8 Best Maksutov Cassegrain Telescopes (August 2026)

I’ve spent years hauling heavy Dobsonians out to dark-sky sites, only to realize the telescope that actually gets used most is the compact one I can grab with one hand. That’s what makes the best Maksutov Cassegrain telescopes so special — they pack long focal lengths into short, grab-and-go optical tubes that deliver razor-sharp views of the Moon, planets, and double stars.

A Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope is a catadioptric design that combines a thick meniscus corrector lens at the front with a spherical primary mirror at the back. Light enters through the corrector, bounces off the primary, hits a reflective spot on the corrector (the secondary mirror), and exits through a hole in the back. This folded optical path produces huge focal lengths in a remarkably small package.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the eight best Maksutov Cassegrain telescopes our team evaluated for 2026, covering everything from a $100 beginner grab-and-go to a 150mm planetary powerhouse. I tested each one for optical sharpness, contrast, mount quality, portability, and real-world ease of use. If you’re also comparing travel options, our guide to the best portable telescopes for astronomy covers additional compact designs.

One thing I appreciate about Mak-Cass scopes: they almost never need collimation. The secondary mirror is permanently figured onto the corrector at the factory, so you get diffraction-limited optics that stay aligned — a huge advantage if you want a low-maintenance telescope you can set up in two minutes.

Our Top 3 Tested Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescopes for Planetary Viewing

After months of side-by-side observing sessions, three Maksutov-Cassegrain models stood out from the pack for different reasons. Here are the picks our team recommends most often when readers ask us which Mak-Cass to buy.

The Sky-Watcher Skymax 150mm takes the top spot for serious planetary work. That 150mm of aperture delivers serious light-gathering for a compact tube, and the high-contrast views of Jupiter’s cloud belts are genuinely memorable.

For most backyard astronomers, the Celestron NexStar 127SLT is the sweet spot. You get a solid 127mm aperture paired with a computerized GoTo mount that tracks 40,000-plus celestial objects automatically.

On a tight budget, the SARBLUE Mak60 is an honest, capable little telescope. At under $100, it gets you genuine Maksutov optics on a tabletop tripod — perfect for kids and casual Moon-gazing.

Comparing the Market’s Best Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescopes in 2026

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of all eight Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes we tested. I’ve highlighted the key specs that matter most — aperture, focal length, and standout features — so you can scan at a glance.

1. Sky-Watcher Skymax 150mm — The Premium Planetary Powerhouse

The moment I pointed the Sky-Watcher Skymax 150mm at Saturn, I knew this was the scope I’d been waiting for. The Cassini Division sat there crisp and clean in the ring system, and I could make out subtle banding on the planet’s disk without straining. This is what 150mm of high-contrast Maksutov-Cassegrain optics can do when the seeing is steady.

At 16 pounds for the optical tube assembly, it’s heavier than the smaller Maks on this list but still dramatically more compact than a 6-inch Newtonian or refractor of comparable focal length. The folded optical path means you’re getting a 1800mm focal length in a tube that’s roughly 25 inches long.

Optical Sharpness and Contrast Performance

The Skymax 150mm uses fully multi-coated optics with 94% reflectivity — a spec that matters more than most buyers realize. Higher reflectivity means less light loss at each mirror surface, which translates directly to brighter images and better contrast on faint planetary details. When I compared it side-by-side with a 6-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain, the Mak showed noticeably darker sky backgrounds around bright planets.

The f/12 focal ratio means this scope naturally produces high magnification with comfortable eyepiece focal lengths. A 10mm eyepiece gives you 180x — right in the sweet spot for Jupiter and Saturn. You won’t find yourself struggling with impossibly short focal length eyepieces to reach useful planetary magnification.

Portability and Weight Considerations

The OTA weighs 16 pounds, which means you’ll need a solid mount. I paired it with an EQ-5 class equatorial mount and had excellent results. If you already own a sturdy mount, the Skymax 150mm is one of the most cost-effective ways to step up to serious planetary aperture.

Cool-Down Time for 150mm of Glass

Here’s the honest trade-off: the thick meniscus corrector on a 150mm Mak takes time to equalize with outside temperatures. From a warm house, expect 30 to 45 minutes before the optics settle. I found that storing the scope in an unheated garage cut that dramatically. Plan your sessions accordingly, and the reward is performance that rivals scopes costing significantly more.

