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The 8 Best telescope guiders and wedges of 2024

Are you trying to find telescope guiders and wedges among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!

We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling telescope guiders and wedges on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 12 hours of research and did 17 telescope guiders and wedges tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!

An overview of our top picks

Table of contents

The best telescope guiders and wedges you can buy today

No. 1
Astromania Off-Axis Guider with Micro-Focusing - for Successful Astronomy Photos Without A Guide Scope
  • An off-axis guider is a brilliant invention. This device sits in the 2-inch focuser in front of the camera. A small prism directs a little light from the telescope into a separate tube - where your guide camera or crosshair eyepiece is attached. This makes it possible to instantly correcting any tracking errors during the extended period over which your camera is exposing the image - for perfectly round stars!
  • The advantages: 1) lets you take beautiful astronomy photos with round stars. 2) for refractors, SCs, MAKs and RC telescopes. 3) off-axis guider only 24mm in overall length - very compact. 4) robust yet light. 5) 45mm optical transmission - full illumination, even with large chips. 6) micro-focusing - especially smooth helical focusing with 0.05mm accuracy. 7) 75mm of back focus.
  • The connections: Easy to adapt - the Astromania off-axis guider has an M48 thread on the telescope side and an additional socket for 2 inch eyepieces. The accessory has three screws and a flat M48 adapter for connecting your camera. The advantage - you can rotate your camera at any time and find the optimum orientation for the astronomical object you are exposing.
  • Exact micro-focusing with 10mm travel - for auto-guider or crosshair eyepiece: A small prism directs light into the control unit of your guider- into a 1.25-inch helical focuser. Now insert your auto-guider or a crosshair eyepiece. With the generous 10mm of travel allows you will find the optimum sharpness for your guide star. Impressive - this special helical focuser can be adjusted to 0.05mm using the super fine scale. So you can always find the precise focus point very quickly.
  • With an off-axis guider, perfect astrophotography is virtually in your grasp. Long exposure photos require precise tracking, which is the specialty of this guider, making it one of the necessary tools for astrophotography. You will soon have the most beautiful astronomy photos in the bag!
SaleNo. 2
Celestron Wedge with NexStar Evolution/SE, Black (93665)
  • Equatorial wedge for Celestron NexStar 6/8SE and Evolution Alt-Az mounted computerized telescopes. Enables long exposure astrophotography and autoguiding by tilting the telescope's azimuth into an equatorial platform allowing it to track an arc around the polar axis.
  • For beginner to intermediate planetary and deep space imagers. Captive hardware, tool-less operation, easily adjusts under load.
  • All new hefty yet portable design
  • Sturdy latitude adjustment screw with easy to read scale and integrated Bubble level.
No. 3
Meade Instruments 07002 8-Inch Equatorial Wedge for 8-Inch LX200-Series Telescope
  • Allows for Polar Alignment of Telescopes
  • Features heavy duty cast aluminum construction
  • For Use in Astrophotography of When Long Exposures are Required
  • Built-In Compass for Finding Magnetic Poles
  • Compatible with Meade SC and ACF models including 2080, LX50 and LX200
SaleNo. 4
Astromania Deluxe Off-Axis Guider for Astrophotography
  • The new Astromania Off Axis Guider is the lowest profile off axis guider that we know. Despite this no compromise has been made with the function and operating comfort of this versatile Off Axis Guider. mechanical flexure between main and guiding telescope can possibly ruin the tracking accuracy if you use an off axis guider.
  • 1) Can be used with correctors & DSLR: The only Off Axis Guider that can be used between a coma corrector (or field flattener) and a DSLR camera without leaving the tolerance for the distance between camera and corrector. 2) Can be used with cooled CCD cameras: The off axis guider provides enough space for filter wheels or filter drawers when using cooled CCD cameras.
  • Place the OAG behind the corrector: The Astromania OAG is used between the corrector and the camera. Using an off axis guider in front of the corrector is not useful. The guide star would be distorted, the distances on both optical paths are too different and you might even get focusing problems with the main camera. Behind the corrector you can avoid these problems, but this only works due to he low profile of the Astromania OAG!
