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Has March’s partial general eclipse left you yearning any other photo voltaic spectacle? Then it would be best to be well-equipped for the subsequent photo voltaic eclipse, and the similar is right if you are into photo voltaic remark. That’s the place the most productive photo voltaic telescopes are available in.
Why photo voltaic telescopes? Because you’ll be able to’t simply succeed in for a normal, unfiltered telescope. Staring on the solar with out coverage could cause critical eye injury. NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN WITH THE NAKED EYE, particularly thru a normal telescope.
Instead, you can desire a photo voltaic telescope with a integrated or attachable clear out, one who meets the ISO 12312-2 protection same old. This same old guarantees that not more than 0.0032% of the solar’s bad rays meet your eyes.
Don’t be tempted to position the most productive photo voltaic telescopes away till the subsequent photo voltaic eclipse, both, helpful as they could also be. The telescopes we have now decided on can be utilized for normal photo voltaic remark as effectively, and a few double up as middle of the night scopes. Or if you are searching for one thing extra transportable, we have now rounded up the ideal photo voltaic binoculars and different photo voltaic viewing tools. However, see our leading web page for the ideal telescopes total, to view nebulas, famous person clusters, galaxies and extra.
Solar eclipse tools offers April 2025
The fast record
Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76mm Solar Telescope
Best total
Serious about photo voltaic viewing? This is an impressive, versatile photo voltaic scope that are meant to be with you for years.
Celestron EclipSmart Travel Solar Scope 50
Best for portability
Want to look at the solar at the pass? This scope is great transportable and its low value makes it excellent for rookies or the ones on the cheap.
iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Telescope
Best for wide-field viewing
This telescope’s field-of-view and detachable clear out method you can get expansive perspectives of the sky, day or evening.
Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ telescope with loose EclipSmart Solar Filter
Best for versatility
The PowerSeeker 127EQ is strong sufficient to benefit from photo voltaic eclipses and its detachable clear out method you’ll be able to teach it at the evening sky.
PowerSeeker 60AZ Refractor with loose EclipSmart photo voltaic clear out
Best funds
A good selection for absolute rookies or the ones on a low funds, and it really works similarly effectively as a middle of the night or photo voltaic telescope.
Lunt Solar 80mm f/7 Universal Day & Night Use Modular Telescope
Best top rate
This telescope comes with a hefty ticket, however it provides top rate efficiency, each as a photo voltaic telescope or a standard evening sky scope.
The ideal photo voltaic telescopes we propose in 2025
Why you’ll be able to consider Space.com
Our skilled reviewers spend hours trying out and evaluating services and products so you’ll be able to select the right for you. Find out extra about how we take a look at and assessment merchandise.
Best total
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Buy it if
✅ You want to watch the sun on a regular basis: This is a powerful scope that’s suited to solar viewing beyond eclipse watching.
✅ You want detailed views of the sun: This solar scope’s filter allows you to view the sun’s chromosphere.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You just want to watch eclipses. As powerful as this solar scope is, it’s hard to justify its price tag if you’re only getting it out a couple of times a year.
The bottom line
🔎 Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76mm Solar Telescope: If you’re serious about solar viewing, this is a powerful, flexible solar scope that should be with you for years.
We’ve been seriously impressed by Sky-Watcher’s scopes, awarding the company’s Sky-Watcher 200P EQ5 telescope four and a half stars in our review. You can expect the same quality from the Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76mm Solar Telescope, which is geared towards regular sun-watchers.
It’s a little pricier than some scopes on this list, but it boasts an H-alpha solar filter, which permits viewing of the sun’s chromosphere. This means you may be able to see solar prominences and other surface details, compared to a regular white light filter.
The Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76mm Solar Telescope comes with a solar finder, which should be especially handy when tracking a solar eclipse. This solar telescope also meets the ISO 12312-2 international safety standards, ensuring you can watch eclipses without fear of eye damage.
It comes with a 32x eyepiece, but has a max magnification of 150x in case you want to swap in one of the best eyepieces for telescopes. If you’re a serious sun-watcher, beyond just observing the odd eclipse, this telescope is for you.
Best for portability
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Best for portability: This handy white-light solar scope is easy to carry or pack away till the next eclipse
Specifications
Max magnification: 118x
Aperture: 2-inches / 50mm
Focal length: 360mm
Filter type: White light
Eyepieces included: 20mm (0.78-inch) Kellner (1.25-inch), 18x magnification
Weight: 2 lbs/918g (total kit)
Reasons to shop for
Comes with backpack
+Low price
+Simple and safe
+Excellent finderscope
Reasons to keep away from
Wobbly tripod
–Plastic build
Buy it if
✅ You want a portable solar telescope: You can transport this solar scope with ease and pack it away for the next eclipse.
