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Sponsored

National Geographic Telescope

National Geographic Telescope - image 1 of 4
National Geographic Telescope - image 2 of 4
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National Geographic Telescope - image 1 of 4
$39.99 when purchased online
Target Online store #3991

About this item

Highlights

  • With the 50mm optical glass aperture, this refracting telescope can explore the Moon’s cratered surface and look at the star maps in the night sky, along with intriguing planet features like Jupiter’s Galilean moons or Saturn’s rings
  • Two interchangeable Plössl eyepieces give you magnifications of 18x and 28.8x; both are coated non-polarized lenses
  • Panhandle mount control allows you to move this refractor telescope up, down and side to side
  • This refractor telescope comes with a full-size adjustable tripod
  • Simple to assemble and easy to use refractor telescope
  • National Geographic is the #1 brand in exploration

Description

This may be the perfect first telescope for your child or grandchild to foster their wonder of the universe we live in and to give them a hands-on experience that often leads to a lifetime interest in science.

Lightweight and highly portable, the National Geographic 50mm Alt-azimuth telescope makes it easy to explore the celestial and terrestrial at a moment’s notice. This telescope comes with a panhandle mount control that makes it easy to move while setting angles. Its air-spaced double achromatic refractor has a true 50mm optical glass aperture that can reveal wonders like the intricacies of the lunar terrain or some of the brighter deep sky objects. Make the most of your explorations with this advanced National Geographic sky telescope.
Dimensions (Overall): 52 Inches (H) x 36 Inches (W) x 36 Inches (D)
Weight: 4 Pounds
Suggested Age: 6 Years and Up
Assembly Details: Adult Assembly Required, No Tools Needed
CPSC Choking Hazard Warnings: Choking_hazard_small_parts
Mount Type: Altazimuth, Tripod
Lens Coating: Fully Coated
Objective Lens Size: 50 Millimeter
Optical Tube Diameter: 50 Millimeter
Optical Tube Length: 360 Millimeter
Magnification: 28
Battery: No Battery Used
Warranty: 1 Year Limited Warranty. To obtain a copy of the manufacturer's or supplier's warranty for this item prior to purchasing the item, please call Target Guest Services at 1-800-591-3869
TCIN: 76424040
UPC: 811803031715
Item Number (DPCI): 086-00-0966
Origin: Imported
If the item details above aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.

Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 17.61 inches length x 8.5 inches width x 4.28 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 2.59 pounds

Return details

This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.
This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, shipped, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or made ready for pickup.
See the return policy for complete information.

Q: Can the Tripod go taller?

submitted by Livia Ore - 2 years ago
  • A: Yes but it can be a bit wobbly. I recommend adding one pound to the telescope.

    submitted byJade Fox - 4 months ago
  • A: Yes, this is an adjustable tripod!

    submitted byExplore Scientific Team - 2 years ago
    Brand expert

Q: Can you please tell me if this is good for a 10yr old boy,

submitted by Elisabeth - 3 years ago
  • A: This National Geographic Telescope is ideal for a 10 year old! You can look at the moon and planets with its easy to use focus knob on a stable, portable tripod. Enjoy!

    submitted byExplore Scientific Team - 3 years ago
    Brand expert
  • A: Yes its easy to use for any age. Just make sure and assemble and use the diagonal it comes with. It makes it much easier to focus.

    submitted byMTB550000 - 3 years ago

Q: Is this telescope good for an adult to use

submitted by Jupiter Girl - 27 days ago
  • A: Hi Jupiter Girl, yes, this is a fully functioning entry-level telescope which has a fully adjustable tri-pod and has a 50mm optical glass aperture. This is a refracting telescope with two interchangeable Plössl eyepieces giving you magnifications of 18x and 28.8x; both eyepieces are coated non-polarized lenses. Enjoy!

    submitted byExplore Scientific Team - 27 days ago
    Brand expert

Q: Would this be good for my 12 year old son he is tall.

