Best Equatorial Telescopes of 2025

Alan Eaton Avatar
Alan Eaton
Last Updated: Jan 2, 2025

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Equatorial telescopes are a type of telescope that is designed to track the movement of celestial objects, such as stars and planets, as they move across the sky. They are characterized by their equatorial mount, which allows the telescope to be aligned with the Earth's axis of rotation. This means that as the Earth rotates, the telescope can follow the movement of the stars and planets, allowing for more accurate observations. Equatorial telescopes are popular among amateur astronomers and are available in a range of sizes and prices, making them accessible to a wide range of people.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope Cover #TOP 1
Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Celestron PowerSeeker 114EQ Telescope Cover #TOP 2
Celestron PowerSeeker 114EQ Telescope
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ Telescope Cover #TOP 3
Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ Telescope
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Equatorial Telescopes

#TOP 1

Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope

21049
Black
127EQ Newtonian
Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope Cover
Celestron - PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope - Manual German Equatorial Telescope for Beginners - Compact and Portable - Bonus Astronomy Software Package - 127mm Aperture

The Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope is a manual German equatorial telescope designed for beginners. It features a 127mm aperture, quick and easy no-tool setup, slow motion controls for smooth tracking, and fully coated glass optical components with high transmission coatings for enhanced image brightness and clarity. It comes with a 20mm erect-image eyepiece, 4mm eyepiece, 3x Barlow lens, star pointer finder, equatorial head, 2x slow-motion cables, adjustable-height tripod, counterweight bar, and 7.5 lbs counterweight.

What We Like
Quick and easy no-tool setup
Slow motion controls for smooth tracking
Fully coated glass optical components with high transmission coatings for enhanced image brightness and clarity
#TOP 2

Celestron PowerSeeker 114EQ Telescope

21045
Multi-Coloured
114EQ Newtonian
Celestron PowerSeeker 114EQ Telescope Cover
Celestron - PowerSeeker 114EQ Telescope - Manual German Equatorial Telescope for Beginners - Compact and Portable - BONUS Astronomy Software Package - 114mm Aperture

The Celestron PowerSeeker Telescope is an excellent choice for beginners looking to explore the night sky. Its 114mm aperture allows you to see planets, the Moon's craters, and even nebulae with ease. The manual German Equatorial mount features a slow-motion rod, making it simple for you to locate and track celestial objects as they move across the sky. This compact and lightweight telescope is perfect for family outings, whether you're at a campsite or in your backyard. Additionally, it comes with quality eyepieces and a Barlow lens to enhance your viewing experience.

What We Like
Easy to use for beginners
Compact and lightweight design
Includes multiple quality eyepieces
Manual mount for smooth tracking
#TOP 3

Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ Telescope

21048
Black
80EQ Refractor
Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ Telescope Cover
Celestron: Celestron - PowerSeeker 80EQ Telescope - Manual German Equatorial Telescope for Beginners - Compact and Portable - BONUS Astronomy Software Package - 80mm Aperture

The Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ Telescope is the perfect entry-level telescope for beginners. With its 80mm aperture, this refractor telescope offers enough light gathering ability to observe planets, the Moon's craters, distant stars, and even the Orion Nebula. The manual German Equatorial mount, equipped with a slow-motion altitude rod, allows for easy navigation of the night sky. You can quickly find celestial objects and smoothly track them as they move across the sky. The compact and portable design makes it ideal for both adults and kids to use together. Additionally, the telescope comes with multiple accessories including quality eyepieces and a 3x Barlow lens to triple the power of each. With a 2-Year US Warranty and unlimited support from Celestron's team of experts, you can buy with confidence.

What We Like
Easy-to-use
Powerful
Compact
#TOP 4

Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ Telescope

21037
Black
70EQ Refractor
Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ Telescope Cover
Celestron: PowerSeeker 70EQ Telescope - Manual German Equatorial Telescope for Beginners - Compact and Portable - Bonus Astronomy Software Package - 70mm Aperture

The Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ Telescope is a powerful refractor telescope designed for beginners. It features a German Equatorial mount with a slow-motion altitude rod for smooth and accurate pointing. The telescope is compact, lightweight, and portable, making it perfect for adults and kids to use together. It comes with multiple accessories, including 2 eyepieces, erect image diagonal, Finderscope, and a 3x Barlow lens to triple the power of each. The package also includes a free download of top-rated astronomy software programs.

What We Like
Easy-to-use and powerful, perfect for beginners
Compact, lightweight and portable
Comes with multiple accessories
#TOP 5

Dianfan 150EQ Telescope

Dianfan
150 EQ Reflector Telescope
EQ-150P
Dianfan 150EQ Telescope Cover
Telescope 150EQ Astronomical Reflector Telescopes for Adults, Professional Manual Equatorial Telescope for Kids & Beginners.Comes with 2X Barlow Lens Phone Adapter,Stainless Tripod and Moon Filter

The Dianfan 150EQ is an excellent choice for both new and experienced astronomers. With a large 150 mm aperture, you can expect bright and clear images of celestial objects, making stargazing more enjoyable. The new equatorial mount is already assembled for your convenience, allowing you to focus on observing rather than setup. Its fully equipped design includes high-quality optics and a sturdy stainless steel tripod, ensuring stability during use. You'll appreciate the included phone adapter for easy astrophotography and a moon filter for enhanced viewing experiences.

