Celestron NexStar 5 SE Telescope

Product Description

Featuring high-quality Schmidt-Cassegrain optics, the NexStar 5 SE is an ideal telescope for observing and photographing the wonders of space. With a total weight of 28 lbs including the tripod, the ultra portable 5 SE features a precision optical system with 1250 mm focal length (f/10) standard with our premium StarBright XLT coatings and offers 56% more light gathering power than a 4-inch model. The 5 SE includes a camera control feature that allows you to remotely take a series of timed exposures using your digital SLR camera. Plus the tripod featuring a built-in wedge helps make short-exposure astrophotography a heavenly experience. Internal battery compartment to prevent cord wrap during use Ultra sturdy steel tripod features built-in wedge, which allows 5 SE to be used for astrophotography Nearly 40,000 object database with 200 user-definable objects and expanded information on over 200 objects SkyAlign allows you to align on any three bright celestial objects, making for a fast and easy alignment process Flash upgradeable hand control software and motor control units for downloading product updates over the Internet Custom database lists of all the most famous deep-sky objects by name and catalog number; the most beautiful double, triple and quadruple stars, variable star, solar systems, objects and asterisms DC Servo motors with encoders on both axes Double line, 16-character Liquid Crystal Display Hand Control with backlit LED buttons for easy operation of go to features

Amazon.com Review

Celestron's NexStar 5 SE computerized telescope combines excellent optics and easy computerized GoTo tracking in a convenient portable size. The standard equipment tripod and mount feature easy no-tool setup, and the package even includes a student version of "The Sky" planetarium software for your computer.

The excellent optics of Celestron's classic C5 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope have been updated with premium Starbright XLT optical coatings. This telescope consistently delivers crisp, high contrast views of the moon, the planets, and brighter deep space objects. The standard equipment 25mm plossl eyepiece produces a magnification of 50x, powerful enough to show the rings of Saturn, the cloud bands of Jupiter, and the changing face of the Lunar disk. Optional eyepieces can be added to bring out significantly more detail. I like to use a 12.5mm plossl (100x magnification) or a 7.5mm Ultrascopic eyepiece (166x) for high power views of the planets. With the 7.5mm Ultrascopic eyepiece I can usually see the Cassini Division in Saturn's rings and cloud bands on the planet itself. I like to use a 32mm plossl eyepiece for great low power views of deep space highlights like the Orion Nebula or the Double Cluster in Perseus.

The NexStar 5 SE package also includes a sturdy adjustable tripod, a motorized alt-azimuth mount, and the NexStar hand held computer controller. You won't need a GPS receiver or star charts to operate this telescope. The SkyAlign procedure is easy to use, and experienced observers will like the two-star align and solar-system align options because they are even quicker to set up. The steel tripod and alt-azimuth mount provide a solid base for the NexStar 5 SE. Vibration is not a problem, even while focusing at high power. The computerized tracking is also very good, easily keeping planets in the field of a high power eyepiece. The disadvantage of a computerized telescope, of course, is battery consumption. I like to use a rechargeable Celestron Power Tank because the standard AA alkaline batteries only last a few hours.

This telescope is perfect for visual observing, and allowed me to capture some sweet images of the moon and planets using a Celestron NexImage web-cam. For long exposure deep space photography, however, I'd take a look at Celestron's Advanced Series equatorial telescopes such as the C6 N-GT --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

Excellent optics
Light and portable
Computerized GoTo tracking

Cons:

Short battery life
Too light for deep space photography

Suggested Options: Celestron Nine-Piece Accessory Kit Celestron Power Tank Battery Celestron NexImage Webcam

Celestron Solar Filter for Nexstar 5, 5i and 130GT Telescope

Average customer rating:

Celestron Solar Filter for Nexstar 5, 5i and 130GT Telescope

Manufacturer: Celestron
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

Binoculars | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics

Telescopes | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics

Telescopes | Science | Learning & Education | Categories | Toys & Games

Accessories:

Product Features:

Mylar or polymer filters for brighter, sharper, and higher-contrast images
Safe and durable (won't break like glass if dropped)
Blocks 99.999 percent of unwanted light
Absorbs all ultraviolet rays
Compatible with Nexstar 5, 5i and 130GT Telescope

