The Best Telescopes for Kids Aged 6 and Up
Top Telescope Picks for Children Aged 6 to 10 Years Old
When children are between six and ten years old, it’s vital to provide them with a telescope that is both easy to use and delivers satisfactory performance for exploring the Moon and the planets in our solar system. Additionally, offering the right guidance and support is crucial; otherwise, they might lose interest in astronomy quickly.
For a first telescope, the ideal choice should be durable, equipped with high-quality eyepieces, affordable, and user-friendly. If constant adult intervention is needed, the fun of discovery can fade quickly.
To help you make the right choice, we’ve curated a list of the 5 best telescopes designed for children aged 6 to 10 that also fit your budget.
- Best Value for Money
Omegon AC 60/700 AZ-1
⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆This refractor telescope offers an excellent value for money and is highly appreciated by users. It’s one of the best-selling telescopes for kids, and for good reason.
- Best Budget Option
National Geographic 50/360 Telescope ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
This compact refractor telescope on an azimuthal mount is exceptionally simple to use, making it perfect for younger children. With a tripod height of no more than 40 cm, it is small, lightweight, and easily portable.
- Most Advanced Option
Omegon AC 70/700 AZ-2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
This telescope offers a significant upgrade from the 60 mm model. With a larger 70 mm aperture, it delivers sharper and more detailed images. The more stable tripod also ensures a better experience for budding astronomers.
- The Best Telescopes for Kids Aged 6 and Up
- Astronomical Telescope with the Best Value for Money: The Omegon AC 60/700 AZ-1
- The Best Telescope: The Omegon AC 70/700 AZ-2
- An Affordable Telescope: The National Geographic 50/360
- A Compact and High-Performing Telescope: The Omegon Dobson N 76/300 DOB
- A Decent Budget Telescope – The Celestron AC 50/360
Astronomical Telescope with the Best Value for Money: The Omegon AC 60/700 AZ-1
Description
The Omegon AC 60/700 AZ-1 telescope is the perfect choice to easily introduce children to the fascinating world of astronomy. With its excellent value for money, this telescope is highly regarded by users. Compact yet powerful, it features a 60 mm aperture and a 700 mm focal length, delivering a clear and detailed experience of the night sky.
The device is equipped with high-quality optics designed to produce sharp and bright images. Its achromatic doublet optical system minimizes chromatic aberration, ensuring superior image quality. This versatile telescope allows observation of a variety of celestial objects, including the Moon, planets of the solar system, and even some deep-sky objects, such as star clusters and nebulae.
Additionally, the AZ-1 mount included with the telescope ensures smooth and precise movements, making it easy to align the telescope with celestial objects. This makes it an ideal choice for beginner astronomers and children eager to explore the night sky.
<strong>Our Review of the Omegon AC 60/700 AZ-1 Telescope</strong>
The Omegon AC 60/700 AZ-1 is an excellent choice for beginners, offering a great balance of ease of use, image quality, and an affordable price. It’s one of the best-selling telescopes, and it’s easy to see why. With its solid value for money, this telescope is perfect for children or anyone looking to get started in astronomy.
If your budget allows, you won’t regret choosing this telescope—it’s a safe and reliable option for budding stargazers.
Pros
Easy to transport and handle for children.
Makes targeting celestial objects smooth and straightforward.
Quick setup with minimal hassle.
Excellent entry-level telescope for its cost.
Cons
The included eyepieces are functional but could be upgraded for better performance.
Some minor vibrations occur during adjustments, which can affect image stability.
Key Features
- Brand: Omegon
- Weight: 4 kg
- Mount Type: Azimuthal
- Eyepieces: 3 included (20 mm, 12 mm, 4 mm)
- Additional Accessories:
- 2x Barlow lens (doubles magnification)
- 1.5x image erecting lens
- 90° diagonal mirror
- Observation Targets: Moon and planets
The Best Telescope: The Omegon AC 70/700 AZ-2
Description
The Omegon AC 70/700 AZ-2 telescope is an upgraded version of the Omegon AC 60/700 AZ-1, offering significant improvements in performance for only a slightly higher price. This makes it an excellent choice for anyone seeking better image quality, especially for children aged 10 and older.