submitted by Suzanne - 28 days ago
  • A: Hi Suzanne, this is a great telescope for a12 year old of any size! It has a fully adjustable tripod for easy transportation and allows for varying heights. Please know that looking into the telescope will require bending down to look into it, but the adjustable height tripod makes this much more comfortable. Happy stargazing!

    submitted byExplore Scientific Team - 27 days ago
    Brand expert

Q: Why am I not able to see Saturn's rings? Even with no light pollution and great weather great weather I still can't see it.

submitted by Jade Fox - 5 months ago
  • A: Thanks for your question! The clarity of the rings on any telescope is highly dependent on the upper air disturbance. Although at times it may seem calm on the surface, activity in the upper atmosphere can cause the image to be distorted (looking blurry). We recommend trying this when the upper air is clear when Saturn approaches Zenith (straight overhead). Location is also a determining factor due to elliptical path of the planets, the path might not reach above 40 degrees, the closer you get to zenith then you decrease the upper atmosphere disturbance. Hopefully this helps you but if you have further questions please reach out to our technical team so that they can help with your particular situation, they can be reached toll-free at 866-252-3811. Enjoy your telescope!

    submitted byExplore Scientific Team - 4 months ago
    Brand expert

Q: Can this be used to look at eclipse

submitted by Janice - 9 months ago
  • A: Yes, you can use this for looking at the eclipse, but make sure you are using approved Solar Eclipse sunglasses when you do. Same for your cell phone and pictures, that equipment also needs to be protected from the damaging suns rays. Enjoy the eclipse!

    submitted byExplore Scientific Team - 9 months ago
    Brand expert

Q: Is this good for long distance view on land? if yes then how far you can see clearly on land?

submitted by Patel - 1 year ago
  • A: Thank you for your question, yes, many people use these to view distant objects on land too. Visibility is highly dependent on the weather conditions but if it is clear than you can see up to roughly 3 miles. Enjoy!

    submitted byExplore Scientific Team - 1 year ago
    Brand expert

Q: How far can you see other gases and stars in the sky and how well can you see it? Does it work well or is it more of a toy for younger children?

submitted by Yahel - 2 years ago
  • A: Thanks for your questions. You can see planets, stars, galaxies and nebulas but it depends on your location and how much light pollution there is, which would determine the clarity. This is a fully functioning introductory telescope that works well with seeing planets, stars, and galaxies, we hope you enjoy it!

    submitted byExplore Scientific Team - 2 years ago
    Brand expert

Q: Does this come with an instruction manual?

submitted by Helpful niece - 3 years ago
  • A: Yes, all of our telescopes come with an included instruction manual. In addition, if you happen to have lost yours, we have them available for download on our website, here is the page for easier reference: https://explorescientific.com/pages/documents

    submitted byExplore Scientific Team - 3 years ago
    Brand expert

Q: Is there any where I could look at all reviews? It looks like it only gets 2 stars, that's pretty low. I'm really unsure if this would be good enough for a 10 year old?

submitted by Amberskies10 - 3 years ago
  • A: You should be able to see all submitted reviews on Target's website by clicking on the "Reviews" ratings. There may be some people that submitted a rating without a full review. This telescope is an introductory telescope that is ideal for a 10 year old. You can see features on the moon and it is lightweight with a nice tripod feature. There is a large knob to make focusing easy. Good luck!

    submitted byExplore Scientific Team - 3 years ago
    Brand expert

Summary of reviews

The telescope has received mixed feedback from guests, with many expressing disappointment over its inability to focus and poor quality. However, some guests found it to be a great starter telescope for children, allowing them to explore the moon and stars with ease. The adjustable tripod and lightweight design were appreciated, making it easy to set up and use. Overall, it may serve well for casual stargazing but may not meet the expectations of more serious astronomy enthusiasts.
    Summary created by AI from text of reviews reflecting recent feedback provided across different star ratings (includes incentivized reviews)
    3.1 out of 5 stars with 219 reviews
    quality: 2.12 out of 5
    value: 2.28 out of 5
    broad age appeal: 2.58 out of 5
    ease of use: 2.43 out of 5
    length of play: 2.4 out of 5
    20% would recommend
    70 recommendations

    Save your money, terrible product!

