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Celestron - 80mm Travel Scope - Portable Refractor Telescope - Fully-Coated Glass Optics - Ideal Telescope for Beginners - Bonus Astronomy Software Package - Digiscoping Smartphone Adapter
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
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- Ship it!
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 |
Model Name | Travel Scope 80 Portable Telescope with Smartphone Adapter |
Eye Piece Lens Description | Barlow |
Objective Lens Diameter | 80 Millimeters |
Telescope Mount Description | Altazimuth Mount |
Product Dimensions | 22.5"D x 12.7"W x 5.6"H |
Focus Type | Manual Focus |
Finderscope | Reflex |
Item Weight | 4.5 Pounds |
Compatible Devices | Smartphone |
About this item
- 80 mm refractor telescope with fully coated glass optics and a lightweight frame.
- Custom backpack included to store your telescope and accessories comfortably.
- Observe in no time with a quick and easy, no-tool setup. / Adjustable height tripod.
- Accessories include: two eyepieces (20 mm and 10 mm), erect image star diagonal, finderscope, and a smartphone adapter.
- Pan handle Alt-Az control with clutch for smooth and accurate pointing.
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From the manufacturer
Travel Scope 80 Portable Telescope
Grab the Celestron Travel Scope 80 and go anywhere—from your backyard to another continent. Ample optical performance is packed and ready in this ultra-portable backpack kit.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
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High Quality RefractorEnjoy dazzling views through this high quality 80mm refractor with fully coated glass optics. |
Manual Alt-azimuth MountThe Travel Scope features a manual alt-azimuth telescope with a pan handle to navigate the sky with ease. It’s all anchored by a steel tripod, which you can adjust to the desired height. |
Included AccessoriesYour telescope comes complete with these wonderful accessories: two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm), a finderscope, an erect image diagonal, and a smartphone adapter. |
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Day-to-Night PerformanceThe Travel Scope features a refractor style body ideal for both terrestrial and astronomical observing. Fully coated glass optics provide vivid images of wildlife, the Moon, planets, and more. |
Ultra-PortableWhether you’re hiking into back-country or going through airport security, the Travel Scope won’t slow you down. The telescope, tripod, & accessories all fit inside the backpack for easy traveling. |
Learn More about the Night SkyYour purchase includes access to Starry Night educational software and our SkyPortal planetarium app for iOS and Android. |
Trust CelestronCelestron is a leading telescope maker, based in California since 1960. We're ready to support you with a team of friendly, US-based experts. |
Travel Scope 80 Portable Telescope | Travel Scope70 Portable Telescope | Travel Scope 50 Portable Telescope | Travel Scope 60 DX Portable Telescope | Travel Scope 70 DX Portable Telescope | |
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Customer Reviews |
4.2 out of 5 stars
1,480
|
4.2 out of 5 stars
13,898
|
4.2 out of 5 stars
2,550
|
4.1 out of 5 stars
65
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4.2 out of 5 stars
2,972
|
Optical Design: | Refractor | Refractor | Refractor | Refractor | Refractor |
Aperture: | 80mm (3.1") | 70mm (2.8") | 50mm (2") | 60mm (2.4") | 70mm (2.8") |
Focal Length: | 400mm (15.74") | 400mm (15.74") | 360mm (14.17") | 360mm (14.17") | 400mm (15.74") |
Focal Ratio: | f/5 | f/5.7 | f/7.2 | f/6 | f/5.7 |
Magnification of Eyepieces: | 20x, 40x | 20x, 40x | 18x, 45x | 18x, 45x | 20x, 40x |
Highest Useful Magnification: | 189x | 168x | 120x | 142x | 168x |
Lowest Useful Magnification: | 11x | 10x | 7x | 9x | 10x |
Limiting Stellar Magnitude: | 12 | 11.7 | 11.1 | 11.4 | 11.7 |
Accessories: | 20mm & 10mm eyepieces, erect image diagonal, 5x24 fi nderscope, and a smartphone adapter | 20mm & 10mm eyepieces, 45° erect image diagonal, 5x24 fi nderscope | 20mm & 8mm eyepieces, 45° erect image diagonal, 2x20 fi nderscope, 3x Barlow lens | 20mm & 8mm eyepieces, 3x Barlow lens, erect image diagonal, 5x24 fi nderscope, smartphone adapter, and a Bluetooth shutter release button | 20mm & 10mm eyepieces, 2x Barlow lens, erect image diagonal, 5x24 fi nderscope, smartphone adapter, #58 Green Glass Moon fi lter, and a Bluetooth shutter release button |
