I'm bored, so I'm gonna write up a post comparing the FirstScope's variants and its clones. This is all theoretical, as I've only owned one of the FirstScope variants. I don't care if no one wanted to see this, but sometimes I like to write big pointless lists so here it is.

All telescopes are tabletop dobsonian type newtonians with a 76/300 (3", F/4) spherical primary, a rack-and-pinion focuser, and a price point under 100 dollars.

The main differences are the livery/paint scheme, the focuser/finder positions, and the accessories. The latter two make a big difference. I feel I should explain the classification for focuser and finder positions. When you point the telescope at the horizon, the "top" position is the highest position on the optical tube.

* A Top position is unfavorable for an eyepiece in my experience for a few reasons. When pointed low in the sky, you must bend over the telescope to look through the top, and there are very few cases where this is a comfortable position, and sometimes this viewing angle is *impossible.* When pointed high in the sky, the eyepiece is pointed straight sideways, which is easy to view from a seated position but uncomfortable from a standing position. For finderscopes, this is a good position.
* A Side position is good in most cases for an eyepiece from a seated position, especially with a small scope where there's not much difference in height. However, from a standing position, when the telescope is at a table, it requires an uncomfortable contortion to view. This is only a good position for finderscopes when pointing low in the sky, or if you're comfortable kneeling on the ground.
* An Angled position is an ideal middle-ground, comfortable from most viewing positions, whether seated or standing. It's also a decent finderscope position, but then the eyepiece can't go there.

Some of the FirstScope models available have very cheap Huygens and Ramsden eyepieces. Avoid those at all costs unless you literally can not afford another option. Celestron makes several versions of the FirstScope with 20mm and 10mm Kellners, which does mean you'll miss out on the higher magnification provided by the 4mm Symmetrical-Ramsden. In my experience the SR4 does beat out the Kellner 10 for splitting some double stars, but mostly the SR4 is a piece of crap.

**"Default" FirstScope** (International Year of Astronomy version)

The "one that started it all," sold starting in 2009, hence the IYA livery.

* Price: $49.99
* Livery: Black tube with names of astronomers spiraling around the tube in white text, plain white mount.
* Tube is oversized. This might result in better contrast.
* Focuser Position: Top
* Finder Position: Side
* Accessories:
   * No Finder.
   * H20mm Huygens Eyepiece. 1/5 might as well be a beer bottle.
   * SR4mm Symmetrical Ramsden Eyepiece: 3/5 blurry but not distorted.

**"Moon by Robert Reeves" FirstScope** ("Signature Series")

This is the FirstScope version that I actually own.

* Price: $54.95 (As of writing it is on sale at Amazon for $44.90)
* Livery: Black tube and mount with a large photo of the Moon wrapped around the tube, with major features numbered, those numbered features are named in text on the base.
* Tube is oversized, identical to International Year of Astronomy version. This might result in better contrast. The 75mm solar filter cap I ordered didn't end up fitting, as it was slightly larger than the 92mm maximum outer diameter. I sent it back.
* Focuser Position: Angled
* Finder Position: Top
* Accessories:
   * No Finder.
   * H20mm Huygens Eyepiece. 1/5 might as well be a beer bottle.
   * SR4mm Symmetrical Ramsden Eyepiece: 3/5 blurry but not distorted.
   * Starry Night software digital download code; link to a moderately entertaining pdf e-booklet about Moon observing by amateur astronomer Robert Reeves (which is not relevant, given the magnifications shown are unattainable by the FirstScope)

**"Cometron" FirstScope**

A version of the FirstScope sold under the pretense of using it to spot bright comets. I wish I'd have looked at NEOWISE through my FirstScope to test the validity of this.

* Price: $59.95 (As of writing it is on sale at Amazon for $43.93)
* Livery: White tube with black accents, black focuser, and a plain black mount. "Cometron" is written on the side in black.
* Tube is the same size as the other Celestron FirstScope OTAs. For a while I thought this version's OTA was smaller, but it seems to have been an illusion.
* Focuser Position: Angled
* Finder Position: Top
* Accessories:
   * 5x20 Finderscope. Allegedly quite dim and not super useful, but better than sighting along the tube.
   * 20mm Kellner eyepiece.
   * 10mm Kellner eyepiece.

**"COSMOS" FirstScope**

No longer being sold by Celestron. Probably the best looking of the lot of these.

* Price: $69.95
* Livery: Black tube with black mount. "Eyeball" Planetary Nebula graphic printed along the telescope tube going from blue to white to yellow to red, matching the appearance of the logo for the COSMOS tv series (the NDgT one, not the Sagan one). C O S M O S is printed on the side in white.
* Tube size is identical to the IYA and Moon versions.
* Focuser Position: Angled
* Finder Position: Top
* Accessories:
   * From what I can tell there's two variants of this scope's accessories. In some pictures, the scope is shown with an H20mm eyepiece, and presumably also includes the SR4. But the only pics and accessory lists I can find showing the whole accessory kit, I see two kellners. I'll go by the latter.
   * Red Dot Finder
   * 20mm Kellner Eyepiece with eye cup.
   * 10mm Kellner Eyepiece.
   * Cosmic Calendar poster (a reference to the COSMOS tv show)
   * "a free planetarium app for your phone" (I assume Starry Night but it does not actually say.)
   * There's a CD/DVD included but I can't figure out what's ON it, given that smartphone apps are not distributed on disks.

**National Park FirstScope 76**

Presumably made to be sold in National Parks giftshops? Wait... I've never been to a national park... *are there gift shops?* Ok, a quick google tells me there are.

* Price: $59.99
* Livery: Blue starry sky wrap with rocky landscape towards the bottom. Black mount.
* Tube size is identical to IYA, Moon, and COSMOS FirstScopes.
* Focuser Position: Angled
* Finder Position: Top
* Accessories:
   * No Finder.
   * 20mm Kellner Eyepiece.
   * 10mm Kellner Eyepiece.
   * Free download for National Parks Guidebook.
   * Free download for SkyPortal planetarium app.