---
product_id: 1147477
title: "Meade Instruments20218 NG-70SM 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope"
brand: "meade"
price: "€ 261.25"
currency: EUR
in_stock: false
reviews_count: 7
url: https://www.desertcart.es/products/1147477-meade-instruments20218-ng-70sm-70mm-altazimuth-refractor-telescope
store_origin: ES
region: Spain
---

# Slow motion controls for precise tracking 70mm aperture for crisp lunar & planetary views Altazimuth mount with red dot finder for easy targeting Meade Instruments20218 NG-70SM 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope

**Brand:** meade
**Price:** € 261.25
**Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock

## Summary

> 🌌 Unlock the universe—your gateway to the stars starts here!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Meade Instruments20218 NG-70SM 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope by meade
- **How much does it cost?** € 261.25 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Currently out of stock
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.es](https://www.desertcart.es/products/1147477-meade-instruments20218-ng-70sm-70mm-altazimuth-refractor-telescope)

## Best For

- meade enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted meade brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Pinpoint Precision:** Slow motion knobs on both axes let you track celestial objects smoothly without losing focus.
- • **Stargaze Like a Pro:** 70mm lens diameter reveals detailed lunar craters and Saturn’s rings with ease.
- • **Effortless Targeting:** Red dot projection viewfinder ensures you never miss a star or planet in your night sky adventures.
- • **Rock-Solid Stability:** Heavy-duty steel tube tripod provides a vibration-resistant platform for steady, shake-free viewing.
- • **Beginner-Friendly Setup:** Includes instructional DVD and easy assembly, perfect for first-time astronomers ready to explore the cosmos.

## Overview

The Meade Instruments 20218 NG-70SM is a 70mm aperture altazimuth refractor telescope designed for beginner astronomers and daytime observers alike. Featuring slow motion controls for precise tracking, a red dot viewfinder for easy object location, and a sturdy steel tripod for stable viewing, it delivers crisp images of the Moon, planets, and star clusters. The package includes two eyepieces, a star diagonal, and an instructional DVD, making it an accessible and affordable entry point into astronomy.

## Description

Product description Explore the world beyond our atmosphere with the Meade NG-70ST 70mm altazimuth refractor telescope. It features a 70mm lens diameter that lets you see detail on the moon, view the main division in the rings of Saturn, and observe brighter star clusters, double stars, nebulae and more. desertcart.com Meade 20218 NG-70SM 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope Meade's value priced NG-70SM Altazimuth Refractor is an affordable entry level telescope that features an easy to use Altazimuth mount with slow motion controls for precise tracking. The complete package includes a sturdy metal tripod, a red dot viewfinder, two 1.25 inch eyepieces and a star diagonal, and a software DVD with instructional video. The NG-70SM Refractor Telescope comes disassembled in a compact box, but the instructional DVD video guides you through all the steps required for assembly. Go ahead and try it out in the daytime, that's the best time to align the red-dot finder scope while looking at a distant tree or telephone pole.The optics of Meade's NG-70SM produce an image that is right side up but the diagonal mirror reverses the image left-to-right. That's no problem most of the time, but an optional correct image diagonal is available. The low power 25mm eyepiece produces a magnification 28X which is just right for spotting the Moon or the planets, while the 9mm eyepiece (78X magnification) can be used to zoom in for more detail. The MH25 eyepiece at 28X shows a lovely view of the Lunar disk in a dark sky, while the MH9 eyepiece at 78X shows literally hundreds of craters on the Moon and begins to show the rings of Saturn and the cloud bands of Jupiter. For even better views it's easy to add better eyepieces. My best view of Saturn, for example, came with an optional 6.4mm Super Plossl eyepiece, about 110X magnification.The Altazimuth mount included with Meade's NG-70SM is lighter and easier to use than an Equatorial mount, yet the slow motion knobs make it easy to keep objects in view. The rotation of the Earth causes the Moon or planets to appear to drift out of the eyepiece, but the slow motion knobs make it easy to keep the telescope on target, even with a high power eyepiece. The telescope is sensitive to vibration, however, so a high power eyepiece can be difficult to focus.Meade's NG-70SM is a good entry level telescope at a very good price. The optics are good, the Altazimuth mount is easy to assemble and easy to use, the instructional DVD includes a nice Lunar Atlas as well as planetarium software, and it's easy to add better eyepieces to improve your view of the planets. –Jeff PhillipsPros:Light and easy to use Altazimuth mount includes slow motion knobs Easy to add better eyepieces Instructional DVD included; Cons:MH eyepieces have narrow field of view Vibrates while focusing at high power