The most notable difference compared to its predecessor lies in the optics. With a 70 mm aperture, this telescope gathers considerably more light than typical entry-level telescopes with a 60 mm aperture. The result? Sharper resolution and a maximum magnification of 140x, allowing for more detailed observations of major planets like Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars. Additionally, bright star clusters like the Pleiades can be viewed with much greater clarity.
The AZ-2 mount is another key upgrade, providing enhanced stability compared to the AZ-1. Though slightly heavier, this added weight improves the telescope’s overall durability and ease of use during observations.
Lastly, the telescope comes equipped with a red dot LED finder, which simplifies locating celestial objects in the night sky. While this model includes two high-quality eyepieces (instead of three like the AC 60/700 AZ-1), their superior build ensures a better observation experience overall.
<strong>Our Review of the Omegon AC 70/700 AZ-2</strong>
The Omegon AC 70/700 AZ-2 is a significant upgrade from the 60 mm model, offering clear advantages for anyone looking to enhance their stargazing experience. With a larger 70 mm aperture and a more stable AZ-2 mount, this telescope outperforms the 60 mm version in every aspect.
The improved optics provide sharper and more detailed images of the planets, while deep-sky objects, such as star clusters, appear brighter and easier to observe. The included eyepieces, although fewer, are of better quality, further enhancing the observation experience. For those willing to invest a bit more, the Omegon AC 70/700 AZ-2 is an excellent choice that won’t disappoint.
Pros
The 70 mm aperture captures more light, offering sharper and brighter images than the 60 mm model.
The AZ-2 mount provides smoother and more stable movements.
Straightforward assembly, ideal for beginners.
Excellent value for a mid-level telescope.
Cons
While improved compared to the AC 60/700 AZ-1, there’s still room for further enhancement.
Minor instability when adjusting the telescope, particularly at higher magnifications.
Key Features
- Aperture: 70 mm (greater light-gathering ability for clearer images).
- Focal Length: 700 mm.
- Maximum Magnification: 140x (great for planetary details and bright deep-sky objects).
- Mount: AZ-2 (stable and user-friendly).
- Eyepieces: 2 included (high-quality for sharper views).
- Finder: LED red dot finder for easy object location.
- Recommended Age: Suitable for children aged 10 and above.
An Affordable Telescope: The National Geographic 50/360
Description
The National Geographic 50/360 telescope is a budget-friendly option, ideal for children aged 6 and up. With a tripod height of no more than 40 cm, this compact and lightweight telescope is highly portable. Whether you’re heading out for a hike or a simple outdoor adventure, it easily fits into a backpack, making it perfect for exploring under clear skies wherever you go.
The azimuthal mount makes this telescope exceptionally easy to operate, making it a great choice for beginners and children of all ages. It requires minimal space and can be set up virtually anywhere. Even young kids can comfortably use it without needing a step stool to reach the eyepiece.
As an azimuthal telescope, it saves time during setup by eliminating the need for polar alignment, which is typically required for equatorial mounts. This means children can start observing the sky quickly and without frustration.
<strong>Our Review of the National Geographic 50/360 Telescope</strong>
The National Geographic 50/360 telescope serves as an entry-level telescope, suitable for introducing young children to astronomy. However, its low price point comes with limitations, and users should not expect high performance or advanced features. While its simplicity and portability are appealing, the telescope’s overall optical quality and stability leave much to be desired.
Pros
Lightweight and compact, it’s easy to carry in a backpack, making it suitable for on-the-go use.
Simple and intuitive for beginners.
Hassle-free installation, ideal for children or first-time users
A budget-friendly option for families looking to test their child's interest in astronomy.
Cons
Limited to basic lunar observations; struggles with other celestial objects.
Lacks additional accessories that could improve the observation experience.
