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From the Pleiades star cluster and Perseid meteor shower to the moon and Mars, there’s no shortage of celestial events that will send any star seeker into a certified tailspin. We’ve got a list of thrilling stargazing events now through August, with a total solar eclipse happening on Aug. 12, 2026. 

Here’s a breakout of the eclipse viewability according to NASA:

• Total eclipse: Greenland and Iceland (late afternoon to early evening), northern Russia (mid-day), the Atlantic Ocean, Spain and a small corner of Portugal (late evening shortly before sunset).
• Partial solar eclipse (Northern Hemisphere): Parts of the northern U.S. (from Alaska to North Carolina) beginning around midday, most of Canada, mainland Europe and northwestern Africa.
• Sunset partial solar eclipse (Western Hemisphere): In mainland Europe and Africa, the Sun will set while it’s still partially eclipsed, creating an opportunity to see a sunset eclipse.

If you’re ready to join the ranks of eclipse experts and stargazing strategists, having the right gear can make the difference between squinting helplessly at the sky and capturing that perfect moment for your Instagram. From essential safety equipment that keeps your eyes safe to telescopes that’ll have you spiraling Saturn’s rings, we've got the beginner astronomer's lineup that'll transform you from a casual skygazer into a full-fledged celestial fanatic.

9 Products For Every Type Of Stargazer

Solar eclipse gear

Eclipse fun facts:

• On average there are between two to five partial solar eclipses on Earth every year, with one total solar eclipse every 18 months
• A total solar eclipse happens roughly every 375 years at any given location
• During totality, temperatures can drop 5-15°F and animals often exhibit confused behavior (your pets might think it's bedtime)

Here's a few things you need to safely view a partial or total solar eclipse.

1. Soluna Solar Eclipse Glasses AAS Approved

Price: $7.99 at Amazon (2 Pack)

Features:

• Made by NASA-approved manufacturer American Paper Optics
• CE and ISO certified for direct sun viewing, according to company
• Scratch-resistant silver polymer lens material

Why you need them:

The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR), and attempting to look at the sun wearing anything that isn’t specially designed to deal with both the visible light and invisible radiation could cause major injury, including blindness.

The only safe way to view a full or partially-eclipsed sun is through solar filters (also known as eclipse glasses) or handheld solar viewers, and it’s critical that these filters must meet the safety requirements of ISO 12312-2.

Solar eclipse glasses are made of black polymer, a flexible resin infused with carbon particles that are about 100,000 times darker than ordinary sunglasses and block nearly all visible light (as well as UV and IR).

READ MORE: Why you need the proper eye protection during a solar eclipse

2. GottaHaveit - Solar Filter for Smartphone

Price: $3.48 at Walmart (2 Pack)

Features:

• Designed to provide protection for your phone or camera lens
• Hold it up in front of the smartphone camera - do not use it to look directly at the sun

Safety alert:

According to the company, these photo filters are not designed for direct sun viewing and should not be used for that purpose. They are only intended for use as a photo filter for photography purposes. Looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, without the proper eye protection can cause severe eye injury.

3. Celestron 10x42 EclipSmart Solar Binoculars

Price: $56 at B&H Photo Video

Features:

• Non-removable glass solar filters
• Filters meet ISO12312-2 safety standard, according to the company
• Wide-angle viewing
• Weather-resistant rubber armor, fold-down rubber eyecups

Why you need them:

Telescopes, binoculars and cameras need additional solar filters for two reasons: First, to protect them from intense sunlight and heat and second, to ensure that you don’t accidentally look at the Sun through an unfiltered instrument (and damage your eyesight). 

More Stargazing Equipment By Experience Level

Before you get started, here’s a few stargazing tips to maximize your outdoor experience.

• Your eyes need 20-40 minutes to fully adapt to darkness, so resist that phone screen urge.
• The best stargazing happens during a "new moon" when lunar light pollution is minimal.
• Light pollution can wash out 80% of stars visible to the naked eye in most cities.
• Red flashlights preserve night vision better than white light.

