Other Sellers on Amazon
88% positive over last 12 months
- 3 VIDEOS
Image Unavailable
Color:
-
-
-
- To view this video download Flash Player
Celestron - NexStar 127SLT Computerized Telescope - Compact and Portable - Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical Design - SkyAlign Technology - Computerized Hand Control - 127mm Aperture
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Celestron |
Optical Tube Length | 27 Inches |
Eye Piece Lens Description | Plossl |
Objective Lens Diameter | 127 Millimeters |
Telescope Mount Description | Altazimuth Mount |
Product Dimensions | 15"D x 38"W x 54"H |
Focus Type | Manual Focus |
Power Source | Battery Powered |
Finderscope | Reflex |
Item Weight | 18.1 Pounds |
About this item
- COMPUTERIZED STAR LOCATING TELESCOPE: The Celestron NexStar 127SLT offers a database of more than 40,000 stars, galaxies, nebulae, and more. Simply choose an object and the telescope finds it for you in the night sky and tracks it as it moves.
- MAKSUTOV-CASSEGRAIN OPTICAL DESIGN: With a large, 127mm aperture, the NexStar 127SLT can gather enough light to see our Solar System and beyond. View Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s cloud bands, the Moon's craters, and the Orion Nebula in brilliant detail.
- COMPACT AND PORTABLE: The ideal telescope for adults and kids to use together, the NexStar 127SLT is compact, lightweight, and portable. It's easy to transport just about anywhere—your favorite campsite, a dark sky observing site, or simply the backyard.
- FAST SETUP WITH SKYALIGN: Celestron’s proprietary SkyAlign procedure has you ready to observe in minutes. Center any 3 bright objects in the eyepiece and the NexStar SLT aligns to the night sky, ready to locate thousands of objects.
- UNBEATABLE WARRANTY & SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from Celestron, a leading telescope brand in California since 1960. Your purchase includes a 2-Year US Warranty and unlimited support from our team of US-based experts.
- BONUS FREE STARRY NIGHT SOFTWARE: Your Celestron NexStar 130SLT includes a free download of Starry Night Special Edition, one of the top-rated astronomy software programs. Simulate the sky, learn about celestial objects, & plan your observing session.
Frequently bought together
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
- Celestron - 114LCM Computerized Newtonian Telescope - Telescopes for Beginners - 2 Eyepieces - Full-Height Tripod - Motorized Altazimuth Mount - Large 114mm Newtonian ReflectorAmazon's Choicein Telescope ReflectorsFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Monday, Apr 1
- Celestron - NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope - Compact and Portable - Newtonian Reflector Optical Design - SkyAlign Technology - Computerized Hand Control - 130mm ApertureFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Monday, Apr 1
- Celestron - AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian Telescope - Reflector Telescope for Beginners - Fully-Coated Glass Optics - Adjustable-Height Tripod - Bonus Astronomy Software PackageFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Monday, Apr 1
- Celestron - NexStar 90SLT Computerized Telescope - Compact and Portable - Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical Design - SkyAlign Technology - Computerized Hand Control - 90mm ApertureFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Monday, Apr 1
Important information
Legal Disclaimer
No warranty
Videos
Videos for this product
0:37
Click to play video
Customer Review: Waste of time and money.
Online Shopper
Videos for this product
0:45
Click to play video
Review of Celestron 127SLT Computerized Telescope
The Kuhlmanns
Videos for this product
1:54
Click to play video
Celestron NexStar SLT Telescopes
Merchant Video
Compare with similar items
This Item Celestron - NexStar 127SLT Computerized Telescope - Compact and Portable - Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical Design - SkyAlign Technology - Computerized Hand Control - 127mm Aperture | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | |
Price | -24% $531.34$531.34 List: $699.95 | -18% $440.72$440.72 List: $539.95 | -6% $599.95$599.95 List: $639.95 | -34% $144.99$144.99 List: $219.95 | $44.40$44.40 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | — |
Customer Ratings | |||||
Easy to assemble | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 3.5 | — |
Portability | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 2.9 | — |
Easy to use | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.3 | — | 4.7 |
For beginners | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.1 | — |
Stability | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.8 | — | — |
Sold By | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
focus type | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus |
eye piece lens | Plossl | Plossl | Plossl | Barlow | Barlow |
objective lens diameter | 127 millimeters | 90 millimeters | 130 millimeters | 127 millimeters | 25 millimeters |
aperture diameter | 127 millimeters millimeters | 90 millimeters millimeters | 130 millimeters millimeters | — | — |
telescope mount | Altazimuth Mount | Altazimuth Mount | Altazimuth Mount | Equatorial Mount | — |
lens coating | — | — | — | Fully Coated | Fully Multi-Coated |
What's in the box
Looking for specific info?
