34 models · 6 brands · scopes and mounts
More telescope for the money. The used scopes worth buying, and what to check before you pay.
A good telescope outlives the hobby of the person who bought it, so closets and garages are full of them. A listing rarely says whether the optics are clean, whether the mount and hand controller are there or whether it ships at all. Each page covers one model, with its story, its specs, what to check in the listing and the eBay listings we’d buy.
A checklist for all 34 modelsFacts checked, sources listedNo affiliate links
Know the model? Start there.
model indexMost buyers already know the model they want. Tap one to go straight to its page, or read how to check a used telescope first.
Celestron
Orion
Sky-Watcher
Find yours
browse byBy brand
Celestron6 modelsC8, C11, C14 and moreMeade5 modelsLX200 8-inch, LX200 10-inch, LX90 8-inch and moreOrion6 modelsSkyQuest XT8 Classic, SkyQuest XT10 Classic, SkyQuest XT12 Classic and moreSky-Watcher6 modelsFlextube 8 GoTo, Flextube 10 GoTo, Flextube 12 GoTo and moreTakahashi5 modelsFS-60C, FS-60Q, FC-100D and moreVixen6 modelsPorta II Mount, GP-DX Mount, Polarie U and more
The ones people search for
Celestron
Schmidt-CassegrainCelestron C8
- Years made
- 1970 on
- Key spec
- 203 mm · f/10
$675–$1,800 typical ask
Orion
DobsonianOrion SkyQuest XT8 Classic
- Years made
- Until Orion closed in 2024
- Key spec
- 203 mm · f/5.9
Specs and what to check →
Celestron
Schmidt-CassegrainCelestron NexStar 8SE
- Years made
- Key spec
- 203 mm · f/10
$1,375–$1,875 typical ask
Sky-Watcher
DobsonianSky-Watcher Flextube 10 GoTo
- Years made
- Key spec
- 254 mm · f/4.7
Specs and what to check →
Takahashi
RefractorTakahashi FC-100D
- Years made
- Key spec
- 100 mm · f/7.4
$6,300–$7,250 typical ask
Sky-Watcher
MountSky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Mount
- Years made
- Key spec
- 44 lb
$3,525–$3,550 typical ask
From our latest eBay check
Takahashi FSQ-85EDTakahashi FSQ-85ED Astrograph 85mm f/5.3 Refractor Japan Baby-Q w/ Finder
$2,708.00 est. deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 14, 2026
Meade ETX-125Meade ETX-125EC Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope in excellent condition
$389.00 est. deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 14, 2026
Orion SkyView Pro 80mm EDORION 80 ED REFRACOR d=80, f=600 mm, f/7.5, near MINT TELESCOPE ASTRO ☆☆☆☆
$764.00 est. deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 14, 2026
Vixen VC200LVixen VC200L 200mm f/9 VISAC Cassegrain Telescope Optical Tube from japan
$1,198.00 deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 14, 2026
Buying guides
5 guidesQuestions buyers ask
FAQIs it safe to buy a telescope used?
Usually, yes. Lenses and mirrors don't wear out from being looked through, and lots of good scopes were barely used before they went into storage. The risks are damp storage, which can leave haze or fungus on the glass, missing parts, and electronics on GoTo mounts. Ask for a flashlight photo of the optics taken at an angle, check the listing includes the mount, hand controller and power supply you need, and ask for a video of any motorized mount moving.
What does OTA only mean in a listing?
OTA stands for optical tube assembly, the telescope tube itself without a mount or tripod. Lots of Schmidt-Cassegrains and refractors are sold that way, because owners move tubes between mounts. An OTA-only listing is a good buy if you already own a mount that can carry its weight and has a saddle that fits its dovetail bar. If you don't, add the cost of a mount before you compare it with a complete kit.
Should my first serious telescope be an SCT or a Dobsonian?
A Dobsonian gives you the most aperture for the money and is simple to use, but big ones are bulky. An 8-inch SCT like a C8 or NexStar 8SE has the same aperture as an 8-inch Dobsonian in a much shorter tube, often with a computerized mount that finds objects for you, at the cost of more parts that can go wrong. If storage space and carrying matter most, look at an SCT. If you want the biggest view for the least fuss, look at a Dobsonian.
Can I still get parts and support for Meade and Orion telescopes?
Not from the makers. Meade and its owner, which also ran Orion, shut down their California operations in 2024. The scopes themselves keep working, and many Orion telescopes and mounts were made by Synta, so some parts are shared with Sky-Watcher models. Repairs and spares now come from third-party shops, owner groups and other used gear. That makes a complete, working example worth more than a project.
How can I tell if the optics are good from a listing?
Ask for one extra photo, taken in a dark room with a flashlight shining into the front of the tube at an angle. That shows dust, haze, fungus and scratches that daylight photos hide. A little dust is normal and harmless. A milky film, web-like lines or a dull, gray mirror are worth asking about. If the seller can, an out-of-focus star photo also shows whether the optics are lined up.
Sell to us
Is there a telescope in the closet that never sees the sky?
Tell us what you have, with a photo of the optics, whether the mount, hand controller and power supply are there, the eyepieces that go with it, your zip code and your price. Our telescope expert will get back to you quickly with a cash offer if it’s a fit. No listing to write, no fees.