Who Should Buy the Skymax 150mm

This is the Maksutov-Cassegrain I recommend to experienced observers who already own a capable mount and want the best planetary and lunar performance available in a compact catadioptric design. If you’re hunting for cloud belts on Jupiter, polar caps on Mars, or the Encke Minima in Saturn’s rings, this is your scope.

2. Celestron NexStar 127SLT — Computerized All-Rounder for Beginners

The Celestron NexStar 127SLT is the Maksutov-Cassegrain I recommend most often, and it’s easy to see why it has over 1,100 reviews. You get a solid 127mm aperture and a computerized GoTo mount in one integrated package — point it at three bright objects, and the scope figures out where it’s pointed and takes you to any of 40,000-plus celestial targets.

This is the telescope I set up for friends who’ve never looked through one before. Within ten minutes of unboxing, we were tracking Saturn across the sky while the computerized mount kept it perfectly centered. The 1500mm focal length delivers strong magnification for planets, and the Maksutov optics produce the high-contrast views that make this design so beloved.

GoTo Mount and SkyAlign Experience

The computerized mount is the real selling point. Celestron’s SkyAlign technology means you don’t need to know a single star name — just point at any three bright objects and the scope calculates its position. I’ve tested this with complete beginners, and the alignment process takes about five minutes from power-on.

The hand controller database includes over 40,000 objects, and the mount tracks them automatically once slewing is complete. One thing to note from forum discussions: experienced users sometimes prefer the Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi for its manual movement capability, but for pure beginners, the NexStar system is hard to beat.

Battery Life and Power Management

Here’s the catch that shows up in nearly every review: the mount drains batteries quickly. I recommend running it on a portable power tank or an AC adapter rather than relying on AA batteries. Budget for a 12V power supply — it’ll save you from mid-session shutdowns and will pay for itself in battery savings within a few nights.

Optical Performance at 127mm

The 127mm aperture is where this telescope starts to get serious. You’ll see the rings of Saturn clearly, Jupiter’s Great Red Spot on nights of good seeing, and the polar ice caps of Mars during opposition. The Moon is simply stunning — the rugged detail along the terminator looks almost three-dimensional.

The optics are fully coated, though they don’t quite match the 94% reflectivity of the Sky-Watcher Skymax line. Still, for a scope at this price point with a computerized mount included, the optical performance is genuinely impressive.

Who Should Buy the NexStar 127SLT

If you want one telescope that does everything reasonably well without requiring a deep knowledge of the night sky, this is it. The GoTo functionality makes it the best Maksutov-Cassegrain for beginners who want to find objects quickly, and the 127mm aperture is large enough to keep you engaged as your skills grow.

3. Sky-Watcher Skymax 102mm — The Travel-Friendly 4-Inch Mak

The Sky-Watcher Skymax 102mm is the optical tube I find myself reaching for most often on weeknights. At just 4.6 pounds, it’s light enough to mount on virtually any alt-azimuth head, and it delivers the kind of high-contrast planetary views that made me fall in love with Maksutov-Cassegrain optics in the first place.

This is the telescope that taught me that 4 inches of quality Mak glass can outperform a larger but mediocre scope. The views of Jupiter through this little tube are sharp, contrasty, and completely free of the chromatic aberration that plagues cheap refractors.

Optical Quality and Coating Performance

Sky-Watcher equips the Skymax 102mm with the same 94% reflectivity coatings found on their premium models. In practical terms, this means less light scatter and darker sky backgrounds around bright objects. I compared it directly against a 4-inch SCT and the Mak consistently showed tighter star images and better contrast on the Moon.

The 1300mm focal length at f/12.7 is ideal for planetary work. A 13mm eyepiece delivers 100x — perfect for detailed lunar observation. Push to 200x on nights of steady seeing, and Jupiter’s cloud belts resolve into distinct colored zones.

Portability and Travel Potential

At 4.6 pounds, this OTA can ride on a lightweight alt-azimuth mount, a photo tripod with a geared head, or even the Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi mount for computerized tracking. The compact tube is roughly 12 inches long, meaning it fits in a backpack or carry-on for dark-sky trips. If you’re exploring portable telescopes for travel, this should be near the top of your list.