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Cmartinez - 5 days ago, Verified purchaser
    Poor quality… opened and it broke within an hour. Doesn’t work properly at all even following every direction. It’s super blurry, and you can’t see a thing hardly at all. Highly disappointing. My 7 year old was beyond upset as this was a Christmas present and he absolutely loves planets. Ended up returning for a refund.
    ease of use: 1 out of 5
    broad age appeal: 1 out of 5
    value: 1 out of 5
    length of play: 1 out of 5
    quality: 1 out of 5
    Did you find this review helpful?

    Waste of money

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Mele - 9 days ago, Verified purchaser
    Don’t waste your money, you can’t see anything. And I know how to use a telescope. Such a disappointment. My grandson, he’s 5, was so excited only to be so sad. If I could give no stars I would.
    value: 1 out of 5
    quality: 1 out of 5
    Did you find this review helpful?

    Im not incompetent its the telecsope!!!!

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Justice - 18 days ago
    This telescope had me thinking I was incompetent because I couldn’t see anything. Glad I came to the reviews and seen it wasn’t just me! My son got this for Christmas from his uncle and was so excited and we couldn’t see anything. A bunch of adults turning in circles lifting it up in the sky tryna find anything but seeing nothing but darkness. I would give it zero stars if I could. Do not waste your money on this at all! Will be returning it and getting him a better one!
    quality: 1 out of 5
    value: 1 out of 5
    broad age appeal: 1 out of 5
    length of play: 1 out of 5
    ease of use: 1 out of 5
    Did you find this review helpful?

    For 30 dollars you aint seein poo

    2 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Damascus floyd - 1 month ago
    For 30$ you aint seein doodoo
    ease of use: 1 out of 5
    length of play: 1 out of 5
    quality: 1 out of 5
    broad age appeal: 1 out of 5
    value: 1 out of 5
    3 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

    YOU CANT EVEN FOCUS ON THE MOON

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Terrible telescope - 1 month ago
    Terrible picture quality. Wouldn’t focus on even the moon.
    quality: 1 out of 5
    length of play: 1 out of 5
    ease of use: 3 out of 5
    broad age appeal: 1 out of 5
    value: 1 out of 5
    1 guest found this review helpful. Did you?

    Two thumbs down

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    VA2NC - 1 month ago
    Hunk of junk. Doesn’t work. Super disappointing.
    ease of use: 1 out of 5
    length of play: 1 out of 5
    quality: 1 out of 5
    value: 1 out of 5
    broad age appeal: 3 out of 5
    5 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

    Terrible, just terrible

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Mv - 3 months ago
    Dear other Target customers, please do not buy this telescope. It has terrible instructions, and you can barely zoom into anything! At first, it seemed as if there was a missing piece, but actually there wasn’t because of how bad the instructions explained things. And right when we were going to look outside, the tripod broke. Please do not buy this, it’s a scam, and trust me, don’t ruin your day by buying this.
    value: 1 out of 5
    broad age appeal: 1 out of 5
    quality: 1 out of 5
    length of play: 1 out of 5
    ease of use: 1 out of 5
    10 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

    This is a great starter telescope for kids!

    5 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
    SeaMom - 3 months ago, Verified purchaser
    Great starter telescope
    3 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

    Please save your money.

    2 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Alex Reed - 6 months ago
    Me and my sister found this telescope so we could see whats up for June Nasa. I read some reviews and they were okay. The description said you could see Saturn's rings and Jupiter's 4 moons. But this is not true at all. I pointed it to saturn and couldn't even see the rings. I feel like this is misleading and lying to people who are beginners. However I was able to see a cluster of stars and nature.
    ease of use: 4 out of 5
    quality: 2 out of 5
    length of play: 5 out of 5
    6 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

    Need help

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Mom of 4 - 7 months ago, Verified purchaser
    Having a hard time getting the focus clear we are beginners btw and can’t see anything
    broad age appeal: 3 out of 5
    1 guest found this review helpful. Did you?

