Celestron 70mm Portable Refractor Telescope Travel Scope: 5 Best Picks for 2026

Updated November 2026

Shopping for a celestron 70mm portable refractor telescope travel scope usually comes down to one question: how much sky can you realistically see when you have to carry everything yourself? A small refractor with a 70mm objective is light enough to toss in a daypack, sets up in minutes and gives sharp views of the Moon, bright planets and open star clusters. The picks below are judged on how well they balance aperture, weight, setup speed, included accessories and how easily a beginner can get useful views without a lot of fuss.

Our Top Picks

Quick Comparison

Product	Best for	Key feature
Celestron Travel Scope 70mm DX Refractor Telescope Kit with Backpack	Travel and beginner all-round use	70mm refractor with backpack and fully-coated optics
CELESTRON Travel Scope 60 Refractor Telescope	Light carry with a slightly smaller tube	Compact 60mm refractor design
Celestron Travel Scope 50mm Beginner Telescope with Backpack and Tripod	Minimal pack weight	Ultra-lightweight kit with tripod and backpack
Celestron FirstScope Signature Series Moon Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope	Tabletop Moon and planet viewing	Manual tabletop Dobsonian with Moon map wrap
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian Smartphone Guided Telescope	Guided deep-sky finding for new observers	Smartphone app sky navigation

Celestron Travel Scope 70mm DX Refractor Telescope Kit with Backpack

Best for: Travel and beginner all-round use

This is the kit most people searching for a celestron 70mm portable refractor telescope travel scope will want to compare first. It pairs a 70mm objective with a backpack, so the whole setup can ride along on a flight, a car trip or a hike to a darker field.

Key specs

• 70mm aperture refractor objective
• Fully-coated glass optics, as listed
• Backpack included in the kit
• Designed for day-to-night use and quick setup

Pros

• Good light-gathering for the Moon, bright planets and star clusters
• Backpack keeps the tube, mount and eyepieces together
• Refractor optics need little collimation, so it is simple to use

Cons

• Small aperture limits faint deep-sky targets from light-polluted sites
• Included eyepieces are basic, and owners often upgrade them

Bottom line: The most balanced choice for a first travel scope that you want to take on trips and use for casual Moon and planet viewing.

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CELESTRON Travel Scope 60 Refractor Telescope

Best for: Light carry with a slightly smaller tube

This model steps down to a 60mm objective, trading some light-gathering for a shorter, lighter tube. It suits observers who mostly plan to view the Moon and bright planets and want the smallest possible footprint.

Key specs

• 60mm refractor objective
• Compact travel-oriented tube design

Pros

• Lighter and smaller than a 70mm kit, easier to pack
• Refractor design gives sharp, high-contrast lunar and planetary views
• Quick to set up for short observing sessions

Cons

• Less light than a 70mm scope for deep-sky objects
• Accessories are limited, so expect to add eyepieces later

Bottom line: A good pick if portability matters more than aperture and you mainly observe the Moon and planets.

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Celestron Travel Scope 50mm Beginner Telescope with Backpack and Tripod

Best for: Minimal pack weight

The 50mm model is the lightest kit here and a sensible first instrument for children or for anyone who will only carry a scope occasionally. Expect bright targets to look best; it is not built for faint galaxies.

Key specs

• 50mm refractor objective
• Includes backpack and tripod
• Ultra-lightweight kit design

Pros

• Very light, so it fits in small bags and on short hikes
• Tripod and backpack are included, so nothing extra to buy to start
• Suited to Moon, nature and bright-object viewing

Cons

• Smallest aperture in this list, so dimmer objects are hard to see
• Tripod stability is modest at high magnification

Bottom line: Best for beginners who prioritize weight above all and mainly want to look at the Moon and bright planets.

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Celestron FirstScope Signature Series Moon Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope

Best for: Tabletop Moon and planet viewing

This is a reflector rather than a refractor, but it fills a niche: a very small tabletop instrument that sits on a desk or stand and needs no tripod. It works well for quick Moon sessions from a balcony or window-side spot.

Key specs

• Manual tabletop Dobsonian design
• Includes a Moon map wrap and lunar eBook

Pros

• Extremely compact and easy to set on any stable surface
• Moon map wrap helps beginners identify craters and features
• No tripod needed for quick sessions

Cons

• Manual tracking means targets drift out of view quickly
• Limited to a narrow range of targets compared with a true travel refractor

Bottom line: A fun, small option for Moon-focused beginners who want the simplest possible setup, not a full travel scope for varied targets.

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Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian Smartphone Guided Telescope

Best for: Guided deep-sky finding for new observers

This larger reflector uses a smartphone app to help you locate objects in the sky, which can shorten the learning curve for people who have never found a nebula or galaxy. It is less portable than the refractors above, but it adds a guidance feature none of them offer.

Key specs

• 114mm Newtonian reflector
• Smartphone app sky navigation
• Manual alt-azimuth mount

Pros

• Larger aperture gathers noticeably more light than the 50 to 70mm refractors
• App guidance helps beginners locate deep-sky targets
• Bright celestial views for a reflector of this size

Cons

• Bulkier and heavier, so less suited to hiking or air travel
• Reflector optics may need occasional collimation

Bottom line: Pick this if you want more light and app-guided star finding, and you can accept a bigger, heavier scope than a true travel refractor.

