Features

• Objective lens: 30mm
• Digital camera and binocular combination
• 0.3 megapixel resolution for 640 by 480 images
• 8MB SDRAM internal memory for up to 160 high-quality images
• Magnification: 8x

Amazon.com Product Description

From serious beginners to intermediate observers seeking slightly more detail, the Celestron Firstscope AZ 80mm model is ideal. It has 131 times the light-gathering ability of the naked eye, and its wider aperture delivers images up to 78 percent brighter than those produced by a 60mm refractor telescope. This model offers slow-motion controls on both the R.A. and DEC. axes. These controls, for both altazimuth and the altitude, are on flexible cables that enhance viewing by making it simpler to locate and track objects. This scope can be used for terrestrial viewing as well as astronomical viewing, and it offers amazingly detailed images of our solar system. Despite its image clarity, the Firstscope is best for focusing on relatively nearby objects such as neighboring planets and the moon. ... Read more

Features

• 2 eyepieces (45x and 90x)
• Altazimuth mount
• Star Pointer finder scope
• 900mm focal length
• Achromatic refractor

Reviews (1)

Adequate scope, poor mount
While the optics are OK for this inexpensive scope, the mount must be assembled by the customer and never seems very steady. Objects centered in the eyepiece will dirft out quickly and focusing is difficult because of the instability of the mount. With another mount/tripod setup this is probably a great inexpensive beginner scope. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Perfect for the budding biologist, the Celestron 4030 educational microscope gives you the power and control to study samples with depth and clarity. The monocular unit is a fully coated optical system with two eyepieces (10x, 12.5x) and three objectives, giving powers from 40x to 500x. A positive-click turret and a five-aperture diaphragm complete the package while a plano-concave 50mm mirror provides a source of light. ... Read more

Features

• Great for the budding biologist
• Study samples with depth and clarity
• Two eyepieces (10x, 12.5x) and three objectives

Amazon.com Product Description

The Regal LS series gives you all the optical performance of a high-quality Porro prism binocular in a lightweight, compact roof-prism design. These 10 x 25 Regal LS series binoculars feature a field view of 5.0 feet, eye relief of 17mm, near focus of 6 feet, and a weight of 16 ounces.

Fully multicoated optics make the details come alive with bright, true colors. These waterproof binoculars stand up well in all weather conditions. Their rubber-covered bodies are rugged in design with a large center-focus wheel for smooth, easy adjustment. Eyeglass wearers will appreciate the twist up (and down) eyecup feature.

Other features include:

• Smooth, click-stop style of diopter adjustment
• Large center focus wheel for ease of focusing
• Included deluxe soft case
• Included padded cloth neck strap

Features

• 10x magnification
• Lightweight, compact roof prism design
• Multicoated optics make the details come alive with bright colors
• Twist up (and down) eyecup feature for eyeglass wearers
• Includes deluxe soft case and padded neck strap

Features

• See upclose with 8x binocular
• Click and save with built-in digital camera
• Connect to your PC with supplied USB cable
• View on your TV with supplied video cable (model 72202 only) or download images on your PC
• Digitally enlarge images up to 72x with supplied software

Reviews (1)

Problem connecting to PC
I could not get my PCs to recognize the binoculars after connecting to the PC via the USB cable. I tried Windows 98 SE,
Windows XP Home Edition. Both have the latest Windows updates. I also tried installing the supplied drivers. But, still no
success.

I called tech support. I was forced to leave a message. The voice mail said it would take 48-72 hours for a response.

The only reason I gave 2 stars rather than 1 is because I like the design and feel while viewing. ... Read more

Features

• Objective lens: 25mm
• Digital camera and binocular combination
• 1.3 megapixel resolution with TV out
• 16MB flash internal memory for up to 40 high-quality images
• Magnification: 10x

Amazon.com Product Description

The NexStar 5 combines deluxe features with Celestron'slegendarySchmidt-Cassegrain optical system to provide amateur astronomers with asophisticated and easy-to-use telescope. It has a 5-inch diameterrefractor, afocal length of 1250mm, a focal ratio of f/10, and one multicoated 25mm(50x)1.25-inch Plossl eyepiece.

After locating just two alignment stars,you'llhave the NexStar 5 up and running. If you are new to astronomy, you maywish tostart off by using the NexStar's built-in sky tour feature, whichcommands theNexStar to find the most interesting objects in the sky andautomatically movesto each one. The experienced will appreciate the comprehensive databaseof over18,000 objects, including customized lists of all the best deep-skyobjects,bright double stars, and variable stars. Here is an example of theactual textfrom the telescope's database as it describes M87: "Elliptical galaxyequal insize to 790 billion solar masses. More than 1,000 globular clusters areknown tosurround this galaxy and it is believed to have a giant black hole atitscenter. Distance: 50 million light years."

The NexStar hasalt-azimuthoperation (no need to polar align). Even if you can't find the locationof twobright alignment stars, NexStar will find them for you using the"go-to" handcontrol that can be mounted on the fork arm for hands-free operation.The handcontrol is fully computerized, and it has red back-illuminated buttonsthat helpretain your night vision. Just enter the date, the time, and yourlocation, andthe NexStar will align itself to the necessary stars. The hand controlincludesa built-in RS-232 communication port allowing you to control theNexStar from acomputer and use popular astronomy software (like The Sky, which isincluded)for point-and-click slewing ability.

Finding objects is easy with theStarPointer finderscope, which is like having a laser pointer that you canshinedirectly onto the night sky. Just align the red dot seen through theStarPointer with the desired star in the sky.