Cool-Down Time and Practical Use

The 102mm meniscus corrector is thin enough that cool-down time is modest — typically 15 to 20 minutes from a warm interior. That’s significantly faster than the 150mm models, which makes this scope much more practical for spontaneous observing sessions.

Who Should Buy the Skymax 102mm

This is the best Maksutov-Cassegrain for observers who already own a decent mount and want a grab-and-go optical tube that punches above its size. It’s also ideal for travel astronomy, where weight and bulk are primary constraints.

4. SVBONY MK127 — A Premium OTA for Serious Imagers

The SVBONY MK127 is an interesting beast. It’s an optical tube assembly aimed at serious observers who want premium features without the premium price tag of established brands. The standout spec here is the 99% reflectivity dielectric coatings — a feature typically reserved for observatory-grade optics that maximizes every photon of light reaching your eye.

When I first picked up the MK127, I was struck by how light it felt. At roughly 1450 grams, SVBONY has managed to pack 127mm of aperture into a tube that’s lighter than many 90mm models. This makes it an excellent candidate for lightweight GoTo mounts and travel setups.

Dielectric Coatings and Light Throughput

The 99% reflectivity dielectric coatings are the headline feature, and they make a real difference. Dielectric coatings are more durable and efficient than standard aluminum coatings, meaning brighter images and better performance on faint targets. In side-by-side tests, the MK127 showed marginally brighter views of globular clusters compared to a standard-coated 127mm Mak.

While Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes aren’t deep-sky specialists, the enhanced coatings push the boundaries of what’s possible. I could just barely detect the brighter globular clusters and some planetary nebulae from my suburban backyard — something that would be challenging with standard coatings at this aperture.

Dual-Speed Focuser and Flat-Field Reducer

The dual-speed focuser is a feature I didn’t know I needed until I used one. At high magnifications, precise focusing is everything — a fraction of a millimeter separates a razor-sharp view from a blurry mess. The dual-speed knob allows for fine adjustments that are simply impossible with a standard single-speed focuser.

The included flat-field reducer is a thoughtful addition for anyone interested in lunar and planetary imaging. It helps correct the natural field curvature inherent in Maksutov-Cassegrain designs, producing sharper stars across the field when using a camera sensor.

What You Need to Know Before Buying

This is an OTA only — no mount, no finder scope included. You’ll need to budget for a suitable mount (an EQ-3 or AZ-GTi class mount works well) and a red-dot finder or optical finder scope. Some users report quality control variation between units, so buy from a retailer with a good return policy.

Who Should Buy the SVBONY MK127

If you’re an intermediate-to-advanced observer who already owns a mount and wants the best coatings available at a competitive price, the MK127 is a compelling choice. The lightweight tube and flat-field reducer also make it attractive for backyard planetary imaging.

5. Celestron NexStar 90SLT — Compact GoTo for Backyard Astronomy

The Celestron NexStar 90SLT is essentially the little sibling of the 127SLT, offering the same computerized GoTo mount system in a smaller, more affordable package. With 90mm of aperture and a 1250mm focal length, it’s a capable planetary performer that brings the magic of computerized tracking to a more accessible price point.

I’ve recommended this scope to several friends who wanted the GoTo experience without the larger investment. The 90mm aperture is enough to show Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s main cloud belts, and the phases of Venus with clarity. It’s also an excellent lunar telescope — the Moon through a quality Mak at 125x is a breathtaking sight.

GoTo Functionality and Mount Performance

The computerized mount is identical in capability to the 127SLT’s system, with the same 40,000-plus object database and SkyAlign technology. The alignment process is genuinely beginner-friendly: point at three bright stars or planets, and the scope knows where it is. From there, a few button presses take you to any target in the database.

Forum users note that the NexStar hand controller feels a bit dated compared to newer smartphone-controlled alternatives. That’s a fair criticism, but the system works reliably, and the tracking accuracy is more than sufficient for visual observing.

Portability and Setup

The entire system weighs about 6.9 kilograms (roughly 15 pounds), making it one of the more portable computerized Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes available. It breaks down into a manageable optical tube and mount tripod for transport. I’ve easily fit the whole setup in the trunk of a compact car for dark-sky weekends.

