Amazon.com Review

Celestron's value priced Powerseeker 60 telescope takes a basic "just the facts" approach to affordable entry level telescopes. The package includes an adjustable aluminum tripod with an alt-azimuth mount and stabilizer, a Kellner type K20 eyepiece, a Ramsden type SR4 eyepiece, a 3x barlow lens, and a 5 power cross-hair finder scope.

The Powerseeker 60 comes disassembled in a compact box, but it won't take long to put everything together. 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.

My first view of Saturn's rings and star cluster M13 in Hercules came with a 60mm telescope, and I enjoy celestial viewing with the Powerseeker 60 to this day. The secret is to use the low power K20 eyepiece and only extend the tripod legs half-way. This gives me sharp and steady views, whether I'm looking at nearby hills, craters on the Moon, the Double Cluster in Perseus, or even the Andromeda Galaxy!

With a 1.25" focuser and diagonal mirror, it's easy to add better eyepieces. The Kellner type K20 eyepiece yields a 1.1 degree true field of view, better than the Huygens or H-type eyepieces still found in many beginner scopes. Adding an optional Celestron 25mm E-Lux eyepiece is better still. With nearly 2 degrees true field of view, the 25mm E-lux makes it much easier to find objects, either on land or in deep space. The SR4 eyepiece is less impressive; it's like peeking through a pin-hole. Adding the 3x barlow to the SR4 to get that 525x proclaimed on the box is peeking through a dim, fuzzy pin-hole.

I'm surprised that a telescope this inexpensive can be this good. It's good enough to show me Saturn's rings at night or a Steller's Jay at 100 yards during the day. In my opinion, the Powerseeker 60 would be an even better bargain if it came with a K10 eyepiece in place of the 3x barlow and the SR4 eyepiece. Also take a look at Celestron's Firstscope 60AZ; it's only a little more expensive, but it includes two useable eyepieces, a red-dot finder, and planetarium software for your computer. –Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Low cost
• Decent optics
• Accepts 1.25" eyepieces

• Too small for serious astronomy
• Only one good eyepiece

Features

• Affordable telescope for beginning astronomer; portable yet powerful
• All-glass optical components with high transmission coatings for enhanced image brighness and clarity
• Refractor optical design with a 60mm 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

Features

• Affordable telescope for beginning astronomer; portable yet powerful
• All-glass optical components with high transmission coatings for enhanced image brighness and clarity
• Refractor optical design with a 60mm aperture and 900mm focal length
• Equatorial mount for tracking the sky
• Includes 3x Barlow Lens (1.25"), 20mm eyepiece, 4mm eyepiece, aluminum tripod with accessory tray

Features

• Up to 525x magnification
• Built-in compass
• Barlow lens
• Very portable
• Comes with a 2 year, limited manufacturer's warranty

Features

• Control your Celestron computerized telescope from your personal computer
• Keep your eyes on the stars instead of the LCD by enabling speech support
• Wireless control of the telescope with Optional Gamepad Support
• Connect to your personal GPS device to NexRemote with NexGPS
• Alignment in any tracking mode; database of objects

Amazon.com Review

Combining the powerful optics of Celestron's legendary 8 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and premium XLT coatings with the solid computerized tracking system developed for its popular Nexstar 5, Celestron'sNexstar 8i is a remarkable telescope value. Compared to theNexstar 5i, the eight inch version is only six pounds heavier and only a little more expensive, yet it delivers more than two and a half times the NX5's light gathering power. The Nexstar 8i's excellent optics easily bring out wonderful detail on the moon, the planets, and on star clusters and galaxies.

The computer-driven handset makes it easy to find celestial objects.

What can I see with the Nexstar 8i? I love the sharp, high contrast images of the planets. Cassini's division in Saturn's rings is a thin black line even when the seeing isn't perfect. On rare nights when the air is perfectly still and clear I've pushed the magnification past 400x; Saturn's rings and moons were still sharply etched against a black sky. Jupiter and Mars also show wonderful detail.While a smaller scope may reveal Jupiter's two major cloud belts and its famous great red spot, the Nexstar 8i is capable of showing multiple cloud bands and even some small white ovals on a good night. Although high performance XLT optical coatings are advertized as improving brightness, I find the improved contrast even more impressive, especially on deep space objects. Globular clusters show up particularly well with the Nexstar 8i. Looking at globular cluster M13 in the constellation Hercules, I see the bright pinpoints of individual stars sprinkled right across its glowing core.

