Best Reflector Telescope Under 1000 Dollars

The reflector telescope was invented by Isaac Newton, it uses a single or a combination of curved mirrors which reflect light and generate an image. In Newton’s design, the light collected by the primary mirror is reflected and focused back into the telescope’s barrel, the center of the barrel. There’s a smaller, flatter secondary mirror supported by a grid, this secondary mirror is tilted 45 degrees and turns the beam to the other side of the barrel, through a focuser, and eventually into the eyepiece, where it forms the image you see.

One of the key reasons why reflector telescopes are so popular is they provide the best price and performance ratio for accurate visual observation of the night skies from the planets, Moon, star clusters, and deep-sky objects. The structure of reflector telescopes shows large mirrors which provide excellent light-gathering capacity. When viewing through these telescopes, there are no colored fringes and no chromatic aberrations. From the following selection, you can pick up the best reflector telescope under 1000 dollars that meets your expectations of features and budget.

List of The Best Reflector Telescope

Check out the thorough reviews of the best reflector telescope under 1000 dollars below.

1. Celestron NexStar 130SLT Newtonian Reflector Telescope

Celestron NexStar 130SLT reflector telescope is a compact and portable computerized telescope. What makes it the best reflector telescope under 1000 dollars on the list is that it offers a database comprising 40,000+ stars, nebulae, galaxies, and more. Note that the NexStar 130SLT is the biggest in the SLT family. It can locate celestial bodies with excellent accuracy and also tracks them accurately. Moreover, It is compatible with 2-inch eyepieces. Due to its sleek design, it is a great choice for both kids and adults for use during outdoor excursions or weekend camping trips.

Key Features

• The 130 mm aperture collects adequate light to view our Solar System and beyond. It allows you to clearly see Jupiter’s cloud bands, Saturn’s rings, and the Moon with enough detail.
• Celestron’s proprietary SkyAlign procedure offers a quick setup. You just need to center any 3 vivid objects in the eyepiece and the telescope aligns to the night sky. So, it is ready to locate thousands of objects.
• The purchase of this telescope offers a free download of one of the top consumer-rated astronomy software programs which help in an interactive sky simulation.
• The included software is compatible with WiFi and Starsense technology.
• This telescope is compatible with all the Celestron’s famous accessories like StarSense AutoAlign and SkyPortal WiFi Module.
• The focal length is 650 mm and the focal ratio is f/5.
• The Telescope Mount is Altazimuth Mount.
• The focus type is Manual Focus.
• The Finderscope comes with a laser pointer.
• 8 AA batteries are included.
• The limiting Magnitude is 13.1.
• The Low Useful Magnification is 19x.
• The High Theoretical Magnification is 307x.
• Telescope dimensions and weight: 28 x 12 x 8 inches; 11.4 pounds.

Pros And Cons

2. Zhumell Z130 Portable Altazimuth Reflector Telescope

This Zhumell Z130 portable reflector telescope conveys detailed, impressive images. Whether you want to quickly peek at the sky from the backyard or gaze at a marathon night, you can count on this Zhumell telescope. Its design shows a 130 mm parabolic primary mirror which is a high-end feature not commonly found in other telescopes of this size. This parabolic mirror discards visual defects like spherical aberration so it presents significantly sharper views.

Key Features

• The primary mirror and every other optical surface are coated with Zhumell’s high-reflectivity coatings. 
• The light transmission is more than 90%. It leads to a bright view of any dim celestial objects.
• The industry-standard 1.25” focuser is compatible with lots of different accessories.
• The focal length is 650 mm and the focal ratio is f/5.
• The magnification of a 25 mm eyepiece is 26x and that of a 10 mm eyepiece is 65x.
• The Limiting Magnitude is 13.05.
• The Lowest Useful Magnification is 18x.
• The Highest Theoretical Magnification is 256x.
• The focus type is Manual Focus.
• The Telescopic Mount is Altazimuth Mount.
• The Finderscope is Reflex.
• Telescope dimensions and weight: 24 x 18 x 18.5 inches; 18.6 pounds.

