm and up | Fine planetary detail and noticeably brighter nebulae and galaxies | Explore Scientific 10-Inch Dobsonian |
| 50 to 152mm solar | Prominences, filaments and surface granulation on the Sun in hydrogen-alpha | Lunt LS50THa 50mm H-alpha Solar Telescope |
Our lineup runs from 70mm grab-and-go refractors up to a 254mm (10-inch) Dobsonian for the night sky, and from 50mm to 230mm on the solar side, so there's headroom to grow into a bigger aperture later.
Which optical design fits how you'll use it?
Refractor
Uses a glass lens at the front to bend light. Sealed tube needs almost no maintenance, and delivers sharp, high-contrast views right out of the box.
- Best for: Moon, planets, low-maintenance ownership
- Trade-off: smaller aperture per dollar
Reflector / Dobsonian
Uses a curved mirror instead of a lens, which gets you a much larger aperture for the same price. Dobsonians sit on a simple rocker base you move by hand.
- Best for: deep-sky objects, most aperture per dollar
- Trade-off: occasional mirror alignment (collimation)
Mak-Cassegrain
Folds a long focal length into a short, compact tube using a mirror-and-lens combination. Great planetary and lunar detail in a portable package.
- Best for: portability with strong planetary detail
- Trade-off: narrower field of view for wide deep-sky views
Solar (Hydrogen-alpha)
A Lunt refractor with an etalon and blocking filter built in, tuned to one deep red wavelength. Shows prominences and surface structure on the Sun in daylight.
- Best for: daytime observing, no dark sky needed
- Trade-off: the Sun is the only target
UNSURE?
When in doubt, buy the largest aperture you'll comfortably carry and set up
The telescope you actually use beats the one that sits in a closet because it's too bulky. If you're torn between two sizes, picture yourself setting it up on a Tuesday night after work, that's the honest test. Call (855) 501-0541 or contact us and we'll help you match a scope to your sky and your routine.
Should you observe the Sun as well?
Most telescope guides stop at the night sky, which leaves out the one target that is available from a city balcony at lunchtime. The Sun changes hour to hour, needs no dark sky, and costs you nothing in late nights. It is also the one target that will blind you if you get the equipment wrong, so it is worth understanding before you buy.
Safety first. Never look at the Sun through any telescope, finder or binocular without a filter made for solar use, and never use a filter that threads into the eyepiece. Safe filters go across the front of the tube, or are built into the telescope. Unfiltered solar viewing causes permanent eye damage within seconds.
| Approach | What you see | Typical cost | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| White light | Sunspots, faculae and granulation on a plain solar disc | From $275.99 | Lunt White Light Solar Wedge |
| Hydrogen-alpha telescope | Prominences off the limb, filaments, plages and active regions | From $995.99 | Lunt LS50THa 50mm |
| Day and night tube | Deep sky after dark, full hydrogen-alpha solar by day | From $619.99 | Lunt MT Series Universal Refractor |
| Complete solar kit | A hydrogen-alpha tube with the mount, tripod and eyepiece already matched to it | From $3,295.99 | Lunt 80mm Solar Ready Telescope Kit |
| Convert a scope you own | Hydrogen-alpha through your existing refractor | From $1,495.99 | Lunt Etalon Filter Sets |
Lunt Solar Systems is the specialist in this field, and their range on this site runs from the 50mm LS50THa at $995.99 up to the 230mm double-stack LS230THa. In between sit the MT series universal tubes, which are ordinary apochromatic refractors at night and become full hydrogen-alpha solar telescopes when the etalon module is fitted, running from the 60mm LS60MT up through the 80mm LS80MT at $2,595.99 to the 130mm LS130MT. If you would rather buy the whole observing setup in one box, the Lunt 80mm Solar Ready Telescope Kit pairs that same 80mm tube with a mount, tripod and eyepiece from $3,295.99. If you already own a good refractor, a full aperture etalon set and blocking filter will convert it rather than replace it.
Shop by budget
Every telescope we carry ships free, from grab-and-go refractors to research-grade hydrogen-alpha solar instruments.