The real genius of the Nexstar 8i is its computerized object location and tracking system. I find the Nexstar system much easier to use than earlier computerized telescopes. You can choose from several different alignment modes, from the traditional two star alignment to the latest GPS aided automatic setup using the optionalCN-16 GPS module. I especially like the flexibility of the new "quick align" feature. Starting with "quick align" at a recent public viewing session, I was able to use Venus and the quarter Moon to synchronize my telescope alignment half an hour before sunset. Meanwhile other computerized telescopes were sitting more than an hour, waiting for their alignment stars to appear in the twilight.

You'll want some good eyepieces to take full advantage of Celestron's excellent optics.I'd suggest starting with a set of three, Celestron's10mm,18mm, and30mm Ultima eyepieces or three similar Tele Vue Plossls would be a good choice. These would be ideal for viewing the planets at about 200x, galaxies at about 110x, and open star clusters at about 68x magnification. My only disappointment with the eight inch Schmidt-Cassegrain design is its limited field of view; some of my favorite objects like the Pleiades don't quite fit, even with a low power eyepiece. Also be aware that you'll want an external power supply; the computer may crash after only a few hours when the on board AA batteries start to run down. The Nexstar 8i is a delightful telescope for visual observing or even web-cam images of the planets; for deep space photography, however, you'll want the greater stability of theNexstar 8 GPS .–Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Excellent optics with XLT coatings
• Light andportable
• Easy-to-use computerized finding and tracking
• GPS upgrade option

• Short battery life
• Limited field of view
• Not optimized for photography

Features

• 203mm (8-inch) diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain refractor
• Compass calibration, enabling you to point to true north more accurately
• Electronic controls allows you to move the telescope at six different rates
• 40,000 object database
• XLT coatings

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

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

Amazon.com Review

I love bargains, so I was eager to try out Celestron's new Powerseeker 114 Newtonian reflector telescope. With its 4.5-inch mirror, Celestron's Powerseeker 114 gathers three times more starlight than popular 60mm refractors. The Powerseeker package includes two eyepieces (K20 and SR4), a plastic 3x barlow, and a lightweight equatorial mount.

Optically, the Powerseeker 114 holds its own when compared with my Celestron Firstscope 114EQ. Using the K20 eyepiece included as standard equipment, about 45x magnification, it's easy to see the Andromeda Galaxy and its smaller satellite galaxy M32. When compared to 60mm refractors, the Powerseeker 114 brings out much more detail in the Orion Nebula, reveals many more stars in Perseus' Double Cluster and even brings out a few individual stars in globular clusters like M13. Saturn looks quite small at 45x with the K20 eyepiece, but using my own 7.5mm eyepiece (120x) I can easily detect the shadow cast by the planet on the rings, and even glimpse the ring's Cassini Division. When the mirrors are properly lined up or "collimated," the images are reasonably sharp up to magnifications of 225x. I find a collimation tool helps get this fine tuning just right.

As good as the optics are, however, the effect of cost-cutting shows up in the mechanical components. The focuser is plastic, the finder scope is plastic, the rings that attach the telescope to the tripod are plastic. Even when the tripod legs are clamped at their shortest setting, the telescope wobbles when I try to focus at higher magnifications. Celestron's instruction manual correctly recommends that most viewing be done in the range of 40x to 130x. So what about that 675x magnification proclaimed on the box? I'd say it's not worth the trouble.

Overall, the Celestron Powerseeker 114 is a budget priced telescope with good optical performance, especially when using the low power K20 eyepiece. If you're willing to spend a little more money, either Orion's SkyQuest XT4.5 or Celestron's Firstscope 114EQ will give you a sturdier mount, an improved finder scope, and better eyepieces. Also, for about the price of the Powerseeker 114, I like the dependable refractor design of Celestron's Firstscope 70EQ. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Low cost
• Good optics
• Serviceable K20 eyepiece

• Wobbly mount
• Difficult to collimate
• Plastic finder and focuser

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 114mm aperture and 900mm focal length
• Equatorial mount for tracking the sky
• Includes 3x Barlow Lens (1.25"), 20mm eyepiece, 4mm eyepiece, aluminum tripod with accessory tray

Amazon.com Review

Looking for an advanced telescope that combines great optics with equally good electronics and computerized control? If so, the Celestron NexStar 9.25 GPS is for you. It marries the proven NexStar GPS computer-driven telescope mount to the highly regarded Celestron 9.25-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope to create one of the finest backyard telescopes in years.

The NexStar handset is your user-friendly, GPS-powered guide to more than 40,000 celestial objects.