Additional featuresinclude:

Star diagonal--1.25 inches
Visual back--1.25inches
Heavy duty base with rubber feet
RS-232 port tocommunicate with a PC
Nine available slew speeds
Incredible6.5-degrees-per-second slew speed
Powered by standard AC adapter or eight AA batteries (notincluded)

Mounted on a sturdy metal base, the NexStar 5 sits securelyon any flatsurface and has three rubber gripping feet for vibration suppressionandtraction. Weighing under 18 pounds, it is extremely portable. ... Read more

Features

• Focal length of 1250mm
• 127mm (5-inch) diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain refractor
• Observe immediately with the computerized auto align feature
• Automatic slewing to over 18,000 celestial objects
• Common sense menu descriptions

Reviews (6)

goto where ?
After receiving this scope .I read the instructions and understood them. The goto feature is not difficult to figure out.So I had no problems there. I have never been able to see any neb. or gal. Nothing but the usual boring venus and jupiter. The moon of course. This scope although expensive is no better than my dept. store telescope. What good is goto when you getthere there is nothing to see. Star test was excellent so it doesnt need collimation. DO NOT BUY ANY SCOPE WITH LESS THAN 8inches of apeture. And you can take that to the bank!!!

What I see through this scope
I originally ordered the Nexstar 80 GT because I wanted to see the bands of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn during winter of 2001-2 while those planets were high and bright. Before it shipped, an astronomer friend suggested that I save [price] on a 5" or 8" scope by not buying that one. So I bought the Nexstar 5 instead. Overall, I am very happy with it, but now I wish that I had saved [price] on an 8" or 10" scope by not buying the 5".

With the Nexstar 5 and [price] worth of accessory filters and lenses, I see clearly five or six bands of Jupiter, I watch the four largest moons change positions as they orbit, but cannot see the moons' shadows on the face of the planet. On a clear, still night I can just distinguish the red spot. Saturn is beautiful, but I cannot make out separate rings, they blur into one. I see the Great Andromeda Nebula as an indistinct splotch of light. My favorite targets are, by far, the sun and moon. With proper filters (mandatory for solar observing) I can see sunspots, but solar flares require another very expensive filter. The moon is spectacular through this scope; I can easily see many interesting features of craters and mare. These are just my observations and not meant to criticize the scope - it does exactly what it is capable of doing.

While it does seem logical to spend your money on optics, until you become an expert skywatcher, the Nexstar goto and tracking features are a must. The sun, moon, and planets move so quickly across the sky that without some type of tracking system they quickly exit the field of view. Without the goto features it would be impossible for moderately experienced observers to point the scope at, say the Christmas Tree Nebula (never mind whether you can actually see anything once it gets there). The Nexstar does indeed have an internal database of 18,000 objects and 17,995 of them are either invisible or nondescript points of light - but that does not mean that they are not worth pointing the scope at.

Astronomy is an expensive addiction. Even those who use the Hubble space telescope would prefer a bigger and better scope. So in summary, buy this scope if it is what you can afford, otherwise do your homework and then buy a more expensive one.

Compact and easy to use.
Small enough to throw in the trunk of your car, sturdy enough to withstand the rigors of stumbling around the backyard in the dark, the Nexstar 5 offers fine viewing and ease of use for any beginner that does not have the time or the attention span to learn the locations of many celestial objects.

Great scope for the size
My neighbor has a Meade ETX125 and he has spent countless hours modifying it and attempting to make it as easy to use as the Nexstar (he still is not there). After a fairly simple alignment process, the scope slews easily to find other objects. The computer program can find most objects an amateur like myself would be looking for. The computer program that comes with it provides additional info. The scope does require additional lens so be prepared to purchase extras as well as filters if you are going to be looking at the moon.

Great Fun
I purchased this product about 2 Months ago, even though it came with all accessories to get you started, I am surprised how much money I have spent trying to get all the add ons to get the most out if the telescope. As most of you who own telescopes know, one you start to explore you want more.

The Nexstar 5 clarity is outstanding, the included computer and motors makes it cool, however it does take some time to get it aligned before you can start observing.

The Moon and Sun are incredible clear, I have not have a chance to observe any of the planets yet, for terrestrial viewing it is also outstanding

I am enjoying it, I will let you more as I explore more

PS: before you go an invest on any sophisticated eyepieces, invest your money on a Zoom eyepiece, it is much better than spending hundreds of dollars and having multiple eyepieces that you have to carry and change depending on what you are observing. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The Celestron Nexstar 11GPS is a powerful and tidy package. The compact SCT (Schmidt Cassigrain) format makes for a light-weight unit suitable for portable or fixed operation. The accuracy of its GOTO function (which automatically points the telescope at celestial objects) is exceptional, and more importantly, repeatable. Using the GOTO functions I found I could easily place objects in the center of the included 45mm Plossl eyepiece. When doing astrophotography I was able to place objects on the CCD chip of my ST-7 almost every time.

As with every Celestron telescope I have owned over the past thirty years, the optics are superb. The OTA (Optical Tube Assembly) now consists of a carbon fiber tube, not the old aluminum tube of past years. carbon fiber reduces the weight slightly, but, more importantly, reduces the tube expansion that can take place due to temperature changes.

The drive base and electronics have been completely re-engineered from the ground up. Celestron has done away with the old sand cast housing and replaced it with a new lighter-weight design which is beefier than the previous drive base and fork arms. The new design also sports two ergonomically placed handles that make lifting the telescope and forks a breeze. On the electronics side, it is now possible to perform an upgrade of the motor controller software via the Internet, and the scope can be controlled via a laptop using any number of star charting programs. I found it was possible to simply click on an object on the star chart and the scope tracked right it.

First time setup is smooth as silk. It takes perhaps 15 to 20 minutes and works like this: The telescope downloads the needed information from the GPS satellite constellation for later setups, so all setups after that take only moments. Later setups consist of telling the telescope to perform a GPS alignment, and then centering two setup stars in the finder and eyepiece.

