Product Description

The NexStar 114 SLT's compact Newtonian optics produce images that are three times brighter than 60mm beginner scopes. 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 computerized 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 "Align" button. That's all it takes; the computerized tracking system takes over and begins tracking, quietly, and accurately. Experienced users will love the "Auto Two-Star Align" and "SkyAlign" modes because they allow the telescope to point accurately at 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 drawback to a computerized telescope is its battery consumption. The standard AA batteries only last a few hours, but the NexStar 114 SLT works very well with an external 12-volt battery such as Celestron's Power Tank. The other drawback comes from the NexStar 114 SLT's compact optical design. This telescope uses a short-focal-length mirror combined with a corrector lens to simulate a traditional long tube reflector. This works pretty well at moderate magnification levels, but the mirrors may need to be fine-tuned, or "collimated," to get the best high power images. I find Celestron's Collimation Eyepiece helps me get this fine tuning just right, but the reward is sharp images, even when I use the high power 9mm eyepiece with a barlow lens for a magnification over 200x. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Easy computerized GoTo system
• Good (but not great) optics
• Includes everything but the batteries

• Short battery life
• Optics may need occasional fine tuning

Product Details

• Computerized hand control with 4,000-object database
• SkyAlign allows you to align on any three bright celestial objects
• Motorized Altazimuth mount
• f9 focal ratio
• 1000mm focal length

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Product Details

• Captures more light for brighter images and greater detail
• Includes two 1.25"; eyepieces: SP9.7mm 103X; and SP26 mm 38X; for superior eye relief and wide visual field
• Includes Red-dot projection viewfinder for easy acquisition of guide stars while star-hopping for celestial targets
• Amazing planetarium software and Instructional Video teaches you the night sky and how to use your telescope
• 52Hx36Wx30.38D"
• Telescope Features: Crayford Style Focuser, Red Dot Viewfinder, Open Metal Truss Design
• Magnification: 0.
• Recommended Use: Astronomy
• Focal Length: 700.0 mm.
• Objective Lens Size: 0. mm.
• Eyepiece Type:SP 9.7mm, SP 26mm
• Mount Type: Altazimuth
• Includes: Tabletop Tripod, Tripod, Autostar Suite Astronomical Software
• Material: Plastic
• Power Source: Manual
• Optical Tube Dimensions: Diameter: 0". Length: 0".
• Warranty Description: 1 Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty, 100% Parts and Labor, Up to $200 Replacement

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Product Details

• Refractor telescope with 60mm objective lens and computer controller to help locate celestial objects
• Pair of 1.25-inch eyepieces (MH9mm and MA25mm) ensure a wide field of view in varying conditions
• Focal length of 700mm (f/11.7 focal ratio); adjustable aluminum tripod with accessory tray and altazimuth single-arm mount
• Manual slow-motion controls on both axes for tracking fast-moving objects; 200x max practical visual power
• 5x24 mm viewfinder; optical tube measures 27 inches long and 2.5 inches in diameter; 1-year warranty

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Product Details

• Optical Design: Achromatic Refractor Optical Diameter: 60mm Focal Length: 350mm Focal Ratio: f/5 Maximum Useful Magnification: 200x
• Features of Meade ETX-60 AT Go To Computerized Telescopes: Internal flip-in Barlow lens 12V DC servo motors w/encoders Electric Slow Motion controls, 9-speed, both axes Bubble level/ compas
• Free Planetarium Software Includes Meade #494 Autostar with 9-speed controller and automatic GO TO capability to any of over 1400 celestial objects
• Meade ETX60 Telescope Package Contents: Meade ETX-60-AT Achromatic Refractor 494 Autostar Computer Controller Three Eyepieces 45 degree erecting prism Aluminum Tripod Back pack

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Product Description

The Spaceprobe 3 comes with an unusually complete set of accessories. The package includes two very good Explorer II eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), an equatorial mount with adjustable tripod, a good red-dot finder, a student edition of "The Sky" planetarium program, and a well written manual. The package even includes the tools you'll need to assemble the telescope and align the optics.