Pros And Cons

3. Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope

This Orion 5.1-inch aperture reflector telescope collects an abundant amount of light for outstanding views of the Moon, planets, nebulas, galaxies, star clusters, etc. This aperture and the ability to present clear images suggest that this reflector telescope is one of the best reflector telescopes under 1000 dollars.

A well-built and accurate EQ-2 equatorial mount is included in the pack. It comes with dual setting circles as well as supports slow-motion hand controls. Weighing only 27 lbs, it is easy to transport anywhere. The 24-inch long optical tube design offers great portability. The pack contains accessories like two 1.25-inch Sirius Plossl eyepieces (10 mm and 25 mm), a 1.25-inch rack and pinion focuser, 6×30 finder scope, a tripod accessory tray, collimation cap, and Starry Night astronomy software.

Key Features

• The fast f/5 focal ratio offers amazing wide-field performance which makes the SpaceProbe 130ST EQ an extremely versatile telescope for people of all age groups.
• The well-built EQ-2 equatorial mount and the adjustable tripod permit manual slow-motion tracking of astronomical objects as they migrate in the night sky.
• The optical diameter is 130 mm, the focal length is 650 mm, and the focal ratio is f/5.0.
• The Lowest Useful Magnification is 19x.
• The Highest Theoretical Magnification is 260x.
• The focus type is Manual Focus.
• The Telescopic Mount is Altazimuth Mount.
• The Finderscope is Reflex.
• Telescope dimensions and weight: 24 x 24 x 51 inches; 24.2 pounds.

Pros And Cons

4. Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ Reflector Telescope for Beginner

Celestron 70EQ is an equatorial reflector telescope for beginners. Belonging to the PowerSeeker series, this reflector telescope is specially designed to provide novice telescope users with the perfect blend of quality, power, features, and value. Being lightweight, compact, and portable, it can be carried to a campsite or can be used in the backyard. Accessories packed in are two eyepieces (20 mm and 4 mm), Finderscope, an erect image diagonal, a 3x Barlow lens, a manual, and a free download of an astronomy software program.

Key Features

• The German Equatorial mount comes with a slow-motion altitude rod that provides smooth and precise pointing. You simply need to adjust the rod to the desired position and then secure it by fastening the cross knob.
• The aperture is 70 mm, the focal length is 700 mm and the focal ratio is f/10.
• The limiting Magnitude is 11.7.
• The Lowest Useful Magnification is 10x.
• The Highest Theoretical Magnification is 165x.
• The focus type is Manual-and-auto-focus.
• The Telescopic Mount is Equatorial Mount.
• The Finderscope is Reflex.
• Telescope dimensions and weight: 39 x 13 x 10 inches; 13.9 pounds.

Pros And Cons

5. SOLOMARK 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope for Adults

The exceptional attributes of this SOLOMARK 130EQ reflector telescope are a large 130 mm aperture, decent light-gathering capacity, high resolution, and bright image output. All these attributes imply that this SOLOMARK telescope can be one of the best reflector telescopes under 1000 dollars for your needs. It is extremely helpful for the observation of deep space celestial objects.

The structure shows a lightweight yet sturdy frame and a carbon fiber cover on the surface. A sturdy adjustable aluminum alloy tripod is included. Moreover, a tray is attached for storage of tiny temporary attachment. Names of other included accessories are a 1.25-inch Moon Filter (13% transmission), a 1.5x Erecting Barlow lens, a cellphone adapter, and two Plossl eyepieces.

Key Features

• The objective lens boasts fully-coated glass optics capable to enhance the performance of the optical system allowing you to see objects in detail.
• The German Equatorial Mount contains dial and fine-turned control cables for precise mounting.
• The length of the optical tube is 650 mm.
• The focus type is Manual Focus.
• The Finderscope is Straight-Through.
• Telescope dimensions and weight: 27.5 x 17 x 13.5 inches; 33.2 pounds.

Pros And Cons

6. Orion SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope

You can enjoy viewing hundreds of craters present on the Moon, planets, and other celestial bodies with this Orion 10012 reflector telescope. The viewing experience is uncompromised even when used from a comparatively vivid city location. You can set it up as near the backyard table or as far as your remote dark sky site.

