---
product_id: 1147477
title: "Meade Instruments20218 NG-70SM 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope"
brand: "meade"
price: "€ 262.48"
currency: EUR
in_stock: false
reviews_count: 7
url: https://www.desertcart.de/products/1147477-meade-instruments20218-ng-70sm-70mm-altazimuth-refractor-telescope
store_origin: DE
region: Germany
---

# 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:** € 262.48
**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?** € 262.48 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Currently out of stock
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.de](https://www.desertcart.de/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

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.

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: Meade 20218 NG-70SM 70MM Altazimuth Refractor Telescope - 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.

## 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.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ As Advertised and a Good Beginners Telescope.
*by B***L on July 26, 2015*

First off you have to understand that that for the price you will not Stiener or Swarovski quality optics. This is a low cost unit but having said that the optics are really pretty good and on par with Bushnell and Nikon optics. A 70 mm optic is also going to limit your stargazing This not withstanding this telescope is an exceptional value and is a very good beginner telescope. The only real criticism I have is that it is difficult to stop the scope from jiggling if you touch it in any way. The tripod is quite sturdy and not the cause of the issue.the problem lies in the pan and tilt mechanism which cannot be tightened down adequately. It is nevertheless usable. The image is inverted and IMO not really suitable for earthbound viewing couple this with the narrow field of view and there are better instruments for distance viewing.

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*Product available on Desertcart Germany*
*Store origin: DE*
*Last updated: 2026-03-14*