Key Features
- Brand: National Geographic
- Aperture: 50 mm
- Focal Length: 360 mm
- Mount Type: Azimuthal (simple and user-friendly)
- Portability: Compact design, easily transportable in a backpack.
- Height: Short tripod, perfect for children.
A Compact and High-Performing Telescope: The Omegon Dobson N 76/300 DOB
Description
The Omegon Dobson N 76/300 telescope is designed to provide a simple and accessible observation experience, making it an excellent choice for children and beginners. Its tabletop Dobsonian mount offers several practical advantages:
- Easy Installation: This telescope requires minimal space and can be set up anywhere, from a table to a flat surface.
- Child-Friendly Design: Its low height eliminates the need for a step stool, allowing even the youngest stargazers to look through the eyepiece comfortably.
- Precise Adjustments: The simple and accurate adjustment system makes it easy for children to focus on celestial objects without frustration.
The Dobsonian mount also eliminates the need for complex alignments required by equatorial mounts, making the observation process faster and more enjoyable. Your child can simply point the telescope at their desired object and start observing right away.
Despite its compact size, the Omegon Dobson 76/300 delivers remarkable performance. With a 76 mm aperture, it gathers 116 times more light than the naked eye, allowing users to observe the details of the Moon’s craters and other celestial objects.
Its sturdy design ensures stability during observations, while its robust build makes it a reliable choice for families seeking a durable and easy-to-use telescope.
<strong>Our Opinion on the Omegon Dobson N 76/300</strong>
The Omegon Dobson N 76/300 is a compact telescope that offers decent performance for its price. With a 76mm aperture, it collects 116 times more light than the naked eye, allowing you to admire details such as lunar craters. While it is a good entry-level option, its optical performance is limited, making it more suitable for beginners or casual observers.
Pros
Small and compact design.
Easy-to-use Dobsonian mount.
Simple operation, perfect for beginners.
Affordable price.
Cons
Average performance, limited for more advanced observations.
Key Features
- Brand: Omegon
- Weight: 1.6 kg (lightweight and portable)
- Mount: Dobsonian tabletop mount
- Eyepieces: 4 included:
- SR 4 mm
- H 6 mm
- H 12.5 mm
- H 20 mm
- Additional Accessories:
- 2x Barlow lens (doubles magnification)
- 1.5x erecting lens
- Observation Targets: Primarily the Moon
- Light Collection: 116x more than the naked eye
A Decent Budget Telescope – The Celestron AC 50/360
Description
The Celestron Travelscope AC 50/360 is a great entry-level telescope that allows you to easily explore the Moon without requiring prior knowledge of astronomy. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the number of craters and mountainous landscapes you can observe with this device. On clear nights with minimal light pollution, you can also distinguish some planets.
This compact telescope comes with a storage bag, making it highly portable and convenient. Its aluminum tripod and pre-assembled instrument fit neatly into the included carrying case, making it easy to take along on trips or hikes.
Despite its small size, this telescope is a good choice for those on a limited budget who still want to get started with astronomy. Additionally, its optical quality is enhanced by a special coating, ensuring clear and sharp images during your observations.
<strong>Our Opinion on the Celestron AC 50/360</strong>
The Celestron AC 50/360 Travelscope is a good entry-level telescope for children who want to get familiar with astronomy. With its 50mm aperture and 360mm focal length, it provides adequate resolution and field of view to observe the Moon and distinguish some planets. However, its performance is limited, making it more suitable for casual use rather than serious stargazing.
Pros
Small and compact, easy to carry.
Comes with a convenient storage bag.
Affordable price, great for beginners.
Bon prix
Cons
Unstable tripod, which affects observation quality.
Limited optical performance, not suitable for advanced astronomy.
Specifications
- Brand: Celestron
- Weight: 1.5 kg
- Mount: Altazimuth
- Eyepieces: Two eyepieces (20 mm and 8 mm)
- Additional Accessories: Storage bag
- Observation: Moon and planets