ASIN: B00009R7TL

Product Description

Celestron Solar Filters are made with Baader Astro Solar Safety Film. Far superior than any existing glass, Mylar or polymer filters, they lead to brighter, sharper, and higher contrast images.Enter the millennium with the finest solar filters available. Astro Solar Safety Film is clear and homogenous and attains the optical performance of high quality plane-parallel glass filters-it is diffraction limited! Double-sided metal coatings have uniform density and good color balance across the entire field ensuring razor sharp images from edge to edge.The Sun appears in its "real "color -neutral white, not blue or orange ,and the sky adjacent to the solar limb is jet black.You can see detail in sunspots, bright faculae near the limb and the mottled areas known as granules with these filters. The Sun offers constant changes and will keep your observing interesting and fun. Even small aperture telescopes can enjoy features of the Sun.The Astro Solar film is completely safe and durable (won't break like glass if dropped). Its rating is ND-5 which means that the film transmits 1/100,000 of visible light (.001%) while reflecting (blocking) 99.999%of unwanted light. The film absorbs all ultraviolet rays while coating reflects infrared light rendering both absolutely harmless. For added assurance, Baader Astro Solar film has been declared safe for direct solar viewing by the German National Bureau of Standards for eye safety.Celestron has previousl

Celestron Hard Case for Nexstar 5 Telescope

Average customer rating:

Not a good deal from Celestron

Celestron Hard Case for Nexstar 5 Telescope

Manufacturer: Celestron
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

Telescopes | Science | Learning & Education | Categories | Toys & Games

Celestron NexImage Solar System Imager

Product 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

ASIN: B0000665V3

Product Description

Celestron Telescopes Hard CasesCase Model: Celestron Telescopes Hard Standard Case (NexStar - 5) Model 302080 302080 - Celestron Telescopes Hard Standard Case (NexStar - 5): NexStar 5 Standard Case is made of sturdy and

Customer Reviews:

Not a good deal from Celestron.......2002-05-15

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.

Celestron NexStar 130 SLT, 130mm (5.1") diameter Newtonian Reflector Telescope with Motorized Altazimuth Mount & 4,000+ Object Database - Demo Model

Average customer rating:

Sweet telescope!

Celestron NexStar 130 SLT, 130mm (5.1") diameter Newtonian Reflector Telescope with Motorized Altazimuth Mount & 4,000+ Object Database - Demo Model

Manufacturer: Celestron
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

Binoculars | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics

Telescopes | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics

Telescopes | Science | Learning & Education | Categories | Toys & Games

Celestron Omni 2X Barlow Lens

Accessories:

Product Features:

Computerized hand control with 4,000+ object database
Quick-release fork arm mount, optical tube and accessory tray for quick no tool set up
SkyAlign allows you to align on any three bright celestial objects, making for a fast and easy alignment process
Comes with "The Sky" Level 1 planetarium software and NSOL telescopeccontrol software for controlling your telescope via computer
Internal battery compartment to prevent cord wrap during use Sturdy stainless steel tripod

ASIN: B000FAQZFE

Product Description

The popularity of Celestron's NexStar 114 models inspired us to go bigger! Celestron is proud to introduce NexStar 130 SLT. The NexStar 130 SLT has 30% more light-gathering power than our 114mm telescope. And the 114 SLT, like the other models in the SLT Series, comes with a fully computerized hand control. The computerized hand control gives you the ability to automatically slew to any of its 4,000+ objects, including over 600 galaxies, 300 clusters and dozens of beautiful binary stars. With its pre-assembled, adjustable steel tripod, the NexStar 114 SLT can be up and ready to use in a matter of minutes. The SkyAlign alignment technology and the included StarPointer Finderscope with a red LED makes aligning a breeze.View the details of the lunar surface, the rings of Saturn, the polar ice caps on Mars, the cloud belts on Jupiter or a number of the Messier objects such as the globular cluster in Hercules (M13), or the Great Nebula in Orion (M42). Begin to explore some of the fainter Messier objects using the additional light-gathering capabilities of the 130 SLT's 5" primary mirror. Because of the Newtonian design, the mirror gives fully color-corrected views that are best suited for astronomical use. SkyAlign With Celestron's revolutionary new alignment technology, setting up and using a computerized telescope is faster and easier than ever before! Point the telescope at three bright objects in the sky and the telescope tells YOU what