  • Large Clear Aperture: Compared with many simpler guiders the Astromania OAG not only has a shorter overall length, but also a larger clear aperture. A "T2 keyhole" can be avoided, resulting in better illumination for large sensor cameras up to 45mm diagonal.The load for the mount is much reduced. There is no need for a guide scope and the setup will remain more compact. You work with the main telescope's resolution and focal length, not with the typically lower resolution of a guide scope.
  • The Off-Axis Guider comes complete with the adapter required for a 2" focuser. If no autoguider, but rather a reticle, is to be connected, then this Adapter or this Adapter is required. We also have T2-rings in our product range for optical path compensation. Depending on the length required, they are: 7.5mm, 10mm, 15mm and 40mm.
SaleNo. 5
Vixen 37223-2 Astronomical Telescope Accessories Guiders Sun Projection Plate A Set
  • Size (H x W x D): 15.9 x 8.3 x 1.8 inches (405 x 21
  • Weight: 32.9 oz (866 g)
  • Set Includes: Solar projection plate, 1.8 inch (45 mm) DC ring, eyepiece adapter 36.4 to 31.7AD
No. 6
Orion 05531 Thin Off-Axis Guider for Astrophotography (Black)
  • Delightfully thin off-axis guider ideal for use with Newtonian reflector telescopes and DSLR cameras
  • Lets you guide and capture astrophotos simultaneously through one telescope. No guide scope required!
  • 10.5mm thickness perfect for use with Newtonian reflectors which have limited back focus travel
  • Will not interfere with the use of coma correctors thanks to its thin profile
  • Compensates for any existing flexures that may interfere with accurate guiding and tracking
SaleNo. 7
Celestron Wedge with HD Pro for CPC 8/9/11, Black (93664)
  • Celestron's HD Pro Wedge is designed to support our fork mounted Schmidt Cassegrain Telescopes up to 11"
  • The HD Pro Wedge provides a heavy duty, stable platform that is perfect for astroimaging and s minimal vibration
  • Country of Origin:China
  • Package weight:38.0 lb
No. 8
Sky-Watcher S20530 Star Adventurer Latitude (EQ) Base, Telescope Accessory, Black
  • Star Adventurer accessory
  • V-style dovetail plate
  • Micro-adjustment knobs
  • Latitude adjustment lock
SaleNo. 9
Vixen Astronomical Telescope Accessories Micro Handle Flexible Handle 300mm 8800-03
  • Length: 11.8 inches (30 cm)
  • Weight: 4.6 oz (133 g)
  • Compatible models: Porta, Porta II, Mini Porta
No. 11
iEXOS-100-2 PMC-Eight Equatorial Tracker System with WiFi and Bluetooth Compatible
  • Integrated Explore Scientific PMC-Eight system that transcends the industry standard single processor by utilizing eight CPUs that operate independently of one another to focus on defined functions, which results in superior responsiveness, efficiency, reliability and astoundingly fast timing intervals.
  • Clutched dual-axis worm gears with quiet precision stepper motor belt drives
  • Intuitive ExploreStars app, which is available for Apple, Android and Windows tablets, that makes it simple to operate the GOTO system. Through it, users can quickly align their telescope, navigate the stars and learn specifics about tens of thousands of celestial objects
  • Clutched RA and Declination axes are smooth and allow for precise balancing which makes the process of repositioning your telescope efficient
  • Polar alignment sight hole through the RA axis and precise altitude control for fast alignment without polar scope.
SaleNo. 12
Celestron 93648 Deluxe Off-Axis Guider (Black)
94 Consomer Reviews
Celestron 93648 Deluxe Off-Axis Guider (Black)
  • Most accurate way to guide – improved accuracy compared to using a separate guide scope
  • 12.5mm multi-coated prism with aluminized backing for maximum reflectivity and illumination to the autoguider
  • Fixed-orientation helical focuser for easy, smooth and accurate autoguider focus
  • 48mm clear aperture supports full frame cameras without vignetting
  • Includes adapters with the correct spacing for DSLR cameras, Nightscape CCD and other popular astroimaging cameras
  • Ideal for Schmidt- Cassegrain and EdgeHD telescopes
No. 13
Celestron Dovetail Bar CGE 8in - 94216,multicolor
  • Dovetail Bar Size: 8 inch
  • Compatible with: Celestron CGE, CGEM and CGX Pro Mounts.
No. 14
No. 15
Orion 53081 SteadyStar LF Adaptive Optics Guider
  • A larger format version of our advanced adaptive optics guiding device with a big 50mm diameter on-board optical window to support APS-C and larger 35mm format astrophotography camera sensors
  • Greatly enhances accuracy of autoguided astrophotography pursuits with high-speed refractive correction which eliminates tracking errors far more effectively than regular autoguiding, resulting in better astrophotos with rounder and more pinpoint stars
  • Broad compatibility - works with any Orion CCD astrophotography camera and most other imagers including DSLRs, and works with the Orion StarShoot AutoGuider as well as most other autoguiders