Thanks to its small stature, the Orion 10012 makes a great grab-and-go telescope for road trip adventures, camp-outs, and just carrying to the local park. The Orion 10012 telescope features a rack-and-pinion focuser that makes it easy to dial in sharp focus. The included accessories are two 1.25-inch telescope eyepieces: 20 mm (20x magnification) and 10mm (40x magnification), Starry Night astronomy software, and EZ Finder II aiming device.

Key Features

• The diameter of the objective lens is 100 mm.
• The focal length is 400 mm.
• The length of the optical tube is 15.7 inches.
• The focus type is Manual Focus.
• The Finderscope is Reflex.
• A Lithium Metal battery is included.
• Telescope dimensions and weight: 9.5 x 9.5 x 14 inches; 6.2 pounds.

Pros And Cons

7. Gskyer 130EQ Astronomical Reflector Telescope

If you want a telescope that can gather an ample amount of light then the Gysker 130EQ is one of the best reflector telescopes under 1000 dollars meeting this expectation. Its 5.1-inch aperture can fulfill this requirement to provide bright views of all celestial bodies. The pack contains accessories like 3 eyepieces, a finderscope, a smartphone adapter, a 3X Barlow lens, an adjustable tripod, and a Bluetooth camera remote.

Key Features

• The telescope is implemented with a Short 24-inch long optical tube design.
• The focal ratio is f/5 and the focal length is 650 mm.
• The focus type is Manual Focus.
• The Finderscope is Reflex.
• The telescope mount is Equatorial Mount.
• The included wireless remote control can be paired with your device (Android or iOS) through Bluetooth.
• Telescope dimensions and weight: 33.7 x 9.3 x 18.4 inches; 30.1 pounds.

Pros And Cons

8. Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope

For astronomy beginners, Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ is a powerful reflector telescope for adults or kids. It is built with a lightweight frame. Also, this Celestron 130EQ telescope is powered by a fully-coated 130mm glass optic objective lens. It also features an AstroMaster German Equatorial manual mount that includes two easy-to-manipulate slow-motion control knobs that permit precision adjustments for viewing terrestrial and celestial objects in exceptional quality.

Accessories packed in are two eyepieces (10 mm and 20 mm), a StarPointer red dot finderscope, an adjustable travel tripod, the Sky X CD Rom, a user manual, and a free download of one of the leading astronomy software programs.

Key Features

• The diameter of the objective lens is 130 mm.
• The focal ratio is f/8.7 and the focal length is 1000 mm.
• The focus type is Manual Focus.
• The Finderscope is Reflex.
• The limiting Magnitude is 12.8.
• The Lowest Useful Magnification is 16x.
• The Highest Magnification is 269x.
• The lens coating is done from aluminum and silicon dioxide.
• Telescope dimensions and weight: 35 x 19 x 12 inches; 26.5 pounds.

Pros And Cons

How To Pick The Best Reflector Telescope under 1000 Dollars?

To eliminate confusion on how to choose the best reflector telescope under 1000 dollars, you can go through the details of the following factors.

1. Aperture

If you intend to use a reflector telescope for visual observation only then you need to consider the aperture. With the wide aperture, a reflector telescope can gather more light with more details and more contrast.  For example, a reflector telescope with a 200 mm aperture can gather approx. four times the light as the one with a 100 mm aperture.  Many of the best reflector telescopes come with an aperture of around 100 mm.

2. Magnification

The maximum magnification is approx. twice the aperture in millimeters. For example, a reflector telescope with a 102 mm aperture can magnify up to 204 times. Note that an eyepiece that magnifies more than the aperture would cause a blurred image and a smaller field of vision. Some of the best reflector telescopes have a maximum magnification of 300x or even higher.

3. Focal length

The longer the focal length of your reflector telescope is, the higher magnification it provides and the sharper the view will be. You can get up to 700 mm focal length in some of the reflector telescopes.

4. Mount

Two of the most prevalent mounts used in reflector telescopes are Altazimuth Mount and Equatorial Mount. Both these mount systems are reliable. These mounts are easy to set up and let the telescope point accurately.

