Want to see the full moon up close? These beginner telescopes are all under $250 for Black Friday

An affordable entry-level refractor for bright, high contrast objects like the moon, Jupiter's moons and Saturn's rings, thanks to its long focal ratio. It's not a scope for deep-sky objects as it simply can't collect enough light, but it's a great grab-and-go option that includes 10mm and 20mm eyepieces.

If you want brighter and more detailed lunar views, this Newtonian reflector will do the job. You'll be able to see some deep-sky objects in favorable conditions, but it's not a scope for serious deep-sky observation. Plus, the EQ mount is a little more fiddly for complete beginners. It comes with 10mm and 20mm eyepieces.

An incredibly simple telescope here, the 60mm aperture provides good views of the bigger planets and the moon, and some bigger deep-sky objects if the conditions are favorable. It's portable and easy to set up, making it the perfect option for casual stargazing. It comes with 20mm and 4mm eyepieces and a 3x Barlow lens.

There are 70AZ and 80AZ variants, but they were both cheaper before Black Friday.

If you're after a budget-friendly, reasonably portable reflector, this 114EQ scope is good for moon and planet observation and some brighter deep-sky objects. The EQ mount is a bit trickier for beginners, but it'll pay off once you've gotten used to it. It comes with 20mm and 4mm eyepieces and a 3x Barlow lens.

If you want more light-gathering power, go for the 127EQ variant below.

If you're willing to do a bit of maintenance (collimation, upgrading the eyepieces), this telescope offers a step up in performance from a typical "setup and go" telescope, but the juice will be worth the squeeze. Like the others, it comes with 20mm and 4mm eyepieces and a 3x Barlow lens.

This refractor is ideal for views of bright objects like the moon or planets, with a simple alt-azimuth mount and quick setup. Plus, you can connect your smartphone to the StarSense app, which gives you a list of visible subjects. You just need to follow the arrows on your screen until you find your selected object. You'll be able to spot Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons, but you won't be able to see the bands around Jupiter. Plus, it comes with 10mm and 20mm eyepieces and a 2x Barlow lens.

If you'd rather observe deep-sky objects, check out the 114AZ variant below.

This Newtonian reflector is a step up in optical power from the 80AZ model above. You'll get better views of deep-sky objects like the Andromeda Galaxy and Orion Nebula with the larger 114mm aperture, although it may require collimation, which could be tricky for beginners. The StarSense app does a great job of guiding you around the sky, and you'll get 10mm and 20mm eyepieces alongside a 2x Barlow lens.

An affordable and portable refractor telescope that comes with its own backpack for easy transportation. Perfect for taking on family camping trips to get detailed views of the moon, spot Jupiter's moons or even enjoy daytime views of birds and wildlife.

A perfect first telescope (it's in the name), either for kids or if you just don't have a lot of space, this tabletop scope comes with 20mm and 4mm eyepieces for magnification up to 75x. For portability and ease of setup, it's hard to beat. It's not the biggest discount, but it's still a great price nonetheless.

While many of the scopes we've listed do come with eyepieces, they tend to leave a lot to be desired, so we thoroughly recommend investing in some good quality eyepieces and lenses to get the most out of your telescope. Plus, you'll still be able to use them whenever you eventually upgrade to one of the best telescopes down the line.

Okay, yeah, not technically under $250, but if you're looking for a super affordable way to photograph the night sky that doesn't involve mounting a camera directly to a telescope, then the Dwarf 3 is one of the most affordable options. This portable smart telescope produces beautiful images of galaxies, nebulas and the moon directly from your smartphone or tablet. You can edit and share them straight away, or stack and edit the files manually on your laptop if you want more control.