Best Telescope Finder Scopes of 2025

Alan Eaton Avatar
Alan Eaton
Last Updated: Jan 5, 2025

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Telescope finder scopes are a popular accessory for amateur astronomers. These small, lightweight telescopes are used to help locate objects in the sky before viewing them through the main telescope. They are especially useful for finding faint objects or those located in crowded areas of the sky. Finder scopes can be attached to the main telescope or used independently. They come in a variety of sizes and magnifications to suit different needs and budgets. Some even have illuminated reticles to aid in alignment. Overall, a good finder scope is an essential tool for any amateur astronomer looking to make the most of their telescope.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Celestron StarPointer Finderscope Cover #TOP 1
Celestron StarPointer Finderscope
ftb score rating icon 9.9
SVBONY Red Dot Finder Scope for Astronomical Telescope Cover #TOP 2
SVBONY Red Dot Finder Scope for Astronomical Telescope
ftb score rating icon 9.8
SVBONY Finder Scope 5x24 for Astronomy Telescope Cover #TOP 3
SVBONY Finder Scope 5x24 for Astronomy Telescope
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Telescope Finder Scopes

#TOP 1

Celestron StarPointer Finderscope

51630
Black
Celestron StarPointer Finderscope Cover
Celestron StarPointer Finderscope

The Celestron StarPointer Finderscope is a simple and low-profile red-dot finderscope that offers easy adjustments for sighting and alignment. This LED-illuminated red-dot pinpoint easily attaches to standard finderscope brackets and is perfect for use with a telescope.

What We Like
Easy to use
Offers precise sighting and alignment
Low profile design
#TOP 2

SVBONY Red Dot Finder Scope for Astronomical Telescope

FW2564A
SVBONY Red Dot Finder Scope for Astronomical Telescope Cover
SVBONY Finder Scope for Astronomical Telescope Red Dot Reflex Viewfinder Finder Scope Two Hole Fixing

SVBONY Red Dot Finder Scope for Astronomical Telescope is a simple, affordable, and effective red dot sighting device that helps you aim your telescope quickly and easily. It is best suited for Celestron 80EQ SE SLT PS Series and Meade Infinity and Polaris series telescopes. The LED dot is projected onto a non-magnifying viewing window, and the elongated mounting holes make it easy to mount the scope from a distance of approximately 5/8 to 1 inch. Additionally, the top part of the scope can be removed and used as a replacement for many other red dot finders found on Skywatcher and Celestron telescopes. The device also has variable brightness levels to adjust as per your need.

What We Like
Simple, affordable, and effective red dot sighting device
LED dot projected onto a non-magnifying viewing window for quick and easy aim of the telescope
Top part of the scope can be removed and used as a replacement for many other red dot finders found on Skywatcher and Celestron telescopes
#TOP 3

SVBONY Finder Scope 5x24 for Astronomy Telescope

FUSW2077A
SVBONY Finder Scope 5x24 for Astronomy Telescope Cover
SVBONY Finder Scope 5x24 with Bracket Plastic Accessory Kit for Astronomy Telescope

The SVBONY Finder Scope 5x24 is a secondary scope designed to help you easily locate objects in your main telescope. With 3 thumb screws, you can make precise XY adjustments for accurate alignment. It comes with a low power magnification of 5x24, a glossy black metallic finish, and a cross hair reticle for clear viewing. The kit also includes a mounting bracket and dust caps, which fit any telescope optical tubes, and protects against dust and fingerprints. The curved base with two holes attaches to the telescope tube with bolts or screws, ensuring that the bracket will not slide into a dovetail base. Overall, the SVBONY Finder Scope 5x24 is a convenient accessory that makes it easier to find stars and other celestial objects.

What We Like
Precise positioning with 3 thumb screws
Low power magnification for easy object location
Comes with mounting bracket and dust caps for convenience
#TOP 4

SVBONY SV106 Guide Scope

SV106
60mm
SVBONY SV106 Guide Scope Cover
SVBONY SV106 Guide Scope with Helical Focuser Finder and Guide Scope Multi-Use for Astronomical Telescope (60mm)

The SVBONY SV106 Guide Scope is a versatile 60mm aperture guide scope, perfect for astrophotographers looking to capture higher quality astrophotos. It features a built-in helical focuser for precise focusing of potential guide stars, which can also double as a straight-through finder scope with an optional 1.25" eyepiece installed. The focuser has 8mm of precise helical focus travel and features male T-threads on the focuser collar for secure threaded attachment of guide cameras equipped with female T-threads. Additionally, the telescoping drawtube housing provides up to 35mm of additional back-travel if needed for your particular autoguider device, making it an ideal addition to any astrophotographer's collection of gear.

