What is a GoTo telescope?
A GoTo telescope has motors and a computer that point the scope at objects you select from a handset or app, and then track them as Earth turns. After a short alignment routine, you can ask for Saturn, a bright nebula or a galaxy, and the mount slews there. That saves time hunting through star charts, and it helps in light-polluted skies where faint star patterns are hard to see.
Is GoTo right for you?
Good reasons to choose it:
- You want to see many objects in a session without learning the sky first.
- You observe from a suburb or city where star-hopping is difficult.
- Tracking keeps objects centered, which helps when showing others or using high magnification.
Reasons to think twice:
- It costs more than a manual scope of the same aperture.
- It needs power (batteries or a power pack) and an alignment step.
- Many people find star-hopping a rewarding skill that a manual Dobsonian teaches well.
For a manual alternative, see our guide to picking a good telescope.
Main types of GoTo telescope
Schmidt-Cassegrain on a fork mount
Compact tubes with long focal lengths and motorized single-fork mounts. Popular models in this style, such as Celestron’s NexStar line, are often recommended for planets, the Moon and brighter deep-sky objects. They are portable for the aperture, though they cost more per inch than a Dobsonian. See also best telescopes for looking at planets.
Tabletop and small computerized reflectors
Compact reflectors on app-controlled alt-azimuth mounts are an affordable way into GoTo. Aperture is modest, but they are light and quick to set up.
GoTo Dobsonians
Some Dobsonians have motorized or push-to systems. True GoTo Dobsonians offer large aperture with automatic finding, though they are bulky. Push-to systems guide you with an app or digital circles but do not move the scope for you.
Smart telescopes
Smart telescopes combine optics, a camera, tracking and an app. They find and stack images of objects and show the result on your phone rather than through an eyepiece. They are very easy to use, though the experience is different from traditional observing. For deep-sky targets, see the best telescope for deep space viewing.
What to look for
- Aperture: still the most important factor for what you can see.
- Mount stability: a computerized mount can still wobble. Check reviews.
- Alignment method: some use manual star alignment, others use built-in cameras or app-assisted alignment, which is faster for beginners.
- Power: check battery life and whether an external power source is needed.
- Database and controls: a good object database and an easy handset or app.
- Accuracy: GoTo precision depends on a careful alignment, so expect to center objects occasionally.
Which telescope is best to see galaxies?
Galaxies are faint, so a larger aperture and dark skies matter most; our guide on how to see galaxies with a telescope covers what to expect. A GoTo helps you find them, but it does not make them brighter. Expect soft, gray glows rather than colorful spirals.
Budget expectations
Entry-level computerized scopes tend to start in the several-hundred-dollar range, with larger and better-built systems costing noticeably more. Prices vary, so check current listings. For a general overview, see how much a good telescope costs.
Tips for using GoTo well
- Level the tripod and set the correct date, time and location.
- Choose alignment stars that are bright and well separated.
- Start with a low-power eyepiece to confirm alignment.
- Keep a manual way to find objects in case the electronics fail.
- Carry spare batteries or a power pack.