Customer Reviews:

Sweet telescope!.......2007-05-21

The first shipment from this vendor was damaged in transit. Not their fault. Exchange procedures were VERY easy and amazingly prompt. Highly recommended vendor!!
The telescope operates very well, although there is a learning curve to the alignment procedure. I added a Barlow lens to double magnification--incredible!!.

Celestron NexStar 114 SLT, 114mm (4.5") diameter Newtonian Reflector Telescope with Motorized Altazimuth Mount & 4,000+ Object Database - Demo

Average customer rating:

Celestron NexStar 114 SLT, 114mm (4.5") diameter Newtonian Reflector Telescope with Motorized Altazimuth Mount & 4,000+ Object Database - Demo

Manufacturer: Celestron
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

Binoculars | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics

Telescopes | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics

Telescopes | Science | Learning & Education | Categories | Toys & Games

Product Features:

Computerized hand control with 4,000+ object database
Quick-release fork arm mount, optical tube and accessory tray for quick
no tool set up
SkyAlign allows you to align on any three bright celestial objects, making
for a fast and easy alignment process

ASIN: B000FASNZO

Product Description

The NexStar 114 SLT has over twice the light-gathering power of an 80mm telescope! And the 114 SLT, like the other models in the SLT Series, comes with a fully computerized hand control with a database of over 4,000 celestial objects! With its pre-assembled, adjustable steel tripod, the NexStar 114 SLT can be up and ready to use in a matter of minutes. Our new SkyAlign alignment technology and the included StarPointer Finderscope with a red LED makes aligning a breeze.Compact and lightweight in design, this scope can produce images bright enough to reveal the polar ice caps on Mars or the cloud belts on Jupiter! View the details of the lunar surface or the rings of Saturn which are clearly visible with this telescope. With the extra light gathering capability of the 114 SLT, a number of the Messier objects such as the globular cluster in Hercules (M13), or the Great Nebula in Orion (M42) are available to you. Begin to explore some of the fainter Messier objects using the additional light-gathering capabilities of the 114 SLT's 4-1/2" primary mirror. Because of the Newtonian design, the mirror gives fully color-corrected views that are best suited for astronomical use. SkyAlign With Celestron's revolutionary new alignment technology, setting up and using a computerized telescope is faster and easier than ever before! Point the telescope at three bright objects in the sky and the telescope tells YOU what the objects are. You do not need t

Celestron Nexstar 5 Telescope (Telescope Only)

Average customer rating:

goto where ?
What I see through this scope
Compact and easy to use.
Great scope for the size
Great Fun

Celestron Nexstar 5 Telescope (Telescope Only)

Manufacturer: Celestron
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

Binoculars | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics

Telescopes | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics

Telescopes | Science | Learning & Education | Categories | Toys & Games

Product 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

ASIN: B00004ZD39

Amazon.com Product Description

The NexStar 5 combines deluxe features with Celestron's legendary Schmidt-Cassegrain optical system to provide amateur astronomers with a sophisticated and easy-to-use telescope. It has a 5-inch diameter refractor, a focal 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'll have the NexStar 5 up and running. If you are new to astronomy, you may wish to start off by using the NexStar's built-in sky tour feature, which commands the NexStar to find the most interesting objects in the sky and automatically moves to each one. The experienced will appreciate the comprehensive database of over 18,000 objects, including customized lists of all the best deep-sky objects, bright double stars, and variable stars. Here is an example of the actual text from the telescope's database as it describes M87: "Elliptical galaxy equal in size to 790 billion solar masses. More than 1,000 globular clusters are known to surround this galaxy and it is believed to have a giant black hole at its center. Distance: 50 million light years."