What We Like
Versatile 60mm aperture
Built-in helical focuser for precise focusing
Can double as a straight-through finder scope with an optional 1.25" eyepiece installed
Telescoping drawtube housing provides up to 35mm of additional back-travel if needed
Male T-threads on the focuser collar for secure threaded attachment of guide cameras equipped with female T-threads
#TOP 5

SVBONY SV182 Finderscope for Astronomy Telescope

FW9141B
SVBONY SV182 Finderscope for Astronomy Telescope Cover
SVBONY SV182 Finderscope, Right-Angle Correct-Image Optical Finder, 6x30 Finder Scope for Astronomy Telescope, with Crosshair and Bracket

The SVBONY SV182 Finderscope is an essential tool for any stargazer. With a 30mm wide aperture and strong light gathering capabilities, it allows you to see even the faintest objects in the sky. Its appropriate 120mm focal length, powerful 6x crosshair reticles, and prism steering system make it easy to line up your target and get a clear, bright image. The 90-degree right angle design ensures a comfortable observation angle and eliminates the need for neck twisting. Its fully multi coated lens coating improves light transmission and provides a sharp, clear view of the night sky.

What We Like
Improves light gathering capabilities for viewing faint objects
90-degree right angle design for comfortable observation
Prism steering system for an erect image
Fully multi coated lens coating for clear and bright images
Ideal 120mm focal length and powerful 6x crosshair reticles for easy targeting
#TOP 6

Astromania 9x50 Angled Finder Scope

SKU_AM_FSAF9X50
Astromania 9x50 Angled Finder Scope Cover
Astromania 9x50 Angled Finder Scope, Black - You Will no Longer Need to Strain Your Neck at Difficult Angles and are Also able to Search for Objects which are not so Easy to find

The Astromania 9x50 Angled Finder Scope is an excellent addition to any telescope, providing a comfortable 90° viewing angle that eliminates the need to strain your neck at difficult angles. With a 50mm objective lens diameter and achromatic optics, it delivers a bright, true-to-life image at 9x magnification. Additionally, the multi-coated optical surfaces prevent irritating reflections, making your search for objects much more comfortable and efficient. You'll also be able to locate a larger number of stars, which is a big plus for identifying objects that are not so easy to find. The finder scope is easy to focus and fits most telescopes, with adjustment of alignment via two screws and spring.

What We Like
Provides a comfortable viewing angle that eliminates the need to strain your neck at difficult angles
Delivers a bright, true-to-life image at 9x magnification with multi-coated optical surfaces that prevent irritating reflections
Allows you to locate a larger number of stars, making it easier to identify objects that are not so easy to find
Easy to focus and fits most telescopes
Adjustment of alignment via two screws and spring
#TOP 7

Celestron Illuminated RACI Finder Scope

93781
Black
Celestron Illuminated RACI Finder Scope Cover
Celestron Illuminated RACI Finder Scope, Black (93781)

Upgrade your telescope's stock finderscope with the Celestron Illuminated RACI Finder Scope. Its 50mm lens provides bright, sharp images with a magnification of 9X and a 5º apparent field of view. The right-angle, correct-image design facilitates intuitive aiming and pointing. The double-crosshair reticle etched in the eyepiece ensures pinpoint accuracy. An illuminator lights up the crosshair with a soft, red glow, and the illumination can be easily adjusted or turned off. The finder is easy to install with its dovetail bracket.

What We Like
Sharp, bright images with a wide field of view
Right-angle, correct-image design for intuitive aiming and pointing
Double-crosshair reticle ensures pinpoint accuracy
Battery-powered illuminator with adjustable brightness
Easy to install with the dovetail bracket
#TOP 8

Telrad Finder Sight

Finder Sight

The Telrad Finder is designed to make aiming a telescope as simple as possible. You will appreciate how the view through its window aligns seamlessly with the night sky, allowing for a natural and intuitive experience. Unlike traditional finders, it does not magnify or invert the image, ensuring you see the stars just as they appear. This feature helps you quickly locate celestial objects without confusion. Overall, the Telrad Finder enhances your stargazing sessions, making it easier to connect with the universe around you.