Entry
Grab-and-go refractors and small reflectors, built for first-timers and kids getting their first look at the Moon and planets.
Shop EntryMid-Range
Bigger apertures, Dobsonians and Mak-Cassegrain optical tubes for buyers ready to see more detail on planets and brighter deep-sky targets.
Shop Mid-RangePremium
Large-aperture Dobsonians and apochromatic triplet refractors for buyers who want the sharpest, brightest night sky views this catalog offers.
Shop PremiumSolar
Lunt hydrogen-alpha solar telescopes from the 50mm LS50THa upward, plus universal day and night tubes from $619.99 and retrofit etalon filter sets.
Shop SolarDon't forget the things that go with it
Quick Answers
The questions we hear most from first-time buyers.
What's the single most important spec on a telescope?
Aperture, the diameter of the main lens or mirror, is the single most important spec. It controls how much light the scope gathers, which determines how bright and detailed everything looks. Ignore magnification claims. That comes from the eyepiece, and any telescope can be paired with a high-power eyepiece to produce a big but blurry number.
Should I buy a refractor or a reflector for my first telescope?
If you want a low-maintenance scope focused on the Moon and planets, a refractor is the easiest to own. If you want the biggest aperture for your budget and don't mind occasional mirror alignment, a Dobsonian reflector gets you more light-gathering power per dollar.
Can I see Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons with an entry-level telescope?
Yes. Even a 70mm refractor will show Saturn's rings as a distinct shape and Jupiter's four largest moons as points of light on a clear night away from heavy light pollution.
Do I need a computerized Go-To mount as a beginner?
No. Manual alt-azimuth mounts are simpler, lighter, and a good way to learn the sky by star-hopping. Go-To and tracking mounts find and follow objects automatically, which some beginners prefer, but they add cost and complexity.
Is it safe to look at the Sun through a telescope?
Only through a telescope built for it, or one fitted with a purpose-made filter across the front of the tube. Never use a filter that screws into the eyepiece, and never point an unfiltered telescope anywhere near the Sun. Unfiltered solar viewing causes permanent eye damage in seconds. Lunt solar telescopes are sealed systems designed for daytime use, so there is nothing to fit or forget.
What is the difference between white light and hydrogen-alpha solar viewing?
White light shows the Sun's visible surface: sunspots, faculae and granulation, in a plain yellow-white disc. A Lunt white light wedge does this from $275.99. Hydrogen-alpha filters a single deep red wavelength and reveals the layer above the surface, so you see prominences arcing off the edge, filaments, plages and active regions changing over hours. Hydrogen-alpha needs an etalon, which is why dedicated solar telescopes start at $995.99.
Which solar telescope should I start with?
The Lunt LS50THa 50mm at $995.99 is the usual first hydrogen-alpha scope. It is small, needs no cool-down, and shows prominences and surface detail immediately. If you want one tube that works day and night, the Lunt LS60MT from $1,195.99 observes deep sky after dark and the Sun by day. The same idea at a larger aperture is the Lunt LS80MT 80mm from $2,595.99, which resolves noticeably finer filament and prominence detail on the Sun and gives you a 560mm f/7 ED doublet after dark.
Is there a solar telescope kit that includes everything?
Yes. The Lunt 80mm Solar Ready Telescope Kit from $3,295.99 pairs the 80mm modular tube with a mount, tripod, diagonal and eyepiece, in Standard, Enhanced and Premium Plus configurations, so there is nothing else to source. Smaller 50mm and 60mm kits follow the same idea from $1,195.99.
Can I turn a telescope I already own into a solar telescope?
Often yes. Lunt makes full aperture etalon filter sets and blocking filters that fit in front of an existing refractor, from $1,495.99 for a 50mm set. For white light only, a solar wedge is far cheaper at $275.99. Reflectors and Dobsonians are poor candidates because the open tube builds heat currents that soften the image.
What comes included when I buy a telescope here?
Each product page lists exactly what ships with it, typically the optical tube, a mount or tripod, and one or two starter eyepieces. Check the included-items list on the product page, or contact us to confirm before ordering.
Still not sure which telescope is right for you?