Once the scope is set up, there are three ways to control it: hand controller, virtual hand controller (on your laptop), or via a star charting program, also on a laptop. The end result is pretty spectacular. The rings of Saturn were clearly visible for me, as well as the Cassini division. Using high power, I was able to see the cloud bands and patterns on Jupiter, as well as surface detail on Mars. At low power, I found that deep sky objects such as the Great Nebula in Orion also made for fantastic viewing. --Dave Cole

Pros:

• Portable
• Excellent GOTO accuracy
• Great optics
• Sturdy carbon fiber tube

Cons:

• A bit heavy for a single person to mount
• Takes Some getting used to seat the telescope on the tripod
• Hand Controller mount is not too useful during operation
• Does not come with a carry case of any kind

Features

• Focal length of 2800mm
• 279mm (11-inch) diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain refractor
• Observe immediately with the backlit computerized GPS control unit.
• 9 automatic slewing speeds to cover 40,000 celestial objects
• Common sense menu descriptions

Reviews (6)

great scope....however
be careful...the title says telescope only---even tho the product specifications indicates there is a tripod included, there isnt. I was even assured it came with a tripod before i placed my order....just "not the deluxe tripod". so count on having to buy a tripod unless you already have one.

Easy to set up, and great views - really high quality for the money...

------wishing you clear skys-------

Celestron Nexstar 11GPS
The Celestron Nexstar 11GPS is a very good telescope for beginners and advanced users alike. It is very easy to use and has excellent optics. If you want a scope that can get you up and running and shows you galaxies, nebulas, star clusters and planets your first night out, this might be the scope for you. The downside to the scope is the price, although reasonable for what you get and the weight. This is not a light telescope at 93 pounds including the tripod.

One Of The Best Scopes Available
This scope is worth every penny. It's now been out for a while so all of the "bugs" in the first ones have been fixed (and there were very few issues even with the first N11 models). The scope is incredibly easy to set up with a genuine "can't miss" alignment procedure that only a moron could screw up. Once aligned (it takes no more than a minute or two) the scope will find every object you ask it to find. Not only will it find the stuff (and it finds EVERYthing) but it will put them right in the middle of the eyepiece just about every time. I can use an 8mm Meade Ultra Wide and the scope still puts everything in the middle of the eyepiece - - incredible. In addition, the tracking is fantastic. You can go to an object, view it for a while . . . go away for hours and when you come back it's still there - - right in the middle of the eyepiece.

The optics are great too. To beat this scope you would have to make a huge investment. I comparison shopped this scope and the equivalent Meade scopes and came to the conclusion that this was the hands down winner (and I was a dedicated Meade user before buying this instrument). It's one of the most satisfying purchases I have ever made.

I haven't used this or any scope for astrophotography, but it's tailor made for that kind of application as well.

It's only drawback is the obvious one - - it's big, heavy and not a lot of fun to cart around. That's not a knock on the scope - - it would be an issue for any large scope of any design. Despite it's size and weight I find it comfortable to transport to dark sky sites and fairly easy to set up. If you're used to little 5" SCTs this will be a big change, but once you look through the thing you will gladly endure the minor workout that comes with lifting and moving the scope.

I highly recommend getting the JMI case that fits this scope - - another worthwhile investment. You should also consider investing in a high quality 2" star diagonal and a set of very good 2" eyepieces for the instrument as well (i.e. Meade Ultra Wides or Naglers). The big eyepieces through this scope are like going on a spacewalk.

4th Celestron Telescope that I have owned
For the past 15 years I have used more telescopes than I can possibly remember. During the same period of time, I have only "owned" one brand; CELESTRON.

The optics are sometimes a toss up with other manufacturers but one thing always brings me back to purchase and that "one thing" is the steadiness & quality in CELESTRON products. They offer the best mounts, drives & tripods in business.

Their Nexstar G11 is a telescope designed with excellent optics and a "Go To" system that would satisfy even the most demanding astronomy enthusiast.

This system allows the operator the most "visual time" of any significant object due to the accuracy of its GPS system.

When you ask for a specific object the telescope responds with stunning accuracy. CCD imaging is a pleasure with this instrument.

I want to thank all of those who had a part in the design and production of this "state of the art" instrument. The performance of this telescope will not be rivaled for some time. But when this finally occurs, CELESTRON will have moved forward several steps. I can not imagine what lies ahead for what I consider the best telescope manufacturer on this planet.
mja

Amazing!! Great Value
All of the hype about this scope is on the money. Go To accuracy is amazing. Two star alignment is a breeze and once aligned the scope will find and track any object in the sky all night long. It's heavy, but still very portable. When "fully loaded" (i.e. 2" star diagonal, Nagler eyepieces, etc.) this instrument is even more amazing. It's easier to set up and use than its Meade equivalent in my view. The Meade and Celestron optics are about the same, but this is a better value and its slightly cheaper than the Meade product. Quieter than Meade too. Some folks have complainted about the tripod, but I find it perfectly sturdy and see no need to upgrade. ... Read more

Features

• Celestron¿s top of the line eyepieces, utilizing a hybrid design of five elements
• Computer designed to keep visual aberrations to an absolute minimum
• Rubber eyecups are included both for comfortable use and to keep out extraneous light
• Lens and barrel caps are included for safe storage

Reviews (1)

good quality eyepiece
This eyepiece is good for scanning the milkyway with low power use. It is of high quality and will give very satisfactory images. While it is worth dollars, you can buy it for a lot less at astronomy stores. Other ultima eyepieces for the 30 and 42 mm eyepieces. ... Read more

Features

• See upclose with 10x binocular
• Click and save with built-in digital camera
• Connect to your PC with supplied USB cable
• View on your TV with supplied video cable (model 72202 only) or download images on your PC
• Digitally enlarge images up to 72x with supplied software

Reviews (1)

Shutter speed to slow for camera
Good binoculars, poor camera. The camera takes all pictures at 1/30 of a second at f2.8, which is too slow for the magnification of the lens. The pictures are soft,dull and without a tripod mount fuzzy. Mine is going back... ... Read more

Features

• Compact binocular and digital camera combo
• 8x optical zoom and 72x digital zoom
• Store up to 120 images at 640 x 480 using internal 8 MB memory
• Included USB cable and image softwareallow you to view and manipulate images on your PC
• Operates with 2 AAA batteries (not included); comes with soft carrying case

Reviews (4)

Good idea, but poor quality digital pictures.
Unfortunately, what seemed to be such a great combination package turned out to not produce what was promised. Our trip to the Canadian Rockies had some incredible picture opportunities, and seeing the results after returning home was very disappointing. The binocular function was fine, but the only pictures that worked well were those in very bright light. The camera indicated full at 63 pictures, well short of the 160 indicated on the box or the 120 in the description. There was no camera/tv cable as described. Someone will come up with a combination that eguals our separate digital camera and binoculars, but the Celestron is not yet to that point.

