Six Inch telescope guide (150mm reflectors)

6 Inch Telescopes – also known as the 150 mm Reflector

Are you fascinated by the celestial objects of the sky? Wanna start observing them with your personal telescope?

A 6-inch telescope may be the best thing you are looking for!

6-inch telescopes are also called 150 mm Reflectors. If you are new to sky observation, owning a personal 6-inch telescope is an excellent way to start. Even if you have bought a telescope already, this post may inform you about other 6 inch telescopes having extraordinary features.

6-inch telescopes are good in size for beginner or hobbyist astronomers as they are portable and easy to handle. These telescopes provide a sufficient amount of power to gather light at cheaper rates. Even if some beginner astronomers intend to do serious observation, some upgraded 6-inch telescopes can offer what they want.

There are three types of 6-inch telescopes in general, among which you can pick one depending on three facts: the quality of the telescope, the intensity of your hobby, i.e., how serious you are about your hobby, and your budget.

Here is the short review of the three general type 6-inch telescopes. We have enlisted them from the lowest to the highest prices.

  1. Dobsonian Mount

Fig 1: Orion SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope

This is an excellent beginner level telescope for amature astronomers. It has a sufficient amount of light gathering power and you will get it at a very reasonable price compared to the other Dobsonian telescopes. Though you have to compromise a little bit as it cannot track or find any celestial object automatically. The simple newtonian setup there is only a basic set up without having extra features though it works completely fine.

It not only has extra large optics to provide high resolution but also has a simple design which makes it more user-friendly. This is why customers do not hesitate to heap 5-star on the rating for this. Dobsoniian says about this gentle giant, ‘The XT6 Classic gives you the deep-space thrills without the deep-pocket frills‘’.

Despite its low budget, it is meticulously equipped for any kind of adventure and exploration suitable for even a novice stargazer or an expert astronomer. There is a parabolic mirror residing in an optical tube made of enameled steel. The tube mounts on a firm and stable base called Dobsonian base which provides support and facilitates point-and-view navigation. It is equipped with EZ Finder II aiming device,  A 2″ Crayford focuser, quick-collimation cap, and 25mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece (1.25″) which are all standard and simple and you need only a minute to set them up. It also has a convenient handle suitable for carrying it anywhere. And you can get all of these with a full one-year warranty card.

You can easily take it on your cart and enjoy your evenings marveling at the moons, planets and even the galaxies and discover a thousand of deep-sky gems.

  1. Newtonian/Equatorial Mount-

The tube configuration of this kind of telescope is similar to the Dobsonian. However, the only difference between them is the mount. The Dosonian telescope is altazimuth-mounted whereas the Newtonian telescope has an equatorial mount. But this does not make your sky observation different. All you have to do is to follow the set up. If you know how to use the telescope well to find objects across the sky, the bit of time you need to get used to the equatorial mount is not a big deal. This type of mount has to be aligned with the north or south pole at first which is very easy to do. After that you can rotate the telescope very smoothly to follow the celestial objects. It acts against the motion of the earth. This is a must while taking pictures. Some of these telescopes have an extra feature named an optional clock drive which allows star gazing without moving it. It will track automatically according to the thing you point at.

Fig 2: Celestron – PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope – Manual

German Equatorial Telescope for Beginners

If you think you have got enough experience from your typical beginner level telescope and want to use an upgraded one with more light gathering power, you can add ‘Orion AstroView 6 EQ Reflector Telescope’ in your cart. The focal length of the 150mm parabolic mirror is 750 mm (f/5) which provides magnanimous views of deep-sky bodies if you use 25mm Plossl as well. The equatorial mount of AstroView 6 EQ-3 offers slow motion control which can be operated manually. This feature helps you to track the object in your viewing field and center it. If you want electronic guiding, there you will get an optional single or dual axis EQ-3 DC drive. There is a polar-alignment scope built into the equatorial head for proper orientation on the north or south. The mount is attached with a robust aluminum tripod with accessory tray which is easily adjustable. It also includes a rack-and-pinion focuser and 6×30 finder. You will also get four-vane secondary mirror support which is easily adjustable.

  1. Schmidt-Cassegrain –

If you want finer optics than your present starter telescope, you can grab one from Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. These kinds of telescopes are not comparable with the starter telescopes. You will get higher performance and more upgraded features that the simple telescopes do not have. And, certainly the price is also a little bit higher; generally, minimum twice the cost of equatorial or dobsonian. The first and foremost reason for this high price is its folded optics which makes it more portable than the other types.

