Computerized telescopes are a fantastic investment if you would like to stargaze. If you are a beginner that is in the market for a computerized telescope there is one company that you should consider - Celestron.
Celestron is one of the most popular companies when it comes to the top of the range telescopes.
In this article, we will be taking a closer look at the Celestron Nexstar 5se computerized telescope. We have reviewed it in much detail, focusing on its specifications such as aperture and mount to find out whether or not it is worth purchasing.
We have included a full list of its pros and cons and some background information on Celestron as a company to help you with your decision.
Celestron Company Background
Celestron is an American based company. It was founded in 1960 by Tom Johnson. They are based in Torrance, California. They are well known for their production of telescopes, but they also create microscopes, binoculars, and telescope accessories.
In 1960, the company began creating telescopes. By 1969, they began to sell Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes which were a good price and popular with many people.
Since then, Celestron has grown in popularity. In 1970, they created their first amateur telescope, which was another popular telescope, and in 1987, they created their first computerized telescope.
They strive to create the best telescopes and products available, and they are always coming up with new and innovative telescope technology
We have split up our review of the Celestron Nextar 5se into useful specification sections for you to find the information you require easily.
Cost and Design
The cost of the telescope is important. As this is a high tech telescope, it is not the cheapest to purchase on the market.
However, it is an investment worth considering, and in comparison to similar products on the market, the price is reasonable. The Nexstar is also created by a well known and trusted company.
The overall telescope design is mostly black, but it does have some orange accents. It weighs 17.6 pounds in total, which is fairly lightweight for a computerized telescope. Its full dimensions are 32.01 x 27.01 x 12.99 inches.
It uses a Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube. This allows the telescope to have a long focal length. The overall field of view is 1.25”, which is fairly small, however, this can be adjusted. This does limit you slightly.
In 2013, the Celestron Nexstar 5se received an award for Telescope of the Year. Given this, it has proved itself to be a reliable and worthwhile purchase.
Even though it is an older model of telescope, it stands the test of time and is still a popular choice with beginners today.
Aperture
The Celestron Nexstar has a 5-inch aperture. This aperture provides a good amount of light, especially when comparing its capabilities to the overall price. The size of the aperture is 125mm.
The 5-inch mirror allows you to see the universe in great detail. It is powerful enough to see the rings surrounding Saturn, the craters on the moon, and the clouds of Jupiter.
The ability this telescope has is impressive and you will be able to see star formations with ease too.
Accessories Included
When you purchase the Celestron Nexstar 5se, it comes with the following equipment:
- Red dot StarPointer finderscope
- 25mm Plossl eyepiece
- Mirror star diagonal
- Visual back
These will all enhance the overall experience of using the telescope.
Automated GoTo Mount and SkyAlign
The fully automated GoTo Mount is a fantastic feature of the Nexstar 5se. As it is computerized and automated, you do not have to worry about moving the telescope manually.
The telescope will do all of the work for you and can track stars with ease, especially if you use the StarSense Auto Align.
In addition to tracking stars and objects, the Nexstar 5se will also locate certain stars and objects. This is great if you are a beginner and still getting to grips with operating a telescope.
SkyAlign allows this to be possible. You just need to point the telescope, press align and it will do all of the work for you.
Nexstar+ Hand Control
The Nexstar+ hand control is another great feature. This hand control allows you to locate over 40,000 different objects and stars within the solar system.
The Sky Tour feature allows the telescope the Nexstar to focus on what is currently in the sky.
Single Fork Arm Mount
The Nexstar 5se comes with a single fork arm mount. This arm mount is easy to use and allows your setup to be hassle-free.
It is easy to operate and put away when not in use. It is sturdy and secure when in place and does not shake. This is important when stargazing.
Power Supply
As this is a computerized telescope, it does require battery operating. It requires the use of 8 lithium metal batteries, which is a fair amount. The only downside to this telescope is that it is rather power-hungry.
When it comes to the power supply, it will work through the batteries fairly quickly and you will likely find that you are replacing the batteries regularly.
Astroimaging
The Celestron 5se supports astroimaging which allows you to take long exposures and images of what the lens can capture.
There are additional Skyris cameras that you can use with this telescope to capture these images.
The built-in wedge enables you to attach a Digital SLR camera to the telescope to capture the images that the telescope has picked up.
Additional Software
When you purchase the Nexstar 5se, you also gain free access to their Starry Night software. This is software that can be downloaded onto a computer.
It allows you to gain more of an understanding of the stars and the night sky. It is one of the best software currently available, and it helps to educate you on where to point the telescope, and what you are looking for.
Durability
Overall this telescope is made from good quality materials and is particularly durable.
When looking at the tripod, this is made from steel, which is particularly sturdy and durable.
Given this, you should have little issues with the telescope potentially damaging.
Warranty
What is great about this telescope is that it comes with a two-year warranty. Given that it is an investment, this will put purchasers’ minds at ease.
As Celestron is the number one telescope creating company in the US, you will also receive the support of trained professionals should anything go wrong with the telescope.
Ease of Use
Overall, this is a particularly easy telescope to use. The settings are easy to follow and the set up is simple.
In addition to this, the telescope does the majority of the work for you, making this a great starting point for beginners.
In addition to being easy to use, it is also easy to transport too. The Nexstar 5se breaks and detaches into smaller pieces. This allows you to transport the telescope without worrying about it potentially damaging or being too cumbersome. The telescope is lightweight overall.
The buttons and controls on the mount are all fairly easy to understand and operate. However, the buttons are fairly small and close together, which may be an issue for some people.
List Of Pros And Cons
Here is a full list of the pros and cons of the Celestron Nexstar 5se, to help you decide whether or not it is worth purchasing.
Pros:
- 5-inch aperture
- Created by the number one telescope company in the world
- Comes with a two-year warranty
- Fully automated GoTo mount tracks and locates stars and objects
- Sturdy, steel tripod
- Supports Astroimaging
- Easy to transport and breaks down into smaller pieces
- Easy to use and a great choice for beginners
- Single fork arm mount
- Nexstar+ Hand control
- Automated GoTo Mount
- SkyAlign
- Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube
Cons:
- Quite a power-hungry telescope that works through the batter power supply fairly quickly.
- The overall field of view is 1.25”, which is fairly narrow and does restrict your viewing slightly.
Summary And Where To Purchase
We hope that you have found this review of the Celestron Nexstar 5se useful. As you can see, it is a fantastic telescope to purchase, especially if you are a beginner.
While it is an investment to make, it is reasonably priced in comparison to similar models available on the market. Even though it was created in 2013, it remains a popular choice for those looking to purchase a computerized telescope. This is due to the great specifications that it has.
Although it does not have the best battery life, its automated GoTo Mount, SkyAlign features, and Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube make up for this. The 5-inch aperture allows you to see celestial objects in much detail.
Overall we think that the 5se is worth considering. If you are interested in purchasing this telescope, you can do so via Amazon US here: Celestron - NexStar 5SE Telescope
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