Poor Performance !!
This works great indeed if you didn't have a nose. Pics are blurry unless U have VERY bright sunlight, otherwise..dont' take pics. Not what I expected.
Would not recommend.

Great idea but poor performance !!
As binoculars, it focuses fine but the only way it would ever be comfortable to hold to your face is if you had No nose! Handling is very awkward and your nose gets in the way because of the way the camera is positioned in the center of the binoculars. As a camera, it's not!! Your pictures do NOT focus in on what you are seeing through the binoculars. It produces blurry pictures no matter what the distance. It also does not auto-balance the light, your pictures will also have unnatural shadowing unless you are in very bright sunlight. The enclosed instructions are also very little help in picture taking and troubleshooting...

Vistapix 8x22 bino/camera is features per dollar bargain!
If the highest resolution of this binocular/camera (640x480 pixels) is good enough for you, you won't find a better deal than the VistaPix 8x22. Though it is the same size as the similarly priced Meade Capture View 8x22 binocular/camera, Celestron says that the Vista Pix will hold 3 times as many high resolution frames (that is, 120 exposures)! Experience with my own unit seems to indicate that they are rating it conservatively because the camera appears to store many more frames than that, though I haven't checked to see what the actual limit is yet. Since both the Celestron and Meade binoculars have the same amount of memory, the extra pictures must result from a different video compression method that makes each picture take less memory.

Add to that the Continuous Exposure Mode (up to two minutes of action video in low res - a bit jerky but acceptible for many purposes) and the Time Delay mode (with 10 second delay before a picture is automatically taken) and it is obvious that this product is quite a deal for the money!

Oh, and did I say that the binocular optics give very crisp clear views? ... Read more

Features

• Multicoated for enhanced contrast
• Threaded to accept Celestron colored eyepiece filters
• Eye relief of 7mm
• Apparent field of 52 degrees

Reviews (1)

good high power eyepiece
this eypiece is an excellent choice for someone who wants a high power eyepiece that's inexpensive. The images are surprisingly clear and is definetally worth the money. My only complaint is with most inexpensive high-power eypieces is the small eye relief. I would recommend an eyepiece that has larger eye relief like a lanthanum eyepiece to anyone who can compfortably afford the higher price. ... Read more

Features

• See upclose with 8x binocular
• Click and save with built-in digital camera
• Connect to your PC with supplied USB cable
• View on your TV with supplied video cable (model 72202 only) or download images on your PC
• Digitally enlarge images up to 72x with supplied software

Reviews (2)

**NOT** a birding binocular or a birding camera
As a birder who has owned quality optics (i.e., Bausch & Lomb Elite, Swarovski, Kowa, and Leica), in my opinion the Celestron VistaPix pales in comparison. It feels and performs more like a toy than a quality binocular - which is not too surprising given the approx. $150 price tag.

First, the eyecups are not sufficiently deep so that I cannot rest the binoculars against my eyes to resolve the two circles of light into a single view; it is already difficult enough to hold them steady without having the benefit of steadying them against myself. Second, the focus wheel is unnecessarily small and the wheel does not rotate evenly, so that the binoculars jerk side to side while focusing. Third, the strap is nothing more than a cheap string reminiscent of a camera strap on a free give-a-way camera. Moreover, the strap is clumsily attached near the center-top of the binoculars which gets in the way of focusing the binoculars and navigating the camera controls. The strap length and placement also cause the binoculars to hang awkwardly, protruding forward and bouncing with every stride - it should have been apparent to the designers that the strap should be attached to the binocular's outer edges (as it is in ALL binoculars). To add insult to injury, the strap is permanently attached so that you cannot replace it with a quality neckstrap. The bottom line is that, in light of Celestron's better quality line of binoculars, Celestron clearly can do better.

Most limiting on the camera side for birding purposes, the VistaPix has a fixed focus so that only objects farther than 50 feet will be in focus. This minimum focus, at 8x, is practically useless for photographing birds other than pterodactyls (or ostriches, rheas, emus, cranes, storks, albatrosses, etc). Photographing sparrows or warblers yielded photos of unidentifiable blips. Also limiting is the fixed shutter speed with resulting blurry images when trying to photograph birds (which are typically moving). Given that even some disposable cameras have an optional setting to capture fast action, the VistaPix should give the photographer some flexibility. In addition, it is difficult to hold the camera steady enough to obtain sharp images - I cannot imagine how the 10x version can ever be hand-held for photography. The technological solution is probably image stabilization - even a rudimentary form of image stabilization would be immensely helpful. With image stabilization, 10x magnification would be preferable especially if the minimum focus remains no better than 50 feet.

Last, but not least, is there any excuse for a digital image of less than 3 megapixels in this day and age? In sum, I would prefer a product that is twice or thrice the price, and is commensurate in quality so that the end-result is truly useful for birding and photographing birds.