Product information
Product Dimensions | 40 x 19 x 11 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 18.1 pounds |
ASIN | B0038LX8XE |
Item model number | 22097 |
Batteries | 1 Lithium Metal batteries required. |
Customer Reviews |
4.3 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #239 in Camera & Photo Products (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo Products) #8 in Telescope Reflectors |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | June 17, 2003 |
Manufacturer | Celestron |
Country of Origin | China |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Product Description
Building on the popularity of our NexStar 114SLT telescope, the 127SLT by Celestron inspires us to go bigger, with 20% more light-gathering power than our 114mm telescope. The Celestron NexStar 127SLT is a computerized telescope that offers a database of more than 40,000 stars, galaxies, nebulae, and more. The telescope locates your object with pinpoint accuracy and tracks it. At the heart of the telescope’s Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design, a large 127mm primary mirror gives fully color-corrected views ideal for astronomical use. The 127SLT comes with a fully computerized NexStar+ hand control. The computerized hand control gives you the ability to automatically slew to any object.
This telescope for adults and kids to be used together is ideal for weekend camping trips or excursions to dark sky sites. Its compact form factor makes it easy to transport and assemble just about anywhere. With its pre-assembled, adjustable steel tripod, the NexStar 127SLT can be up and ready to use in a matter of minutes. Our SkyAlign alignment technology and the included StarPointer Finderscope with a red LED make aligning a breeze. Simply center any three bright objects in the eyepiece and the NexStar SLT aligns to the night sky, ready to locate thousands of objects. The NexStar 127SLT Computerized GoTo Telescope also includes a download of our Starry Night Special Edition astronomy software for an interactive sky simulation.
The power of this computerized telescope allows you to view the details of the lunar surface, the rings of Saturn, the polar ice caps on Mars, the cloud belts on Jupiter, and a number of the Messier objects, such as the globular cluster in Hercules (M13) or the Great Nebula in Orion (M42). Explore some of the fainter Messier objects using the additional light-gathering capabilities of the 127SLT’s five-inch primary mirror.
Buy with confidence from the world’s #1 telescope brand, based in California since 1960.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like how easy it is to set up and use the telescope. They say it is a great product that produces clear and sharp images. They are also satisfied with the value of the telescope, but some customers have reported issues with the alignment process. Customers have mixed opinions on quality, performance, tracking, and focus.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the setup of the telescope to be easy and quick. They mention that it's a great product and fun right from the start. Some say that the assembly went well. Overall, most are satisfied with the ease of setup and use of the product.
"...There are cheaper telescopes out there, but for ease of use, I just can't think of a better alternative than this 127 SLT NexStar+ system...." Read more
".../intermediate or advanced grab and go scope providing crisp images, ease of use and many desirable software capabilities. I recommend it...." Read more
"...90 SLT pros: features to price ratio, easy connection for DSLR/Mirrorless with a T-Ring adapter90 SLT cons: Sky-Align proving fussy..." Read more
"...easy to do, and after only a couple of observing sessions, is completely intuitive. The goto finding feature is also very accurate...." Read more
Customers like the image quality of the telescope. They mention that it provides a very clear view, even with light pollution. The optics are good and clear, and everything appears to be built well for this. The scope can give you some great views of the night sky, the moon, and planets. Some say that the alignment is a little difficult.
"...The Mak gives a better image across the field of view, without the coma of a Newtonian...." Read more
"...excellent beginner/intermediate or advanced grab and go scope providing crisp images, ease of use and many desirable software capabilities...." Read more
"...Now for the optics. They are beautiful. The scope puts up great sharp images. You feel like you're orbiting the moon...." Read more
"...But overall, I am not happy with the optical performance and the software issues." Read more
Customers like the value of the telescope. They mention that it has a great features to price ratio, and is a good telescope for performance and price. Some say that the optical tube assembly is already worth the money.