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Buying Guide

Aperture and what it means for travel

Aperture is the diameter of the main objective, and it controls how much light the scope gathers and how fine a detail it can resolve. A 70mm objective gathers roughly twice the light of a 50mm one, which matters most for faint deep-sky targets. Expect a trade-off: each step up in aperture usually adds weight and tube length. For a celestron 70mm portable refractor telescope travel scope, 70mm is often the practical middle ground.

Good picks for this: Celestron Travel Scope 70mm DX Refractor Telescope Kit with Backpack, CELESTRON Travel Scope 60 Refractor Telescope

Weight, tube length and pack size

Check the stated weight and tube length, then imagine it in your bag with eyepieces, a finder and a tripod. Shorter tubes pack more easily, and lighter tripods reduce fatigue on hikes. If the scope will live in a car trunk rather than a backpack, weight matters less and aperture can take priority.

Good picks for this: Celestron Travel Scope 50mm Beginner Telescope with Backpack and Tripod, CELESTRON Travel Scope 60 Refractor Telescope

Mount and tripod stability

Mount stability matters more as magnification rises. Owners often report that light tripods vibrate when focusing or when the wind picks up. Look for a tripod that feels solid at the height you will use, and remember that a travel scope rarely needs high magnification to be enjoyable.

Good picks for this: Celestron Travel Scope 50mm Beginner Telescope with Backpack and Tripod, Celestron FirstScope Signature Series Moon Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope

Included eyepieces and accessories

Many travel kits ship with basic eyepieces that deliver usable low-power views. Plan to upgrade eventually to a shorter focal length for planets, and consider a Moon filter to reduce glare. Confirm what is included before you buy, because the accessory list varies by model.

Good picks for this: Celestron Travel Scope 70mm DX Refractor Telescope Kit with Backpack, Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian Smartphone Guided Telescope

Observing targets and sky conditions

A small refractor excels at the Moon, the brighter planets, the Pleiades and some bright double stars. Faint galaxies and nebulae need dark skies and larger apertures. If you live under heavy light pollution, set expectations around bright targets and plan a few darker-sky trips.

Good picks for this: Celestron Travel Scope 70mm DX Refractor Telescope Kit with Backpack, Celestron FirstScope Signature Series Moon Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope

Setup speed and ease of use

A refractor usually needs little or no collimation, which speeds setup and makes it easier to leave the scope ready in a car. Reflectors such as Newtonians need occasional alignment of the mirrors. Setup speed matters most if you plan short sessions between other activities.

Good picks for this: CELESTRON Travel Scope 60 Refractor Telescope, Celestron Travel Scope 70mm DX Refractor Telescope Kit with Backpack

Care, storage and durability

Keep the objective lens capped when not in use, store the scope in a padded bag and avoid leaving it in hot cars. Clean optics only with proper lens cleaning supplies and a soft cloth, and never expose the Sun-facing optics to direct sunlight without a proper solar filter, since direct solar viewing can cause permanent eye damage.

Good picks for this: Celestron Travel Scope 70mm DX Refractor Telescope Kit with Backpack, Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian Smartphone Guided Telescope

FAQ

What is the best celestron 70mm portable refractor telescope travel scope for beginners?

For most beginners, the 70mm kit with a backpack is the most balanced option. It gives good views of the Moon and bright planets and comes ready to carry, which makes practice sessions easier to repeat.

Is 70mm enough aperture for deep-sky objects?

A 70mm refractor can show bright star clusters and a few of the brightest galaxies and nebulae from reasonably dark skies. Faint targets generally need larger apertures and darker sites.

Do travel refractors need collimation?

Refractors use a sealed optical tube with a single lens, so they usually need little or no collimation. Reflectors such as Newtonians need periodic mirror alignment.

Can I use a travel scope for solar viewing?

Only with a proper full-aperture solar filter fitted to the front of the scope, and never with improvised filters. Eyepiece-mounted solar filters are unsafe. If you are unsure how to view the Sun safely, consult an experienced astronomy club or a professional observatory.

How much weight should a travel scope add to my bag?

Check the manufacturer’s stated weight for the tube, mount and tripod, then add eyepieces and accessories. Many owners prefer a total kit weight they can carry comfortably for a full hike, so test the setup at home before a trip.

Should I buy a phone-guided scope instead of a simple refractor?

Phone-guided scopes help you find deep-sky targets, which many beginners find frustrating. They are generally larger and heavier, so they fit car trips better than backpacking. A simple refractor is lighter and quicker to set up.

What accessories do I need after buying a travel scope?

Most owners add a shorter focal-length eyepiece for planets, a Moon filter and a star chart or planetarium app. Verify compatibility with your scope’s focuser before buying.

Conclusion

For a general-purpose celestron 70mm portable refractor telescope travel scope, the 70mm DX kit with backpack is the most rounded choice, offering a useful aperture and an easy carry. Choose the 60mm model if you want to cut weight a little, the 50mm kit if pack weight is your main concern, the tabletop Dobsonian for quick Moon sessions, or the StarSense Explorer LT if app-guided deep-sky finding and more light matter more than portability.

Sources

• Lunar and planetary observing basics and current sky event listings (nasa.gov)
• Consumer safety guidance on product use and handling (cpsc.gov)
• Beginner observing resources and local club directories

Related reading

• 3 Best Celestron 80mm Travel Scope Portable Refractor Telescopes (2026): Our Picks
• Bnise 70mm Portable Refractor Telescope: A Beginner's Setup and Observing Guide
• National Geographic Srt70app 70mm Refractor Telescope with Astronomy App: A Practical Guide (2026)
• Celestron Omni XLT 120mm Refractor Telescope: What It Shows and How to Use It

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