Nice binoculars with the added bonus of a camera
First off, these are a quality pair of binoculars. They fold up nice and small and fit into the included nylon pouch along with the USB cable and neck strap. They swing open to adjust for interpupilary distance, and then are focused using the barrel adjustment on the top of the unit. There is a diopter adjustment that would come in handy if your vision is different in each eye. Looking through the lenses shows nice full circles of light, belying the quality prisms within. The digital camera features seem to be a bit of an afterthought; 1.3 mega pix is a bit wimpy for a main camera by today's standards, but that said photos can come out pretty nice with some practice and understanding of the limitations. It is difficult to hold the binoculars steady enough to take a sharp photo over long distances, so you will have to brace yourself or lean on something. There is a screw adaptor on the base of the unit to accept any common camera tripod. The controls are very simple, and after a few minutes it is easy to learn to operate them without looking so you shouldn't have to fiddle with the camera while trying to focus on your subject. The camera will not pick up enough light to take good photos at night; that is to say that the resulting photo will not look as good as what you saw with your dark-adjusted eye. These should be perfect for daytime terrestrial photography however. The SD card and camera are mass-storage compliant, and came up without a hitch on Mac OS X, Win XP, and Redhat 9.
The camera includes a timer feature and a video capture feature, and a simple editor that will allow you to delete the last photo taken or format the memory card. There is no facility for previewing photos through the binocular unit itself.
There are a few annoying things about this unit. There is a 90 second timeout, after which it will beep and shut off power in order to save batteries (2-AAA's). These do seem to chew up batteries more than you would expect them to. Also they will beep for confirmation every time you turn them on, take a photo, or switch menus. It would be nice if it was possible to disable the beeping or at least turn down the volume. The camera does not seem to photograph at the same magnification as the main objective. There is a slightly larger field of view on the camera image, it seems more like 8x25 than 8x30. Overall a nice set of binoculars for nature or daytime terrestrial viewing, with the added gimmick of a rudimentary digital camera for impressing your geek friends and photographing birds / celebrities / neighbors for future recall. Hours of fun and entertainment. :) ... Read more

Features

• Celestron¿s top of the line eyepieces, utilizing a hybrid design of five elements
• Computer designed to keep visual aberrations to an absolute minimum
• Rubber eyecups are included both for comfortable use and to keep out extraneous light
• Lens and barrel caps are included for safe storage

Features

• Made of sturdy and rugged ABS plastic
• Completely filled with "pluck" type foam
• Individualized custom fit to support and protect your Celestron telescope
• Interior dimensions measure 23 x 14 x 10 inches

Reviews (1)

Not a good deal from Celestron
I had formed a good impression of Celestron based on my experience with the Nexstar5, so I was quite disappointed with the price:quality ratio of this accessory. What you get for the money is a fairly inexpensive plastic case (production cost to Celestron, probably <$10) and several sheets of pre-scored, low-density foam. The idea is you are supposed to "pluck" out pieces of the foam until you've got a cavity that fits the very irregular profile of the scope. I guess that's the idea - there are no instructions in the box as to how to achieve the fit. And after over an hour of very careful plucking, I ended up with a very unsatisfactory result. In order to fit the scope and foam in the box, you have to thin down the foam margins to the point that they fall apart (remember, they are pre-scored right to the edges). The margins are also thin enough so that I doubt they would provide much shock protection. Finally, the multiple floppy sheets have no way to hang together when the scope isn't in the box. Overall, it's a very poor product for the price, and very surprising, as it would have been very cheap for Celestron to supply a pair of pre-formed foam inserts. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Celestron made the Table Top 76 telescope small but powerful. Its compact tube is extremely portable, making it ideal for traveling or those with limited storage space. It sets up easily and quickly, so you can start observing the rings of Saturn, the moons of Jupiter, or the lunar surface in no time. ... Read more

Features

• Newtonian reflector optics
• 600mm focal length
• Extremely portable
• Quick setup
• Powerful for its small size

Reviews (2)

Avoid this scope
As much as I hate to say it, avoid this telescope. I bought it expecting very little, and was still disappointed. In it's defense, it is a small, very portable scope. Also, if it broke, I wouldn't be heart-broken. Also, it isn't too bad for showing kids about different types of telescopes. It also isn't too bad to look at the moon with, but I recommend buying a moon filter. And, you can see the rings of saturn in the scope, which quite honestly is almost worth the $99 price tag, despite all the flaws. And this scope has a lot of flaws. Just looking at the box, I know I'm going to be disappointed. Lots of cool pictures of planets and galaxies that I know will never be seen in this scope. Set up was quite easy, but without even looking through it I notice that the cheap high power eyepiece might as well be thrown away. The low power eyepiece is fairly good, however. The single arm mount was a neat idea, but unfortunately the thing vibrates like a tuning fork anytime you touch it. Looking through the scope, the optics need some adjustment to correct flaws, and this is a routine matter with reflector scopes, but there is no way to correct this scope easily, and no instructions on how to do so. Buying a better medium power eyepiece and moon filter helped considerably into making this a usable instrument, but then the final flaw really kicks in...unless you're really, really short, be prepared for significant back strain. You have to either get on all hand and knees, or carefully lean over whatever table you put this on to see through it; if you touch the scope or the table, forget about looking through it due to excessive motion (like most scopes, but this one has a "table top" mount).

Overall, not a great scope. There are certainly worse ones out there (some for sale here at Amazon, so I would give this a 1.5 star rating if possible, but...), but for under $300 I would recommend going for an 80mm refractor with a good mount. I also have the 70mm Celestron firstscope EQ, and to be honest, despite more effort to set that scope up, use it a whole lot more!

Not the best choice
When Tasco bought Celestron a while ago, there were two immediate results. One was that Tasco brought a large cash influx to Celestron that finaiced the development and production of a number of excellent new scopes, like the Nexstar series. The other was the relabeling of a number of Tasco scopes as Celestrons- including the unit under review.

