Best-of list
Best Smart Telescopes for Planets and the Moon (2026)
Smart telescopes are built for nebulae and galaxies, and most show Jupiter and Saturn as small discs. These are the models with the aperture and focal length to do better, ranked on published specs and what reviewers found.
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Our picks at a glance
- 6.4/10 research score
-
Best value for planets
Faint galaxies and nebulae without a full astrophotography rig
7.6/10 research score - 6.3/10 research score
- 8.0/10 research score
- 6.6/10 research score
Our verdict
The Unistellar eQuinox 2 has the most aperture and focal length for planets (114 mm at 450 mm). The Dwarflab Draco (90 mm at 340 mm, $1,399) is the best value, with a built-in solar filter too. Under $1,000, the Seestar S50 Pro is the best compromise. None of them replaces a dedicated planetary telescope and camera.
Planets are the hardest targets for a smart telescope. They are bright but tiny, so what matters is focal length (how big the image is) and aperture (how much detail the optics can resolve), not the light-gathering that makes nebulae shine. Most smart telescopes compromise toward wide fields: Dwarflab says its DWARF 3 shows Jupiter and Saturn "as bright points or very small disks". These are the models that do better. We ranked them on published specs and reviews; we have not tested them ourselves. See how we research.
Image scale compared
Image scale (arcseconds per pixel) tells you how many pixels a planet covers. Lower is better for planets. Jupiter is roughly 30 to 50 arcseconds across depending on its distance.
| Telescope | Aperture / focal length | Image scale | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unistellar eQuinox 2 / eVscope 2 | 114 mm / 450 mm | Not published | $2,899 / $4,999 |
| Unistellar Odyssey / Odyssey Pro | 85 mm / 320 mm | 0.93″/px (published) | $2,599 / $4,599 |
| Dwarflab Draco | 90 mm / 340 mm | about 1.45″/px (binned output) | $1,399 |
| Celestron Origin Mark II | 152 mm / 335 mm | 1.23″/px (published) | $4,299 |
| Seestar S50 Pro | 50 mm / 260 mm | about 2.3″/px | $999 |
| Vaonis Vespera 3 | 50 mm / 245 mm | 2.39″/px (published) | $2,490 |
| DWARF 3 | 35 mm / 150 mm | about 2.75″/px | $549 |
"About" values are our calculation from published pixel size and focal length (206.265 × pixel size in µm ÷ focal length in mm). Specs from the makers' pages, October 17, 2026.
Why the eQuinox 2 leads
Its 114 mm mirror and 450 mm focal length are the largest combination here. Unistellar doesn't publish the eQuinox 2's pixel size, so we can't give its exact image scale, but its 34.2 × 45.6 arcminute field at 6.2 MP output suggests sampling under 1 arcsecond per pixel. It costs $2,899, weighs 15.5 lb and has no built-in filters. Digital Camera World singles out Unistellar's smaller Odyssey Pro as offering "superior images of planets" among smart telescopes.
The value choice: Dwarflab Draco
The Draco's 90 mm aperture and 340 mm focal length, a 50 MP sensor binned to 12 MP output, and Dwarflab's claim that it captures "lunar craters, Saturn's rings, and Jupiter's Great Red Spot" make it the most promising planetary option under $1,500. It also has a built-in ND filter for the Sun. It is new in 2026 and few independent reviews exist, so treat the planetary claims as the maker's until owners confirm them.
Under $1,000
The Seestar S50 Pro has the longest focal length of any Seestar (260 mm), and its solar filter and Solar System mode make the Moon and Sun easy. Digital Camera World is clear that there's "still not enough focal length for planets", but it is the best all-rounder at this price.
Not recommended for planets
The Celestron Origin has excellent image scale on paper, but its f/2.2 RASA is designed for deep sky, and two hands-on reviews could not get Saturn in focus. Small scopes such as the DWARF mini and Seestar S30 Pro (150–160 mm) show planets as dots with moons.
Tips for better planets
- Wait for the planet to climb. Near the horizon you look through more turbulent air.
- Use video modes where available and stack the sharpest frames on a computer.
- Pick steady nights. Twinkling stars mean poor "seeing", which blurs planets far more than nebulae.
See our blurry image checklist if planets look worse than they should.
The picks in detail
1. Unistellar eQuinox 2
List price $2,899 (as of Oct 2026)
The largest aperture and longest focal length here: a 114 mm mirror at 450 mm, with an 11-hour battery, for $2,899.
Pros
- 114 mm aperture at 450 mm
- 11-hour battery
- Automatic alignment
Cons
- 15.5 lb
- No built-in filters
- No EQ mode
2. Dwarflab Draco
List price $1,399 (as of Oct 2026)
90 mm at 340 mm with a 50 MP sensor and a built-in solar filter, for $1,399. New in 2026, with few reviews yet.
Pros
- 90 mm aperture at 340 mm
- Built-in guiding and 300 s exposures
- Physical field derotation
- Cooled sensor and automatic dew prevention
Cons
- 5.5 kg (12.1 lb)
- Standard Edition sold out (October 2026)
- Too new for long-term reliability data
3. Unistellar Odyssey
List price $2,599 (as of Oct 2026)
85 mm at 320 mm with a published 0.93 arcsec per pixel, the finest sampling Unistellar lists, for $2,599.