Fig 3: Celestron NexStar 6 SE Telescope

Tremendous performance and portability both come together in this Celestron NexStar 6 SE Telescope. This telescope includes Celestron’s first new Schmidt-Cassegrain optical system in over a decade which is now known as a high performance altazimuth computerized telescope. This optical system is highly precise having 1500mm focal length (f10) which provides 44% more light gathering than a 5-inch telescope. The total weight of the telescope will be around 30 pounds including the tripod.

The NexStar 6 SE possesses all the features Celestron’s most upgraded and advanced computerized GoTo telescopes have. It includes a sky tour feature, revolutionary SkyAlign alignment technology, a database of more than 40,000 objects, and user friendly hand control.

Some well-known and trusted Manufacturer of telescopes in the 6-inch range:

Most astronomers suggest to prefer the telescopes made by already established and popular makers. You can go through the next such telescopes we are presenting here.

  1. Orion StarBlast 6 Astro Telescope

Fig 4: Orion StarBlast 6 Astro Telescope

Orion StarBlast 6 Astro Telescope is the upgraded version of the beginner telescope Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro. StarBlast 6 is more popular and user friendly having the similar compact and wide-field view as the StarBlast 4.5. It has 73% more light-gathering power than the previous version.However, this telescope is still portable as it weighs around 23.5 lbs only and its base can be completely assembled inside the box.

It has a 150mm (5.9″) f/5.0 parabolic mirror which offers sufficient aperture to find deep-sky objects and planets with several details. Its wide field of view provides an easier finding and tracking system than the longer focal-length telescopes. This is why you can call it the best starter telescope of all ages for amature astronomers. Even if you already have a cheaper telescope, you can upgrade to this for more intense observation and amazing experience.

The maneuvering of the STarBlast 6 is smooth enough which is provided by adjustable altitude tension and teflon bearings. You have to keep the accessory Sirius Plossl eyepieces at the ready in the three-hole eyepiece rack. There are two handle cutouts in the base which makes it easy to lift and carry the telescope. You also can set it above the ground or any other flat surface like on the hood of your car or a small table. This is really an uncomplicated, affordable and meticulously engineered telescope. And yeah! You will get a full one-year limited warranty.

  1. TwinStar White 6

Fig 5: TwinStar White 6

TwinStar White 6 is a fabulous telescope if you want to observe the sky from your backyard. This is ideal for anyone, even an older child with enthusiasm for astronomy. First, you need to turn the telescope on and select the celestial body you intend to observe on the handheld controller. The computerized GPS mount will do the rest. It has an ample 150mm (6 inch) primary mirror having the focal length of 140mm which makes this huge reflector telescope the precise high magnification instrument for serious observation of deep sky objects. You will be able to detect and observe remote binary star systems, nebulae, galaxies, exoplanetary systems and other mysterious objects with this telescope. Besides, you can scrutinize the wonderful details of the nearby objects like the moon, rings of Saturn, moons of Jupiter and the asteroids. The Cube of this telescope is the most flexible unit compared to the other telescopes. This multifunctional Cube includes iOptron SmartStar-G Alt-Azimuth Mount with GPS. Here, double axis motors are assembled into one small single unit. Moreover, as there is no dead spot, you can point the telescope anywhere beyond the azimuth whereas other telescope mounts block the tube at some specific points of rotation. To operate the mount, you have to connect it with an AC connection or 8 AA cell batteries (Batteries are not included to this product, you can buy them separately from here). The GoToNova computerized control system of this telescope is now the most advanced system on the market. It also has a rich database with data of 50,000 celestial objects including all well known stars, star clusters, planets, galaxies and nebulae. You can enjoy observing them by simply pushing the button. Alignment of telescope is not necessary here, because it can detect the location with GPS. The GoToNova Controller is more user-friendly than any other available system on the market. The hand controller is more instinctive with well organized menu categories. The large LCD screen includes more lines of content. Anyone can set up the telescope and select the place to go without any hassle with the easy-to-use hand controller

  1. Meade LT 6-Inch SC (f/10) Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope

Fig 6: Meade LT 6-Inch SC (f/10) Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope

Meade LT 6 introduces a completely new standard 6 inch telescope to the market. It is featured as a fully computer controlled system which offers high performance. It has an ample aperture of 152.4mm (6 inch) and focal length of 1524mm. This revolutionary optics system can be called a classic Schmidt- Cassegrain or Advanced Coma-Free system. It includes a precision worm gear drive which is very responsive. Meade LT 6 owns a robust mount made of die-cast aluminum. The sturdy steel tripod is perfect for providing enough support while imaging and high-resolution visual observation. In short, LT-6 is especially made for those astronomers who crave for high performance from his telescope including exclusive optics mechanics and computer control.