Components of A Reflector Telescope

Primary mirror

Light from distant objects is collected by the primary mirror, which is located at the bottom of the barrel of the reflecting telescope. This mirror is a special curved mirror which focuses the light back onto the secondary mirror.

Secondary Mirror

The secondary mirror is located at the front of the telescope barrel set at an angle of 45 degrees. It reflects light into the focuser located on the side of the barrel.

Finderscope

The finderscope helps you to focus on your target. It can be either a miniature telescope with a wide field of view or a red dot finder with zero magnification.

Slow-motion control

The slow motion control allows you to manually adjust the telescope on one or two axes. It allows you to carefully move a celestial object to the centre of the eyepiece’s field of view and then leave it there.

Focuser and eyepiece

The focuser allows you to adjust the position of the eyepiece in order to focus on what you are seeing. The eyepiece magnifies the image produced by the telescope. Different eyepieces can be used to increase the size of the display of the observed target.

Counterweights

One or more counterweights are required to keep the telescope balanced on the mount. It reduces the rocking caused by the motor drive and can prevent the telescope from falling over.

Barrel ring and wedge bar

The barrel ring holds the telescope barrel in place and allows you to rotate it into a suitable position. The barrel ring is attached to a wedge (a black bar that can be moved between the two barrel rings) to ensure that the barrel is held in place.

Polar scope

Many equatorial mounts for telescope have a built-in polar alignment scope. A polar scope is actually a miniature telescope which allows you to align one axis of the base very precisely with the axis of rotation of the night sky so that you can track the stars more easily.

Base head

The base head of a reflecting telescope is usually of an equatorial design, which allows the base head to be aligned with the night sky so that the stars can be tracked more easily.

Tripod

Tripods provide support for the whole system. They are usually made of aluminium and have adjustable feet for changing the height of the telescope. The tripod needs to be stable and have firm support.

Terminology Buster

Caliber: The most important specification parameter of a telescope. The calibre is the size of the primary mirror or lens and is usually expressed in millimetres, centimetres or inches.

Base head: The base head supports the telescope and allows you to point it at the sky. There are two main types.

Equatorial base head can be aligned with the rotation axis of the night sky and they use a celestial sphere coordinate system similar to latitude and longitude.

Horizontal base head can be moved on two axes: azimuth (the angle measured from north) and altitude (from 0 degrees at the horizon to 90 degrees at the zenith).

FAQs When Picking The Best Reflector Telescope Under 1000 Dollars

1. What does a reflector telescope do?

Reflector telescopes collect light using two glass mirrors and then transmit the image to the eyepiece. Their design provides superior quality image output with few aberrations or distortions.

2. Which one to choose between the reflector and refractor telescope?

Reflector telescopes are better suited for beginners and intermediate astronomers. They are affordably priced and present great views of planets, the Moon, and other astronomical bodies like star clusters and galaxies.

 Refractor scopes are more suitable for intermediate to professional viewers. They are pricier than reflector telescopes but need less maintenance. Moreover, they boast a more stable optical quality and require fewer adjustments from the observer.

3. What can you observe with the best reflector telescope under 1000 dollars?

With a reflector telescope, you can observe planets, Moon, and deep-sky objects (DSO) like galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, comets, etc. When used with a motorized equatorial mount, they prove to be very successful for astrophotography.

4. What is the benefit of buying a reflector telescope with a large aperture?

A larger aperture implies a higher practical magnification limit. The reflector telescope with a larger aperture can focus more light and allow fainter objects to be seen more clearly than smaller apertures. Moreover, you get better resolution output when the air is stable.

Final Thoughts

For beginners and even for seasoned users, the best reflector telescope under 1000 dollars proves to be useful to start a stargazing excursion. The design of these reflector telescopes is such that it provides a low-cost solution for home users. The outstanding light gathering capacity leads to the formation of clear and vivid images that provide the best observation experience.

Enjoyed this article on the best reflector telescope under 1000 dollars? Then be sure to check out our other guide of the Best Refractor Telescope under 1000 Dollars.