A guide for the stars.

The Celestron CPC 800 GPS is a bulky but versatile 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain with strong optical performance, accurate GoTo tracking, and broad capability for visual observing plus planetary imaging.

The Celestron CPC 925 GPS is a versatile 9.25-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain with strong optics, accurate GoTo tracking, and easy setup, but it is heavy, expensive, and not the most portable or imaging-friendly option in its class.

Zhumell Z12 is a bit too much in every way, but in a good way. It is a brutally capable 12-inch Dobsonian with massive light-gathering power, strong included hardware, and a serious portability tradeoff.

Meade’s ETX 125 finally fixes the plastic motors and flimsy tripod of the cheaper ETX line, but the upgrades drive the price beyond what most observers should pay for a compact planetary scope.