Beginner-friendly options

4. Celestron Cometron 7x50mm Astronomy Binoculars

Price: $39.99, was $47.95 at Amazon

Why we chose it: Inexpensive starter binoculars, beginner-friendly, tripod-adaptable for more stable viewing

Features:

• 7x magnification ideal for large objects (comets, large portions of the night sky, Milky Way, constellations, etc.)
• 50mm objective lenses that gather light with anti-reflective coatings to boost light transmission for better resolution, according to the company
• Adaptable for tripod use

How it works:

The 7x50mm astronomy binoculars are one of the preferred options for beginner stargazers. The 7x magnification is powerful enough to reveal lunar craters and star clusters, but manageable enough to hold in your hands without your arms aching after five minutes. Investing in a lounge chair to lay back and look up might also be helpful.

If you decide to go with a higher magnification, such as 10x or 12x, you'll probably need a tripod or deal with shakier views.

The 50mm objective lenses collect enough light to brighten dim stars while keeping the binoculars light enough (usually two or three pounds) for extended viewing sessions. Plus, that larger lens diameter gives you a generous exit pupil (about 7mm), which should closely match with your fully dilated pupils in darkness.

5. Celestron Sky Map - Planisphere

Price: $30.95 at B&H Photo Video and Amazon; $29.95 at Walmart

Why we chose it: Helps identify stars and constellations in the northern hemisphere

Features:

• 21 pages and soft cover
• Maps printed on moisture-resistant card stock

How it works:

To use: Hold map above your head with an arrow facing celestial north. Turn the dial to the present date and time and the map will show what is above you,

6. Celestron Travel Scope 70mm Beginner Portable Telescope with Backpack

Price: $99.99, was $119.95 at Amazon

Why we chose it: Beginner-friendly telescope to learn the ropes at a budget-conscious price

Features:

• 70mm fully-coated refractor for Moon and planet viewing
• Dual eyepieces (20mm & 10mm) provides 35x and 70x magnification options
• 4.2 lb weight 
• No-tool setup, and backpack is handy for portability
• Alt-azimuth mount with pan handle for intuitive up/down, left/right movement
• Doubles as a spotting scope for daytime wildlife
• Free Starry Night software
• 2-year warranty

How it works:

The Celestron Scope 70mm aperture is the telescope equivalent of a "starter home" and is perfectly livable and great for learning the ropes, but you'll probably want to upgrade eventually. 

It excels at lunar views and craters, as well planetary viewing, but deep-sky objects like nebulae will not be so visible.

The wobbly tripod is mentioned in reviews as the biggest drawback, but you can help combat this by extending legs only as much as needed and observing from a sheltered spot away from wind. Many users start with the 20mm eyepiece for easier target acquisition, then switch to 10mm for closer looks. 

The key will be patience. Let your eyes adapt to darkness, give the telescope time to cool to outside temperature, and remember that even experienced astronomers started with modest equipment. This scope is designed to teach you essential skills like star-hopping and focusing techniques without overwhelming you with complexity.

7. Seestar S30 Pro Smart Telescope

Price: from $699-799 at Amazon and B&H Photo Video

Why we chose it: It’s astronomy’s answer to the smartphone camera resolution; ideal for beginners to early intermediate users who want the astrophotography results immediately

Features:

• 30mm apochromatic refractor with automatic GoTo and tracking
• Dual-camera 4K imaging system with AI noise reduction
• Smartphone app-controlled operation; iOS and Android compatible, according to company
• Built-in light pollution filters for urban astrophotography
• One-tap imaging modes for Milky Way, star trails, planets and galaxies
• Automatic mosaic stitching for wide-field photography
• 4.6 lb weight with anti-dew protection for all-night sessions
• Auto/manual focus capabilities with 4.6° field of view
• Rechargeable battery included (non-standard type)
• EQ mode and planning features for advanced imaging

How it works:

The Seestar S30 Pro transforms astrophotography from a complex technical challenge into a one-tap experience. While traditional telescopes require you to learn star charts, alignment procedures and manual tracking, the S30 Pro will handle almost everything automatically via smartphone app. 

This is ideal for beginners or intermediate users who want quietly impressive astrophotography results immediately without the complexity of traditional camera-telescope combinations. The built-in light pollution filters and AI image processing mean you can capture impressive deep-sky photos even from urban locations where larger telescopes struggle.

As for drawbacks, keep an eye on your battery levels (it can drain fast), and some reviewers claim that the software can be a pain to navigate and hard to connect.

Intermediate astronomy gear

When you’re ready for a step up or to push yourself on your astronomy education, it could be time to upgrade.