  • Fastest adaptive optics guider used for amateur astrophotography on the market today! Capable of making more than 40 corrections per second, depending on guide star brightness and computer speed
  • Included software is compatible with Windows XP, Vista 32 and 64-bit, and Windows 7 Operating Systems. Compatible with ASCOM cameras.
No. 16
Orion 51924 Mars Map and Observing Guide (Black)
  • An indispensable reference guide for observing the Red Planet
  • Identifies Martian features using classical albedo and modern nomenclature
  • Lists all opposition and conjunction events from 2014 to 2020
  • Recommends best filters for visual observation and astrophotography of Mars
  • Plastic-laminated for durability, the Mars Map measures 25.25 inches x 11 inches when fully unfolded, and folds up to 8.5 inches x 11 inches for easy portability
No. 17
iOptron Alt-Azimuth Adjustable Base
  • Alt-azimuth Adjustable Base - iOptron 1 Year Limited Warranty
  • All metal construction
  • Accept Vixen-type dovetail bar
  • Dual direction mounting
  • -30 Degree - 65 Degree in latitude adjustment
SaleNo. 18
Orion 52064 StarShoot AutoGuider
  • A refreshingly easy-to-use and affordable autoguider for accurate long-exposure astrophotography. Now Mac compatible with Intel-based Mac computers!
  • StarShoot AutoGuider keeps track of a selected guide star and communicates constantly with connected equatorial telescope mount to correct any tracking errors throughout long exposure astrophotography sessions
  • Uses a 1/2" format 1.3MP CMOS chip, with tiny 5.2 x 5.2 micron pixels for highly accurate autoguiding so your astrophotos feature pinpoint star images
  • Included software offers automatic calibration and autoguiding with a single mouse click
  • Compatible with Mac OS X, Windows XP, Vista, 7 and Windows 8 Operating Systems. Not compatible with Windows 10.
No. 19
Orion 120mm Guide Scope Rings with Dual-Width Clamps
  • Pair of aluminum ring and clamp assemblies provide a solid mounting system for guide scopes ranging from 65mm to 110mm in tube diameter.
  • Dual-width clamps allow attachment to both Vixen- and Losmandy-style dovetail plates for great versatility
  • The 120mm ID rings are each outfitted with three plastic-tipped, M6 non-marring screws for aiming the guide scope
  • Large, knurled aluminum knob on each clamp lets you slide the clamp as needed then lock it down securely, even with gloves on
  • Weight per set is 28.5 oz.
No. 20
Vixen Astronomical Telescope Accessories Telescope Attachment Polarier to Mini Porta Adapter 35512-9
  • Manufacturer Model Number: 35512-9
  • Size: 6.8 x 3.1 x 4.6 inches (172 x 78 x 118 mm) (excluding protruding part)
  • Mountable Stand: Mini Porta Altitude (Standard), Porta II Acidator (Porta Acidate), Skypad Altitude
  • Fixing screw: 1/4", knurling diameter 50mm
  • Weight Capacity: Nebula Head Polarier compliant (approx. 4.4 lbs (2 kg) or less)

How to choose a good telescope guiders and wedges

Does the idea of finding a fantastic telescope guiders and wedges make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!

Your presence here indicates that you are interested in telescope guiders and wedges. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top telescope guiders and wedges products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?

First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top telescope guiders and wedges on the market right now!

The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:

Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top telescope guiders and wedges brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.

Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top telescope guiders and wedges based on those.

Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.

Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.

Customer ratings:  Would it be accurate to suggest that the telescope guiders and wedges were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.

Customer Reviews: Like ratings,  provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.

Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good telescope guiders and wedges, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.

Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your telescope guiders and wedges.

Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting telescope guiders and wedges for months and years to come.

Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.

Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.

These are the standards by which we selected our telescope guiders and wedges. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.

Why should you believe us?

There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what telescope guiders and wedges should you purchase in 2022?

This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on telescope guiders and wedges.