What We Like
Large aperture for bright images
Convenient pre-assembled mount
Stable stainless steel tripod
User-friendly and fully equipped
#TOP 6

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R

S30300
White
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Cover
Sky Watcher EQ6-R – Fully Computerized GoTo German Equatorial Telescope Mount – Belt-driven, Motorized, Computerized Hand Controller with 42,900+ Celestial Object Database

The Sky-Watcher Mount is a computerized German equatorial telescope mount designed for both visual observing and astrophotography. Its belt-driven stepper motors provide precise and accurate tracking while eliminating periodic error. With a 44-pound payload capacity, this mount can handle most optical tubes. It also features a built-in illuminated polar finderscope for quick and easy polar alignment. The SynScan hand controller comes with a database of over 42,000 celestial objects, providing endless opportunities for observation. The built-in handle makes it easy to transport and set up wherever you go.

What We Like
Precise tracking
Whisper-quiet slewing
44-pound payload capacity
#TOP 7

HEXEUM Telescope 130EQ Astronomical Reflector

telescope
130EQ-White
130EQ-W
HEXEUM Telescope 130EQ Astronomical Reflector Cover
Telescope 130EQ Astronomical Reflector Telescope - Manual Equatorial Telescope for Adults Astronomy. Comes with 2X Barlow Lens Phone Adapter and Moon Filter, Wireless Control

The HEXEUM Telescope 130EQ Astronomical Reflector is a powerful reflector telescope with 650mm focal length and 130mm aperture. It features two replaceable eyepieces for optimum magnification, 2X Barlow lens, and a red dot finder scope to make object location easy. The telescope also comes with a phone adapter, wireless control, and Moon & Sun filters. The Equatorial Mount allows for smooth and accurate pointing, and precise tracking of celestial bodies.

What We Like
Equipped with powerful all-optical lens technology for enhanced image brightness and clarity.
Comes with multiple accessories including a phone adapter and Moon & Sun filters for more convenient and versatile use.
Equatorial Mount allows for precise tracking of celestial objects, making it easier to capture amazing images and enjoy the process of manual tracking.
#TOP 8

Sky-Watcher HEQ5

S30400
White
Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Cover
Sky Watcher HEQ5 – Fully Computerized GoTo German Equatorial Telescope Mount – Motorized Astrophotography Mount with 42,000 Object Database,White

The Sky-Watcher Mount is a lightweight computerized equatorial mount perfect for beginning astrophotographers or skilled astronomers. It has heavy duty roller bearings on both right ascension and declination axis, making it easy to use. The built-in illuminated polar finderscope aids in quick and easy polar alignment. The all-metal construction provides a 30-pound payload capacity, making it ideal for all but the heaviest optical tubes. The mount comes with a SynScan hand controller with a 42,000 plus object database, which will keep even the most experienced astronomer busy for countless observing nights. The sturdy rolled-steel tripod ensures stability during observation.

What We Like
Lightweight and easy to use
Built-in illuminated polar finderscope
30-pound payload capacity
#TOP 9

Gaterda 150EQ Reflector Telescope

Gaterda
GA-150EQ
Gaterda 150EQ Reflector Telescope Cover
Telescope 150EQ Reflector Telescope for Adults Astronomy, Professional Manual German Equatorial Telescopes for Beginners & Kids with Eyepiece Set, Stainless Tripod, Moon Filter and Phone Adapter

The Gaterda Reflector Telescope is designed for both beginners and experienced stargazers. With its 150 mm primary mirror and 650 mm focal length, you can enjoy bright, detailed views of celestial objects, making it ideal for deep-sky exploration and planetary observation. The professional equatorial mount allows you to track objects smoothly, enhancing your viewing experience. Additionally, the included accessory kit features various eyepieces and a moon filter, helping you capture stunning images and reducing glare. The sturdy stainless steel tripod ensures stability, so you can comfortably view the night sky without interruptions.

What We Like
Large aperture for bright views
Precise tracking and adjustments
Versatile accessory kit included
Sturdy and adjustable tripod
#TOP 10

SOLOMARK 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope

130EQ
130EQ
SOLOMARK 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope Cover
Telescope 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescopes for Adults, Professional Telescopes for Adults Astronomy, Comes with 1.5X Barlow Lens Smartphone Adapter & 13% T Moon Filter

The SOLOMARK 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope is a great choice for amateur astronomers. It features a 130mm large aperture, high-quality optics, a German Equatorial mount, a stable tripod, and multiple accessories. It is easy to assemble and use, and provides a clear view of the moon and planets. However, the finder scope may be difficult to use for beginners.

What We Like
High-quality optics and large aperture
German Equatorial mount and stable tripod
Multiple accessories included
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does equatorial telescope mean?

An equatorial telescope mount operates on two axis, RA, and DEC. Right ascension is the axis that rotates around the north or south celestial pole depending on which hemisphere you are located in. The telescope mount must be accurately polar aligned to match the rotation of the night sky in RA.

2. Which is better Alt azimuth or equatorial?

Alt-az mounts are considered superior for visual astronomy because they provide such comfortable viewing positions at the eyepiece. Many experienced visual astronomers recommend alt-az mounts for this reason. All in all, equatorial mounts are designed with the astrophotographer in mind.

3. What is a German equatorial telescope?

German equatorial mounts or GEMs track an object using constant speed movement on one axis that is oriented parallel to the Earth's axis of rotation. This makes the design ideal for astrophotography.

Editor's Notes

During our equatorial telescope research, we found 16 equatorial telescope products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 120,149 customer reviews through our big data system to write the equatorial telescopes list. We found that most customers choose equatorial telescopes with an average price of $278.64.

The equatorial telescopes are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of equatorial telescopes, including Celestron, Dianfan, Sky Watcher, HEXEUM, Gaterda. 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.