✅ You’re on a budget: This solar scope’s price won’t break the bank, ideal if you’re using it infrequently.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want to capture images: We found its smartphone image quality lacking.
❌ You want a sturdy scope: We found the tripod slightly wobbly and the scope a little plasticky.
The bottom line
🔎 The Celestron EclipSmart Travel Solar Scope 50 is best suited for eclipse watching on the go and its low price makes it ideal for beginners or those on a budget.
Celestron is one of the leading names in optical technology, and their products regular appear in our guides to the best binoculars and best telescopes. The Celestron EclipSmart Travel Solar Scope 50 may not have the power of the Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76mm, but it’s an excellent little scope if you need portability, and its budget price makes it great for beginners.
We had good things to say about this scope in our EclipSmart Travel Solar Scope 50 review, awarding it four stars. It comes with its own backpack, so eclipse-chasers can just take it on the go, or pack it away until the next eclipse. We were also impressed by its finderscope, which is better than we’d expect for a scope of this price.
It’s super-easy to set up, meaning you can be eclipse-watching in minutes and, thanks to the built-in ISO 12312-2 complying white light filter, your eyes will remain safe. Its tripod could be sturdier, but despite its size, it still offers excellent views of the sun.
Best for wide-field viewing
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Buy it if
✅ You want a versatile scope: You can use this solar scope at night, without its filter.
✅ You’re on a budget: This is solar scope isn’t the absolute best out there, but it offers respectable viewing quality for the money.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want a ready-to-go setup: You’ll have to buy a separate tripod to use this telescope as there’s not one included. It’s also not a solar telescope out of the box, but requires attachment of the solar filter.
The bottom line
If you buy one of the best tripods to go with it, the iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope is a solid, fairly-priced scope for daytime and nighttime viewing.
Only use this telescope for solar observation once you’ve equipped it with the SolarLite filter. The iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope is a good choice if you’re looking for a versatile scope. With its filter attached, you’ll get great views of each solar eclipse, and we think it’s one of the best pieces of solar viewing kit.
But that’s not all. By detaching its 60mm white light filter, you can turn it into a nighttime scope. Its wide FOV means you’ll get expansive views of the sky, day or night. And, as a nighttime scope, you’ll get clear views of our solar system, the moon included, perfect for the next lunar eclipse.
You will need to pair it with one of the best tripods, since it doesn’t come with a tripod included, so it may not be ideal for beginners. But its image quality is excellent and, considering its price point and versatility, the iOptron 80mm is a worthy purchase.
Best for versatility
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Best for versatility: Bundled with a free solar filter, this Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQi is suited to most purposes.
Specifications
Max magnification: 250x
Aperture: 127mm
Focal Length: 39-inches/1000 mm
Filter type: EclipSmart white light
Eyepieces included: 20mm erecting eyepiece, a 4mm high-power eyepiece, 3x Barlow lens.
Weight: 22lbs/10 kg (total kit)
Reasons to shop for
German equatorial mount
+Solid tripod
+Good light gathering power
Reasons to keep away from
Complex optics
–Poor eyepieces
–Cheap plastics
Buy it if
✅ You want a versatile scope: This is a great choice if you’re going to use it for multiple purposes.
✅ You’re looking for a reasonably priced scope: You can get cheaper, but this is still a good price considering how flexible the scope is.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You don’t want to spend any more: While you can use this as is, to make the most out of it, you’ll want to spend more on additional eyepieces.
The bottom line
In this price range, the Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ is hard to beat for its versatility, though you’ll need to buy extra eyepieces to really make the most out of this scope.
We had good things to say about this scope in our Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ assessment. And so long as you you’ll want to purchase the Celestron Powerseeker 127EQ with the loose photo voltaic clear out, you can in finding it is a pleasingly versatile scope. Only use this telescope for photo voltaic remark as soon as you have got connected the EclipSmart clear out it ships with.
Its 5-inch aperture opens up the skies, day or evening and, in concept, you’ll be able to get an enormous 750x with the supplied Barlow lens. That stated, we might nonetheless counsel making an investment within the best telescope lenses to really make the most of this scope.
Celestron’s EclipSmart filter meets the ISO 12312-2 safety standard, so you can view upcoming eclipses in safety, then remove it to stargaze. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on any children to make sure that little fingers don’t pull the filter off.
It boasts a well-engineered German equatorial mount, a serious improvement on the Celestron EclipSmart Travel Solar Scope 50’s slightly wobbly tripod, and it’s easy to assemble too. Solar and lunar eclipses aside, it’s also a capable scope for nature-watching.
Best funds
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Buy it if
✅ You don’t want to break the bank: This is an affordable way to watch the eclipse in safety, and it can be used for nature watching and stargazing too.
