All the shining stars on the night sky always give a humble & awe-inspiring view. And a telescope can get you close & personal to the far distant objects.
There are immense variations available when it gets to telescope. For curious amateurs or domestic space voyagers, making the choice gets more difficult considering the budget.
So how can you start your space exploration program? As a beginner, you’ll barely require highly powerful scopes to note down all the greatest details.
That’s where you better check our Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ review. It’s definitely a great option to get used to professional telescoping adventure.
With standard features & several benefits, you can rely on its overall performance. For the best part, 130EQ is one reasonably powerful unit within an exceptionally lower price tag.
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian Telescope Review
Product Description
Celestron itself is one top manufacturer of high-quality astronomical devices. And its AstroMaster series offers top-notch telescope for beginners. In fact, the dual-purpose design initiates both celestial & terrestrial views.
Of course, AstroMaster 130EQ is no different either. Not to mention, 130EQ basically combines everything to get you close enough to the stars. For any astronomical enthusiast, it’s the ultimate option within a reasonable budget.
Despite its severe complexity, the device comes with a rather user-friendly operation. The system features a Newtonian reflector to offer maximum clarity for solar bodies. It allows the amateur stargazers to get adjusted with a professional telescope mechanism.
From adults to kids, it ensures exceptional performance all along. You can easily discover the night sky with extremely sharp & detailed views. When you have Celestron 130EQ AstroMaster reflector telescope by the side, the universe becomes yours to explore.
High-end materials impart unparalleled serviceability with enduring strength. Its instinctive functionality just keeps standing against all the deteriorating weather agents. Even its setup requires no special expertise or additional accessories.
Though it comes with superb strength, the assembly merely weighs about 17 lbs. Consequently, the lightweight frame barely weighs you down on the outside. You’re ready to set out for star parties or camping trips with your friends.
As per the current edition, the scope includes a spherical primary mirror only. Unlike the parabolic mirror, it may suffer from spherical aberration. For the best part, you’ll barely notice any major difference between these two as a beginner.
For the objective lens, it includes an effective 130mm glass optics with full coating. There are two eyepieces included – 10mm & 20mm. The 20mm piece yields 45x magnification. Meanwhile, the 10mm eyepiece provides an enormous 90x enlargement.
You can attain a high range of zoom in/out, initiating a balanced adjustment. In fact, the lowest magnification measures about 16x only. But the highest magnification is as high as 269x which seems okay for any beginner level.
Thus, you can easily focus on the targeted object to receive clearer & brighter images. No matter whether it’s Saturn or the rings, other planets, sun/moon or even far galaxies/nebula. Therefore, an outstanding clarity with superb perception prevails for your observation.
The main telescope stands on a supportive, highly stable German Equatorial Manual mount. Regarding the mounting frame, it includes two slow-motion control knobs. Obviously, one knob is for terrestrial objects while the other one stands for celestial bodies.
Both knobs let you adjust the precision viewing angle easily. Just turn the knobs & you can effortlessly track any particular astronomical body at once. You can give more focus on any specific object by centering it on your eyepiece.
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ with eyepiece kit contains a supportive tripod to hold the entire assembly. Its rugged construction enables one stable platform, regardless of land surface condition. Obviously, the 1.25” steel tubular legs offer hours of uninterrupted use.
As a bonus, simply install Starry Night Basic Edition to your pc. The interactive sky simulating software contains an enormous 36000-object database. You’ll find downloadable sky maps & research objects ahead of your upcoming astronomical session.
Key Feature at a Glance
- Heavy-duty materials for overall framework.
- Newtonian reflector telescoping mechanism.
- Terrestrial and celestial viewing functionality.
- Aluminum coated 130mm optical glass lens.
- Extended 1000mm focal length with the lens.
- Fix designed StarPointer red-dot finderscope.
- Two convenient eyepieces, 10mm & 20mm.
- Standard 100mm – 150mm aperture modes.
- German Equatorial Manual mounting facility.
- Focusing on objects through f/8.7 focal ratio.
- Slow-motion control knobs for adjustment.
