The perfect instrument for introducing beginner astronomers to the moon and stars

Follow our step-by-step tutorial to photographing Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Venus

Easy to use and with an excellent build quality, the ZWO ASI174MM is a fast, monochrome USB 3.0 camera that’s perfect for solar and lunar imaging.

A brilliantly simple grab-and-go solar mount that finds and follows the sun for you, Sky-Watcher’s SolarQuest is perfect for small-scope solar astronomy and solar eclipses.

Solar observation is easy with a smart telescope like the Unistellar eQuinox 2 and the matching filter, meaning you can capture it with no stress on big events like the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse.

We’ve rounded up the best solar eclipse glasses so you can watch safely from wherever you are.

I bought a $50 telescope from Facebook Marketplace

The Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76mm H-alpha is a portable beginner’s solar telescope that is easy to use and offers dramatic views of the turbulent surface of the sun.

A compact spotting scope delivering detailed views of the moon and bright star clusters.

Celestron’s mini-Dobsonian provides affordable, accessible access to the night sky.