The NexStar 9.25 GPS proves to be a real winner optically. The tell-all star test, where a star's image is examined and compared on both sides of focus, showed the test instrument's optics to be very good. There was little evidence of spherical aberration or other optical flaws that would hinder performance. This made for crisp and clear views of the planets and the Moon. Jupiter's belts were dazzling, with subtle colors and tenuous detail seen steadily, and the Great Red Spot was easy to make out. Saturn's rings were also very impressive. Deep-sky objects were no less appealing. For instance, M42, the Orion Nebula, was simply wonderful, with gossamer clouds curving in all sorts of intricate complexities. Open star clusters, such as M35 in Gemini and M41 in Canis Major, as well as globular clusters like M13 in Hercules and M22 in Sagittarius, were beautiful sights. Distant galaxies also showed a good amount of subtle detail. I could even make out hints of spiral structure in the face of the Whirlpool Galaxy, M51, as well as the famous black eye of M64 in Coma Berenices and the broad sombrero rim of M104 in Virgo.

The NexStar 9.25 GPS includes Celestron's exclusive Starbright XLT extra-high-transmission optical coatings on its front corrector plate as well as its primary and secondary mirrors. These coatings are designed to maximize brightness and contrast while minimizing light scatter.

Right out of the box, it quickly became apparent that this was no ordinary Schmidt-Cassegrain. For openers, the tube is not made of metal, but rather carbon fiber. Famous for its weight-to-strength ratio, carbon fiber's real strength is its thermal properties. In order for a telescope to perform optimally, the temperature of its optics must match that of the air. An hour or more may pass before the optics in a telescope brought outdoors from a warm house reach thermal equilibrium. A traditional metal tube--a great absorber of heat--only slows the process. Carbon fiber, on the other hand, absorbs heat less readily, shortening the cool-down process. The carbon-fiber tube also lessens focus shift as the telescope cools during the night, an especially important consideration in long-exposure astrophotos and CCD imaging.

I was also very impressed with the telescope's ability to locate itself. When turned on, it automatically links to the GPS system to determine the exact time and date and its location. Once that information has been determined and stored--a process that takes about a minute--the NexStar GPS automatically moves to two alignment stars, pausing each time to ask the user to center the star in its field of view. The initial alignment to the two reference stars may be off by 15° or more because of the difference between the celestial and magnetic poles. The accuracy of the initial aiming can be greatly improved for future observation sessions by selecting the "Utilities" menu on the hand controller and choosing "Calibrate Compass" after successfully completing a GPS alignment. This will compensate for the difference between the poles, and the telescope will automatically retain that information for the future.

That done, the telescope is ready to hunt for buried treasure in the sky. The NexStar 9.25 GPS includes in its computerized database more than 40,000 objects, including those in the solar system as well as double stars, variable stars, and deep-sky objects from the Messier, NGC, IC, and many lesser-known catalogs. It will even take you on an automated tour if you prefer.

Also included are a 40mm Plössl eyepiece; a 1.25-inch star diagonal; a visual back adapter; a 9 x 50 straight-through finderscope; a sturdy, extendable steel tripod; and a hand controller; an AC adapter to power the built-in computer control; and a detailed instruction manual. All you need to add is a guidebook or two, such as my Star Watch, and a clear sky. --Phil Harrington, author of Star Ware

Pros

• Great optics
• Impressive GoTo accuracy
• Carbon-fiber tube minimizes cool-down time
• Ergonomic hand controller with convenient storage in fork arm

• 12-volt DC adapter must be purchased separately to run telescope off external battery
• Wedge must be purchased separately for guided astrophotography
• May be too heavy for some to carry and set up

Features

• Focal length of 2350mm
• 235mm (9 1/4-inch) diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain refractor
• 40,000 object database
• 16-Channel GPS
• XLT coatings

Features

• 102mm reflector
• Nexstar Computer Hand control, with 4,000 object database
• 2-1.25" eyepieces, 25mm, 10mm
• Accessory tray
• Tripod included

Features

• Focal length of 2032mm
• 203mm (8-inch) diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain refractor
• Automatic slewing to over 18,000 celestial objects
• 40,000 object database; XLT coatings
• Note: this package does not include a tripod

Amazon.com Product Description

Celestron likes to say, "the only simple thing about NexStar is its operation," and we have to agree. The sophisticated NexStar 114 GT is quite easy to assemble, even for a complete novice. Once you put the scope together and mount it on the sturdy aluminum tripod (also included), simply take the hand control with illuminated dual 16-character LCD display, and dial in the date, location, and position of north. Using its quiet, high-precision servo motor, the NexStar automatically aligns itself with the night sky.