"...The clothes pin is cheap and easy. Good buy for the price." Read more
"...90 SLT pros: features to price ratio, easy connection for DSLR/Mirrorless with a T-Ring adapter90 SLT cons: Sky-Align proving fussy..." Read more
"...All in all a very good scope for the money. The focal length is long which means a more powerful scope, but the field of view is smaller...." Read more
"...go to and tracking performance of this mount is actually, impressive for the price range...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the telescope. Some mention it's a very nice telescope, has excellent optics, and is the best buy for such a nice telescope. However, others say that the tripod is a bit flimsy, wobbly, and the batteries will only last one night.
"...Once focus is acheived though, and the scope settles down, the views are great...." Read more
"...Other than that. No issues. The batteries are actually holding up better than expected. The tripod has been acceptable and doesn’t bother me at all...." Read more
"In my opinion, this is an excellent beginner/intermediate or advanced grab and go scope providing crisp images, ease of use and many desirable..." Read more
"...I have heard that the batteries will only last one night, so getting rechargeable batteries would be the best best over regular batteries...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the telescope. Some mention that it works fairly well, while others say that it doesn't work very well. The finder function and the go to function are not always accurate enough to put your target inside the field of view.
"...This one works very well and tracks well. It’s not perfectly accurate at alignment but I haven’t tried to do the 3 star alignment either...." Read more
"...Puts 'No response' error on the handset. I spent an entire evening winnowing through the 'help' files on the Celestron site...." Read more
"...The filters help.So far everything works beautifully. My only two complaints are not vital but more nuisance..." Read more
"...things - it becomes very difficult to move the scope, and the goto function was shot - it was not finding objects any more...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the tracking of the telescope. Some mention that it tracks very well, and the tracking function makes it a joy to use. However, others say that setting up the auto tracking was a little difficult, and that the GPS can take some time to sync. They also mention that the tracking will drift a bit and that calibration takes forever.
"...This one works very well and tracks well. It’s not perfectly accurate at alignment but I haven’t tried to do the 3 star alignment either...." Read more
"...-that the GPS can take some time to synch -- be patient, I was not and had some self inflicted difficulties the first time I used the Mak...." Read more
"...right over to another star, back around, etc and it's still tracking very well. I upped it to 5 stars because it really can't get any better...." Read more
"...Maksutov cons: not as "fast" and limited deep sky compared to refractors, long cooldown time..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the focus of the telescope. Some mention that the bands of Jupiter and the Galilean moons are pretty bright, and the views of the moon and sunspots are very distinguishable. They also say that the telescope can find and see the moon, but just barely. They can easily see the phases of Venus, detailed items on the moon. However, others say that it jitters so badly it's nearly impossible to focus, and that the focus is touchy and vibrates even with a touch.
"...It's a bit tricky to focus, as the image will easily show any motion from the focuser knob, but this is mainly a mount limitation...." Read more
"...You get stunning views of the moon and sunspots are very distinguishable with this scope...." Read more
"...The tripod has been acceptable and doesn’t bother me at all. The focus is touchy but there are hacks for the shaking...." Read more
"...BE SURE TO GET THE MOON FILTERS! Even with the filter, the moon was super bright!" Read more
Customers find the alignment of the telescope to be difficult. They mention that the auto-align feature doesn't work, the finder scope is a nightmare to align, and the mount does not align or track well. Some customers also mention that sky-aligne is fussy and stops working at first.
"...This one works very well and tracks well. It’s not perfectly accurate at alignment but I haven’t tried to do the 3 star alignment either...." Read more
"...90 SLT cons: Sky-Align proving fussyI tried 3-star alignment on two occasions. Once from a Bortle 4 and once from a Bortle 3...." Read more
"...The NexStar program and alignment are easy to use and provide a better that ballpark result when going to an object...." Read more
"...it doesn't magnify the image, so the accuracy in alignment is limited, 2)..." Read more
Reviews with images
-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
The compact tube size makes it much easier to handle and transport than longer telescopes. Being a closed tube design also means it more easily keeps dust and other debris out of telescope tube. As long as one uses the tube cover on the front, and eyepiece holder plug in the back when not in use, the telescope optics will require cleaning much less often than a typical Newtonian system. The closed tube also means no thermal tube currents to distort the image.
