Celestron 114LCM Computerized Telescope (Black)

Celestron 114LCM Computerized Telescope (Black) Review

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Celestron 114LCM Computerized Telescope (Black) Feature

• High qulaity 114 mm (4.5") refractor
• Quick-release computerized base, optical tube and accessory tray for quick no tool set up
• Database allows telescope to locate over 4,000 celestial objects
• Lightweight Computerized Mount
• Includes "The SkyX" Planetarium software

Celestron's computerized 114LCM telescope adds affordable GoTo technology to a compact Newtonian reflector. The complete package has everything you need except the batteries. The box contains high and low power eyepieces, the computer controller, an adjustable tripod, a red dot finder, and even a CD copy of "The SkyX" planetarium program for your computer.

The 114LCM's compact Newtonian optics produce images that are more than three times brighter than a 60mm beginner scope. With this telescope it's easy to see Saturn's rings and Jupiter's cloud belts. When the night air is still and clear I've been able to see the Cassini division in Saturn's rings and even spot the shadow of Jupiter's moons crossing the planets cloud tops. Deep space objects like star clusters and galaxies also show up nicely. The Ring Nebula M57, for instance, shows up as a pale smoke ring, and globular cluster M13 begins to reveal its individual stars.

Celestron's patented SkyAlign system is remarkably quick and easy to use. If you can see the moon, you can align this telescope. When you turn on the telescope, select "Solar System Align" on the hand control, enter the date and time, point the telescope at the moon, and press the "Enter" button. Then use the computer hand control to center the moon in the eyepiece and press the "Align" button. That's all it takes; the computerized tracking system takes over and begins tracking, quietly and accurately. Experienced users will like the "Two-Star Align" and "SkyAlign" modes because they allow the telescope to point to over 4,000 objects in the NexStar database. The accurate tracking allowed me to use a Celestron NexImage to take some nice close-up pictures of the moon and planets.

The biggest disadvantage of a computerized telescope is battery consumption. Standard AA alkaline batteries only last a few hours, but the 114LCM works very well with an external 12-volt battery such as Celestron's Power Tank. The "Lightweight Computerized Mount" of the 114LCM wobbles noticeably when I touch the focus knob, so I like to keep the tripod legs short and set my Power Tank battery on the accessory tray to keep the system from being top-heavy. –Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Easy computerized tracking system
• Bright Newtonian optics
• Includes everything but the batteries

Cons:

• Short battery life
• Light weight tripod

Automatically Locates The Wonders Of The Universe With Its Motorized System & On Board Computer! All glass, fully coated optics reveal the depths of our solar system and the wonders of the Universe. Fully adjustable tripod features a convenient accessory tray. Easy to use computerized hand control allows user to locate objects at the touch of a button.

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Rerate Products

• Celestron 18778 AC Adapter for Computerized Telescopes
• Celestron Accessory Kit
• NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
• Celestron Nexstar RS 232 PC Interface Cable
• Celestron Power Tank

Customer Review

Apr 23, 2012 23:53:05

Celestron 21068 SkyScout Scope 90mm Telescope with Sky Scout Mounting Braket

Celestron 21068 SkyScout Scope 90mm Telescope with Sky Scout Mounting Braket Review

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Celestron 21068 SkyScout Scope 90mm Telescope with Sky Scout Mounting Braket Feature

• 90mm refractor optical design with all coated glass optics and 660mm (f/7) focal length for crisp, clear images
• Quick and easy no tool setup
• Erect image 6x30 finderscope with quick-release bracket
• Erect image optics are ideal for terrestrial and astronomical use
• Convenient pan handleccurate pointing with built-in clutch for easy targeting and smooth motion.

