Inexpensive spotting scope for stargazing

[Kbhillhunter]

My kids have been getting into stargazing lately and I'd like to get an inexpensive spotting scope to use for this. Figured I could also use it at the range as well if needed so it doesn't need to be super high end. Any recommendations? Ideally sub $300.

 

[pugwylde]

I know you are looking for a spotting scope recommendation, but if you want the most inexpensive option, put the binos you already have on a nice tripod. The biggest enemy of stargazing is vibration. I've had a lot of success with the kids just stabilizing a pair of binos.

 

[Alpine4x4]

My kids have been getting into stargazing lately and I'd like to get an inexpensive spotting scope to use for this. Figured I could also use it at the range as well if needed so it doesn't need to be super high end. Any recommendations? Ideally sub $300.

Sub $300 isn't going to get you anything worth stargazing with. Clarity will suffer and CA will be bad, not to mention cheap glass doesn't gather light well and you're looking at stuff in the dark. For that price range you'd be better off finding a cheaper telescope. That magnification even on a 60x spotter really isn't enough to see much detail. I came to this conclusion stargazing myself last week with my 60x.

 

[Blue72]

A Nikon 80mm Ed works well for astronomy. But it’s out of your budget, unless you can score a used one on Craigslist or eBay

Maybe look at some 80mm astronomy refractors. Orion/meade made an extremely popular one that was the size of a spotting scope. However, they went out of business a few months ago. You might get lucky and score a deal on leftover clearance inventory