The 127 millimeter diameter aperature equates to about 5 inches in size. While this is considered small in today's era of large Dobsonian monsters, the telescope system fits in my car, and is light enough that I can take it outside easily. I get more use out of this scope than my older larger Newtonian, mainly because this instrument is just so much easier to handle. The aperature size is quite sufficient to get good views of solar system objects. It's a bit tricky to focus, as the image will easily show any motion from the focuser knob, but this is mainly a mount limitation. Once focus is acheived though, and the scope settles down, the views are great. I've used the 127 SLT with a Celestron NexImage 5 camera, and FireCapture camera software, to get great images of Jupiter's moon eclipsing the disk, Saturn's ring system, lunar craters, and solar sunspot groups (with an appropriate glass solar filter mounted on the front). Using the camera is ideal with this telescope, as it makes it a 'hands-off' system.
The other great feature is the fully computerized "Goto" capability of this telescope. Once the computer system is initialized, it is able to point the telescope to any object in the sky. (Yes, one can even enter arbitrary Right Ascension/Declination coordinates to point the telescope at.) The SLT came with the NexStar+ Hand Controller, which contains the object databases, and interfaces with the user via a red backlit LCD and a red lit keypad. The hand controller I got was not the absolute latest hardware variation, which has a USB port on it, so as to allow updating the firmware in the system via a PC. Instead, I received a slightly older version (2014) that still had the RJ45 phone jack interface providing an RS232 serial connection. (Older stock in the warehouse still?) This required a USB-to-RS232 converter to connect to my laptop to update the internal flash. While the internal motor controller was at the latest firmware revision, the hand controller firmware did need updating. The Celestron Firmware Manager, available onine at their web site, did the upgrade flawlessly.
The one armed fork system that connects the tripod mount to the telescope tube contains the motor control system for the alititude and azmimuth DC motors, as well as monitors their optical encoders to keep track of position. This motor controller communicates to the hand controller via a coiled cable. There is a plastic holder on one of the tripod legs made for holding the hand controller when it is not needed.
The weakest link in this system has to be the 'wobbliness' of the mount. With the legs fully extended, and the tripod standing on a cement patio, every gust of wind and and hand touch is transferred to the image view. It makes it quite difficult to focus well. However a few simple tricks can be used to lessen the effect. First, don't extend the tripod legs fully. The shorter the tripod legs, the shorter the time it takes to dampen out vibrations, and the sturdier the mount becomes. Second, adding a weight to the tripod helps provide more mass, and lowers the natural vibration frequency. I've seen a picture of one user placing a small sandbag on the central tripod tray to add stability. Third, place the tripod on dirt or sand. A cement patio is not the best foundation for the tripod legs. I have gotten much less image movement by pushing the tripod legs into the dirt in the lawn. Of course, Celestron does sell vibration dampening pads to help with this issue, but they are quite pricey according to my wallet.
Now if you want to get a beefier mount, go ahead and spend another grand. Celestron has bigger mounts that are better. You get what you pay for. Just be prepared to lift that heavier mount. I'll stick with this lighter variation, and save my back. I can work around its limitations.
Oh, and the eyepieces that come with the telescope are probably not the ones you will want for regular use. I already have a nice set of Plossl's that I obtained years ago. I recommend doing your homework and get the eyepieces separately. My lowest power eyepiece is a 40 mm, and I like the views it gives me in the 127 Mak.
One bit of information you will also find useful relates to initializing the NexStar control system. The designers did what they could to make setup as easy as possible, within the budget they had. (I've also bought the SkySync GPS accessory to help make setup easier. However their StarSense AutoAlign product is the ultimate alignment tool, and costs nearly as much as the telesope itself!) Anyway, the more care you take in initialization, the more accurate the NexStar will be in finding objects. I know this, not just from using the NexStar+ system, but from building my own telescope controllers over the years from the wire-wrapped IC sockets on up, and testing them under the night sky. Small errors in alighment will add up. So, if you want the most accurate pointing, follow these tips that are NOT in the manual:
1. Level the tripod as accurately as possible. You must do this FIRST. Every alighment option, with possibly the exception of the two-star alignments, requires a level tripod to work correctly. That's why the tripod includes its own little level, and the instructions do mention that you need to level the mount. I don't trust that little built in thing though. I use a six inch level that I place on top of the tripod, before I put the one-armed fork there. My level is placed in line with each leg in turn, and that leg adjusted until level, before moving onto the next leg. If you have some OCD like me, go around and do it again, just to be sure. Once the tripod is level, then the rest of the mount and telescope can be put together.