The NexStar has alt-azimuth operation (no need to polar align). Even if you can't find the location of two bright alignment stars, NexStar will find them for you using the "go-to" hand control that can be mounted on the fork arm for hands-free operation. The hand control is fully computerized, and it has red back-illuminated buttons that help retain your night vision. Just enter the date, the time, and your location, and the NexStar will align itself to the necessary stars. The hand control includes a built-in RS-232 communication port allowing you to control the NexStar from a computer and use popular astronomy software (like The Sky, which is included) for point-and-click slewing ability.

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

Additional features include:

Star diagonal--1.25 inches
Visual back--1.25 inches
Heavy duty base with rubber feet
RS-232 port to communicate with a PC
Nine available slew speeds
Incredible 6.5-degrees-per-second slew speed
Powered by standard AC adapter or eight AA batteries (not included)

Mounted on a sturdy metal base, the NexStar 5 sits securely on any flat surface and has three rubber gripping feet for vibration suppression and traction. Weighing under 18 pounds, it is extremely portable.

Customer Reviews:

goto where ?.......2002-06-02

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.......2002-02-11

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........2002-01-15

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.......2001-06-28

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.......2001-05-10

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

Amazon.com Review

The Nexstar 5i is the computerized version of Celestron's legendary five inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Although I own larger telescopes, I find myself getting out the five inch SCT more than the others because it combines good optics with excellent portability and easy operation. The Nexstar 5i's optics are sharp enough to bring out pleasing detail on the Moon, on the planets, and on star clusters and galaxies, yet the optical tube is less than twelve inches long. It's small enough to carry outside (even when it's already set up ready to go), small enough to take on high desert camping trips, and easy to transport to public star parties.

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

What can I see with the Nexstar 5i? On a good night I like to use an optional Ultima 7.5mm eyepiece for a magnification of 166x. With the Ultima 7.5mm, I can see the Cassini division extending all the way around Saturn's rings. I've been able to watch the shadow of Jupiter's moons glide across the face of the planet, and sometimes the moons themselves. I can see the famous Great Red Spot on Jupiter (it's actually tan this year), and when Mars is favorably placed, I can see the polar cap and dark surface markings on Mars. From a dark viewing site in the country, I've been able to find all the Messier galaxies. When I look at M86 in the Virgo galaxy cluster with the standard equipment 25mm plossl eyepiece (about 50x), for example, I can see five galaxies at once, including M84 and three fainter NGC galaxies. When I look at brighter globular clusters like M13 and M22 with a 12.5mm plossl (100X) I can resolve many individual stars.

The included Nexstar computer is much easier to use than earlier generations of computerized telescopes. You can choose from four different alignment modes, from the traditional two star alignment to the latest GPS-aided automatic setup using the optional CN-16 GPS module. I especially like the flexibility of the new "quick align" feature. I took two computerized telescopes to a recent public viewing session. Using the "quick align" mode I was able to set up the Nexstar 5i and start letting folks look at Venus a full half-hour before sunset! Meanwhile the older computerized telescopes, including my own, were waiting more than an hour before the first alignment stars appeared in the twilight.

The biggest drawback to the Nexstar 5i is the short life of its AA batteries. Low batteries can cause the Nexstar computer to crash and lose its alignment. I've been able to avoid these computer crashes by using Celestron's car battery adapter with a rechargeable jump-start power pack. Like all Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, dew forms easily on the front corrector lens, but Orion's #4209 Flexishield dew cap works well to prevent problems with fog on the lens. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

Proven optical performance of Celestron's five inch SCT
Small enough to keep set up ready to go
Nexstar computer is easy to use

Cons:

Short battery life

Amazon.com Product Description

Celestron's affordable, expandable NexStar 5i takes the best of the NexStar 5 to the next level of performance and operating features. This Celestron NexStar 5i also includes a special kit for adding a computerized hand control and a sturdy Celestron tripod. The highly advanced computerized hand control will transform your Nexstar 5i into a completely automated GOTO system. Just plug it in to access features like automatic star alignment capability, and GOTO provides slewing to over 40,000 celestial objects from its database of the complete Messier, NGC, IC, and Caldwell catalogs.