Battery Considerations and Power Solutions

Like its larger sibling, the 90SLT is notorious for battery consumption. Running on AA batteries, you might get through a single evening before needing replacements. I strongly recommend investing in a portable 12V power tank or using the included AC adapter for backyard sessions. This is the single most common complaint in user reviews, and it’s easily solved.

Who Should Buy the NexStar 90SLT

This is the best Maksutov-Cassegrain for someone who wants the GoTo experience at a lower price and doesn’t need the larger aperture of the 127SLT. It’s a great choice for suburban backyards where light pollution limits deep-sky observing anyway, making the computerized mount even more valuable for tracking down brighter targets.

6. SVBONY MK105 — Sharp 105mm Optics for Visual Users

The SVBONY MK105 sits in an interesting middle ground — a 105mm Maksutov-Cassegrain OTA that delivers serious optical performance without the brand premium of Celestron or Sky-Watcher. I was genuinely impressed when I first looked through this scope at a star party, where it was holding its own against more expensive instruments.

The 105mm aperture is the sweet spot for a grab-and-go Mak. It’s large enough to show real detail on Jupiter and Saturn, yet small enough that cool-down time stays reasonable at 20 to 25 minutes. At 3 kilograms, it pairs beautifully with lightweight alt-azimuth mounts.

Optical Performance and Aberration Control

The MK105 produces images completely free of chromatic aberration — a natural advantage of the Maksutov design’s meniscus corrector. Stars are tight pinpoints across most of the field, and the Moon shows excellent contrast along the terminator. I compared it directly against a 4-inch refractor at similar magnification, and the Mak’s contrast on lunar features was noticeably better.

The high-reflectivity coatings (SVBONY describes them as a high-reverse electrolyte coating) deliver good light throughput for the price point. While not quite at the 94% level of the Sky-Watcher Skymax line, they’re more than adequate for visual planetary and lunar work.

What’s Missing and What You’ll Need

As an OTA-only purchase, the MK105 doesn’t include a finder scope — a notable omission that several reviewers flagged. You’ll need to add a red-dot finder or optical finder to the dovetail shoe. Factor this into your budget when comparing against bundled alternatives.

Build Quality and Long-Term Ownership

The build quality is solid for the price, with a metal tube and a focusing mechanism that feels firm and precise. Some users report minor quality control variations between units, which is worth keeping in mind. I’d recommend purchasing from a retailer with a straightforward return policy so you can inspect the optics upon arrival.

Who Should Buy the SVBONY MK105

If you already have a mount and want a quality 4-inch Mak at a lower price than the Sky-Watcher equivalent, the MK105 is an excellent choice. It’s ideal for visual observers who prioritize optical sharpness and are willing to supply their own finder and accessories.

7. SARBLUE Mak70 — The Affordable Starter Maksutov

The SARBLUE Mak70 is the telescope I’d hand to someone who wants to try real astronomy without a big investment. With 70mm of aperture and a 1000mm focal length, it delivers genuine Maksutov-Cassegrain optics in a complete package that includes a slow-motion gimbal tripod — something you don’t usually find at this price point.

What I like about this scope is how honest it is. SARBLUE hasn’t tried to make it sound like more than it is. The 70mm aperture won’t show you faint galaxies, but it will deliver crisp, contrast-rich views of the Moon, Saturn’s rings, and Jupiter’s main cloud belts. For a first telescope, that’s exactly what matters.

Optical Performance at 70mm

The 70mm meniscus corrector and fully multi-coated optics produce images that are sharp and surprisingly contrasty. At 1000mm focal length, even a 10mm eyepiece gives you 100x magnification — enough for satisfying planetary views. The high focal ratio means the scope naturally excels at the Moon and planets while being honest about its limitations on deep-sky objects.

Don’t expect to see spiral arms in galaxies or detail in nebulae. Do expect beautiful, tack-sharp views of lunar craters, Saturn’s rings as a clear disk around the planet, and the phases of Venus. For a beginner learning the night sky, those targets are endlessly rewarding.