This scope is a 3" short focus Newtonian scope on a flimsy tabletop tripod. It's an attractive looking little package, but as an astronomical telescope it lacks both a stable mount and sharp, contrasty optics. The various 60mm refractors sold by Celestron and Meade for a similar price are a better choice for the beginner on a budget. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Celestron's recently introduced line of "Advanced Series"astronomical telescopes combine many of their most popular instruments withsouped-up, heavy duty German equatorial mounts.The net result is a familyof telescopes that combines very good optics and reasonably sturdy,computer-driven mounts at affordable prices.

The Celestron C8 S-GT is one such package.The latest of many C8incarnations since it was first introduced in 1970, the C8 S-GT bears morethan a passing resemblance to its predecessors.Like earlier models, the C8S-GT is built around Celestron's 8-inch f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopeassembly.Inside, an 8-inch primary mirror reflects light to a smallersecondary mirror at the top end of the tube.Light is then directed backthrough a central hole in the primary, and into the eyepiece.Focusing isdone by turning a small knob on the tailstock of the instrument.

The C8 S-GT comes on the CG-5GT mount and tripod, which includes a NexStaronboard computer drive and hand controller.Once the mounting isinitialized by aiming its polar axis roughly toward the celestial pole andcalibrating the instrument with three alignment stars, a procedure that'swell documented in the instruction manual, the telescope is ready to use.

The NexStar computerized goto system is powered with 12-volts DC for easyuse in the field.Because of power requirements, however, Celestron doesnot include a dry-cell battery holder, as some DC-powered telescopes do.Instead, they include a 24-foot cord to plug into an automobile cigarettelighter or rechargeable battery, which makes much more sense. A 110-volt ACadapter is sold separately.

Testing the optical quality of the C8 S-GT revealed that my test telescopehad a final wavefront error of about 1/4 wave, which is considered"diffraction limited." This means that the telescope will perform up to thelimits of atmospheric conditions.In actual use, images of brighterobjects, such as the planets, had a slight haze around them.Still, Saturnwas certainly sharp enough to distinguish Cassini's Division as well as theplanet's subtle equatorial belt, while Jupiter's banded atmosphere showed agood amount of detail. Double stars, such as Castor and Rigel, were easy toresolve, especially when I replaced the standard 25-mm Plössl (81x) with ashorter focal length eyepiece from my own collection.

The NexStar GoTo system performed very well night after night. At each stop,the target was either within or very near the field of the C8 S-GT's 25-mmeyepiece.Try as I might, I only managed to the CG-5GT mount into a mentaltailspin once when I told it to find Polaris. It must have thought I hadmoved to Australia, as the telescope stopped nose down to the ground. Afterreinitializing the mount and selecting Polaris a second time, everythingworked as it should.

Overall stability of the Advanced Series CG-5GT mount is much better thanearlier CG-5s thanks to the sturdier tripod. A direct comparison between thenew CG-5GT and my own, older CG-5 confirmed that vibration-dampening timeshave been almost cut in half with the new tripod. It's still a little toowobbly for long photographic time exposures through the telescope, but isquite acceptable for a visual instrument.It is also well suited for shortexposures of the Moon and planets as well as piggyback-guided, wide-fieldexposures. --Phil Harrington, author of Star Ware and Star Watch

Pros:

• Reliable GoTo computer control
• Sturdy tripod and mount
• Good optics
• Well designed hand controller

• Mount not quite stable enough for long photographic exposures through thetelescope

Features

• Mounted on the CG-5GT computerized EQ mount
• 40,000+ object database with 400 user-definable objects and expanded information on over 200 objects
• Double line, 16-character liquid crystal display (LCD) hand control with 19 fiber optic backlit LED buttons
• DC Servo motors with encoders on both axes
• Proven NexStar computer control technology

Features

• Five superior grade Plossl eyepieces, all fully multi-coated for maximum contrast and resolution
• 2x, 1.25-inch Barlow lens gives you a total of ten power combinations
• Six colored eyepiece (planetary) filters
• 1.25-inch Moon filter provides maximum enjoyment of the moon especially during the brighter phases
• Items in this kit are valued at over $700.00 if purchased separately

Reviews (22)

Good but not Great Kit
The eyepieces included with this kit are marked with the type and size (e.g., "Plossl 32mm") and the manufacturer ("Celestron"). None of the names of other Celestron eyepiece suites (e.g. Nexstar or Axiom) are shown. They appear to be well made and have good coatings but don't appear to be of the same quality as other Celestron eyepieces. My guess is that these are generic, low-cost plossl's that Celestron has packed into this kit.

I don't have enough experience with these eyepieces yet to give a good review of their performance. The are far better with greater brightness and resolution than the cheap MA types that were included with my scope (Bushnell). The eye relief on the 6mm is quite short.

Overall, this kit is still a bargain for those who need to upgrade to a reasonably good quality and very complete set of eyepieces and filters.

Excellent price / quality ratio
After many years spent without gazing at the stars I finally made my move again and bought a new Nexstar 114. It came with 2 basic eyepieces. This kit looked like a nice addition, for a fair price.

I received the kit quickly, well this is Amazon... The case, as said before in other review, is sturdy and well designed. It is very convenient to carry around, and you don't have to worry about damaging your eyepieces at all. I found it very nice being able to carry all eyepieces at once, and leave the case a few feet away from my observation location, in order to grab elements I need.

The set features some extra space inside, and you can fit another 3 eyepieces. Eyepieces are of good quality. Not top of the line, yet they provide a crisp and clear view. The barlow lens is well built as well. I found the larger eyepiece (the 4mm one) to be of average quality, especially when used with the barlow lens.

Filter are well chosen and give you a good range of choices. I found the moon filter not dark enough to my taste, but it still does a nice job.

Overall, the born-again star gazer that I am is very satisfied of this very good investment.