90mm (3.5”) diameter refractor, 660mm focal length (f/7), altazimuth mount with pan handle and built-in clutch, 6x30 finderscope, 40mm eyepiece (16.5x) - 1.25”, 10mm eyepiece (66x) - 1.25”, adjustable SkyScout mounting bracket, erect image fully coated optics, adjustable height stainless steel leg tripod with accessory tray, “The Sky Level 1” CD-ROM

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Rerate Products

• NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
• 1.25" Orion 13% Transmission Moon Filter
• Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium
• Celestron 93992 All About the Stars Expansion Card
• Celestron 93985 SkyScout Speaker (Black)

Customer Review

Apr 14, 2012 05:31:37

Celestron 31051 AstroMaster 130EQ MD Telescope

Celestron 31051 AstroMaster 130EQ MD Telescope Review

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Celestron 31051 AstroMaster 130EQ MD Telescope Feature

• Quick and easy no-tool setup with Permanently mounted StarPointer
• Erect image optics - Ideal for terrestrial and astronomical use
• German Equatorial mount with Setting circles - to accurately locate and track sky objects
• Rugged pre-assembled tripod with 1.25" steel tube legs - Provides a rigid and stable platform
• All coated glass optics for clear, crisp images

130mm (5”) diameter Newtonian reflector, 650mm focal length (f/5), German equatorial mount (CG-3) with RA and DEC slow-motion controls and setting circles, built-on Star Pointer finderscope, 20mm erect image eyepiece (33x), 10mm eyepiece (65x) 1.25”, adjustable height 1.25” steel leg tripod withaccessory tray, “The Sky Level 1” CD-ROM.

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Rerate Products

• Celestron Accessory Kit
• NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
• Celestron 93625 Universal 1.25-inch Camera T-Adapter
• Celestron Omni 2X Barlow Lens
• Celestron Collimation Eyepiece 1.25"

Customer Review

Apr 13, 2012 00:04:04

Celestron NexStar 4 SE Telescope

Celestron NexStar 4 SE Telescope Review

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Celestron NexStar 4 SE Telescope Feature

• 4-inch Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope; StarBright XLT high transmission coatings come standard
• StarPointer finderscope to help with alignment and accurately locating objects
• Quick-release fork arm mount, optical tube, and accessory tray for no-tool setup
• SkyAlign allows you to align on any three bright celestial objects, making for a fast and easy alignment process
• Nearly 40,000-bject database with 200 user-definable objects and expanded information on over 200 objects

Amazon.com Review Celestron’s NexStar 4 SE is the smallest and most portable telescope in Celestron’s NexStar SE series. Using a Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design, the NexStar 4 SE puts the magnifying power of a four foot long telescope into an optical tube only 13 inches long.

Moon

The NexStar 4 SE features computerized finding and tracking of nearly 40,000 celestial objects, no-tool setup is easy, and planetarium software for your PC is included.

Jupiter

The NexStar 4 SE delivers great views of the Moon, the planets, and bright deep space objects. The standard equipment 25mm E-Lux plossl eyepiece gives a magnification of 53X, enough to see the Lunar disk, Saturn’s rings and the major cloud bands on Jupiter. It’s easy to add optional eyepieces to zoom in for more detail. Using a 12.5mm X-Cel eyepiece for 106X magnification I can see several cloud bands on Jupiter and I can even pick out the small dark shadow as one of Jupiter’s moons passes in front of the planet. On a good night I can push the magnification up to 230X with a 6mm plossl eyepiece while viewing the Moon and planets.

The NexStar 4 SE package also includes a sturdy adjustable tripod, a motorized alt-azimuth mount, and the NexStar hand held computer controller. I don’t need star charts or a GPS reciever to operate this telescope. Celestron’s patented SkyAlign procedure is easy to use, and experienced users will like the two-star align and solar-system align options because they are even quicker to set up. The steel tripod and alt-azimuth mount provide a solid base for the NexStar 4 SE. Vibration is not a problem, even while focusing at high power. The computerized tracking is also very good, easily keeping planets in the field of a high power eyepiece. The disadvantage of a computerized scope, of course, is battery consumption. I find that rechargeable NiMH batteries work very well in the NexStar 4SE; a set of batteries lasts all evening and I don’t need to worry about electrical cords getting tangled in the dark.