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

Equipped with the standard electronic hand control, you can manually slew your NexStar across the sky in seconds, or track a star equatorially as the Earth rotates beneath you. The electronic hand controls allows you to move the telescope at six different rates and has a "double button" feature that lets you instantly increase the slew speed without having to change rates.

Some of the new features include an autoalign routine function, which guides you through a two-star alignment based on time, date, and location information; and the polar alignment routine function, enabling polar alignment for CCD imaging or conventional 35mm astrophotography.

Other features include:

127mm (5-inch) diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain refractor
Focal length of 1,250mm and focal ratio of f10
6-degree per second slew speed
Fully enclosed high-speed motors on both axes
Integrated hand controller built into the side of the fork arm
Auxiliary port for adding optional accessories

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 5i.

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

Optical Tube
Star Pointer Finderscope
Eyepiece
Star Diagonal
Focuser Knob
Battery Compartment
ON/OFF Switch / 12v power
Fork Arm
Hand Control
Schmidt Corrector Plate (not shown)

Customer Reviews:

Go one better than a starter scope and you won't regret it.......2003-09-23

If you're thinking of an entry-level scope but can go a few dollars more, the "kit" form of the NexStar 5i that includes the computerised hand control and the tilt-plate wedge tripod is a great place to start. You won't have the mediocre tracking issues you find in the under $500 scopes, and you have classic, well regarded optics in the Celestron "C5" 5" Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube assembly (OTA).

I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this scope. It tracks extremely well for a non-worm driven telescope and it is good enough that even in alt-az (non-equatorial mode) you can do short exposure astrophotography. If you utilize its tilt-plate wedge and use the built-in polar alignment routine (on the hand control -- it talks you through polar alignment) you can do even better, taking many good 90 second to 2 minute images. You will have to toss some of them because tracking isn't wholly consistent, but still, we're talking about an under $1000 kit so this is good stuff!

The whole unit can stay put together if you've got the room, which means that a smallish person can carry the whole thing in one hand and be set up in minutes (assuming you've given the scope enough time to reach the outside temperature of course). If you add an external power source -- rechargable 12V DC of at least 7 amp-hours like a "jump start" type battery) and a dew shield straight away, you'll have everything you need for some incredible viewing for a long time. You'll want to add eyepieces so look at the Celestron eyepiece kit as a good starter package.

All you need to do after ordering or before if you're smart, is check out the Yahoo NexStar group to ask for help in learning your new cool toy. And check out the NexStarSite dot com for an "i" series specific alignment guide. You'll need to follow it to get the best GOTOs and tracking.

After that, if you kick yourself because you didn't buy an 8" OTA, don't worry. You can add it later. Ask how on the group and they'll direct you to the hardware you'll need. I regularly swap OTAs on my NexStar 5i.

This isn't a long exposure astrophotography platform (for CCD imaging) but if you are interested in starting somewhere, it isn't half bad. And even if you upgrade later to a more appropriate platform for imaging later, I bet you'll keep this little guy.

Average customer rating:
Celestron Deluxe Waterproof Hard Case for Nexstar 5 Scope.

Manufacturer: Celestron
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

Other Telescope Accessories | Telescope | Accessories | Camera & Photo | Categories | Electronics
Other Telescope Accessories | Telescope Accessories | Telescopes | Optics | Camera & Photo | Categories | Electronics
Binoculars | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics
Telescopes | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics
Product Features:

Waterproof

Made of sturdy and rugged ABS plastic

ASIN: B00009R7RW

Product Description

This waterproof case was designed to go with your NexStar 5 telescope. Unbreakable, watertight, dustproof, chemical resistant and corrosion proof are some of the features of this premium case that offers total protection for your equipment. It is made of Ultra High Impact structural copolymer that makes it extremely strong and durable. Its exclusive 1/4" (6.4 mm) neoprene o-ring and ABS latches seal perfectly and includes an automatic purge valve for quick equalization after changes in atmospheric pressure. The case is lined with die cut high-density foam for custom fitting. It is equipped with 2" (5 cm) hard rubber transport wheels, a retractable extension handle and multiple fold down carrying handles. Made in the USA. Inside Dimensions: 22 1/4" x 17 1/8" x 12 5/8".

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics