Best 150mm Aperture Telescopes: Top 6 Picks (November 2026)
The best 150mm aperture telescopes include the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope for Deep-Sky Beginners for an equatorial mount on a budget, the HSL 150EQ Astronomical Reflector Telescope for Adults for included filters and phone adapter, and the MEEZAA Telescope for a carry bag and lunar filter.
On this page (5 sections)
The best 150mm aperture telescope for most beginners is the Celestron StarSense Explorer 150mm, because its smartphone guidance helps you locate targets with a six-inch reflector. The Sky-Watcher Heritage 150 suits buyers who want a collapsible tabletop design, while the Skymax 150 offers a compact Maksutov-Cassegrain tube.
A 150mm aperture gathers more light than a 90mm or 130mm telescope, but aperture alone doesn't decide which model will be easiest to use. Mount style, tube size and how you prefer to find objects matter too.
Our picks at a glance
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1
Best for an equatorial mount on a budgetCelestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope for Deep-Sky Beginners
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
2
Best for included filters and phone adapterHSL 150EQ Astronomical Reflector Telescope for Adults
9.5/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
- 4
Check itCelestron StarSense Explorer 150mm App-Enabled Tabletop Dobsonian
Best for phone-guided object finding - 5
Check itSky-Watcher Heritage 150 Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope
Best for collapsible tabletop storage - 6
Check itSky-Watcher Skymax 150mm Maksutov-Cassegrain
Best for compact planetary viewing
Best 150mm aperture telescopes by design
The six products below cover tabletop Dobsonians, equatorial reflectors and a Maksutov-Cassegrain, with one smaller 130mm model for comparison. Scores reflect how each option's listed features fit a buyer comparing aperture, design and setup needs.
Our score weighs specs and features against what you're shopping for.
| Product | Best for | Aperture | Optical design | Mount | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope for Deep-Sky Beginners | an equatorial mount on a budget | 130mm | Newtonian reflector | German equatorial mount | 9.7 |
| HSL 150EQ Astronomical Reflector Telescope for Adults | included filters and phone adapter | 150mm | Reflector | German equatorial mount | 9.5 |
| MEEZAA Telescope | a carry bag and lunar filter | 150mm | Newtonian reflector | German equatorial mount | 9.3 |
| Celestron StarSense Explorer 150mm App-Enabled Tabletop Dobsonian | phone-guided object finding | 150mm | Newtonian reflector | Altazimuth tabletop Dobsonian base | 9.2 |
| Sky-Watcher Heritage 150 Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope | collapsible tabletop storage | 150mm | Newtonian reflector | Tabletop altazimuth mount | 9.1 |
| Sky-Watcher Skymax 150mm Maksutov-Cassegrain | compact planetary viewing | 150mm | Maksutov-Cassegrain | 9.0 |
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope for Deep-Sky Beginners: Best for an equatorial mount on a budget
- 130mm Newtonian reflector
- German equatorial mount
- Slow-motion controls
- 20mm and 10mm eyepieces
This 130mm model falls short of the six-inch aperture target, but offers a lower-aperture comparison with an equatorial mount and slow-motion controls.
Pros
- Equatorial mount with slow-motion controls
- Two eyepieces included
- Quick assembly without tools
Cons
- 130mm aperture is smaller than the 150mm picks
- Requires learning equatorial mount movement
The AstroMaster 130EQ is the only model here with a 130mm aperture, so it gathers less light than a 150mm telescope. It still makes a useful comparison if you want an equatorial setup and don't need the full six-inch aperture.
Its German equatorial mount has slow-motion control knobs for right ascension and declination. That setup can help you make small adjustments while following an object, though an equatorial mount has a learning curve compared with a simple tabletop base.
Celestron includes a 20mm eyepiece, a 10mm eyepiece and a StarPointer red-dot finder. The tripod is adjustable, and assembly requires no tools.
Choose it if mount controls and a lower price tier matter more than reaching 150mm. For more on how aperture affects views, compare big aperture vs small aperture.