2. Enter in Latitude, Longitude, Date, and Time, as accurately as possible. If you have a smart phone, get a GPS app and use it. I eventually got the Celestron SkySync accessory to do this part for me. (However, you still need to double check and make sure the Time Zone and Daylight Savings settings are correct with the SkySync. The instructons don't tell you that.)
3. Use a lighted Reticle Eyepiece to center your alignment stars/planets. Don't use the Sun or Moon if you have an option, as it's very difficult to know where the exact center of those objects are in the eyepiece. A double crosshairs reticle eyepiece lit with a variably dimmed LED works great for this.
4. Keep your chosen alignment objects far apart, and at least 20 degrees above the horizon. I don't know how well the NexStar+ handles refraction corrections, but to do it right requires both temperature and pressure/elevation data. Nexstar doesn't ask for these values, and I doubt the system includes the sensors to measure the quantities directly.
One final recomendation: Get an alternate power source to suppliment the eight AA batteries that need to be placed in the half fork arm mount. You still need the AA batteries, as I discovered when I attempted to get by with just a PowerTank attached. Any glitch in the power cord connection to the mount will reset the Nexstar controller, and you will find yourself staring at the intialization prompt again. So, keep the AA batteries. Just suppliment them with either an AC adapter or PowerTank gel cell battery. Otherwise the AA batteries used alone will go dead within that observing session. (I've heard they will drain in as little as 30 minutes. I didn't push it to prove that.) I recommend the PowerTank battery accessory, since you can't always guarantee that an AC power source will be reachable from where you place the telescope. For me, I'm always tripping over cords in the dark. So any long power cord to an outlet that I can get rid of, I will. I place my PowerTank directly below the tripod tray on the SLT tripod mount. That keeps the power cable to the mount away from my toes.
There are cheaper telescopes out there, but for ease of use, I just can't think of a better alternative than this 127 SLT NexStar+ system.
At least I'm out with it regularly, and have been for over six months now. My old Newtonian never saw this much usage.
My training is in the physical sciences but not specializing in Astronomy or Astrophysics. I have always had interest in the stars from childhood and from having been a navigator in a destroyer during my naval service where I used them to navigate by. Several years ago when I retired I purchased two 1960s vintage equatorial mount 60mm refractors at garage sales and I have been using them while I did some research and reading to decide on the best next telescope to purchase.
I decided on a Maksutov-Cassegrain due its reputation for crisp, clear images and on Celestron NexStar for its quality reputation and the features of its GoTo/tracking software program. The deciding factor was that it was on sale at a large discount. I did consider Meade and Orion scopes before deciding on this particular Mak.
This year (2013) I took some of my tax refund dollars and purchased the Celestron NexStar 127 SLT Mak and also purchased some of what I consider to be essential accessories.
The purchase price of the tube and mount are only part of the price for a complete capable system. Beyond the sock items provided in the initial package, you will need lenses, filters, adapters, etc to fully exploit the capabilities of the mount, software and optics. In other words, to see the most, coolest stuff. By the time I have purchased all of the essential accessories to do this, they will cost almost as much as the telescope itself.
I have used the telescope every clear night for the last several weeks and I am very pleased. The NexStar program and alignment are easy to use and provide a better that ballpark result when going to an object. I did purchase the GPS unit, the Celestron accessory kit with additional lenses and filters, the house current and car battery power adapter chords, the USB interface cord, and the light pollution and oxygen filters. I live in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale so light pollution is a factor. The filters help.
So far everything works beautifully. My only two complaints are not vital but more nuisance
-that the GPS can take some time to synch -- be patient, I was not and had some self inflicted difficulties the first time I used the Mak.
-the tripod can be a little wobbly.
I will eventually get a heavier tripod, the GPS is what it is. I will try adding some five or ten pound weights to the tripod to see if that stabilizes it sufficiently.
I am not done with accessories.
Next on my list is a hard case for the tube and a canvass bag for the tripod and accessories so I can safely carry the system to the dark sky sites and star parties. I do want to try some web cam photography of solar system objects so a webcam purchase is in the future. Further down the road, I will get a digital camera adapter, a collimation lens and some higher quality viewing lenses and perhaps a dielectric diagonal.
