Pros
Great for beginners
Good brand reputation (Celestron)
Relatively easy assembly for novices
Red dot starfinder helps with alignment
Equatorial mount provides stability
Good optics for clear images
Potential for viewing planets, moon, and deep space objects
Comes with bonus astronomy software
Adjustable-height tripod
Affordable entry-level telescope
Cons
Some parts can arrive broken or require adjustment
Red dot starfinder can be finicky and may die quickly
Equatorial mount has some design flaws
Main Product Advantages
8 Beginner Friendly
Many beginners found it a great starting telescope, though some believe it's more suited for intermediate users.
7 Optics Quality
Fully-coated glass optics provide sharp and clear views. Some users noted the optics are excellent but others mentioned issues with spherical mirrors and collimation.
7 Ease of Assembly
Assembly is relatively straightforward for most users, though some assembly defects were reported.
6 Red Dot Starfinder
The red dot starfinder is helpful for aligning the telescope but has minor calibration issues.
6 Equatorial Mount
Equipped with an equatorial mount which offers fine-tuning knobs for tracking, although some users found the mount flawed and unstable.
6 Value for Money
Priced well for its features but additional purchases (e.g., better eyepieces) are often required to fully enjoy it.
5 Adjustable-Height Tripod
The adjustable-height tripod provides stability, but some parts are made from plastic, reducing durability.
5 Durability
Some parts like the tripod legs and slow motion controls are flimsy and prone to breaking.
4 Included Eyepieces
Comes with 10mm and 20mm eyepieces, which many users found low quality and often replaced with better ones.
4 Astrophotography
Basic smartphone astrophotography is possible but the setup is not optimized for serious astrophotography.
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian Telescope Review
For amateur stargazers, getting adjusted to the complexity of most high-quality telescopes can be frustrating and lead quickly to a lack of interest. If you’d like to enjoy the outdoors and use a professionally-designed, dual-purpose telescope for astronomy beginners that is powerful and user-friendly, Celestron offers an exceptional option.
Design and Build Quality
The Celestron AstroMaster Series 130EQ Newtonian Telescope is built with a lightweight frame and fully-coated glass optics. This telescope is powered by a fully-coated 130mm glass optic objective lens, ensuring a combination of portability and durability.
Equatorial Manual Mount
It features an AstroMaster German Equatorial manual mount that includes two easy-to-manipulate slow-motion control knobs. These knobs permit precision adjustments, making it easier to view terrestrial and celestial objects in exceptional quality.
Eyepieces and Magnification
Included with the telescope are two eyepieces—a 20mm eyepiece with 45x magnification and a 10mm eyepiece capable of 90x magnification. This range of magnification allows you to focus on distant objects with amazing clarity and perception.
Viewing Experience
Celestron AstroMaster telescopes are designed with high-quality materials to provide crystal-clear and bright images of celestial bodies like Saturn, Jupiter, and the Moon, along with galaxies and nebulae. You can also use this telescope for viewing land-based objects during daytime hours.
Ease of Setup
The telescope is quick to set up and requires no tools, making it perfect for beginners. The kit includes a rugged, pre-assembled tripod with 1.25-inch steel tube legs, providing a stable platform for hours of safe use.
Bonus Astronomy Software
As a bonus, the telescope comes with the Starry Night Basic Edition astronomy software. This interactive sky simulation software includes a 36,000-object database that lets you download printable sky maps, research thousands of celestial objects, and plan your next observing session.
Conclusion
The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian Telescope is an outstanding choice for beginners, offering a powerful yet user-friendly experience. With its high-quality optics, ease of setup, and bonus software, it provides excellent value and an enriching stargazing experience for both adults and kids.