Good Quality Eyepeces
The eyepieces are of good quality, though the Barlow is a bit on the dark side. The 4mm eyepiece that comes with the set will be seldom used, as most scopes of less than 12", will not handle the magnification. The quality of the filters is outstanding, and come with an instruction sheet on which filters are used for various viewing preferences. The case is of excellent quality, comes with locks and keys so you can secure your eyepieces. Be aware if your collumation is off, these eyepieces will exaggerate poor collumation.

I tested the eyepieces looking at trees over a half mile away during the day, and using an 8" Newt, was able to discern nobs on pine cones. The images were clear, but not as bright as televue eyepieces would be. In the evening, I viewed Jupiter, and a few of the messier catalog galaxies/nebulas, and found the eyepieces to work pretty well.

All in all, given the quality of the eyepieces, the price, and the extras (case, filters, barlow), you can't go wrong with this kit. On the negative side, the eyepieces will slightly darken your image, so don't expect televue, or nagler quality glass.

Celestron Accessory Kit great bargain
I purchased this kit in November. I have over 20 years experience in using telescopes and eyepieces. These eyepieces are a great bargain. Through my 4" fluorite I have used the high power 4mm and 6mm plossl's from this kit with very sharp and contrasty views of Jupiter. Highly recommended

Great under 100 ! 5stars for the price!!!
Most of the stores offer it for around $199 here for 100$, isn't it great?! Well it is a good kit for the price.
It is a good kit for the beginner. You'll get excellent quality case and average (closer to low) quality eyepieces, so later when you get rid of "bad" eyepieces you'll have a case to put good ones. The 32mm one has something about 40 degrees of view filed, wish is so-so, other ones below 15 mm it's just a joke.
I'll advice you to get Celestron X-Cel or Omni, if you want to spend more money and get better stuff try Ultima or Axiom, and if you are really serious about your hobby, get TeleVue.
Average price for a good eyepiece is from $79-$350
Amazon offers most of them. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The Nexstar 60GT is Celestron's most affordable computerized telescope. For a surprising price, you get a complete telescope with three eyepieces (and a finder), an adjustable tripod, and a computerized tracking system with a database of 4000 objects.

With the help of the well-illustrated manual, it takes only minutes to assemble the Nexstar 60GT and connect the batteries or optional AC adapter.

The NexStar handset is your user-friendly guide to more than 4,000 celestial objects.

Nexstar's "quick align" feature allows me to track bright objects like the moon and planets right away, but to get the most out of the tracking system the computer needs to be oriented to two bright alignment stars. Celestron includes some basic star charts, but if you don't already know a few constellations, you'll want a guide book like Nightwatch or a magazine like NightSky to introduce you to the bright alignment stars by name.

Once the Nexstar alignment is completed, the fun of seeing star clusters and planets and galaxies is as easy as pushing a few buttons. The low power 20mm eyepiece (35x) is best for viewing open star clusters and finding objects; I use the 10mm (70X) and 4mm (175X) eyepieces to zoom in on stars and planets. The planets show up quite nicely at 70x, and they're even better with a 6mm plossl eyepiece at 117x. Venus looks like a tiny crescent moon, Jupiter shows off its two major cloud bands, and Saturn's rings are sharply separated from the planet. Bright double stars also show up well. Castor, one of the twin stars in the constellation Gemini, turns out to be a double star only four arc-seconds wide. You'll need that 6mm eyepiece (117x) or the included 4mm (175x) to separate Castor into two beads of light.

Students from middle school on up will find the Nexstar 60GT just the right size. It's affordable, it's light and portable, and it's an easy introduction to the world of computerized telescopes. My first telescope, made of telescoping cardboard tubes, came from an ad in Popular Mechanics magazine. I would have been thrilled to have a telescope as good as the Nexstar 60GT. An adult with a serious interest in astronomy, however, is likely to outgrow a 60mm telescope rather quickly. It takes a larger scope to see the divisions in Saturn's rings or resolve globular clusters into individual stars; if you want that kind of detail, take a look at the telescope buyers guide for some larger ideas. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Complete package is light, portable, and affordable
• Classic refractor design for good planet views up to 120x
• Nexstar computer finds planets, star clusters, and galaxies for you

• It's small--the only way to see more detail is with a bigger telescope
• Batteries only last a few hours

Features

• Computerized auto align feature makes observing easy
• Instant access to over 4,000 celestial objects
• Common sense menu descriptions
• 700mm focal length
• 3 eyepieces (35x, 70x, and 175x)

Reviews (8)

Best telescope
This is my very first telescope and to tell you the truth I know nothing about Astronomy and bought this on a whim to *look at pretty things in the sky*. Just Kidding. But this telescope is quite powerful and the remote control is absolutely wonderful. THe instruction manuel was easy to follow and the actual set up took no time at all even for a noob. I defintely recommend this.

Great performer vs cheap dept. store units !
Agree with other positive posts. Compared to those dept. store units this is a no brainer purchase ! You also get additional eyepieces and these are the 1.4" not the .96" size that the cheap units include.
You can also get the optional pc patch cord and run the scope from your laptop ! Buy 16 nimh aa rechargeable batteries and you'll never run low on battery power for your scope.
Check out this website from the show on PBS !
http://www.jackstargazer.com/
Keep looking up !

Lotsa power for little money
I have always wanted a telescope and when Mars was beginning to approach it's closest distance to earth in 2200+ years, I didn't want to wait 2 more millennia to get one. Amazon delivered the scope just in time for me to view The Red Planet at its closest distance in history.

I must say that the viewing was anti-climactic... but not due to the telescope's failings. At its closest, Mars looked like an orange dot with a white dot near the polar cap - fairly flat in appearance. About a week later, when Mars was still relatively close, I went to a public viewing at the Observatory at UNT in Denton, TX. I got to look through a telescope that was so large, it could use this Celestron as a q-tip. :-)

It was then that I realized how good m Celestron was - because the viewing at the observatory looked the same as it did with my new, inexpensive telescope!