    LisaM

    5 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
    Lisa Manna - 9 months ago, Verified purchaser
    My grandson loves to explore with it.
    broad age appeal: 5 out of 5
    length of play: 5 out of 5
    ease of use: 5 out of 5
    value: 5 out of 5
    quality: 5 out of 5
    1 guest found this review helpful. Did you?

    Dont buy this terible use

    2 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Not good - 9 months ago
    I did not like this item. Don’t wast your money. All I saw was upside down and it did not focus well
    length of play: 1 out of 5
    value: 1 out of 5
    ease of use: 1 out of 5
    broad age appeal: 5 out of 5
    quality: 1 out of 5
    5 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

    Total junk. Dont buy

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Kmmpittman - 11 months ago
    My 5yo daughter has been wanting a telescope for awhile to look at the stars with Daddy. I saw this in store for $24.95 so I was excited to get it for half off the usual price of $50. I guess I should’ve slowed down to check the reviews first. This is total junk. You can’t focus it at all (the eyepiece telescopes a bit in and out and that’s the “focus” feature…) and it’s both useless to look at trees, the horses a half mile down the road, and the stars and moon at night. If I took a paper towel tube and put a wonky piece of glass on the end that’s about equivalent to what you can expect. Minus the super disappointed kid you’ll have after they are excited to open a telescope and then find it’s totally useless. Total garbage and will be returned tomorrow. As a bonus I’ll now have to find a much more expensive replacement since my daughter was so excited. Thanks Target for that.
    quality: 1 out of 5
    broad age appeal: 1 out of 5
    ease of use: 1 out of 5
    length of play: 1 out of 5
    value: 1 out of 5
    13 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

    Be careful

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Emtargetfan - 1 year ago, Verified purchaser
    I bought this for my son for Christmas and he was so excited to use it. We set everything up and went outside. We couldn't see anything. No stars, no moon, nothing. I tried taking it off of the tripod and all you see is black nothing. The cap was off on both pieces of the telescope and nothing was focused. You could tell it's cheap plastic. Don't buy it, it's a waste of money.
    8 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

    Not recommended

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Not worth it - 1 year ago, Verified purchaser
    Not very good quality
    quality: 1 out of 5
    6 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

    Scam

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    brew - 1 year ago, Verified purchaser
    Does not focus. Incapable of even looking at the moon Absolute scam.
    value: 1 out of 5
    length of play: 1 out of 5
    broad age appeal: 1 out of 5
    ease of use: 1 out of 5
    quality: 1 out of 5
    6 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

    Junk

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Junk - 1 year ago, Verified purchaser
    Piece of junk!! Do not buy
    broad age appeal: 1 out of 5
    value: 1 out of 5
    ease of use: 1 out of 5
    length of play: 1 out of 5
    quality: 1 out of 5
    4 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

    Piece of junk

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Damon - 1 year ago, Verified purchaser
    You can't see a thing with this. I'm not sure what the functionality is supposed to be, because seeing is not one of them. I lost the receipt, so I just threw it away
    6 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

    Cheap

    2 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Disneygirl - 1 year ago
    Tripod Not sturdy and lens came apart from the telescope. Image very small
    quality: 1 out of 5
    broad age appeal: 5 out of 5
    value: 1 out of 5
    ease of use: 3 out of 5
    2 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

    Missing piece

    1 out of 5 stars
    Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
    Momofthree - 1 year ago, Verified purchaser
    My child was so excited to look at the stars, come to find out, a piece is missing. She’s disappointed and I’m very disappointed as this was a birthday gift.
    length of play: 1 out of 5
    value: 1 out of 5
    quality: 1 out of 5
    ease of use: 1 out of 5
    broad age appeal: 1 out of 5
    3 guests found this review helpful. Did you?

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