Total Kit Weight: | 4.2 lbs (1.9 kg) | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) | 2.2 lbs (1 kg) | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) |
Videos
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Travel Scope Series Product Tour
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What's in the box
Compare with similar items
This Item Celestron - 80mm Travel Scope - Portable Refractor Telescope - Fully-Coated Glass Optics - Ideal Telescope for Beginners - Bonus Astronomy Software Package - Digiscoping Smartphone Adapter | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | -8% $128.89$128.89 List: $139.95 | $109.99$109.99 | -10% $107.99$107.99 Typical: $119.99 | -23% $99.99$99.99 Typical: $129.99 | $109.99$109.99 | -8% $110.21$110.21 List: $119.95 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Easy to use | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 3.5 |
Easy to assemble | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 | — | 4.2 |
For beginners | 4.2 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 4.3 | — | 3.9 |
Value for money | 4.0 | 4.6 | 3.7 | — | 4.7 | 3.2 |
Portability | 4.5 | — | 4.7 | 4.7 | — | 4.8 |
Sold By | Amazon.com | CelticBird | Jifumei Shangmao(Heyuan)Co.,Ltd | Jifumei Shangmao(Heyuan)Co.,Ltd | BANJOO US | Amazon.com |
focal length | — | 80 millimeters | — | 600 Millimeters | 600 millimeters | — |
focus type | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Auto Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus |
eye piece lens | Barlow | Kellner | Barlow | Barlow | — | Barlow |
objective lens diameter | 80 millimeters | 80 millimeters | 80 millimeters | 80 millimeters | 80 millimeters | 70 millimeters |
aperture diameter | 80 millimeters millimeters | — | — | 80 millimeters millimeters | — | 70 millimeters millimeters |
telescope mount | Altazimuth Mount | Altazimuth Mount | Altazimuth Mount | Altazimuth Mount | — | Equatorial Mount |
Product guides and documents
Looking for specific info?
Product information
Product Dimensions | 12.7 x 22.5 x 5.6 inches |
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Item Weight | 4.5 pounds |
ASIN | B07J15P2N3 |
Item model number | 22030 |
Customer Reviews |
4.2 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #246 in Camera & Photo Products (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo Products) #28 in Telescope Refractors |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | October 3, 2018 |
Manufacturer | Celestron |
Country of Origin | China |
Warranty & Support
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Product Description
Designed with American innovation for beginner stargazers, the Celestron Travel Scope 80 is a professionally engineered refractor telescope that is perfect for celestial or terrestrial viewing on the go. It’s the perfect telescope for adults and kids to use together with its coated, high-quality glass optics, including a 80mm objective lens. The aperture allows higher-resolution viewing, without adding a lot of extra weight. Optical coating on the lens allows more light to enter, providing sharper, crisper views, day or at night. This Celestron telescope for beginners is designed with several bonus accessories that make it even more functional and user-friendly. We’ve included two quality eyepieces (20mm and 10mm), and a star diagonal for crisp low- and high-power viewing. Enjoy close-ups of wildlife in nature or stargaze with family and friends. This telescope also comes with a smartphone adapter that allows you to connect any smartphone to any telescope eyepiece with an outside diameter of 45mm or smaller to capture images and video through the eyepiece. You’ll be amazed how easy it is to capture great images of the Moon and planets. The Celestron Travel Scope 80 weighs just 6 pounds and assembles in seconds with no tools required. It’s easy to use to navigate the sky. When your observing session is over, everything packs up into the handy included travel backpack. Your purchase also entitles you to a FREE download of Celestron’s BONUS Starry Night Astronomy Software with information on thousands of celestial objects, printable sky maps, and more. It’s the best way to learn about the night sky and plan your next observing session. Celestron is the world’s #1 telescope brand, with telescopes in world-class research observatories and even aboard the International Space Station. Now your family can enjoy a quality Celestron telescope in a portable package and at a price to fit your budget.
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 the weight and viewing of the telescope. They mention it's easy to carry around and perfect for traveling. They appreciate the crisp views and high angle viewing. Customers are also happy with ease of assembly, value, and ease of use. However, some customers have reported issues with stability. Customers also are mixed on quality and power.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the viewing of the telescope. They say it's a good telescope to look through, with excellent optics. They like the high angle viewing, saying it makes high angle views much easier. Overall, customers are satisfied with the viewing capabilities of the product.
"...I like that you can use it for terrestrial and celestial viewing." Read more
"The telescope is great, easy to use, easy to set up and take down. Bring its own bag where you can store everything very neatly...." Read more
"...moon is actually very interesting, and the 80mm Travel Scope gave us some great views. So, overall, I’m happy with the purchase...." Read more
"...However, perfect for terrestrial viewing with the 2 provided eyepieces, which is why the manual explicitly says that this telescope was designed for..." Read more
Customers find the telescope easy to assemble and use. They mention it's light and simple, with everything a beginner needs to get started. The optics are nice and the telescope is convenient.
"...This is perfect for setting up and taking down quickly and easily...." Read more
"The telescope is great, easy to use, easy to set up and take down. Bring its own bag where you can store everything very neatly...." Read more
"...The bag is nothing special, but convenient...." Read more
"This telescope is very easy to use and easy to setup. Follow the instructions that comes in the box. When you first get everything setup...." Read more
Customers like the value of the telescope. They say it has nice optics and is good value for money. Some say it's the best deal for beginner level telescopes, and is a whole lot of fun for not much money. However, some customers say it is not a waste of money and is easy to use.
"This is a good inexpensive telescope for people that want to look at objects on the ground, as well as the sky...." Read more
"...The telescope itself, is worth the money to me, but don't think that you'll get everything you need for astronomical use...." Read more
"...It was inexpensive enough that I’m not worried about it getting banged around and the rough handling at camp...." Read more
"...The cons: - Eyepieces of questionable quality (it's a cheap telescope after all)..." Read more
Customers like the weight of the telescope. They say it's small, compact, and easy to carry via the free bag. It's a great telescope to carry around, and the tripod is very light. It is perfect for traveling and comes with a bag to carry it in.
"...But that also makes it very light and portable. The tripod is very light as well, but that makes it the worst item in the bundle...." Read more
"...I really like this scope. It is light weight [12 lbs. total with new mount & accessories] and portable, it’s a perfect grab-n-go...." Read more
"...This works perfect and comes with a bag to carry it in." Read more
"...I just wanted something inexpensive and portable that was suitable for planetary viewing. This telescope met those three standards...." Read more
Customers find the telescope easy to use. They mention it's a great gift for a beginner, and is well-equipped for beginners. Some say the telescope is perfect for the amateur astronomer who doesn't want to mess with complicated technology.
"...Great for kids and beginners. Nothing complicated and very intuitive. A point to improve: The tripod...." Read more
"...Good telescope for beginners although the mount and tripod might discourage some of you." Read more
"...Upgrade. But this is a very good beginners telescope!You will need a phone that has a single lens or with manual lens change...." Read more
"...Perfect for the amateur astronomer who doesn't want to mess with complicated technology...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the quality of the telescope. Some say that it's a well-thought-out product, with high-quality optics and eyepieces. However, others say that the construction is extremely cheap and flimsy, making it wobbly and rickety. The tripod is also ricky. Overall, the product is a good choice for beginners, but it may not be the best choice for experienced users.
"...The scopes construction is extremely cheap plastic. But that also makes it very light and portable...." Read more
"...Final Thoughts -Telescope optical tube and optics are well made and give good performance.*..." Read more
"...It is not the best, it is practical and small but very flimsy, it does its job but it is frustrating that after a while it becomes very difficult to..." Read more
"...with him the tripod was usable if left to lowest position the accessories are decent but upgrade when possible...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the power of the telescope. Some mention that it works well, is transportable, and has interchangeable lenses. Others say that it is not powerful at all, and does not work well for observing planets or stars. It is not the best, and it has many weird problems.
"...Then I reinserted the laser pointer into the holder and it now works great! The photos show this latest version...." Read more
"...Telescope optical tube and optics are well made and give good performance.*..." Read more
"...A point to improve: The tripod. It is not the best, it is practical and small but very flimsy, it does its job but it is frustrating that after a..." Read more
"...This works perfect and comes with a bag to carry it in." Read more
Customers are not satisfied with the stability of the telescope. They mention that it is wobbly, rickety, and difficult to hold a stable position. The extra weight makes the telescope even more unstable. Customers also mention that the tripod never stays on place.
"...It is very shaky and positioning it on an object, especially with a phone attached, is quite a pain...." Read more
"...It is a bit clunky to set-up. The extra weight makes the telescope even more unstable, and even when using voice commands and a 5 second timer the..." Read more
"...Only downside at the moment is that the tripod shakes way too much!..." Read more
"...Aiming, and maintaining the position is really difficult and tedious, easily reaching the limit of frustration...." Read more
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There is lots of chromatic aberration around the edges of the moon, but its pefectly fine for a $100 scope. I've included a couple moon pics taken by my son and a quick single exposure of the Orion Nebula that he took. Both he took with a phone, using the supplied phone attachment.
The scopes construction is extremely cheap plastic. But that also makes it very light and portable. The tripod is very light as well, but that makes it the worst item in the bundle. It is very shaky and positioning it on an object, especially with a phone attached, is quite a pain. But as long as you understand and are OK with this being a travel scope, it's a great purchase. I love the little thing as much, if not more, than my kid.
There is lots of chromatic aberration around the edges of the moon, but its pefectly fine for a $100 scope. I've included a couple moon pics taken by my son and a quick single exposure of the Orion Nebula that he took. Both he took with a phone, using the supplied phone attachment.
The scopes construction is extremely cheap plastic. But that also makes it very light and portable. The tripod is very light as well, but that makes it the worst item in the bundle. It is very shaky and positioning it on an object, especially with a phone attached, is quite a pain. But as long as you understand and are OK with this being a travel scope, it's a great purchase. I love the little thing as much, if not more, than my kid.
I really like this scope. It is light weight [12 lbs. total with new mount & accessories] and portable, it’s a perfect grab-n-go. However, there are three significant things that I changed to make it work better for me personally, and you may want to consider these as well: (1) the finder scope, (2) the tripod and (3) the two eyepieces. I replaced the finder scope with an APOLLO 6x30 Right Angle Finder Scope for $28 (Amazon); I replaced the tripod with a combination of an Orion 52587 VersaGo E-Series Altazimuth for $80 and an Orion 5052 Dovetail L-Bracket for $35 (both from Amazon); and I replaced the eyepieces with a single Celestron 8mm-24mm zoom for $64–now about $80–(Amazon). All totaled, with the original scope at $90, my all-in cost (including shipping) is very near $300 for a very workable scope; and I still have the original travel bag which can be employed for various uses, though it is no longer suitable for carrying the whole revised kit. I now have slow motion control on a stable platform with a single zoom eyepiece and a right angle finder scope so that I do not have to contort my body/neck to use it. (OK, so I did change it up quite a bit [see photos], but the scope itself is still the same!)
By way of just a few examples of what can be seen with this modified instrument, I have been able to find and identify the following objects: (1) Moon with good crater views at the terminator, (2) Jupiter with four moons and a hint of the bands, (3) Saturn & rings with dark space between the rings and the planet, (4) Mizar/Alcor resolved into Mizar A, Mizar B and Alcor and (5) Andromeda Galaxy. All this from my suburban house with, in my estimation, class 4-5 Bortle skies (edge of a medium sized city of 100,000).
(PS: The scope comes with a 45-degree diagonal, but due to personal preference I switched to a 90-degree. Still, the original 45-degree works fine and some may prefer it. To change this too, the cost is probably around, say, $15-$20.)
UPDATE #1: OK, the right angle finder scope is turning out to be a no-go! Cannot focus well, and pretty dim in any case. So I kept the holder from the right angle finder scope and inserted a laser pointer (~$20). But I had to go to Ace Hardware to buy some longer screws (thread = M4-0.70). This works better, but my cost is now up to about $320 +/-, plus some time setting it all up. I will continue to UPDATE as needed.
UPDATE #2: As it originally came, the right angle finder scope holder had three concentric screw holes on the back end of the tube, but only one on the front end of the tube. So I took it to the local shop that works on plastic and had them tap in two more holes on the front of the tube (thread M4-0.70). Then, I bought some nylon screws (Scopestuff online) to use on all six holes in the tube of the holder. Then I reinserted the laser pointer into the holder and it now works great! The photos show this latest version. My cost is now about $350+/-
(PSS: The pictures also show a cell phone holder (~$20) attached to one of the legs. This type of holder is actually made for bikes, but they work great on tripod legs.) This is a matter of personal preference, and is therefore not included in the discussion/costs above, but it sure is handy when using an astronomy app, e.g. Stellarium, which itself costs about $10.)
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2020
I really like this scope. It is light weight [12 lbs. total with new mount & accessories] and portable, it’s a perfect grab-n-go. However, there are three significant things that I changed to make it work better for me personally, and you may want to consider these as well: (1) the finder scope, (2) the tripod and (3) the two eyepieces. I replaced the finder scope with an APOLLO 6x30 Right Angle Finder Scope for $28 (Amazon); I replaced the tripod with a combination of an Orion 52587 VersaGo E-Series Altazimuth for $80 and an Orion 5052 Dovetail L-Bracket for $35 (both from Amazon); and I replaced the eyepieces with a single Celestron 8mm-24mm zoom for $64–now about $80–(Amazon). All totaled, with the original scope at $90, my all-in cost (including shipping) is very near $300 for a very workable scope; and I still have the original travel bag which can be employed for various uses, though it is no longer suitable for carrying the whole revised kit. I now have slow motion control on a stable platform with a single zoom eyepiece and a right angle finder scope so that I do not have to contort my body/neck to use it. (OK, so I did change it up quite a bit [see photos], but the scope itself is still the same!)
By way of just a few examples of what can be seen with this modified instrument, I have been able to find and identify the following objects: (1) Moon with good crater views at the terminator, (2) Jupiter with four moons and a hint of the bands, (3) Saturn & rings with dark space between the rings and the planet, (4) Mizar/Alcor resolved into Mizar A, Mizar B and Alcor and (5) Andromeda Galaxy. All this from my suburban house with, in my estimation, class 4-5 Bortle skies (edge of a medium sized city of 100,000).
(PS: The scope comes with a 45-degree diagonal, but due to personal preference I switched to a 90-degree. Still, the original 45-degree works fine and some may prefer it. To change this too, the cost is probably around, say, $15-$20.)
UPDATE #1: OK, the right angle finder scope is turning out to be a no-go! Cannot focus well, and pretty dim in any case. So I kept the holder from the right angle finder scope and inserted a laser pointer (~$20). But I had to go to Ace Hardware to buy some longer screws (thread = M4-0.70). This works better, but my cost is now up to about $320 +/-, plus some time setting it all up. I will continue to UPDATE as needed.
UPDATE #2: As it originally came, the right angle finder scope holder had three concentric screw holes on the back end of the tube, but only one on the front end of the tube. So I took it to the local shop that works on plastic and had them tap in two more holes on the front of the tube (thread M4-0.70). Then, I bought some nylon screws (Scopestuff online) to use on all six holes in the tube of the holder. Then I reinserted the laser pointer into the holder and it now works great! The photos show this latest version. My cost is now about $350+/-
(PSS: The pictures also show a cell phone holder (~$20) attached to one of the legs. This type of holder is actually made for bikes, but they work great on tripod legs.) This is a matter of personal preference, and is therefore not included in the discussion/costs above, but it sure is handy when using an astronomy app, e.g. Stellarium, which itself costs about $10.)
For example, if you had a good view of the skyline, this would be good because this type of telescope does not invert the image.
You can also look at stars and planets, on a clear night I can barely make out the rings of Saturn, and you can see planet’s moons. Not bad for under 100 bucks.
I took this telescope to a NASA rocket launch recently and everyone lined up to use it.
Honestly, if you’re just the average person wanting to peer through the telescope, and not getting super serious about astronomy, this is all the average person needs.
I like that you can use it for terrestrial and celestial viewing.
Backpack is padded. No sternum strap or waist belt. Two padded compartments for tripod and Optical Tube. Each compartment has a nylon strap (with velcro) to secure each piece towards the top of the pack. Internal zippered compartment for eyepieces.