✅ You want portability: While this isn’t the smallest scope on this list, it’s still light enough to carry about with relative ease.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You’re a serious sun-watcher: This is fine for beginners, but for astonishing views of the sun, consider investing in a solar telescope with an H-alpha filter.
The bottom line
🔎 The most affordable of all our solar scopes picks, the Celestron PowerSeeker 60AZ is a good choice for absolute beginners or those on a low budget.
Want to zoom in on the eclipse without spending a fortune? We think the Celestron PowerSeeker 60AZ with free solar filter is the best budget solar telescope. And, despite its low cost, it’s not a toy; it’s a step above Celestron’s entry-level scope, the 50AZ, and has enough power and versatility to become your go-to telescope. Remember, only use this telescope to look at the sun once you’ve attached the solar filter it comes with (also available to buy separately).
It’s easy to use, thanks to its alt-azimuth mount, making it ideal for beginners and children, as long as you make sure the solar filter is on before letting little eyes watch the eclipse.
It’s also compact and lightweight enough that you can pack it into your car or put it away if you do just want it for eclipse viewing. And if you do decide to use it for nighttime viewing, its 60mm aperture will drink in enough light for you to pick out stellar objects.
Those who’ve purchased this scope have been happy with it, describing it as “an ideal little scope” and a “incredible entry-level scope”. A handful of folks state that the tripod might be higher, in keeping with our assessment of the Celestron EclipSmart Travel Solar Scope 50, however for this value the Celestron PowerSeeker 60AZ with loose photo voltaic clear out is price choosing up.
Best top rate
Image 1 of 1
Buy it if
✅ You want brilliant, close-up views of the sun: This telescope is a real powerhouse and its H-alpha filter lets you view the Sun’s Chromosphere
✅ You want a versatile scope: While Lunt specialises in solar scopes, this particular scope can also be used for night-time observation.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You’re working to a budget: At over five thousand dollars this scope is not cheap, but you’re getting what you pay for.
The bottom line
🔎 This Lunt 80mm Universal Telescope is a premium telescope at a premium price, from a company who specialize in solar scopes. If you’re a serious sky watcher, with an eye on both the sun and the nighttime skies, this scope should more than deliver.
The Lunt 80mm Universal Telescope isn’t cheap, but there’s a reason for that. Lunt has a reputation for delivering quality scopes, crafted out of premium materials. This is, as one satisfied customer described it, “The Ferrari of telescopes.” It’s a true universal telescope, designed for ultimate performance during day and night. Beware that you need to set up the appropriate solar modules in order to observe the sun during the day.
Its H-alpha filter should afford you stunning views of the surface of the sun, including surface details like sunspots, solar pores and more. Lunt’s pressure-tuned system allows you to make tiny, tiny adjustments to bring images into focus. It’s also sturdily built, but still manages to be portable.
This scope’s user reviews are extremely positive, with one purchaser praising how it let them pick out individual solar filaments, something their previous scope had been unable to do. It’s worth noting that while there appears to be a delay on buying these scopes from Lunt, the Lunt 80mm Universal Telescope is in stock at Agena Astro.
It doesn’t come with a tripod, but if you’re spending this much on a telescope, it makes sense you’d want one of the best tripods.
Best photo voltaic telescopes: Comparison
|
Product |
Max magnification |
Aperture |
Focal duration |
Filter sort |
Eyepieces incorporated |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76mm Solar Telescope |
150x |
3-inches / 76mm |
25-inches / 630mm |
H-alpha |
20mm 70 Degree 1.25″ 32x magnification |
8.4 lbs (3.81kg) tube |
|
Celestron EclipSmart Travel Solar Scope 50 |
118x |
2-inches / 50mm |
14-inches / 360mm |
White gentle |
20mm (0.78-inch) Kellner (1.25-inch), 18x magnification |
2 lbs/918g (general equipment) |
|
iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope |
189x |
3.15-inches / 80mm |
16-inches / 400mm |
SolarLite white gentle (detachable) |
25mm (16X), 10mm (44X) |
3lbs / 1.4kg |
|
Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ with loose EclipSmart photo voltaic clear out |
250x |
5-inches / 127mm |
39-inches / 1000 mm |
EclipSmart white gentle (detachable) |
20mm erecting eyepiece, a 4mm high-power eyepiece, 3x Barlow lens. |
22lbs/10 kg (general equipment) |
|
Celestron PowerSeeker 60AZ telescope with loose EclipSmart photo voltaic clear out |
142x |
2.4-inches / 60mm |
28-inches / 700mm |
EclipSmart white gentle (detachable) |
20mm and 4mm, erect symbol famous person diagonal, Barlow Lens |
2.4 lbs / 1.09 kg all equipment |
|
Lunt 80mm Universal Telescope |
140x |
3.1-inches / 80mm |
22-inches / 560mm |
H-alpha (detachable) |
1.25″ Nighttime Star Diagonal, 1.25″ Diagonal for Terrestrial remark, 19mm Flat Field Eyepiece |
9.25lbs / 4.2kg |
Solar Telescope FAQ
How do I select the proper photo voltaic telescope for me?