Pros
- 85 mm f/3.9 mirror
- Automatic Smart Star Finder alignment
- Citizen-science projects in the app
- Tripod included
Cons
- $2,599 with no built-in filters
- No EQ mode
- Sensor and RAW output not published
4. Seestar S50 Pro
List price $999 (as of Oct 2026)
260 mm focal length, the longest in the Seestar range, with a solar filter in the box, for $999.
Pros
- Large 1/1.2-inch 4K sensor
- Battery rated up to 9 hours
- 4K wide-angle camera and solar filter included
- Open ASCOM Alpaca support for N.I.N.A.
Cons
- Too new for long-term reliability data
- Duo-band filter on the telephoto camera only
- 60 s exposures need EQ mode and polar alignment
5. Unistellar eVscope 2
List price $4,999 (as of Oct 2026)
The eQuinox 2's optics plus a Nikon-developed electronic eyepiece, for $4,999.
Pros
- Nikon electronic eyepiece
- 114 mm aperture at 450 mm
- 9-hour battery
Cons
- $4,999
- 15.5 lb
- No built-in filters or EQ mode
| Spec | Unistellar Unistellar eQuinox 2 | Dwarflab Dwarflab Draco | Unistellar Unistellar Odyssey | Seestar Seestar S50 Pro | Unistellar Unistellar eVscope 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research score | 6.4/10 research score | 7.6/10 research score | 6.3/10 research score | 8.0/10 research score | 6.6/10 research score |
| List price | $2,899 | $1,399 | $2,599 | $999 | $4,999 |
| Optics | |||||
| Aperture | 114 mm (best) | 90 mm | 85 mm | 50 mm | 114 mm (best) |
| Focal length | 450 mm (best) | 340 mm | 320 mm | 260 mm | 450 mm (best) |
| Focal ratio | f/4 | f/3.8 (best) | f/3.9 | f/5.2 | f/4 |
| Optics | 114 mm mirror | Folded, aberration-corrected optical system | 85 mm mirror | 4-element apochromatic lens with ED glass | 114 mm mirror |
| Field of view | 34.2 × 45.6 arcmin | 1.65° × 1.24° (telephoto, astronomy mode), 85.7° diagonal (wide-angle) | 33.6 × 45 arcmin | 2.8° (telephoto), 63° (wide-angle) | 34.2 × 45.6 arcmin |
| Camera | |||||
| Image sensor | Not published | OmniVision OV50Q40, 1/1.3 in | Not published | OmniVision OS08B10, 1/1.2 in | Not published |
| Sensor resolution | 6.2 MP | 50.3 MP (best) | Not published | 8.3 MP | 7.7 MP |
| Pixel size | Not published | 1.197 µm | 1.45 µm | 2.9 µm | Not published |
| Wide-angle camera | Not published | Yes | Not published | Yes | Not published |
| RAW / FITS files | Not published | Yes | Not published | Yes | Not published |
| Filters and imaging | |||||
| Light-pollution filter | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Built-in filters | Not published | Astro, dark, H+O dual narrowband, ND (Standard); SHO Edition adds S II + O III | Not published | UV/IR-cut, duo-band (OIII 30 nm / Hα 20 nm, telephoto only), dark-frame | Not published |
| Solar filter included | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Longest single exposure | Not published | 300 s (best) | Not published | 60 s | Not published |
| Mount and tracking | |||||
| Equatorial mode | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Field derotation | Not published | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Autofocus | Not published | Yes | Not published | Yes | Not published |
| Dew heater | Not published | Yes | Not published | Yes | Not published |
| Eyepiece | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Power and storage | |||||
| Battery life | 11 h (best) | 5 h | 5 h | 9 h | 9 h |
| Battery capacity | Not published | 10,000 mAh | Not published | 10,000 mAh | Not published |
| Built-in storage | 64 GB | 128 GB (best) | 64 GB | 128 GB (best) | 64 GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi (up to 10 m), Bluetooth, NFC | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz (up to 10 m), Bluetooth (up to 5 m), NFC, USB-C | Wi-Fi |
| Size and warranty | |||||
| Weight | 15.5 lb | 12.13 lb | 8.82 lb | 6.17 lb (best) | 15.5 lb |
| Dimensions | Not published | 196 × 386 × 133 mm | Not published | 140 × 149 × 268 mm (folded) | Not published |
| Operating temperature | Not published | -20 °C to 45 °C | Not published | -10 °C to 40 °C (recommended) | Not published |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| Where to buy | Check price at Unistellar (opens in a new tab) | Check price at Dwarflab (opens in a new tab) | Check price at Unistellar (opens in a new tab) | Check price at Seestar (opens in a new tab) | Check price at Unistellar (opens in a new tab) |
Frequently asked questions
Can a smart telescope see Saturn's rings?
Why are planets so small in smart telescopes?
Is the Celestron Origin good for planets?
What is the best smart telescope for the Moon?
Sources
Specs, prices and claims in this article come from these sources.
- Unistellar Expert range specifications · Unistellar · accessed Oct 17, 2026
- Unistellar Odyssey range specifications · Unistellar · accessed Oct 17, 2026
- Draco product page · Dwarflab · accessed Oct 17, 2026
- DWARF product comparison · Dwarflab · accessed Oct 17, 2026
- ZWO Seestar S50 Pro review · Digital Camera World · accessed Oct 18, 2026
- Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory review · Space.com · accessed Oct 18, 2026
- FAQ & Troubleshooting Guide for DWARF Users · Dwarflab · accessed Oct 18, 2026
Written by
SmartTelescopes editorial team
Research and editing
The SmartTelescopes editorial team researches smart telescopes from manufacturer documents, published measurements and owner reports.