Reflectors     This is a reflector telescope. Reflectors (also known as Newtonian reflectors or catoptrics) capture light with a mirror at the bottom of a tube, which sends the image to the eyepiece at the top of the tube.    First-time telescope users sometimes have difficulty with the idea of looking through the side of a telescope, but the big draw for reflectors is that they are by far the cheapest to manufacture--and thus offer the best value--of all telescope types. They also generally have zero chromatic aberration.     Read more about different telescope designs in our buying guide

From there it is a breeze to select what you want to see using the computerized hand control, which features automatic slewing to over 4,000 celestial objects, as well as manual high-speed slewing and fine-centering at the touch of a button. Even a beginner can master this telescope within just a few observing sessions. Also provided: a Star Pointer finderscope designed to help you point the telescope while scanning the sky with both eyes, the Sky Level I CD-ROM with a database of 10,000 celestial objects, and a sturdy, adjustable aluminum tripod with an accessory tray.

Featuring a 114mm (4.5-inch) diameter Newtonian reflector with a focal length of 1,000mm (focal ratio of f/9), this telescope affords approximately 265 times the light-gathering power of the naked eye. And, with the two eyepieces (25mm and 10mm) included here, it offers maximum magnifications of 40x and 100x, making it capable of revealing fine detail within galaxies and nebulae. The NexStar 114 Newtonian reflector has 265 times the light gathering power of the average human eye, revealing fine detail within galaxies and nebulae. This compact design brings objects into view with a 114mm aperture, 1000mm focal length capable of achieving magnifications of 40x and 100x with the included eyepieces.

Its large 4.5" diameter outshines smaller scopes. Polar caps on Mars become visible along with the cloud belts on Jupiter. The rings of Saturn are also clearly visible. Perhaps most exciting is the sheer variety of deep sky objects (stars, clusters, nebulae). Because of their optical design, reflectors are best suited for astronomical use.

Specifications summarized:

• 114mm (4.5") diameter Newtonian Reflector
• Focal Length of 1000mm
• Focal Ratio of f/9
• Weight: 15.5 Lbs.

• 25mm (40x) and 10mm (100x) 1.25" SMA Eyepieces
• Star Pointer Finderscope
• The Sky Level I CD-ROM
• Sturdy, Adjustable Aluminum Tripod with Accessory Tray
• GT models come with the complete Go-To computer hand control

Moon viewing 101
The moon is often one of the first celestial objects a beginner will look at through his or her telescope. Here are a couple hints for you once you get your hands on your new NexStar 114.

Often, it is tempting to look at the Moon when it is full. At this time, the face we see is fully illuminated and its light can be overpowering. In addition, little or no contrast can be seen during this phase. One of the best times to observe the Moon is during its partial phases (around the time of first or third quarter). Long shadows reveal a great amount of detail on the lunar surface. At low power you will be able to see most of the lunar disk at one time. The optional Reducer/Corrector lens allows for breath-taking views of the entire lunar disk when used with a low power eyepiece. Change to higher power (magnification) to focus in on a smaller area. Choose the lunar tracking rate from the NexStar's MENU tracking rate options to keep the moon centered in the eyepiece even at high magnifications.

Observing the Planets
Other fascinating targets include the five naked-eye planets. You can see Venus go through its lunar-like phases. Mars can reveal a host of surface detail and one, if not both, of its polar caps. You will be able to see the cloud belts of Jupiter and the great Red Spot (if it is visible at the time you are observing). In addition, you will also be able to see the moons of Jupiter as they orbit the giant planet. Saturn, with its beautiful rings, is easily visible at moderate power. Remember that atmospheric conditions are usually the limiting factor on how much planetary detail will be visible. So avoid observing the planets when they are low on the horizon or when they are directly over a source of radiating heat, such as a rooftop or chimney.

The Nuts and Bolts of the NexStar 114 GT

Lens Cover Optical Tube Fork Arm Tripod Accessory Tray w/ hand control holder Hand Control Collimation Adjustment Knobs Tube Ring Eyepiece Star Pointer Finderscope

... Read more

Features

• Star Pointer finderscope
• 25mm (40x) and 10mm (100x) 1.25-inch SMA eyepieces
• 114mm (4.5-inch) diameter Newtonian reflector
• Adjustable aluminum tripod
• Complete go-to computer hand control

Features

• Newtonian reflector telescope gives fully color-corrected view for astronomical use
• 4-degree per second slew speed
• Computerized hand controller with 4,000-plus object database
• Magnification: 306x
• Objective lens: 130mm