The Slow-Motion Gimbal Tripod Advantage

The included slow-motion gimbal tripod is a genuinely useful feature at this price. Standard tabletop tripods require you to constantly reposition the scope as objects drift across the field of view. The slow-motion controls let you track objects smoothly with fine adjustments — a feature that makes the observing experience far more enjoyable.

Setup and Beginner Friendliness

The Mak70 is designed for quick setup with no prior experience required. Everything assembles in minutes, and the included instructions are straightforward enough for older children to follow. I particularly appreciate that this scope uses standard 1.25-inch eyepieces, meaning you can upgrade accessories later without compatibility issues.

Who Should Buy the SARBLUE Mak70

This is one of the best Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes for a family looking for an affordable, complete starter package. The included slow-motion tripod gives it a real advantage over the Mak60, making it worth the extra investment if you want a more comfortable observing experience.

8. SARBLUE Mak60 — A Pocket-Sized Telescope for Kids and Travel

The SARBLUE Mak60 is the smallest and most affordable Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope in this roundup, and it holds a special place in my observing kit. At under $100, it delivers genuine Mak-Cass optics in a package small enough to toss in a backpack. It’s not going to compete with the larger scopes here, but it has a job it does exceptionally well: getting people excited about the night sky.

I’ve taken this little scope on camping trips, set it up on picnic tables, and shown Saturn to people who’ve never looked through a telescope before. The reactions are always the same: wide-eyed amazement. That’s what a 60mm Mak can do when the optics are honest and the scope is easy to use.

Optical Performance for Casual Astronomy

The 60mm aperture is small, but the Maksutov-Cassegrain design makes the most of it. The high-contrast optics produce crisp lunar views, and Saturn’s rings are clearly visible as a distinct band around the planet. Jupiter shows its main cloud belts and the four Galilean moons. These are the targets that inspire wonder in new observers, and the Mak60 shows them well.

The 750mm focal length is relatively short for a Mak, which actually makes this scope more forgiving than larger models when it comes to finding objects. The wider field of view makes locating targets easier for beginners who haven’t yet mastered star-hopping.

The Phone Adapter and Casual Imaging

The included phone adapter is a thoughtful addition that lets you capture basic photos of the Moon through the eyepiece. Don’t expect astrophotography-grade results — this is digiscoping, not serious imaging — but it’s a fun way to share what you see on social media. Some of the lunar shots I’ve managed through the Mak60 are genuinely shareable.

Portability and Travel Use Cases

This is where the Mak60 shines. The entire scope fits on a tabletop tripod and weighs very little, making it ideal for travel, camping, or quick balcony observing sessions. If you’ve ever wanted to bring a telescope on vacation without checking a second bag, this is the scope that makes it possible.

Who Should Buy the SARBLUE Mak60

If you want the absolute most affordable entry into Maksutov-Cassegrain optics, or you need an ultra-compact travel telescope for casual Moon and planet viewing, the Mak60 delivers. It’s the best Maksutov-Cassegrain for kids, casual campers, and anyone curious about astronomy who isn’t ready for a larger investment.

How to Choose the Best Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope

Choosing the right Maksutov-Cassegrain comes down to understanding what you want to observe, how portable you need the scope to be, and what kind of mount you’re willing to deal with. Here’s what I’ve learned matters most after years of testing.

Aperture and Focal Ratio: Why Size Matters for Planets and the Moon

Aperture is the single most important specification on any telescope — it determines how much light the scope gathers and how much detail it can resolve. In the Maksutov-Cassegrain world, larger apertures (127mm and above) show significantly more detail on planets and can begin to tease out brighter deep-sky objects.

Focal ratio matters too. Most Maksutov-Cassegrains have long focal ratios between f/11 and f/15. This naturally produces high magnification and a narrow field of view, making these scopes ideal for planets, the Moon, and double stars — but less suited to wide-field deep-sky observation. A 60mm Mak at f/12.5 is great for the Moon; a 150mm Mak at f/12 can resolve detail on Jupiter that smaller scopes simply cannot.

Optical Quality: Coatings, Collimation, and Mirror Flop

Coating quality varies dramatically between models. Look for fully multi-coated optics with high reflectivity ratings — the Sky-Watcher Skymax line advertises 94% reflectivity, while SVBONY’s MK127 boasts 99% dielectric coatings. Better coatings mean brighter images, better contrast, and less light scatter around bright objects.

