Essential Astronomy Equipment Guide 2025
Could This Be Your First Telescope to Unlock the Cosmos?
The Computerised “Goto” Celestron 31150 LCM 114 Series Computerised
🏆 Best Beginner Telescope Under £300 – See the Moon Like Never Before!
Perfect for beginners who want to explore the night sky without the hassle of complex setups. This fully computerised Celestron 31150 LCM 114 finds and tracks stars and planets for you.
✅ Setup in Minutes – No confusing assembly
✅ Amazing Lunar Detail – See craters and shadows
✅ Sturdy Alt Azimuth Mount
✅ Computerised “goto” handset
✅ Affordable Excellence – Premium features for under £300
ABSOLUTELY GREAT FUN TO USE !
Best rated budget telescope for beginners
This Celestron 31150 LCM 114 Computerised Telescope is one of the best budget-friendly scopes for beginners in the UK, offering a fully motorised mount and GoTo tracking so you can find hundreds of celestial objects at the touch of a button.
👉 Read Our Hands-On Review
Your Telescope’s #1 Must-Have Accessory
Telescope eyepieces are crucial because they determine how much detail you can see and how your target appears in the field of view.
Even the best telescope can only perform to its full potential with the right eyepiece, as it controls magnification, clarity, and comfort during observation.
By swapping eyepieces, you can adapt your telescope for wide-field views of star clusters, close-up looks at the Moon, or detailed planetary observations—all without changing the telescope itself.
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Great telescope eyepiece kit for beginners (image credit Amazon)
Broaden your viewing experience with multiple eyepieces, filters, and a Barlow:
Celestron AstroMaster Accessory Kit – 1.25″
(Amazon)
Or the Omegon Eyepieces Starter Kit (Astroshop)
Enjoy more Stargazing with this affordable Zoom Seban Eyepiece
No need for several eyepieces withj this all in one Seban Zoom eyepiece (image credit Anazon)
Seben Zoom Telescope Eyepiece
Highly recommended👁️
I own one of these and it is a brilliant piece of kit. I also have a Celestron eyepiece kit that comes a number of eye pieces ,a 2x Barlow and coloured filters. Needless to say, I very rarely use the IPS kit except to use the filters which can be screwed into the bottom of my Saben Zoom eyepiece
GET A ZOOM EYEPIECE. It will save you so much time and make your stargazing more enjoyable.
7.5–22.5mm (1.25″ / 31.7mm) – Upgrade your stargazing with this budget-friendly zoom eyepiece that replaces multiple fixed focal lengths.
Easily adjust magnification from 7.5mm to 22.5mm without fumbling for separate eyepieces in the dark.
Ideal for beginner and intermediate astronomers in the UK, it delivers clear, crisp views of the Moon, planets, and brighter deep-sky objects.
At under £25, it’s one of the best value astronomy accessories for expanding your telescope’s versatility without breaking the bank.
Laser Collimator
Laser collimator for accurate aligning telescope mirrors (image credit Amazon)
1.25inch, Bysameyee Calibrator with 2’’ Adapter for Newtonian Reflector Telescope Collimation. (mirror alignment)
Essential for precise collimation of your telescope optics.
Universal Dew Shield to fit most Telescopes
Universal Dew shield for telescopes (image credit to Amazon)
Telescope Dew Shield Mask - Universal Compatibility, Dew Heater Compatible, Weather Protection, Fits Dobsonians Mak Cass SCT, Multiple Sizes, Clear Views
Pinpoint Stellar objects with a red dot finderscope
OMEGON RED DOT finder scope essential for finding Stellar objects(image credit to Astro shop)
Omegon LED finder - lets you find astronomical objects more easily
Whether it's the Moon, a planet or a distant galaxy, locating objects in the night sky is sometimes not so easy - especially for beginners. Omegon's red dot finder makes this significantly easier. Simply replace your inferior finder scope. Stop looking and start finding!
Essential Red light torch for setting up your telescope in the dark, finding eyepieces and reading star maps (image credit to Astro shop)
Red light - lets you see everything at night
The Omegon red light torch ensures that you do not lose your eyes' nocturnal dark adaptation. It takes about half an hour for our pupils to fully dilate in the dark. Only then can we really see faint stars and other faint objects in the telescope. The red torch does not interfere with this dark adaptation. That means you can make out eyepiece focal lengths and read star charts but still remain fully dark adapted.
Frequently asked questions about essential astronomy equipment
Essential Astronomy Equipment – Q&A
Q1: What equipment do I need to start stargazing?
A good pair of binoculars or a small beginner telescope, a sturdy tripod, and a star map or astronomy app are the basics. These will help you spot the Moon’s craters, planets, and bright star clusters without a huge investment.
Q2: What’s the most important telescope accessory?
Most astronomers agree that eyepieces are key. A telescope is only as good as the eyepiece you use, since it determines your magnification and clarity.
Q3: Do I need a motorized mount for my telescope?
Not for beginners. A manual alt-azimuth or Dobsonian mount is easy to use and affordable. Motorized mounts are helpful for long observation sessions or astrophotography.
Q4: What’s the difference between a Barlow lens and an eyepiece?
A Barlow lens is an accessory that multiplies the magnification of any eyepiece you use with it, effectively giving you more focal length options without buying multiple eyepieces.
Q5: Should I buy new or second-hand astronomy gear?
Second-hand equipment can be great value if it’s from a reputable source. Always check optics for scratches and mounts for stability before buying.