Though I want to eventually get a large GoTo Dobsonian and I always lust after a nice, large Apochromatic telescope with a solid EQ mount for astrophotography,for now I am very happy with my NexStar 127 SLT Mak.
I will update as I do new things with the Mak or as I learn new things that may be of interest to buyers.
May your skies be clear and dark.
Iñigo de Oña
Nome de plume
Top reviews from other countries
WARNING 1: this might be a begining of an expensive hobby! You will likely want accessories, filters, eyepieces, and maybe larger aperture for deep sky. Search for what you can see with a telescope (especially if you're interested in Nebulae/galaxies) if it's you first one to manage expectations.
WARNING 2: you won't see details and colours you see in pictures online including mine (except maybe for Moon). Cameras are far more sensitive and have longer exposures than our eyes. Search Orion Nebula or M81 through a 5, 8, 10 inch telescope for example to have an idea and compare with pictures.
Overall, I'm very happy with the telescope, optics seem quite good without noticeable chromatic aberrations, tracking is OK with options to fine-tune during use.
After using this, I'm curious to try something with a larger aperture to see more details in deep sky, but it doesn't mean I'm enjoying this telescope any less. For me it hits a good balance of power, ease of use, and portability. Though 8-inch aperture ones would probably last you much longer if you're going to get into the hobby more seriously, those are much more expensive and heavy.
You are paying a premium for goto functionality and compact design compared to some other 5-inch options, but I found goto to be very helpful especially at first.
This vs a Dobsonian:
Observing with a tripod is so much easier especially when what you're looking at is low. Optical tube is much more compact compared to Dob of comparable aperture and f-ratio, but later would probably be cheaper. As far as I can tell, a typical Newtonian reflector would be far less tolerant to collimation issues than this design. Learning with this is certainly easier.
If it's your first telescope - be prepared you won't see the colours and details you see in pictures online. Those are captured with cameras with longer exposures and higher sensitivity than human eyes and are heavily processed. This being said, I got this picture of Orion Nebula with an old unmodified DSLR through this telescope in a single exposure, no stacking or additional hardware.
What can you see?
Moon - amazing! Very bright, very sharp clear small details, no weird colours.
Planets - they appear about small pea-sized, rings of Saturn are clearly visible, as well as bands of Jupiter (in colour). You can get them bigger with additional eyepieces or Barlow lenses, but with ones I got (admittedly not the highest quality) I couldn't see more details - same thing just bigger and a little blurrier.
Deep sky objects - probably the coolest thing to photograph, but visually seeing it for the first time it's amazing how dim those are in general. I could see Orion Nebula and some other DSOs. In Orion Nebula I could see general shape, but no colour when observing from Peak District. You can probably see more from a darker site, but I haven't tested it. Overall the aperture is considered small for visual DSO observation, but I could see something.
Moon, snow, atmospheric conditions (e.g. turbulent air) will all affect your observation. Relative positions of earth to other planet also affects the details you see.
Mount, focuser etc:
I've read complaints about the mount not being sturdy enough online. It's definitely more shaky than a heavy Dobsonian, but for me it's perfectly useable. You do need to wait a couple seconds after adjusting focus for it to get stable, but you absolutely can get clear view and pictures after that.
GoTo depends on how good your alignment is and has couple clever features - there is a "precision goto" option in the menu where it first navigates to nearby easy to see object for you to correct error and then it goes to actual target.
Mount doesn't fold flat with optical tube as SE model does.
The tripod is a bit bigger than a typical photo tripod when folded.
If you're thinking of getting this and using mount for later optical tube upgrades, search for mount limits - you probably won't put much more onto it. I've read online people ignoring limits and putting 6se and even 8se on it, but it will be even shakier and I have no idea how long it will last if you did it and I doubt warranty will cover it.
You need to align red dot finder and the telescope before observation, otherwise finding anything is very difficult.
The mount is Alt-Az, as opposed to equatorial if it makes difference for you.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 11, 2024
WARNING 1: this might be a begining of an expensive hobby! You will likely want accessories, filters, eyepieces, and maybe larger aperture for deep sky. Search for what you can see with a telescope (especially if you're interested in Nebulae/galaxies) if it's you first one to manage expectations.