The Spaceprobe 3 is a Newtonian reflector. That means it uses mirrors instead of lenses. Newtonians are primarily used for astronomy because the images are upside-down. Orion includes a collimation tool and good directions for aligning the mirrors. The reward for aligning the mirrors is seen in images that snap into sharp focus. My Spaceprobe 3 arrived properly aligned right out of the box.

With its Explorer II eyepieces, this telescope consistently delivers fine views. Using the 25mm eyepiece (28x magnification) the Pleiades cluster is simply wonderful, showing dozens of stars. From a rural location with a dark sky, the Orion Nebula is a big ghostly glow, and when I zoom in with the 10mm eyepiece, the Trapezium resolves into four tiny pinpoints. The double star Gamma Andromeda becomes two beads of light, one gold, the other one pale blue. Moon and planet images are crisp, with none of the false color I see in low cost refractors. When I look at the Moon I see mountains and terraced walls inside the larger craters. With the 10mm eyepiece (about 70x), Saturn's rings are sharply separated from the planet, and I can even pick out the planet's shadow on the rings.

If you point the polar axis at the North Star, the EQ-1 equatorial mount will make it easier to track the stars and planets; an AstroTrack motor will even give you hands-free tracking. A similar telescope, Orion's Spaceprobe 3 Altaz comes with an intuitive (and lighter weight) altazimuth mount, and Celestron sells essentially the same optical system with the computerized NexStar 76GT. –Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Best in class optical performance
• Two good Explorer II eyepieces
• Complete accessory package

• Small 76mm aperture
• Upside-down terrestrial images

Product Details

• Orion SpaceProbe 3 Equatorial Reflector Telescope

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Product Details

• Classic entry-level scope at an amazing price
• Crisp images from the craters of the moon to the edge of the galaxy
• Big-aperture optics + point-and-view ease of use = out-of-this-world value
• 150mm aperture and 1200mm focal length provides ample light grasp and resolution
• One-year limited warranty

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Product Description

Your money buys you a lot in this case. Included are a good-quality 4.5" f/8 primary mirror, two eyepieces, a finder, and a CD-ROM with a stripped-down version of The Sky, a software guide to the sky. The scope comes in two cartons. One contains the optical tube, and the other is a flat-packed box containing the base, which you assemble yourself. Orion includes all the hardware and tools you need, and the instructions are well written. Allocate about 30 minutes to assemble and align everything.

See a detailed view of the XT4.5's features

Under the stars, the XT4.5 exhibits excellent performance. Once properly collimated (aligned), the optics give clear, sharp, contrasty views. I’ve spent enjoyable nights using these telescopes, both as a teaching tool and by myself. Jupiter’s cloud band and four moons are no problem to see, nor are Saturn’s rings. The Orion Nebula is a glowing fan of green gas, with a quartet of tiny stars at its core. Under dark skies (and with some diligence) the XT4.5 can even pull in some of the fainter deep sky objects, like the brighter galaxies in the Virgo Cluster.

Despite the fact that I have a garage full of expensive telescopes, I never feel compromised with any of Orion’s XT scopes. As recently as a few years ago, the old adage regarding telescopes was that you must spend at least $300 to avoid buying junk. While this is still mostly true, Orion’s little XT4.5 breaks the price barrier in a big way. As long as you can deal with the short eyepiece height, it’s a great starter scope.

Pros:

• Very good optical and mechanical performance
• Fully accessorized
• Great value

• Short eyepiece height
• Plastic focuser

Product Details

• 114mm aperture and 910mm focal length for views of lunar craters, planets, nebulas, and galaxies
• Sturdy Dobsonian mount and handy grip knob allow for effortless maneuvering
• Includes 2 eyepieces, finder scope, focuser, and FREE Starry Night astronomy software
• One-year limited warranty

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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

Product Details

• 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

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Product Details

• Quick and easy no-tool setup
• Permanently mounted StarPointer
• Erect image optics - Ideal for terrestrial and astronomical use
• Quick release dovetail attachment - no tool setup
• Pan handle Alt-Az control with clutch - for smooth and accurate pointing

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Product Description

Product Details

• Optical Design - Refractor
• Aperture - 50mm
• Focal Length - 600mm
• F-Number - 12
• Finderscope - 5x24

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