As we know that optics is the most important or you can say the heart of a telescope, this is where the Meade engineers put their highest effort in. They present the highest quality professional grade optics available combining the best ever materials and advanced, proprietor processes.

This telescope is smart enough to show you the night sky out of the horizon. You just have to put in the site information and select level and North. Then LT-6 will take two alignment stars and save them in the viewfinder. Then you just go on observing your sky centering them to fine tune your alignment.

The AutoStar computer controller in Meade LT 6 can easily track and find more than 30,000 celestial bodies in the night sky. Enjoy stargazing with the push of a button.

Meade LXD75 AR6-AT Refracting Telescope, A Rare Telescope:

Now we want to let you know about a rare Telescope because it is really challenging to grab this kind of 6-inch telescope.

Fig 7: Meade LXD75 AR6-AT Refracting Telescope

The Autostar Achromatic 6 inch telescope has a focal length of 1219mm f/8.0 . The optics system is incompatible with the telescopes with mirrors. It includes a 26MM Super Plossl 1.25 Inch Eyepiece. It also has the Heavy duty German Equatorial Mount. The 497 Hand Controller Smart Drive is very responsive. the 8×50 Viewfinder makes it easier to find the object in the night sky. 1.25 Inch Adapter High Precision Pointing Heavy Duty Tripod will give you enough support and high efficiency. If you want a spectacular view of the universe, this telescope will give you the experience you want.

What is a 6-inch telescope?

A 6-inch telescope, also known as a 150mm telescope, is a portable optical instrument that offers a balance between functionality and portability, making it a potential candidate for the “perfect” amateur telescope. The 6-inch aperture of the telescope determines its light-gathering power and ability to resolve fine details, allowing it to collect a large amount of light and making stars as dim as 14.7-magnitude visible. A 6-inch telescope can be either a reflector or a refractor, with the former using mirrors to focus incoming light and the latter using lenses. Reflectors are more cost-effective, while refractors offer sharper, contrast-rich views. Weighing less than 20 lbs when fully assembled, a 6-inch telescope is designed for easy transport, fitting into smaller bags and cases, and is suitable for stargazing enthusiasts on the go. The telescope offers a magnification power of around 300x, enabling astronomers to explore various celestial objects such as stars, planets, asteroids, galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. Equipped with an equatorial mount, the telescope ensures precise tracking and observation of celestial objects. With a typical focal ratio around f/8, the telescope provides a balance of speed, field of view, and potential magnification, making it versatile for both casual observers and experienced astronomers. Priced between $500 to $1000 on average, a 6-inch telescope is a cost-effective option for those looking to delve into the world of astronomy.

What is a 6-inch refractor telescope?

A 6-inch refractor telescope is a portable optical instrument designed for astronomical observations, particularly for viewing faint celestial objects. Its lightweight and compact size make it easy to transport and set up, making it an ideal choice for stargazing on the go. The tube of a 6-inch refractor telescope houses the objective lens, which is typically an achromatic doublet lens that uses carefully crafted lenses to collect and focus light into the eyepiece to form clear images. The telescope stands out for its sharpness and contrast, offering exceptional resolution for its size. The focal length of the objective lens, combined with the eyepiece, determines the magnification power of the telescope, with a maximum magnification of up to 304 times the human eye achievable. Equipped with an Equatorial mount, a 6-inch refractor telescope offers precise tracking of celestial objects as they move across the night sky. A star diagonal is included to allow for comfortable viewing at different angles, while a finder scope aids in locating and aligning objects for observation. The use of high-quality optical glass, such as ED or APO glass, reduces chromatic aberration and color fringing, resulting in improved image quality, especially for astrophotography. The aperture of a 6-inch refractor telescope plays a crucial role in its light-gathering capacity, impacting the brightness and clarity of the images produced. The 6-inch aperture allows an observer to see 14.7 magnitude stars, making it an excellent light gatherer. A dew shield is included to prevent moisture buildup on the lens and improve viewing conditions. The telescope’s overall weight ranges from 50-60 pounds, making it manageable for most users. With a precise focuser and a selection of eyepieces, a 6-inch refractor telescope offers a versatile viewing experience, allowing observers to adjust the magnification and field of view to suit their preferences. The closed-tube design of a 6-inch refractor telescope requires a lower degree of maintenance. The telescope nearly straddles the line between small and medium telescopes, offering plenty of light-gathering capability while comfortably packing into smaller bags and cases. Its combination of portability, quality optics, and ease of use makes the 6-inch refractor telescope a popular choice among amateur and experienced astronomers alike.

What is a 6-inch reflector telescope?

A 6-inch reflector telescope is a powerful optical instrument designed for observing celestial objects in the night sky. It uses mirrors to focus incoming light onto a secondary mirror, which then directs it toward the eyepiece. The telescope features a 750mm focal length and a significant aperture that allows it to collect a large amount of light, making stars as dim as 14.7-magnitude visible to the eye. The reflector design excels at removing chromatic aberrations, those fuzzy auras around stars. This makes the 6-inch reflector telescope a great choice for viewing double stars, deep-sky objects, and is recommended for beginners due to its balance of performance and portability. The telescope is mounted on an equatorial mount for precise tracking and observation. It weighs around 40 pounds, making it easy to transport to different observation sites. The telescope offers a maximum resolution of approximately 0.76 arcseconds and a maximum magnification of 304x, allowing for detailed views of celestial objects. The optical design of the telescope focuses on gathering and focusing light using mirrors, ensuring compactness and eliminating chromatic aberration.

What space objects can you see with a 6-inch telescope?

With a 6-inch telescope, you can observe all the Messier objects, which include galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. The planets that can be seen with a 6-inch telescope include Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn with visible details, while other planets may appear featureless. Deep-sky objects such as galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae are visible with a 6-inch telescope, with many of them appearing in shades of gray due to their faintness. The 6-inch telescope allows for the observation of certain celestial events, such as lunar and solar eclipses, as well as the ability to view some comets and asteroids, depending on their size, distance, and brightness.

Types and Technical Specifications of 6-inch telescope

Types (Optical Design)

Triplet Refractor: Example: Sky-Watcher Esprit 150mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Takahashi TOA-150B Double ED Triplet Refractor Telescope – Heavy-Duty 4″ Focuser

Doublet Refractor: Example: Sky-Watcher Evostar 150DX f/8 Doublet Refracting Telescope,  Celestron Advanced VX 6″ Refractor Telescope

SCT: Example: Celestron NexStar Evolution 6″ Computerized Telescope, Celestron Advanced VX 6″ Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope Bundle – CE-12079, Celestron C· 6 -A-XLT Schmidt-Cassegrain OTA with CG- 5 Mount Plate, Celestron NexStar 6SE Computerized Telescope

Maksutov Cassegrain: Example: Sky-Watcher 150mm Maksutov Cassegrain Telescope OTA, iOptron 150mm Maksutov Cassegrain OTA

Ritchey Chretien: Example: Orion 6″ f/9 Ritchey Chretien Reflecting OTA Telescope, TPO 6″ f/9 Ritchey Chretien Reflecting OTA Telescope, iOptron Photron 150 RC OTA

Doublet Refractor: Example: Sky-Watcher Evostar 150 f/8 Apochromatic Refracting Telescope, 

Dobsonian: Example: Sky-Watcher Heritage 150 Tabletop Dobsonian, Takahashi Epsilon E-160ED 160mm ED Astrograph OTA, Orion SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian, Orion 6″ F/4.1 Newtonian Astrograph Reflector Telescope, Sky-Watcher Classic 150P f/7.9 Dobsonian Telescope

Cassegrain: Example: Meade 6″ f/10 LX85 ACF Optical Tube Assembly, Meade 6″ f/10 LX85 ACF Telescope with Mount and Tripod

Newtonian: Example: Sharpstar 15028HNT, Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTi 150 Tabletop GoTo Dobsonian, Meade 6″ f/4.1 LX85 Reflector Optical Tube Assembly, Meade LX85 6″ Newtonian Astrograph w/Audiostar Equatorial Mount, TPO 6″ f/6 Newtonian Reflecting OTA Telescope, Celestron Advanced VX 6″ Newtonian Telescope, TPO 6″ f/4 Newtonian Reflecting OTA Telescope, Sky-Watcher Quattro 150P Imaging Newtonian Telescope, Celestron Omni XLT 150 Telescope – Reflector

Technical Specifications

Aperture: 6-inch (150 mm)

Focal Length: 162-1800 mm 

Focal ratio: f/3.9-f/10

Highest Magnification: 295-320x

Light Gathering Power: 459-522x

Price: 310-15,070$

Images taken with 6-inch telescopes

Examples of 6-inch telescopes

  • Sharpstar 15028HNT
  • Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTi 150 Tabletop GoTo Dobsonian
  • Meade 6″ f/10 LX85 ACF Optical Tube Assembly
  • Meade 6″ f/4.1 LX85 Reflector Optical Tube Assembly
  • Meade 6″ f/10 LX85 ACF Telescope with Mount and Tripod
  • Meade LX85 6″ Newtonian Astrograph w/Audiostar Equatorial Mount
  • Sky-Watcher Heritage 150 Tabletop Dobsonian
  • Takahashi Epsilon E-160ED 160mm ED Astrograph OTA
  • Sky-Watcher Evostar 150 f/8 Apochromatic Refracting Telescope
  • Orion 6″ f/9 Ritchey Chretien Reflecting OTA Telescope
  • Orion SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope Kit
  • Orion 6″ F/4.1 Newtonian Astrograph Reflector Telescope
  • Sky-Watcher 150mm Maksutov Cassegrain Telescope OTA
  • TPO 6″ f/6 Newtonian Reflecting OTA Telescope
  • Celestron Advanced VX 6″ Newtonian Telescope
  • Celestron NexStar Evolution 6″ Computerized Telescope
  • Sky-Watcher Esprit 150mm ED Triplet APO Refractor
  • TPO 6″ f/9 Ritchey Chretien Reflecting OTA Telescope
  • TPO 6″ f/4 Newtonian Reflecting OTA Telescope
  • Celestron Advanced VX 6″ Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope Bundle – CE-12079
  • iOptron 150mm Maksutov Cassegrain OTA
  • Celestron C· 6 -A-XLT Schmidt-Cassegrain OTA with CG- 5 Mount Plate
  • Takahashi TOA-150B Double ED Triplet Refractor Telescope – Heavy-Duty 4″ Focuser
  • Celestron NexStar 6SE Computerized Telescope
  • Sky-Watcher Evostar 150DX f/8 Doublet Refracting Telescope
  • Celestron Advanced VX 6″ Refractor Telescope
  • Sky-Watcher Quattro 150P Imaging Newtonian Telescope
  • Sky-Watcher Classic 150P f/7.9 Dobsonian Telescope
  • Celestron Omni XLT 150 Telescope – Reflector
  • iOptron Photron 150 RC OTA

How do 6-inch telescopes compare to other size-telescopes

6-inch vs 7-inch telescopes

6-inch telescope has less aperture than the 7-inch telescopes. They offer a focal ratio of f/2.8-f/15 whereas the 6-inch telescopes vary from f/3.9-f/10. Besides, 6-inch telescopes offer a focal length of 162-1800 mm whereas the 7-inch telescopes start from 500 mm to 2700 mm in focal lengths. Moreover, 7-inch telescopes provide 360x the highest magnification, whereas 6-inch telescopes can magnify up to 295-320x.

6-inch telescope7-inch telescopes
Aperture6-inch (150 mm)7-inch (180 mm)
Focal Ratiof/3.9-f/10f/2.8-f/15
Focal Length162-1800 mm500-2700 mm
Highest Magnification295-320x360x
Price310-15,070$1,350-5,500$

6-inch vs 8-inch telescope

8-inch telescopes provide focal lengths of 800-2415 mm (f/4-f/11.5), while 6-inch vary in focal lengths from 162-1800 mm (f/3.9-f/10). On average 8-inch telescopes provide the highest magnification of 300-480x, whereas 6-inch telescopes can magnify 295-320x. 

6-inch telescope8-inch telescope
Aperture6-inch (150 mm)8-inch (203 mm)
Focal Ratiof/3.9-f/10f/4-f/11.5
Focal Length162-1800 mm800-2415 mm
Highest Magnification295-320x300-480x
Price310-15,070$570-5,000$

6-inch vs 9.25-inch telescope

6-inch telescopes provide a focal length of 162-1800 mm with a focal ratio of f/3.9-f/10. In contrast, 9.25-inch telescopes vary from 2350-2500 mm in focal length with a focal ratio of f/10. Moreover, 9.25-inch telescopes provide 406-555x the highest magnification, which is 295-320x in the case of 6-inch telescopes.

6-inch telescope9.25-inch telescope
Aperture6-inch (150 mm)9.25-inch (235 mm)
Focal Ratiof/3.9-f/10f/10
Focal Length162-1800 mm2350-2500 mm
Highest Magnification295-320x406-555x
Price310-15,070$1,899-8,320$

6-inch vs 10-inch telescope

6-inch telescopes have less aperture than the 10-inch telescopes. They offer the same range of focal ratio i.e. f/3.9-f/10. However, 6-inch telescopes offer a focal length of 162-1800 mm whereas the 10-inch telescopes vary from 1000-2500 mm in focal lengths. Though sometimes you can get 10-inch telescopes at a lesser price than a 6-inch scope.

6-inch telescope10-inch telescope
Aperture6-inch (150 mm)10-inch (254 mm)
Focal Ratiof/3.9-f/10f/3.9-f/10
Focal Length162-1800 mm1000-2500 mm
Highest Magnification295-320x500-600x
Price310-15,070$630-10,000$