To select the proper photo voltaic telescope you wish to have to believe what you wish to have to make use of it for and what sort of you might be prepared to spend. If you wish to have a photo voltaic telescope completely for staring at eclipses you need not spend 1000’s of kilos. The Celestron EclipSmart Travel Solar Scope 50, for instance, is a great choice if you happen to plan on packing away the scope after every eclipse.
If it is versatility you might be after, a scope that can be utilized for day and middle of the night viewing, then the PowerSeeker 127EQ telescope with loose EclipSmart Solar Filter is an impressive however pocket-friendly acquire.
If you believe your self a seasoned skilled, and feature the funds, the Lunt Solar 80mm f/7 Universal Day & Night Use Modular Telescope is the fashion to move for. It could also be dear, however it is a super-powerful top rate high quality scope that are meant to be with for years, and it doubles up as a night-time scope.
In quick, if you are handiest keen on eclipse-watching, you’ll be able to spend much less, however for critical photo voltaic viewing, you will have to lean against the top rate finish of the marketplace.
How is a photo voltaic telescope other from a typical telescope?
The elementary distinction between a typical telescope and a photo voltaic telescope is that the latter is supplied with a different clear out, usually a white gentle or H-alpha clear out, that blocks out destructive gentle and lets you view the solar in protection. So if you are taking a look at once on the solar throughout an eclipse, you can usually see an orange circle, slowly coated via a gloomy disc. More dear photo voltaic telescopes could have different options that cause them to extra appropriate for photo voltaic remark, corresponding to integrated chromatic aberration correction.
How is a white gentle clear out other from an H-alpha clear out?
To view the solar in protection you require, at minimal, a white gentle clear out, which block out doubtlessly destructive wavelengths of sunshine. With sufficent magnification, it’s going to let you see the solar’s visual photosphere, letting you select up on photo voltaic spots and photo voltaic pores, which continues to be spectacular to behold.
However, you’ll be able to additionally get H-alpha filters which let you see into the chromosphere of the solar, providing you a extra detailed have a look at our famous person. An H-alpha clear out eliminates much more gentle than a white gentle clear out, blockading out the whole thing however the H-alpha wavelength band (656nm). That’s the wavelength emitted via hydrogen atoms, so you’ll be able to see hydrogen emissions within the Sun’s chromosphere; photo voltaic flares, photo voltaic filaments and extra.
So why would not you purchase a photo voltaic scope with an H-alpha clear out? Because they are usually a lot more dear than white gentle filters. It’s as much as you to make a decision whether or not the extra photo voltaic spectacle is worthwhile.
How are you aware a photo voltaic telescope is secure to make use of?
If you might be purchasing a photo voltaic telescope, you you have to purchase a scope that meets the ISO 12312-2 protection same old. That method not more than 0.0032% of the solar’s bad rays meet your eyes. And whilst that quantity might not be stamped at the telescope itself, it will have to be someplace at the packaging, product list or each. If you do not see the usual indexed someplace, you must be risking your eyesight.
How we take a look at the most productive photo voltaic telescopes
Our skilled body of workers and reviewers have a few years enjoy watching stars each throughout the day and at evening. Each telescope is put thru a rigorous assessment procedure the place we assess its talent to accomplish fundamental purposes, take a look at its optical high quality for distortions corresponding to coma and chromatic aberrations and analyze options of significance, just like the varieties of filters used and their protection.
Of direction, watching the solar can also be bad so we indicate to by no means glance at once on the solar with out proper coverage and filtration. Where telescopes require filters to be connected earlier than daylight photo voltaic remark we level this out but additionally ask readers to test their very own handbook when putting in place new photo voltaic telescopes, each for the primary time and on next makes use of.
Update log
To ensure you might be getting fair, up-to-date tips on the most productive photo voltaic viewing apparatus to shop for right here at Space.com we you’ll want to put each product thru a rigorous assessment to completely take a look at. We believe every product in keeping with a lot of sides, from its building and design, to how effectively it purposes as an optical device and its efficiency within the area.
Our skilled body of workers and an expert freelance participants totally take a look at every product. This guarantees fair reviewing in keeping with the cost, class and supposed use.
With whole editorial independence, Space.com are right here to be sure to get the most productive purchasing recommendation, whether or not you will have to acquire an device or no longer, making our purchasing guides and reports dependable and clear.
If this handbook has impressed you to put money into some astronomy tools, take a look at the ideal telescopes, ideal binoculars and ideal cameras to get you began.