HSL 150EQ Astronomical Reflector Telescope for Adults: Best for included filters and phone adapter
- 150mm aperture
- Manual German equatorial mount
- Color filter set
- Phone holder and wireless remote
The HSL combines a 150mm reflector with an equatorial mount, a color filter set, phone holder and wireless remote.
Pros
- Full 150mm aperture
- Phone adapter and remote included
- Color filters included
Cons
- Mount requires learning equatorial movement
- Focal length differs between the feature text and specs
The HSL 150EQ matches a 150mm reflector with a German equatorial mount and accessories for phone use. Its feature set includes a color filter set, an adjustable phone holder and a wireless remote.
The mount uses manual slow-motion control for tracking celestial objects. The accessory list may appeal if you want to experiment with phone captures or filters without adding those items separately.
There is a focal-length mismatch in the specifications: the product description calls it a 750mm lens, while the listed spec states 700mm. Check that detail with the seller before choosing it based on focal length.
Pick the HSL if the included phone holder and filters are priorities. If a reflector is the design you want, see our best 150mm reflector telescope guide.
MEEZAA Telescope: Best for a carry bag and lunar filter
- 150mm aperture
- 650mm focal length
- German equatorial mount
- Moon filter and carry bag
This 150mm Newtonian includes a moon filter, phone adapter and carry bag, with a German equatorial mount for manual tracking.
Pros
- Moon filter included
- Carry bag for storage and transport
- Two eyepieces and 2X Barlow included
Cons
- Equatorial mount takes practice
- Tripod and assembled setup add bulk compared with tabletop models
The MEEZAA 150EQ combines a 150mm Newtonian reflector and German equatorial mount with a carry bag and moon filter. It includes 25mm and 10mm eyepieces, a 2X Barlow lens, a red-dot finder and a phone adapter.
The listed eyepiece and Barlow combination gives a stated magnification range of 26X to 130X. That range describes the included combinations, not a guarantee that every target will look clear at the highest power.
A carry bag gives you a way to store the tube and listed accessories together. The full tripod setup is less compact than a tabletop telescope, so think about storage space and where you'll observe.
Choose this model if you want a traditional tripod reflector with several accessories included. To compare a different computerized telescope family, read about the best Celestron CPC series telescope.
Celestron StarSense Explorer 150mm App-Enabled Tabletop Dobsonian: Best for phone-guided object finding
- 150mm Newtonian reflector
- StarSense Explorer phone guidance
- Tabletop Dobsonian base
- 25mm and 10mm eyepieces
StarSense Explorer uses a smartphone dock and on-screen arrows to help locate targets with this six-inch tabletop reflector.
Pros
- Phone-guided target finding
- Manual tabletop Dobsonian base
- Two eyepieces included
Cons
- Needs a stable table or other support
- Phone guidance requires a compatible smartphone
The Celestron StarSense Explorer 150mm pairs a six-inch Newtonian reflector with phone-guided target finding. Dock your smartphone, use the app's arrows to locate a target, and look through the eyepiece when the app's bullseye turns green.
Its manual altazimuth tabletop Dobsonian base moves in a straightforward up-down and side-to-side pattern. You will need a steady surface at a comfortable height, and a compatible smartphone for the StarSense guidance.
The telescope includes 25mm and 10mm eyepieces, a StarPointer red-dot finder and a phone dock. Celestron describes views of the Moon, planets and deep-sky objects such as the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy.
Choose it if finding objects is a bigger concern than using an equatorial mount. If you're deciding between other smart telescope options, see our Seestar S50 Pro review.
Sky-Watcher Heritage 150 Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope: Best for collapsible tabletop storage
- 150mm parabolic primary mirror
- Collapsible tube
- Tabletop Dobsonian design
- 750mm focal length
The Heritage 150 pairs a 150mm parabolic mirror with a collapsible tube and a tabletop mount for storage and transport.
Pros
- Collapsible tube design
- Parabolic primary mirror
- Tabletop base with rubber feet
Cons
- Needs a suitable table or support
- Manual pointing has no phone guidance
The Heritage 150 offers a 150mm parabolic primary mirror in a tabletop Dobsonian design with a collapsible tube. That tube can reduce storage space when you're done observing.
