Telescope Type

Refractor Telescopes

The sharp, maintenance-free option. Lenses instead of mirrors — sealed tubes that stay in alignment and deliver crisp, high-contrast views from the first night.

telescopes in our database

40–151 mm

aperture range

How a refractor works

An objective lens at the front refracts incoming light to a focal point at the rear. No mirrors — the light travels straight through the tube to the eyepiece.

Is a refractor right for you?

Every type has its ideal buyer. Here is how to know if this is yours.

Great if…

✓Planets and the Moon are your main targets. High contrast and pin-sharp optics suit bright, detailed objects. Refractors consistently deliver the best lunar and planetary views per pound at smaller apertures.
✓You want zero maintenance. The optics are sealed inside the tube. No mirrors to collimate, no cool-down wait, no dust on the primary. Take it out, point it up.
✓Astrophotography interests you. A quality apochromatic (APO) refractor is the workhorse of widefield imaging. Short focal lengths cover large sky areas; premium glass keeps stars pinpoint to the edges.

Not ideal if…

✗Deep-sky objects are your priority. Aperture costs money in a refractor. A 200mm reflector costs a fraction of a 200mm refractor. For galaxies and nebulae, light gathering matters most.
✗You are on a tight budget. Entry-level refractors under £100 often suffer from strong chromatic aberration. A £100 reflector will outperform a £100 refractor for almost everything.

Our top refractor picks

Editorially selected — the scopes we'd recommend to most buyers.

#1 Pick

$Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ refractor telescope$

Celestron

Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ

102mmAlt-AzLunar

The StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ brings Celestron's phone-dock navigation system to a 102mm achromatic refractor. The app uses your smartphone camera to recognise star patterns and tells you which direction to nudge the tube manually — no motors, no alignment procedure, just follow the arrow. At 102mm and f/6.5 it gives good views of the Moon, planets, and brighter deep-sky objects. A refractor's maintenance-free optics — no collimation required — make it a reliable first scope.

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Sky-Watcher

Sky-Watcher EvoStar 90 EQ2

90mmEquatorialLunar

A 90mm achromatic refractor at f/10 — the classic entry-level refractor configuration that has served beginner astronomers well for decades. The long focal ratio makes chromatic aberration (the coloured fringing seen on bright objects) almost imperceptible at normal magnifications, and the EQ2 equatorial mount teaches you real sky mechanics without being overly complex. Lunar views are crisp and high-contrast, and at high magnification the Moon's craters and mountain ranges become genuinely absorbing. Saturn's rings are visible at 50×, and by 100× this scope delivers the views that make new astronomers gasp. Solid, honest, and predictable.

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William Optics

William Optics Zenithstar 73

73mmWide field astrophotography

The Zenithstar 73 is the step up from William Optics' popular Zenithstar 61, offering 73mm of ED doublet aperture in the same well-made compact package. The additional 12mm of aperture and slightly longer focal length (430mm at f/5.9) give it more versatility for imaging — better performance on fainter targets while retaining the wide field character of the ZS61. WO's characteristic build quality — tight tolerances, deep anodising, silky focuser — is present throughout. Tube rings and dovetail are included.

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Celestron

Celestron AstroMaster 102AZ

102mmAlt-AzLunar

A 102mm refractor on a simple alt-az mount — the AstroMaster 102AZ is an approachable entry point for people drawn to refractors rather than reflectors. At f/6.5 the chromatic aberration is moderate and unobtrusive at typical magnifications, and the upright alt-az mount requires no alignment and no theory. Point it at what you want to look at and look at it. Lunar detail is pleasing, planet views are honest rather than spectacular, and the scope doubles as a terrestrial spotter when the sky is not cooperating. For families, gift buyers, and total beginners who want to start without complexity, this is a dependable choice.

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$Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ refractor telescope$

Celestron

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ

80mmAlt-AzLunar

The StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ is the most affordable entry point to Celestron's phone-dock navigation system. At 80mm and f/11.25 it gives good lunar views and shows Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons clearly. The StarSense dock removes the biggest frustration for new astronomers — not knowing where to point — by using your phone's camera to show you where to nudge. A practical gift or first telescope for someone who wants to start with a real navigation aid.

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Can't decide between the top two?

StarSense 102 vs EvoStar 90 →

What to look for when buying

Three specs that matter specifically for refractors — and what they mean in practice.

Chromatic aberration

Colour fringing — the main optical flaw to watch for.

Cheap refractors show a purple halo around bright objects (stars, the Moon, Jupiter). An achromatic doublet reduces this; an apochromatic (APO) triplet virtually eliminates it. If budget is under £300, expect some CA on cheaper achromats.

Aperture

The diameter of the objective lens, in mm.

60–80mm suits the Moon, planets, and double stars. 100–120mm adds decent deep-sky capability. Beyond 120mm refractors become expensive quickly — this is where reflectors and compounds win on value.

Focal ratio

Focal length ÷ aperture.

Long focal ratios (f/9–f/12) give sharp planetary views and are forgiving on cheap eyepieces. Short focal ratios (f/5–f/7) suit astrophotography and deliver wider fields — but need quality eyepieces to avoid edge distortion.

Refractor: honest trade-offs

What they do well

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Zero maintenance

Sealed optics need no collimation and no cool-down time. The most hassle-free telescope type you can own.

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High contrast on bright objects

No central obstruction from a secondary mirror. This gives refractors an edge on the Moon, planets, and double stars — especially compared to reflectors of similar aperture.

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Compact and grab-and-go

A 70–100mm refractor packs into a bag and sets up in two minutes. The natural choice for balcony observing or travelling to dark sites.

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Excellent for widefield imaging

APO refractors at f/5–f/7 are the imaging community's tool of choice for large nebulae and galaxy fields. The combination of flat field and low chromatic aberration is hard to beat.

Honest limitations

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Aperture is expensive

A quality 120mm APO costs £800+. A 120mm reflector costs £150. If aperture is the priority, a refractor is the wrong choice.

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Chromatic aberration in budget models

Entry-level achromats produce visible colour fringing on bright targets. It is manageable but noticeable — particularly on the Moon and Jupiter.

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Long tubes at large apertures

A 100mm f/9 refractor has a 900mm tube. At 120mm f/8, that is nearly a metre. Mounting and storing large refractors requires more thought than a compact compound.

Also consider

Reflector telescopes →Compound telescopes →Smart telescopes →

All refractor telescopes in our database

39 telescopes

Askar

Askar FMA180 Pro

The FMA180 Pro is an ultra-compact ED triplet astrograph with a 40mm aperture and 180mm focal length (f/4.