Telescopes at Best Buy: Deals in stock 2025

Explore the best telescope deals at Best Buy with our handpicked guide. Because, while Best Buy's selection of telescope deals may be limited, the offers available are definitely worth considering. We'll keep this page updated so you can stay on top of new deals as they arrive.

As well as the deals, we've got helpful buying advice to guide your search, whether you're a seasoned astronomer ready to spend big, or a complete beginner looking for affordable telescopes under $500. If nothing here suites you, we've rounded up the best telescopes for kids and telescopes for beginners.

So read on to discover the best telescopes at Best Buy.

There's some helpful buying advice which we've added below the deals on this page, just in case you want a pointer or two on what you should look out for. We've tried to include something suitable for every astronomer here, regardless of whether you're a veteran stargazer looking for a serious upgrade or you're new to skywatching, looking for budget-friendly telescopes under $500 or even the best telescopes for beginners and best telescopes for kids. But, for the best telescopes at Best Buy and their deals, scroll down below.

Best telescope deals at Best Buy January 2025

Celestron NexStar 8SE: was $1,599 now $1,299 at Best Buy

Save $300 on the Celestron NexStar 8SE. It sits at the top of our guide for best telescopes for seeing planets and features in our best telescopes guide. It features an eight-inch aperture, a database of 40,000 plus targets that can be located and tracked automatically.

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Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ: was $480 now $366 at Best Buy

Save over $110 off this Newtonian reflector telescope. We think the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ is one of the best budget telescopes, and we rate it as the best overall for under $500. At this price, it's a steal.

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Buying advice

Puzzled by the different types of telescopes on offer? We'll break it down for you. There are three basic types of telescopes: refractors, reflectors and catadioptrics. Refractors are great for highly magnified views of planets and moons, while reflectors offer better views of deep-sky objects, star clusters and galaxies. Catadioptric telescopes correct some of the visual problems found in these older styles – such as chromatic aberration.

Reflectors

Reflectors are usually either Newtonian or Dobsonian in design. Newtonian telescopes are good for a wide range of viewing targets and are often useful for astrophotography – however, they require a lot of maintenance and can be complicated to set up, whereas Dobsonians are more straightforward.

Refractors

This type of telescope is ideal for beginners, offering a straightforward assembly and a lower price point. They do, however, tend to suffer from chromatic aberration, where bright objects appear to have a kind of halo. This doesn't ruin the viewing experience, so don't let this put you off too much. If you're just starting out, a refractor is a good way of discovering if skywatching is for you.

Catadioptric

Catadioptric telescopes fall into two broad categories: Maksutov-Cassegrain and Schmidt-Cassegrain. Schmidt-Cassegrains traditionally have bigger apertures, while Maksutov-Cassegrains usually have small apertures. The Schmidt-Cassegrain is usually better for astrophotography and for broader views, while the Maksutov-Cassegrain is great for sharp views of planets and moons.

Both types often come with a computerized GoTo system, which can work out which way the telescope is pointing and automatically adjust it to align with chosen targets. However, they tend to be more expensive than both reflectors or refractors, so we'd recommend these for committed stargazers.

Choosing a telescope

We recommend taking two main things into consideration: personal budget and what you’d prefer to view in the night sky. If you’d prefer high-magnification views of planets and moons, go for either a refractor or a Maksutov-Cassegrain design.

For views of deep-sky objects, star clusters and galaxies, opt for a reflector or a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. If you need more detailed guidance, have a look through our piece on the best telescopes, which goes into more detail on all of the above.