Review: Excellent value for the money. - What a great scope for only $60. I don't know how long this price will last, but if you are in the market for an excellent starter scope, I highly recommend the NG-70SM. The build quality is higher than expected. With a metal optical tube, a heavier than expected mount, and a decent metal tripod. Overall weight of this scope is light enough to easily be your go-to stargazing device. The eyepieces aren't something to sing about, but they are decent for a scope at this price point. I suspect I will be ordering some plossl ep's in the near future, and a 2x barlow lens. The focus and slow motion knobs are plastic. On the Focus, it feels great actually. But the slow motion knobs leave something to be desired. They are somewhat twitchy, and I think the plastic has something to do with that. Pros: Metal optical tube Nice optical lens Sturdy mount and Tripod Crisp views out of the box Neutral: Semi decent eye pieces. Not bad, but not great. Cons: Plastic tray does not fold well with tripod. slow motion controls can be a little twitchy, but there is a way to adjust the tension. slow motion controls can be hard to reach, but a little muscle memory and practice makes them easier to grab while looking through the EP.
Review: Great beginner telescope! - Bought this telescope for my son's 10th birthday. Price was excellent. Assembly was very easy. Brought a lot of initial excitement from my son and his younger siblings. Unfortunately, the red-dot viewfinder on / off switch is flimsy and broke after a couple of uses. I haven't contacted the manufacturer, yet, but have heard they are great to work with. With some practice, could view craters on the moon very well. Was even able to see stripes on Jupiter and recognize four of its moons. Son's initial excitement didn't last long, but he's enjoyed looking through it, and learned how to adjust it to find what he was looking for. Would definitely recommend this telescope as a first telescope for the young (or young-at-heart) beginning astronomer.

## Features

- Refracting Telescope Perfect For Land Or Sky Viewing
- slow Motion Controls On Both Axes
- find & Track Objects With Precision Controls
- Includes A Red Dot Projection Viewfinder
- heavy-Duty Steel Tube Tripod Provides A Rock Solid Platform

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B001WMC9K4 |
| Customer Reviews | 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars (114) |
| Date First Available | January 24, 2004 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 9.8 pounds |
| Item model number | 20218 |
| Manufacturer | Meade |
| Product Dimensions | 29 x 11.8 x 5 inches |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** MEADE
- **Compatible Devices:** Tripod, Camera
- **Exit Pupil:** 3.5 Millimeters
- **Eye Piece Lens Description:** Standard
- **Finderscope:** Reflex
- **Focus Type:** Manual Focus
- **Item Weight:** 9.8 Pounds
- **Model Name:** 20218
- **Objective Lens Diameter:** 70 Millimeters
- **Telescope Mount Description:** Altazimuth Mount

## Images

![Meade Instruments20218 NG-70SM 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/614xLQfSLTL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent value for the money.
*by J***R on August 30, 2011*

What a great scope for only $60. I don't know how long this price will last, but if you are in the market for an excellent starter scope, I highly recommend the NG-70SM. The build quality is higher than expected. With a metal optical tube, a heavier than expected mount, and a decent metal tripod. Overall weight of this scope is light enough to easily be your go-to stargazing device. The eyepieces aren't something to sing about, but they are decent for a scope at this price point. I suspect I will be ordering some plossl ep's in the near future, and a 2x barlow lens. The focus and slow motion knobs are plastic. On the Focus, it feels great actually. But the slow motion knobs leave something to be desired. They are somewhat twitchy, and I think the plastic has something to do with that. Pros: Metal optical tube Nice optical lens Sturdy mount and Tripod Crisp views out of the box Neutral: Semi decent eye pieces. Not bad, but not great. Cons: Plastic tray does not fold well with tripod. slow motion controls can be a little twitchy, but there is a way to adjust the tension. slow motion controls can be hard to reach, but a little muscle memory and practice makes them easier to grab while looking through the EP.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great beginner telescope!
*by A***1 on November 9, 2011*

Bought this telescope for my son's 10th birthday. Price was excellent. Assembly was very easy. Brought a lot of initial excitement from my son and his younger siblings. Unfortunately, the red-dot viewfinder on / off switch is flimsy and broke after a couple of uses. I haven't contacted the manufacturer, yet, but have heard they are great to work with. With some practice, could view craters on the moon very well. Was even able to see stripes on Jupiter and recognize four of its moons. Son's initial excitement didn't last long, but he's enjoyed looking through it, and learned how to adjust it to find what he was looking for. Would definitely recommend this telescope as a first telescope for the young (or young-at-heart) beginning astronomer.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Meade 20218 NG-70SM 70MM Altazimuth Refractor Telescope
*by L***Z on June 16, 2011*

The Meade 20218 NG-70SM 70MM Altazimuth Refractor Telescope is a telescope for beginners and this is why I bought it. First for me to learn how to use a telescope and then how to apply it for sky watching, that would be learning the basic in astromony, reading basic star charts, learning the basic vocabulary of star gazing etc.. Second it is for my grand son who is five years old. The Scope was very easy to assemble (there was a delay explained below). For the money it is a very good looking telescope. The stand or tri-pod is sturdy. Controlling the motion of up and down and side to side is easy, but does take some practice. Using the view finder is straight forward. Once assembled it was easy to point it at the moon and view it, first time for me, up close. I have only used the least powerful lens and it was amazing. My grand son took a look and he said it was a planet. I am sure he is still digesting the information gotten from using the telescope. The telescope came with an instructional dvd, and other basic software on it, a Autostar Suite, and a Moon chart. I found it very useful, for instance it showed me how to install the view finder and calibrate it. The one item that delayed me in using the scope was the view finder that came with the on and off switch broken, I called the Meade service number and it was replaced within the week, really about three days. The Meade serive desk was Very professional and helpful.

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*Product available on Desertcart Spain*
*Store origin: ES*
*Last updated: 2026-01-23*