Wee!

The moon is absolutely breath-taking, especially with the included moon filter that helps the craters to "pop" with clarity.

My less than perfect rating is due to the fact that the included software is for Windows-only. This is frankly inexcusable. There is no reason that the same software could not be made for the Mac platform, especially since Mac OS 10.x is Linux based.

Also annoying is the lack of a built-in compass and bubble level. I bought a compass and lined my scope due north and bought a carpenter's level to make sure it was level. I then punched in the date, time and time zone and gave the command for the telescope to auto-calibrate. The motor impressively hummed as the scope automatically turned to find Polaris... but couldn't find it. Then it tried to find another star, and couldn't find that, either.

The instructions read like you have just completed a college-level astronomy course (which I have not), so the neophyte will be confused by many of the instructions.

With the help of some online web sites, I got some helpful hints that made the use of the scope to be easier.

I know that the stars are millions of miles away, but they really don't look any different through the telescope than they do with the naked eye.

I wish there was an angle viewer for the laser alignment scope... when you're looking at objects that are right above you, you've got to get into a yoga position to line up the spot scope.

The tripod folds up easily, as long as you don't attach the storage triangle below the scope.

The battery pack design is totally bizarre. If you want to easily transport the tripod from location to location and opt not to install the storage triangle, there is no where to put the battery pack unless you precariously hang it on the top of one of the tripod legs - and it's way too easy for the cords to get tangled up as you move the telescope from object to object in the night sky.

The clip that holds the hand controller is also less than impressive. Any jarring of the tripod and the controller goes flying. The phone-jack like connectors should have had swivels installed so that when you turn the scope the controller doesn't get tangled with the power cord to the battery pack.

Also annoying is the fact that the AC adapter is not included, so you have to keep fresh batteries on hand.

The spotting scope has a cool laser-like light to help you spot an obect easily before zooming in w/ the compounded lenses - but the battery that operates that scope is not changeable - when it dies (estimated time is 10 years), it's dead and all you can do is either live without it or buy a new telescope.

For someone who is totally clueless like me, but still wants to view the night sky, this is a very affordable way to get into a rewarding hobby. Obviously, though, you get what you pay for and the serious astronomer should get the most power they can afford to reap the biggest rewards.

Easy to assemble but not so easy to use
...

The package arrived yesterday and I have no problem putting the stuff together, but I had a hard time finding the star. I tried the auto-align feature, but didn't help much. When it slews to Vegas or Polaris, I only see couple of very faint stars in view. I then manually align it to Mars, doesn't matter which of the 3 lenses I used or the adjustments I made, when in focus, Mars was no bigger than what I see with my naked eyes. When I enlarge it, all I see is a big blur circle.

Also, the telescope will wiggle as you use it. When I finally have something aligned in view, scope will wiggle as I turned the focus knob which normally made it out of the alignment. Also, to align the object centered in the Star Finder was impossible for me. With the adjustment turned to the maximum, the object is still above the center of the Finder.

I thought this telescope was suppose to be great for beginner, but I guess am even worse than the beginner. :(

A good beginner telescope.
At least I'm a beginner and I'm enjoying it. Very easy to set up and to get aligned. Finds things pretty well with the hand control. Mars looks good, shows some surface detail and the ice cap. The moon looks truely awesome.
I haven't seen any of the deep sky stuff yet, but I haven't yet taken it out into the country for real darkness.
It is a beginner unt though and I already know I'll have to spend much more money on a better one in the next year or so.

One suggestion, I found the two star alignment easier to use and more accurate than the auto alignment. Maybe I was doing something wrong, I dunno. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Celestron's value priced PowerSeeker 76 telescope uses a Newtonian optical system to gather up to 60 percent more starlight than popular 60mm starter scopes. The package includes an adjustable Alt-Azimuth tripod, a Kellner type K20 eyepiece, a Ramsden type SR4 eyepiece, a 3x barlow lens, and a 5x24 cross-hair finder scope.

Using mirrors instead of lenses, the Powerseeker's Newtonian reflector design produces images that are noticeably sharper and brighter than 60mm refractors. With the SR4 eyepiece (175x), I can make out all four stars of the famous double-double star E-Lyrae, but a 60mm refractor only shows me two tiny figure-eights. When I look a the Double Cluster in Perseus with the K20 eyepiece on a moonless night, the image is bright enough to show me dozens of individual stars. The reflector design shows pure colors, without the false color or blue fringing I see in low cost refractors. Looking at the double star Gamma Andromeda, for instance, the primary star shines yellow-gold while the secondary is pale blue.

The Powerseeker 76 arrived neatly packaged in a compact box. When I assembled the telescope, though, I got the impression it needed another washer here and there: the tripod legs seemed a little too wide to fit the tripod head, the slow motion control rod seemed a little too tight. The assembled telescope turns out to be quite stable; I like to use it with the legs kept short. Since the eyepiece is near the top of the tube, the eyepiece height is very comfortable for a seated adult. Even at 175x magnification with the SR4 eyepiece, the view is steady enough that I have no trouble focusing.

There's no doubt this is a bargain priced telescope with good optical performance. I'd like it even better if it came with a K10 eyepiece instead of the 3x barlow, and it would be nice to have a better finder scope and a more rugged mount. Orion's Spaceprobe 3 Altaz is a similar telescope with more accessories included. –Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Low cost
• Good optics

• Small aperture
• Some parts don't fit well
• Plastic barlow and finder

Features

• Affordable telescope for beginning astronomer; portable yet powerful
• All-glass optical components with high transmission coatings for enhanced image brighness and clarity
• Newtonian optical design with a 76mm aperture and 700mm focal length
• Altazimuth mount suitable for terrestial viewing as well as astronomical use
• Includes 3x Barlow Lens (1.25"), 20mm eyepiece, 4mm eyepiece, aluminum tripod with accessory tray