- Rugged, pre-assembled & stable tripod stand.
- Bright imaging with 12.8 limiting magnitudes.
- Software guidance for simulating sky maps.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope
Question: Why the image looks upside down?
Answer: Only 10mm eyepiece provides an upside-down view & it’s normal.
Question: Does the assembly contain collimation eyepiece?
Answer: No, you’ll have the built-in eyepieces only for use.
Question: Is it possible to adjust the mirror?
Answer: Yes, absolutely. You better purchase a laser collimator.
Question: Should I upgrade the tripod system later?
Answer: Unless you can manage an exact match, it’s not recommended.
Question: Can I get any carrying case for the telescope?
Answer: Sorry, no specific case exists for AstroMaster 130EQ.
Question: What’s the exact type of the integrated mirror?
Answer: The telescope features a spherical mirror of 4.5” size.
Question: How can I attach smartphones to take pictures?
Answer: Using the eyepiece-sized adapter, you can easily attach a smartphone.
Question: Does the pack include any solar filter?
Answer: Unfortunately, it doesn’t. But you can use filters of the right size.
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ – What Can You See?
Of course, every single telescope has its limitation on the endless sky. But What can you see with a Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ? Not to mention, it’s difficult to predict the observable view based on technical specifications.
AstroMaster 130EQ offers a convenient aperture module range of 100 – 150 mm. Regarding the exact measurement, it provides a reasonable 4.48” or 114mm. Though you can’t have the greatest details, it’ll get you close enough to several astronomical bodies.
Inside the solar system, you can easily get the following views –
- Phases of Mercury
- Lunar rilles (surface depressions) & craters.
- Martian polar caps & its dark surface features.
- Detailed cloud belts of Jupiter.
- Shadows of Jupiter’s moons.
- Rings & several moons of Saturn.
- Definite presence of Uranus & Neptune.
- Sunspot structures (with a solar filter).
Excellent clarity prevails for double stars, segregated by 1.5 arc seconds. Also, you can observe fainted stars up to 12 magnitudes. Of course, you’ll miss in-depth details.
Going for the deeper sky, the scope can capture emission & planetary nebulas & globular clusters. Meanwhile, all the galaxies will remain as mere hazy patches.
How to Align Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ telescope promises to provide excellent views of outer space objects. But only when you maintain the right alignment. In fact, the Newtonian reflector telescope requires frequent alignment, referred to as collimation.
Without knowing the proper steps, aligning the view certainly becomes a tedious, incomprehensive & time-consuming job. Not to mention, all it requires to follow the mentioned 3 steps.
Step 1: Centering the secondary mirror on the focusing axis.
Step 2: Aiming the eyepiece at the primary mirror center.
Step 3: Centering the eyepiece’s viewing field with the primary mirror’s sweet spot.
Taking the Equatorial Mount into account, you’ll have to go for polar alignment. Though it may sound complicated, it’ll become easy after performing a few times.
Set the latitude following the steps right below –
- Adjusting tripod legs to get sufficient eyeballing level.
- Determining your latitude on earth from online sources.
- Locating the integrated latitude scale near the base.
- Loosening the locking knob by turning it counter-clockwise.
- Adjusting the latitude by turning the back-sided screw.
- Tightening the knob after setting the latitude accurately.
Then, you’ll have to rotate the mount for pointing the polar axis. The process includes –
- Setting the telescope tube right above the German Equatorial mount.
- Locking down its DEC (Declination) & RA (Right Ascension) clutching knobs.
- Estimating the direction of true north based on the magnetic north pole.
Verdict
The infinite array of overhead stars gives a breathtaking view on naked human eyes. And the right telescope lets you know the heavenly bodies, revealing the secrets.
It’s indeed the ultimate preference to satisfy beginner/amateur quest. From the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ review, it’s sure to gather adequate light to explore the astronomical objects.
Combing several features from professional telescopes, it initiates a great start for anyone. Even the operational complexity remains within your capability.
Without spending much, you’ll have incredible clarity & sufficient magnification. Despite its certain limitations, you can count on its outstanding performance.