The tabletop base has rubber feet intended to reduce vibration. Its manual altazimuth movement is simple to understand, but you will need a stable table or observing platform and must point the telescope yourself.
Sky-Watcher specifies a 750mm focal length and a 1.25-inch helical focuser. The maker describes the collapsible tube as retaining collimation, which can make setup and storage less involved than a tube that needs routine alignment after every move.
Choose it if portability and a compact storage shape matter more than phone-assisted finding. Beginners comparing aperture sizes can also see our best 90mm aperture telescope picks.
Sky-Watcher Skymax 150mm Maksutov-Cassegrain: Best for compact planetary viewing
- 150mm Maksutov-Cassegrain
- 1800mm focal length
- Fully baffled tube
- Vixen-style dovetail
The Skymax uses a compact Maksutov-Cassegrain design with a long 1800mm focal length and a Vixen-style dovetail.
Pros
- Long focal length in a compact tube
- Fully baffled tube
- 28mm 2-inch eyepiece and diagonal included
Cons
- Optical tube requires a compatible mount
- Long focal length gives a narrower view at a given eyepiece
The Skymax 150 is a Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope with a 150mm aperture and 1800mm focal length. Its compound optical tube is more compact than a long Newtonian tube of similar aperture, while its longer focal length suits higher magnification views.
Sky-Watcher describes the matched optics and baffled tube as supporting contrast-rich views. The tube has a Vixen-style dovetail, so you need a compatible mount; it is not a complete tripod-and-mount package in the details given here.
The package includes a 28mm 2-inch eyepiece, a 2-inch 90-degree star diagonal and a 9x50 straight-through finder. Consider the extra mount requirement when comparing it with the tabletop options.
Choose this if you value a compact tube and want a longer focal length for lunar or planetary observing. For distant targets, read what telescope is needed to see Pluto.
What does a 150mm aperture change?
A 150mm aperture is the diameter of the telescope's main light-gathering opening or mirror. It gathers more light than a 90mm telescope, which can help reveal fainter objects and show more detail when observing conditions allow.
Aperture does not guarantee a sharp or steady view. Atmospheric turbulence, light pollution, collimation on a reflector, magnification and the mount all affect what you can see.
For a practical explanation of the measurement, read how do you measure a telescope aperture. Compare the full optical diameter rather than confusing aperture with tube length or focal length.
Which 150mm telescope design fits your observing style?
A tabletop Dobsonian is a straightforward choice when you have a steady platform and want a manual reflector. The StarSense Explorer adds phone guidance, while the Heritage 150 has a collapsible tube.
An equatorial reflector like the HSL or MEEZAA has a tripod and slow-motion controls. This style can help you track objects, but it takes practice to align and use the mount.
A Maksutov-Cassegrain like the Skymax 150 keeps the optical tube compact and uses a long focal length. It needs a compatible mount, so include that in your setup plan.
Is 150mm enough for planets and deep-sky objects?
A 150mm telescope can show the Moon, planets and brighter deep-sky objects, though the view depends on sky conditions and the telescope's setup. The StarSense model's product information names Jupiter, Saturn, the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy as examples.
For planets, a steady atmosphere and careful focusing matter more than pushing magnification to the highest possible number. For galaxies and nebulae, dark skies help because these objects can be faint and spread across a wide area.
A 150mm telescope won't make Pluto look like a detailed planet. It appears as a point of light, and identifying it requires careful planning and sky conditions.
How should you choose between these 150mm telescopes?
Choose the Celestron StarSense Explorer if phone guidance will help you locate targets, or the Heritage 150 if a collapsible tabletop reflector suits your storage and observing setup. Choose an equatorial reflector for slow-motion mount controls, and the Skymax if a compact long-focal-length tube fits your mount and targets.
The best 150mm aperture telescope is the one you'll set up and use comfortably. Check whether you have a stable table, an appropriate mount, and enough storage before deciding between these designs.
Our top 3 picks at a glance
-
1
Best for an equatorial mount on a budget
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope for Deep-Sky Beginners
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
2
Best for included filters and phone adapter
HSL 150EQ Astronomical Reflector Telescope for Adults
9.5/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