The NexStar 4 SE is a great portable telescope, just right for visual observing or for taking short exposure pictures of the Moon and planets. It’s only fair to warn you that a small telescope has its drawbacks, however; there are thousands of objects in the NexStar database that are simply too dim to see with a four inch telescope. --Jeff Phillips

Venus

Pros:

• Small, portable and affordable
• Very good optics
• Easy computerized tracking

Cons:

• Rechargeable batteries not included
• Small size limits deep space viewing

TE1) CELESTRON NEXSTAR 4SE TELESCOPE

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Rerate Products

• Celestron Accessory Kit
• Celestron 18778 AC Adapter for Computerized Telescopes
• NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
• Celestron Power Tank
• Celestron 93625 Universal 1.25-inch Camera T-Adapter

Customer Review

Apr 09, 2012 15:01:04

Celestron NexStar 90SLT Mak Computerized Telescope (Black)

Celestron NexStar 90SLT Mak Computerized Telescope (Black) Review

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Celestron NexStar 90SLT Mak Computerized Telescope (Black) Feature

• High quality 90mm (3.5") Maksutov-Cassegrain
• Quick-release fork arm mount, optical tube and accessory tray for quick tool no set up
• StarPointer finderscope to help with alignment and accurately locating objects
• Good for terrestrial and celestial observing
• Includes "The SkyX" Planetarium software

Celestron's NexStar 90 SLT is the most compact telescope in Celestron's computerized NexStar line, with excellent Maksutov-Cassegrain optics that deliver delightful views of the Moon and planets. The NexStar 90 SLT package includes everything but the batteries. With a fully illustrated quick set-up guide, no tools are needed to assemble the telescope with its steel tripod, motorized mount, and computer hand control. Two eyepieces are included, a 25mm for 50X magnification and a 9mm eyepiece for 139X. The package even includes the latest version of "The Sky X", software that turns your PC into a virtual planetarium.

The Maksutov optical design of the NexStar 90 SLT gives the telescope a focal length of 1250mm in an optical tube only twelve inches long. This long focal length is ideal for bringing out detail on the Moon and planets. When I look at the Moon for example, the view is crisp and clear with no trace of false color. When I look at Saturn I can easily push the magnification to 200X with an optional 6mm plossl eyepiece. When I look at deep space objects I often like to use an optional 32mm plossl eyepiece (39X magnification) because objects like M45 the Pleiades cluster and M31 the Andromeda galaxy look better with a wider field of view.

The NexStar 90 SLT also features Celestron's patented SkyAlign technology. With SkyAlign I don't need a star chart or a compass to align the telescope, I just enter the date and time then point the telescope at three bright stars. SkyAlign tells me the star names, and allows the telescope to find over 4,000 stars, planets, and galaxies by just pushing a button. The accurate tracking makes it easy to get high power views of the planets, and allowed me to take some great pictures using a Celestron NexImage webcam. I also like the "Two-Star align" and "Solar System align" modes because I can often get the NexStar system up and running while older scopes are still waiting for their alignment stars to appear in he twilight.

I enjoy using the NexStar 90SLT because it has excellent optics in a compact, twelve pound package that I can carry outside in one trip and be ready to go in minutes. A computerized telescope may take practice to set up; if I don't enter the time correctly the alignment may fail for example. The other drawback of a computerized telescope, of course, is the short life of standard AA batteries. A rechargeable 12-Volt battery is a handy way to power the NexStar 90SLT, and I like to keep the tripod legs short and observe while seated because this gives me a solid and comfortable view. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Excellent optics
• Compact and portable
• Easy computerized go-to tracking
• "The Sky X" planetarium software included

Cons:

• Short battery life with AA batteries

Suggested Options:

