National Geographic 76mm Compact Reflector Telescope

If the telescope is a child's first, or has to work from a balcony or patio table rather than a backyard, assembly is one more thing between you and the Moon. The National Geographic 76mm Compact Reflector skips it: a fully assembled 76/350 tabletop reflector. In Explore Scientific's words, "just place it on any stable surface and start exploring the night sky."

Key Features

• 76 mm mirror, 350 mm focal length (f/4.6), which Explore Scientific says reveals "detailed views of the Moon, planets, and brighter deep-sky objects."
• Four magnifications, 18x to 117x. The 20 mm and 6 mm eyepieces give 18x and 58x; the 2x Barlow takes them to 35x and 117x.
• Start wide. The manual says to begin with the longest focal length eyepiece, the 20 mm, and move gradually to shorter ones.
• Turntable base. Tilt the tube with the height adjustment wheel and turn the base like a turntable. A compass and azimuth scale sit in the base, and a 0 to 90 degree scale on the arm.

Who It's For

• Small spaces. The manual asks for "a stable surface like a table or counter top," so it works wherever a table does.
• Children 10 and up (the manual's age marking), with adult supervision and never aimed at the Sun, per the manual.
• Stepping up. The NT114PH gathers (114 ÷ 76)² = 2.25 times the light and adds a red dot viewfinder and a full-size tripod; the StarApp70 adds a phone app that names the constellations in view. Both cost more. Our guides to Saturn's rings and navigating the night sky help plan the first nights.