WARNING 2: you won't see details and colours you see in pictures online including mine (except maybe for Moon). Cameras are far more sensitive and have longer exposures than our eyes. Search Orion Nebula or M81 through a 5, 8, 10 inch telescope for example to have an idea and compare with pictures.
Overall, I'm very happy with the telescope, optics seem quite good without noticeable chromatic aberrations, tracking is OK with options to fine-tune during use.
After using this, I'm curious to try something with a larger aperture to see more details in deep sky, but it doesn't mean I'm enjoying this telescope any less. For me it hits a good balance of power, ease of use, and portability. Though 8-inch aperture ones would probably last you much longer if you're going to get into the hobby more seriously, those are much more expensive and heavy.
You are paying a premium for goto functionality and compact design compared to some other 5-inch options, but I found goto to be very helpful especially at first.
This vs a Dobsonian:
Observing with a tripod is so much easier especially when what you're looking at is low. Optical tube is much more compact compared to Dob of comparable aperture and f-ratio, but later would probably be cheaper. As far as I can tell, a typical Newtonian reflector would be far less tolerant to collimation issues than this design. Learning with this is certainly easier.
If it's your first telescope - be prepared you won't see the colours and details you see in pictures online. Those are captured with cameras with longer exposures and higher sensitivity than human eyes and are heavily processed. This being said, I got this picture of Orion Nebula with an old unmodified DSLR through this telescope in a single exposure, no stacking or additional hardware.
What can you see?
Moon - amazing! Very bright, very sharp clear small details, no weird colours.
Planets - they appear about small pea-sized, rings of Saturn are clearly visible, as well as bands of Jupiter (in colour). You can get them bigger with additional eyepieces or Barlow lenses, but with ones I got (admittedly not the highest quality) I couldn't see more details - same thing just bigger and a little blurrier.
Deep sky objects - probably the coolest thing to photograph, but visually seeing it for the first time it's amazing how dim those are in general. I could see Orion Nebula and some other DSOs. In Orion Nebula I could see general shape, but no colour when observing from Peak District. You can probably see more from a darker site, but I haven't tested it. Overall the aperture is considered small for visual DSO observation, but I could see something.
Moon, snow, atmospheric conditions (e.g. turbulent air) will all affect your observation. Relative positions of earth to other planet also affects the details you see.
Mount, focuser etc:
I've read complaints about the mount not being sturdy enough online. It's definitely more shaky than a heavy Dobsonian, but for me it's perfectly useable. You do need to wait a couple seconds after adjusting focus for it to get stable, but you absolutely can get clear view and pictures after that.
GoTo depends on how good your alignment is and has couple clever features - there is a "precision goto" option in the menu where it first navigates to nearby easy to see object for you to correct error and then it goes to actual target.
Mount doesn't fold flat with optical tube as SE model does.
The tripod is a bit bigger than a typical photo tripod when folded.
If you're thinking of getting this and using mount for later optical tube upgrades, search for mount limits - you probably won't put much more onto it. I've read online people ignoring limits and putting 6se and even 8se on it, but it will be even shakier and I have no idea how long it will last if you did it and I doubt warranty will cover it.
You need to align red dot finder and the telescope before observation, otherwise finding anything is very difficult.
The mount is Alt-Az, as opposed to equatorial if it makes difference for you.
Màj : j’ai fait l’acquisition de la valise Celestron avec les différents oculaires et les filtres. Ces oculaires Plössl de différentes tailles sont un atout majeur pour mon télescope. J’ai même vu un reste de supernova ( nébuleuse du clown) et m77, une galaxie située à 45 millions d’années lumière !! Je suis vraiment heureux avec tout ça. 🙂
Reviewed in Italy on October 16, 2022
En resumen, un poco más robusto en su base y algunos extras necesarios serían la compra perfecta para cualquiera que quiera pasar buenos ratos viendo planetaria y poco más. Para lo demás(cielo profundo) hay inevitablemente que subir el rango de precios. No queda otra.
Reviewed in Spain on October 4, 2022
En resumen, un poco más robusto en su base y algunos extras necesarios serían la compra perfecta para cualquiera que quiera pasar buenos ratos viendo planetaria y poco más. Para lo demás(cielo profundo) hay inevitablemente que subir el rango de precios. No queda otra.