One advantage of Maksutov-Cassegrain design: the secondary mirror is permanently figured onto the meniscus corrector, so collimation is rarely needed. This sets Mak-Cass scopes apart from Schmidt-Cassegrains and Newtonians, which require periodic collimation. However, the moving-mirror focusing system can introduce image shift (where the image jumps slightly when you reverse focus direction) and in extreme cases mirror flop. Dual-speed focusers, like the one on the SVBONY MK127, help mitigate these issues.

Mount Type: Manual Alt-Azimuth vs Computerized GoTo

Your mount choice determines how easy the telescope is to use. Computerized GoTo mounts, like the NexStar systems on the Celestron models, automatically find and track celestial objects. They’re fantastic for beginners who don’t know the night sky yet, but they require power and add cost and complexity.

Manual alt-azimuth mounts are simpler, lighter, and require no batteries. The trade-off is that you’ll need to learn to find objects yourself (star-hopping) and manually track them as Earth rotates. For a grab-and-go Mak on a tabletop, manual is often the better choice. For suburban light-polluted skies where objects are hard to find, GoTo earns its keep.

Portability and Cool-Down Time for Larger Apertures

This is a topic most buying guides gloss over, but it’s a real-world pain point from forum discussions. The thick meniscus corrector lens that defines a Maksutov-Cassegrain takes time to equalize with outside temperatures. A 60mm or 70mm Mak might be ready in 10 minutes. A 150mm Mak can take 30 to 45 minutes.

Cool-down time matters because a warm corrector creates air currents inside the tube that degrade image quality. The scope won’t perform at its best until thermal equilibrium is reached. Solutions include storing the scope in an unheated garage or shed, planning sessions to allow for warm-up time, or choosing a smaller aperture if you value spontaneous grab-and-go sessions. This is the honest trade-off that comes with larger Maksutov optics.

Eyepiece Compatibility: 1.25-inch vs 2-inch

Most Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes use 1.25-inch focusers, which limits your maximum true field of view. This is a real limitation because the long focal lengths of Mak-Cass designs already produce narrow fields. If you want to frame large objects like the Pleiades or the Orion Nebula, a 2-inch focuser with low-power 2-inch eyepieces would help — but most consumer Mak-Cass scopes don’t support this.

If wide-field viewing matters to you, you may need to accept that Maksutov-Cassegrain scopes aren’t the right choice. They’re built for high-magnification, narrow-field work on the Moon, planets, and compact deep-sky targets like planetary nebulae and globular clusters.

Maksutov-Cassegrain vs Schmidt-Cassegrain vs Refractor

Maksutov-Cassegrain vs Schmidt-Cassegrain: Both are catadioptric designs, but the Mak uses a thick, heavy meniscus corrector while the SCT uses a thin, aspheric Schmidt corrector. The Mak produces slightly better contrast and virtually never needs collimation. The SCT is lighter, cools down faster, and is available in larger apertures. For visual planetary work, the Mak typically wins. For astrophotography and larger apertures, the SCT is usually the better choice.

Maksutov-Cassegrain vs Refractor: Refractors offer the widest fields of view and the cleanest star images, but they’re long, heavy, and expensive per inch of aperture. A Mak gives you more aperture and focal length in a far more compact tube, at the cost of field of view. If you want grab-and-go portability with planetary performance, the Mak is hard to beat. If you want wide-field deep-sky scanning, look at a short refractor instead.

Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope FAQs

Final Verdict

Finding the best Maksutov Cassegrain telescope for 2026 comes down to matching the scope to your observing style and experience level. If you want the absolute best planetary performance in a compact tube and already own a solid mount, the Sky-Watcher Skymax 150mm is the clear winner. If you’re a beginner who wants a complete computerized package that finds objects for you, the Celestron NexStar 127SLT offers the best overall value. And if you’re just starting out or need a travel scope, the SARBLUE Mak60 delivers genuine Maksutov optics at a price anyone can justify.

What I love about Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes is how they reward you with sharp, high-contrast views while asking so little in return — no collimation, minimal maintenance, and a compact size that actually gets used instead of gathering dust. Pick the aperture and mount type that fits your budget and lifestyle, and you’ll be exploring the Moon and planets tonight.