6 Inch Telescopes

The definition of the “perfect” amateur telescope varies from person to person, but 6-inch telescopes could arguably take the prize regarding balancing functionality with portability. A 6-inch telescope nearly straddles the line between small and medium telescopes, offering plenty of light-gathering capability while comfortably packing into smaller bags and cases.

For its size, a 6-inch telescope offers tremendous power. Resolution can reach .76 arcseconds on a double-star system, and magnification can range as high as 304 times higher than the human eye. A 6-inch aperture telescope collects a large amount of light, making stars as dim as 14.7-magnitude visible to the eye. This makes them among the best beginner telescopes for astrophotography.

The first choice to make is between a reflector and a refractor. A 6-inch reflector telescope uses mirrors to focus incoming light onto a secondary mirror, which then directs it toward the eyepiece (located either at the rear or on the side of the telescope itself). A 6-inch refractor telescope, based on older but still relevant technology, uses carefully crafted lenses to focus incoming light into the eyepiece. At the 6-inch aperture level, reflectors excel at removing chromatic aberrations (those fuzzy auras around stars) and offering excellent light-collecting capacity at a lower cost. However, refractors stand out for their sharpness and contrast and the lower degree of maintenance, thanks to their closed-tube designs — both of which help to justify their higher cost.

What can you see with a 6-inch telescope? The answer: a lot. A 6-inch aperture is the minimum required to view objects like the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, or M83, whose spirals are clearly visible with a good-quality 6-inch. Additionally, these telescopes allow you to see clear, wide-field views of nebulae, clusters, and other deep-sky objects. The moon and planets will appear in sharp resolution, even when significantly magnified. That means you’ll be able to explore the moon’s craters, the rings of Saturn, and the atmosphere and moons of Jupiter.

In our selection, you can find 6-inch telescopes to fit every budget. At the low end, we have tabletop Dobsonians for entry-level astronomy. Even our higher-end 6-inch telescopes, like the Meade LX85 6” Newtonian Astrograph with Audiostar Equatorial Mount, are not out of reach for those with smaller budgets.

If you’re curious about the strengths and weaknesses of any of our 6-inch telescopes, contact our friendly and knowledgeable Sales Team. Each member of our team is an expert at the ins and outs of our telescopes and gear and can help you select the best unit for your goals.