Celestron 21036 PowerSeeker 70AZ Telescope (Black)

Celestron 21036 PowerSeeker 70AZ Telescope (Black)

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

Celestron PowerSeeker telescopes are a great way to open up the wonders of the Universe to the aspiring astronomer. The PowerSeeker series is designed to give the first-time telescope user the perfect combination of quality, value, features and power. Amateur astronomy is a great family hobby that can be enjoyed year round, and Celestron’s PowerSeekers are the ideal choice for families looking for an affordable and high quality telescope that will provide many hours of enjoyment for children and adults alike. Celestron's value priced PowerSeeker 70AZ is an affordable entry level telescope with some nice extras like a correct image prism and "The Sky" astronomy software included. The package also includes an Alt-Azimuth mount with adjustable aluminum tripod, high and low power eyepieces, a 3X barlow lens, and a 5 power cross hair finder scope.

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

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

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

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

Pros:

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

Cons:

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

Moon as seen with the low power eyepiece, 35X

Crater Clavius shot with a Neximage camera, 280X

Planet Saturn shot with Neximage camera, 280X

Deer over 100 yards away shot at 35X

Birdfeeder about 50 feet away shot at 35X

List Price: $ 122.95

Price: $ 53.99

Related Products

Celestron 21041 60mm PowerSeeker Telescope

Celestron 21041 60mm PowerSeeker Telescope

• Affordable telescope for beginning astronomer; portable yet powerful
• All-glass optical components with high transmission coatings for enhanced image brightness 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

Offering exceptional value, these telescopes feature portable yet powerful designs with ample optical performance to excite any newcomer to the world of amateur astronomy. Celestron's value priced PowerSeeker 60 is an affordable entry level telescope with some nice extras like a correct image prism and "The Sky" astronomy software included. The package also includes an Alt-Azimuth mount with adjustable aluminum tripod, high and low power eyepieces, a 3X barlow lens, and a 5 power cross hair finder scope.

The PowerSeeker 60AZ comes disassembled in a compact box, but the fully illustrated quick set-up guide makes it easy to assemble. Go ahead and try it out in the daytime, that's the best time to align the finder scope while looking at a distant tree or telephone pole.

The optics of the PowerSeeker 60AZ are surprisingly good, especially when I use the low power 20mm eyepiece. The correct image prism and the 20mm eyepiece give me a magnification of 35X, so backyard birds seem five times closer than with my seven power binoculars. My first view of Saturn's rings and globular cluster M13 in the constellation Hercules came with a 60mm telescope similar to the PowerSeeker 60, and the new PowerSeeker 60AZ is just as good showing me literally hundreds of craters on the Moon.

The PowerSeeker 60 can be upgraded with standard 1.25 inch telescope eyepieces. A 25mm plossl eyepiece for example gives a true field of view of almost 2 degrees for delightful views of star clusters like the Pleiades, while a 6mm eyepiece provides a magnification of 117X, just right to see the rings of Saturn or the cloud bands on Jupiter. The Alt-Azimuth mount included with the PowerSeeker 60AZ is lighter and easier to use than an Equatorial mount, but it does not track stars and planets. As soon as you get the Moon centered in the eyepiece it starts drifting toward the edge, this is caused by rotation of the Earth. The Moon may stay in the low power eyepiece for two or three minutes, but with the high power 4mm eyepiece (175X magnification) a star will disappear in only twenty or thirty seconds.

Celestron's PowerSeeker 60AZ is a real value because it has surprisingly good optics in a package that's light, portable and affordable. The drawback is that it has a lot of plastic parts, including the finder scope and the 3X barlow. For a more rugged alternative, take a look at Celestron's AstroMaster 70AZ which has more powerful optics, better eyepieces, and a much sturdier Alt-Azimuth mount. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

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

Cons:

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

List Price: $ 86.95

Price: $ 55.64

Celestron 21045 114mm Equatorial PowerSeeker Telescope Reviews

Celestron 21045 114mm Equatorial PowerSeeker Telescope

• 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

Celestron PowerSeeker 114EQ 45 - 225X Reflector Telescope opens up the wonders of the universe to the aspiring astronomer. Amateur astronomy is a great hobby you can enjoy year-round, and Celestron's PowerSeeker Telescopes are the ideal choice for affordable stargazing enjoyment! PowerSeeker Scopes are quick and easy to set up, even for the novice... no tools required! Their sturdy Equatorial mounts are perfect for tracking objects across the night sky, meaning these Telescopes shine for moon- and planet-watching. All Celestron PowerSeekers include a tripod, full range of eyepieces, plus a 3X barlow lens. Specs: 114 mm aperture size; Includes 20 mm eyepiece for 45X magnification, 4 mm eyepiece for 225X, and a 3X barlow lens that triples the magnification power of each eyepiece; Newtonian reflector optical design; Fully-coated glass optics with high-transmission coatings for enhanced brightness and clarity; Sturdy German Equatorial mount, perfect for tracking objects across the night sky; Erect image diagonal, ideal for terrestrial and astronomical viewing; Comes with The Sky X Planetarium software; Focal length: 900 mm; Limiting stellar magnitude: 12.8; Resolution (Rayleigh): 1.22 arcsec; Resolution (Dawes): 1.02 arcsec; Light-gathering power: 265X; Angular F.O.V. is 0.9 degrees. Linear F.O.V. is 48' 5x24 mm finderscope; Includes aluminum tripod. Order yours today! Celestron PowerSeeker 114EQ 45X-225X Reflector Telescope 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