- Assembly -
Optical tube is well built. Not at all flimsy.
Deep Sunshade on the objective end.
Rack and pinion focus on the optical tube feels sturdy and no slack in the gearing.
Eyepieces come in waterproof, dust proof, plastic containers.
Every opening has a dust cap when not in use.
Sighting Scope has dust caps on both ends.
No 2x Barlow Lens included. Showed it in the picture, but not in the text of contents.
- Sighting Scope -
Had to shim Star Sighting Scope to get it true. Used 1/4"x1" pieces cut from Good RX card (any plastic coated cardstock will do). Stack as needed. Shim from the front of the Sighting Scope mount then fine tune with the three screws at the back of the mount. Needs occasional re-tuning!
Turn eyepiece end of Sighting Scope to focus.
Star Sighting Scope mounts to Optical Tube with large curl nuts. Very secure and good grip.
- Tripod -
Foot/Shoe for tripod mates to two holes in optical tube housing. No wiggle room when connected.
Foot to Shoe connection is tight. No wiggle room their either. Cam lock holds foot to shoe securely.
Tripod head pivots 180 degrees in the vertical plane and 360 degrees in the horizontal plane.
Tripod has a level built in.
Panning is a little jerky.
Tripod has hook in the center (at the bottom). You can partially fill an empty 2L pop bottle with water and hang it from the hook to increase stability - especially in cross winds.
Overall tripod design is cheap. Subject to a lot of wiggling when main mast is cranked up. Best used on a tabletop with legs collapsed, and main mast lowered. Reasonably stable in this configuration.
- Digiscope Adapter -
Works but does not hold the phone as securely as I'd like. Clamping sides are vertical against the phone. My phone popped out twice during testing. For better security, look for an after-market digiscope adapter with clamps that tilt in at the cellphone screen (cradling the cell phone from side to side).
- Optics -
Objective Lens = 80mm
Maximum Useful Magnification = 160x (Sky & Telescope formula)
Focal Length = 400 mm
20mm eyepiece = 20x magnification
10mm eyepiece = 40x magnification
Minimum focal point w/ 20mm eyepiece = 12 ft.
Lens have no distortion, clear edge-to-edge
Image is bright.
Good Color.
- Terrestrial Use -
Can read the word 'TYVEK' off the insulation panels on new construction @ 1,900 ft (577m / 0.35 mi) w/ 20x.
Can read a State Farm 12'x 24' billboard @ 1.37 mi (2.2km) w/ 20x.
On a sunny day, there is a slight reduction in image brightness w/ 40x. (Expected)
- Astronomical Use -
Moon - Okay
Planets - Due to 40x, planets will just look like colored disks. Add on 2x or 3x Barlow scope would allow you to see more detail - but tripod wiggle looks worse as magnification increases.
Open Clusters - Okay given caveat about tripod wiggle.
Gas Clouds - To the naked eye they will look like B&W smears with 80mm - Needs larger scope for color. Cellphones are sensitive enough that they will capture some color in photos.
- Final Thoughts -
Telescope optical tube and optics are well made and give good performance.
* Star finder scope is dubious at best, but I have yet to find a good one on any brand/model that have just 3 adjustment screws.
* Tripod is the weakest link. In order to get the stability I wanted (lack of wobble), I had to buy an after-market fuild head tripod for video cameras.
* Telecope magnification is fine for terrestrial use. It gives clear, bright images right-sdie up. It is however, severely underpowered for astronomy. Strongly suggest purchase of a 2x and a 3x Barlow lens to see the rings of Saturn, or the red spot on Jupiter. All other planets (except the moon) will only look like colored disks with this magnification/light gathering ability.
* Due to the arcing motion of the planets and stars through the sky, this type of mount (alti-asmuth) will require adjustments in both planes (vertical & horizontal) often to keep the image centered. A fluid head mount is a step up in usability. An equitorial mount is a better (though more complicated) system for astronomy.
* The telescope itself, is worth the money to me, but don't think that you'll get everything you need for astronomical use. Your getting what you pay for - a good tabletop terrestrial scope that can handle a bit of light astronomy (Unless you plan to upgrade it - likely costing as much as the telescope itself) I use the telescope for both modes (terrestrial & astronomy).
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Reviewed in Mexico on July 19, 2021