• Celestron Accessory Kit 
• Celestron PowerTank battery

Quarter Moon shot at 50X with a Powershot camera

Quarter Moon closeup shot at 200X with Neximage camera

Crater Ptolemaeus shot at 400x with Neximage and 2x barlow

Planet Mars shot at 400x with Neximage and 2x barlow

Planet Saturn shot at 400x with Neximage and 2x barlow

Designed to be an affordable entry level to mid-level computerized GoTo telescope, the NexStar SLT refractors, reflectors, and Maks are available in the most popular sizes and are loaded with valuable design features. With preassembled, adjustable stainless steel tripods, and quick release fork arms and tubes, NexStar SLT telescopes can be set up in a matter of minutes – with no tools required! You can see details of the lunar surface, Venus and its phases, polar caps on Mars, Jupiter and its four moons, Saturn with its rings plainly visible and much more! Most NexStar SLT’s can also be used as a land-based spotting telescope.

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Rerate Products

• Celestron 18778 AC Adapter for Computerized Telescopes
• Celestron NexStar 130 SLT Computerized Telescope
• NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
• Celestron Accessory Kit
• Celestron Nexstar RS 232 PC Interface Cable

Customer Review

Apr 05, 2012 15:27:36

Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope

Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope Review

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Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope Feature

• Orion SpaceProbe 130ST EQ (307 x 130mm) Telescope

The SpaceProbe 130ST EQ is a rich-field Newtonian reflector with a tube only 24" long compared to the 33" tube length of the standard 130 EQ. The focal length of the ST's 130mm (5.1") primary mirror is 650mm (f/5), producing a wider field of view and brighter images for a given eyepiece focal length. The diffraction-limited parabolic primary mirror is the same type used on much larger reflectors costing substantially more. On a short-focal-length design like this one, a parabolic mirror is a must for delivering sharp, detailed images. This scope package includes an EQ-2 equatorial mount with dual setting circles and manual slow-motion controls, adjustable aluminum tripod with accessory tray, two Plossl eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), and a 6x30 achromatic finder scope. One-year limited warranty.

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Rerate Products

• NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
• 1.25" Orion 13% Transmission Moon Filter
• Orion Shorty 1.25" 2x Barlow Lens
• 1.25" Orion Variable Polarizing Filter
• Orion Tri-Mag 1.25" 3x Barlow Lens

Customer Review

Mar 10, 2012 06:24:03

Celestron 21036 PowerSeeker 70AZ Telescope (Black)

Celestron 21036 PowerSeeker 70AZ Telescope (Black) Review

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Celestron 21036 PowerSeeker 70AZ Telescope (Black) Feature

• 70 mm (2.8") refractor
• Quick and easy no-tool setup
• 3x Barlow lens triples the magnifying power of each eyepiece
• Erect image optics - Ideal for terrestrial and astronomical use
• The SkyX Planetarium Software with 10,000 object database and enhanced images

Celestron's value priced PowerSeeker 70AZ is an affordable entry level telescope with some nice extras like a correct image prism and "The Sky" astronomy software included. The package also includes an Alt-Azimuth mount with adjustable aluminum tripod, high and low power eyepieces, a 3X barlow lens, and a 5 power cross hair finder scope.

The PowerSeeker 70AZ comes disassembled in a compact box, but the fully illustrated quick set-up guide makes it easy to assemble. Go ahead and try it out in the daytime, that's the best time to align the finder scope while looking at a distant tree or telephone pole.

The optics of the PowerSeeker 70AZ are surprisingly good, especially when I use the low power 20mm eyepiece. The correct image prism and the 20mm eyepiece give me a magnification of 35X, so backyard birds seem five times closer than with my seven power binoculars. The PowerSeeker 70 can be upgraded with standard 1.25 inch telescope eyepieces. A 25mm plossl eyepiece for example gives a true field of view of almost 2 degrees for delightful views of star clusters like the Pleiades, while a 6mm eyepiece provides a magnification of 117X, just right to see the rings of Saturn or the cloud bands on Jupiter. The included 4mm eyepiece (175X magnification) might be too much power: I can see Saturn's rings but at 175X it's not easy to focus and it's not easy to keep planets centered in the field of view.