8.  Apertura AD8 Dobsonian 8" Telescope with Accessories

Price: $699.95 at High Point Scientific

Why we chose it: If you want to see planets, faint galaxies, nebula structure and more, but don’t need automation, and prioritize simplicity and affordability

Features:

• 8-inch Newtonian reflector with 93% reflectivity mirrors
• 1200mm focal length, f/5.9 for bright deep-sky views
• Manual Dobsonian mount
• 2-inch dual-speed Crayford focuser with fine adjustment
• 52 lbs. total weight (24.5 lb tube + 27.7 lb base)
• Includes 30mm and 9mm eyepieces (40x and 133x magnification)
• Primary mirror cooling fan and laser collimator included
• 8x50 right-angle finder scope
• 5-year warranty coverage (two-year initial warranty and three-year accident replacement program)

How it works:

The design of the Apertura Dobsonian is where most money goes into the optics, not electronics. You're getting mirror coatings (93% reflectivity) and a dual-speed focuser that might cost extra on other telescopes as many budget scopes default to single-speed.

According to many reviewers, the movement becomes intuitive quickly, and many astronomers prefer the "hunt and find" experience over computer-assisted observation. We considered the Celestron NexStar 6SE Telescope, which does have more computerized features (including a GoTo system), but the higher cost, some user difficulty and poor shipment reviews made it not quite as beginner-friendly. 

9. Norton's Star Atlas + Sky Atlas 2000.0

Price: starting at $8.28 at Amazon (Norton’s Star Atlas) & starting at $139.99 at Amazon (Sky Atlas 2000)

Why we chose it: Norton’s Star Atlas helps astronomers learn and understand celestial mechanics and telescope basics, while the Sky Atlas is useful for sky navigation and precision

Features:

• Complete sky coverage in systematic "gore" slice maps
• Shows all naked-eye stars to magnitude 6.5 plus observable deep-sky objects
• Comprehensive reference handbook covering celestial mechanics and observing fundamentals
• Covers timekeeping, solar system objects, telescope guidance and stellar astronomy
• Precision-drawn maps with extensive data tables for each region
• Updated 20th edition with revised positions from Hipparcos database
• Red-light friendly design for outdoor use

How it works:

Norton's Star Atlas is your “astronomy education" while detailed atlases are your "observing tools." If you master Norton's first, you'll understand what you're looking at through any telescope for the rest of your stargazing career.

And according to reviewers, Norton's strikes the balance between comprehensive reference and practical field guide that's been trusted by astronomers for over a century. Unlike computer databases or oversimplified beginner charts, Norton's teaches you the "why" behind celestial mechanics. 

The map system covers the entire sky, showing every naked-eye star down to magnitude 6.5 alongside deep-sky objects you can actually find and observe. 

It's the astronomy equivalent of a Swiss Army knife. It’s compact enough to use outdoors, detailed enough to plan serious observing sessions, and educational enough to build real astronomical knowledge that lasts.

How We Made Our Decision

Safety

Solar eclipse eyewear is absolutely non-negotiable for eclipse viewing, and there's no compromise when it comes to protecting your vision. While other stargazing gear offers exciting upgrades and features, even the most reasonably priced ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses will be perfectly serviceable for safe solar observation.

Functionality & Performance

We conducted in-depth research on each telescope's functionality, pros and cons, experience level requirements, ease of use and optical output. Many options were eliminated without hands-on testing based on consistent patterns in review feedback, particularly around reliability issues, complex setup requirements or performance limitations that would frustrate users at different skill levels.

Price

We prioritized covering a range of price points while selecting options that offered solid reviews at reasonable costs. While "you get what you pay for" often holds true, we focused on equipment that delivers value without requiring beginners to invest so heavily before discovering whether stargazing becomes a lasting passion.

Reviews

We analyzed hundreds of customer reviews to find the best fit for the widest audience across various experience levels. When functionality, durability or key features were consistently questioned in user feedback, we removed those options in favor of more straightforward alternatives, even if they lacked advanced electronic features. Reliability and user satisfaction trumped impressive spec sheets every time.

Our philosophy: Better to recommend equipment that consistently delivers on its promises than gear that looks impressive on paper but disappoints in real-world use.

Price accurate and item in stock at time publish.