What We Like
Easy alignment with the sky
No magnification or inversion
User-friendly design
Enhances stargazing experience
#TOP 9

Astromania Finder Deluxe Telescope Reflex Sight

SKU_AM_RSEZ2
Black
Astromania Finder Deluxe Telescope Reflex Sight Cover
Astromania Finder Deluxe Telescope Reflex Sight - All Metal for Prolonged Use

The Astromania Reflex Sight is a non-magnifying reflex sight designed to make aiming your telescope easier and more accurate than ever, day or night. It features a large viewing window and four different aiming reticle patterns to choose from, as well as five brightness levels of red or green light. The reflex sight includes horizontal and vertical fine-adjustment set-screws that allow precise alignment with the telescope and a dovetail finder bracket that fits most telescopes. With this reflex sight, you can easily aim your telescope at night or during the day, thanks to the small red or green LED reticle pattern projected onto the viewing window. The reticle selector knob allows you to select the reticle you desire, and you can set the intensity at the best position for you. Each click adjustment moves the point of impact by 1 MOA, approximately 1" at 100 yds, 1/2" at 50 yds.

What We Like
Large viewing window
Four aiming reticle patterns
Five brightness levels
#TOP 10

SVBONY Red Dot Finderscope for Celestron

FUSW2299A
SVBONY Red Dot Finderscope for Celestron Cover
SVBONY Red Dot Finderscope, Star Pointer Compatible for Celestron 80EQ 80DX 90DX SE SLT Astronomical Telescopes, Astronomical Telescope Accessories with Slide-in Bracket

The SVBONY Red Dot Sight is designed to enhance your stargazing experience. With its adjustable red LED dot, you can easily align your telescope, making it perfect for both day and night use. The thumbwheels allow you to fine-tune the dot's position both horizontally and vertically, ensuring precise targeting of celestial objects. Plus, you can adjust the brightness to match your surroundings, giving you flexibility in various lighting conditions. This user-friendly sighting device is compatible with several Celestron telescope models, making it a versatile addition to your astronomical equipment.

What We Like
Easy alignment
Adjustable brightness
Compatible with multiple models
User-friendly design
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do you need a finder scope on a telescope?

Yes, a finder scope is essential for a telescope. It is a mini telescope attached to the main telescope tube that offers a wider field of view, typically 3-10 degrees. With a finder scope, you can easily locate objects in the sky and navigate your telescope more effectively.

2. What is a reasonable magnification for a very good telescope?

A reasonable magnification for a high-quality telescope depends on its aperture. Typically, a highest useful power of about 200x to 240x is achievable with an 8" scope on an average night. For a 4" scope, it would be around 100x to 120x. The optimal magnification for observing globular clusters and smaller nebulas is about 12x to 15x per inch of aperture, while 8x per inch of aperture is recommended for finding galaxies and observing large nebulas.

3. How do you align a telescope without a finder scope?

Aligning a telescope without a finder scope can be done by roughly pointing the scope in the right direction, then leaning down so one eye is right behind the telescope. Adjust the altitude setting until the object is just in view above the scope, and then adjust the azimuth while looking at the star above the telescope. This method requires some rough estimation and adjustment to align the telescope manually.

4. Can you focus a finder scope?

Yes, most achromatic finder scopes have an adjustment ring that allows you to focus the image for your eyesight. Focusing is achieved by moving the objective (front) lens in or out using the knurled ring near the front of the finder.

5. How do you match a guide scope to a main scope?

The ideal ratio for matching a guide scope to a main scope is historically about 1/3 of the focal length of the primary imaging telescope. This means that the focal length of the guide scope should be approximately one-third of the focal length of the main telescope. This ratio helps ensure proper guiding and tracking when using a guide scope with a main telescope for astrophotography or precise observations.

Editor's Notes

During our telescope finder scope research, we found 16 telescope finder scope products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 19,356 customer reviews through our big data system to write the telescope finder scopes list. We found that most customers choose telescope finder scopes with an average price of $35.53.

The telescope finder scopes are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of telescope finder scopes, including Celestron, SVBONY, Astromania, TELRAD. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Alan Eaton Avatar

Alan Eaton is a seasoned writer whose expertise is in anything related to electronics, such as headphones, monitoring equipment, computer, and so on, built over a 15-year career in the technology industry. Working in the trade during his youth, he accumulated a great deal of knowledge about machinery.