Cons:

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

List Price: $ 199.95

Price: $ 97.44

Celestron 21037 PowerSeeker 70EQ Telescope

Celestron 21037 PowerSeeker 70EQ Telescope

70mm (2.8") diameter refractor, 700mm focal length (f/10), German equatorial mount with RA and DEC slow-motion controls and setting circles, 5x24 finderscope, 20mm eyepiece (35x) - 1-1/4", 4mm eyepiece (175x) - 1-1/4", erect image diagonal - 1-1/4", Barlow lens 3x - 1-1/4", adjustable aluminum tripod with accessory tray, "The Sky Level 1" CD-ROM. Metallic charcoal black tube color.

List Price: $ 171.95

Price: $ 91.19

Celestron 21062 AstroMaster 70 EQ Refractor Telescope

• Model Number: 21062
• Magnification: 90

If you're looking for a dual-purpose telescope appropriate for both terrestrial and celestial viewing, then the AstroMaster Series is for you. Each AstroMaster model is capable of giving correct views of land and sky. The AstroMaster Series produce bright, clear images of the Moon and planets. It is easy to see the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn with every one of these fine instruments. For views of the brighter deep space objects like galaxies and nebulae, we recommend the larger aperture and light gathering ability of the Newtonian reflectors. Celestron’s AstroMaster 70 EQ combines the solid optical performance of a classic achromatic refractor with a German style equatorial mount. The Astromaster 70 features easy no-tool setup and much better optics than 60mm beginner scopes. The Astromaster package includes high and low power eyepieces, a correct image diagonal prism, illustrated instructions, and planetarium software for your PC.

The AstroMaster 70 EQ features very good optical performance. Achromatic refractors have a two piece objective lens, the second lens element compensates for “chromatic aberration”, the false color or blue fringes seen in low cost telescopes. In daylight tests I see very little blue fringing with the standard equipment 10mm eyepiece (90X magnification), and none at all with the 20mm eyepiece (45X). Stars and planets show up very nicely with the AstroMaster 70. The bright double star Castor, one of the “twins” in the constellation Gemini, is cleanly split at 90X with the 10mm eyepiece. When I tried an optional 6mm Plossl eyepiece for a magnification of 150X, I was treated to lovely views of Saturn’s rings and the little orange disk of Mars. My view of the Moon was delightfully crisp and clear; the 20mm eyepiece nicely frames the Lunar disk, and using the 10mm eyepiece I could easily see mountain peaks and terraced walls inside the crater Copernicus.

The AstroMaster 70 EQ also features a newly designed tripod with 1.25 inch stainless steel legs. This new tripod holds the telescope firmly; I had no trouble focusing even with a high power eyepiece. The equatorial mount is a little more complicated to balance and align than the AstroMaster 70 AZ , but the reward is better slow motion control and tracking at magnifications over 100X. Simply point the equatorial axis at Polaris, the North Star, and the telescope tracks celestial objects by turning one slow motion knob. This makes it much easier to use a high power eyepiece while viewing the Moon and Planets. The “star pointer” finder scope works by shining a red LED on a plastic window; just look through the window and line up the red spot with your target. This works OK for bright objects like the Moon and planets but not so well for finding galaxies and deep space objects.

The AstroMaster 70 EQ is a very good entry level telescope for a student or family. The good quality 70mm optics produce an image that is significantly sharper and brighter than 60mm beginner scopes, and the AstroMaster 70 EQ includes a solid mount, two good eyepieces, and fully illustrated instructions. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Reliable refractor design
• Good views of the Moon and planets
• Complete accessory package
• Simple no tool setup

Cons:

• Star-pointer not so easy to use

List Price: $ 230.95

Price: $ 109.00

CELESTRON Powerseeker 50 Refractor Telescope

CELESTRON Powerseeker 50 Refractor Telescope

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

Celestron PowerSeeker 50 Astronomical Telescope 21039

List Price: $ 58.95

Price: $ 39.95

Find More Products

Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope

Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope

• 3x Barlow Lens
• German Equatorial Mount
• 127mm Aperture
• 1000mm Focal Length
• Comes with aluminum tripod and accessory tray

CES1071 Features: -Telescope. -PowerSeeker collection. -Color: Black. -Material: Aluminum. -127 mm (5'') Newtonian reflector. -3x Barlow lens triples the magnifying power of each eyepiece. -Quick and easy no-tool setup. -Slow motion controls for smooth tracking. -Erect image optics - ideal for terrestrial and astronomical use. -Fully coated glass optical components with high transmission coatings. -Enhanced image brightness and clarity. -Accessory tray for convenient storage of accessories. -''The Sky'' level 1 planetarium software with 10,000 object database. -Dimensions: 11'' H x 17'' W x 33'' D.

List Price: $ 225.95

Price: $ 100.99