1. Celestron Cometron 7x50 ($35) You don't need a telescope to open up the skies. "The ultimate beginner binoculars for any budding astronomer," Celestron's 7x50 set enables you to see more than you'd expect — including Jupiter, Saturn, and even distant nebulae. Buy it at Amazon. 2. Astronomers Without Borders OneSky ($200) This 130-mm Newtonian reflector is easily "the best bang-for-the-buck beginner's scope." It has good optics, it's easy to aim, and because it's highly portable, it makes a great grab-and-go scope, even for experienced observers.