The Alt-Azimuth mount included with the PowerSeeker 70AZ is lighter and easier to use than an Equatorial mount, but it does not track stars and planets. As soon as you get the Moon centered in the eyepiece it starts drifting toward the edge, this is caused by rotation of the Earth. The Moon may stay in the low power eyepiece for two or three minutes, but with the high power 4mm eyepiece (175X magnification) a star will disappear in only twenty or thirty seconds.

Celestron's PowerSeeker 70AZ is a real value because it has very good achromatic optics in a package that's light, portable and affordable. The drawback is that it has a lot of plastic parts, including the finder scope and the 3X barlow. For a more rugged alternative, take a look at Celestron‘s AstroMaster 70 AZ which comes with better eyepieces and includes a sturdier Alt-Azimuth mount. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Very good optics
• Correct image prism
• Easy no tool set-up
• Light, portable, and affordable

Cons:

• Light weight tripod
• Does not track stars and planets
• Plastic finder and barlow lens

Moon as seen with the low power eyepiece, 35X

Crater Clavius shot with a Neximage camera, 280X

Planet Saturn shot with Neximage camera, 280X

Deer over 100 yards away shot at 35X

Birdfeeder about 50 feet away shot at 35X

Celestron PowerSeeker telescopes are a great way to open up the wonders of the Universe to the aspiring astronomer. The PowerSeeker series is designed to give the first-time telescope user the perfect combination of quality, value, features and power. Amateur astronomy is a great family hobby that can be enjoyed year round, and Celestron’s PowerSeekers are the ideal choice for families looking for an affordable and high quality telescope that will provide many hours of enjoyment for children and adults alike.

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Rerate Products

• Meade 20218 NG-70SM 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope
• NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
• A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations--and How You Can Find Them in the Sky
• The Kids Book of the Night Sky
• Star Maps for Beginners: 50th Anniversary Edition

Customer Review

Mar 09, 2012 00:23:17

Meade 20218 NG-70SM 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope

Meade 20218 NG-70SM 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope Review

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Meade 20218 NG-70SM 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope Feature

• 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

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 Phillips

Pros:

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

The Steadicam Smoothee is specifically designed and engineered to work with your Apple iPhone 4. Based on the same technology as the big ,000 rigs used in Hollywood, it allows iPhone 4 owners to capture incredible video without the shakes normally associated with hand-held video shot on the go, right out of the box, the very first time. The Steadicam Smoothee is small and agile enough to take on vacations or follow the action at sporting events. The Smoothee let's you "fly" wherever the scene takes you--up and down steps, indoors and outside, through crowds--almost anywhere, with precise, elegant control and ease. Its quick release mount lets you instantly swap camera connections between your Smoothee and any tripod. While designed for the Apple i-Phone 4, the patented quick release removable i-Phone mount also serves as a tabletop stand or can be mounted to any tripod with a standard ¼ x20" camera mount. The comfortable ergonomic hand-grip folds up securely when not in use. Also included with the Steadicam Smoothee is a quick guide DVD on how to get the best possible shots, along with a carrying strap. The lightweight, compact, agile, and easy to use Steadicam Smoothee features an innovative, patented design built around a durable mono-frame metal structure that requires no complicated instruction to use. With its "go anywhere" compact dimensions, the Steadicam Smoothee is approximately 8"W x 14.5" H x 2.5" D (20.3 x 36.8 x 6.4cm) in operating configuration.

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Rerate Products

• Everything Kids' Astronomy Book: Blast into outer space with steller facts, integalatic trivia, and out-of-this-world puzzles (Everything Kids Series)
• A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations--and How You Can Find Them in the Sky
• The Kids Book of the Night Sky
• Meade Super Plössl 6.4mm 1.25-Inch Eyepiece
• NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe

Customer Review

Mar 07, 2012 21:04:09