Celestron 31045 AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope, Dark Blue

Product Information

Now, using the finder scope, target Polaris (or Sigma Octantis) and move it into the centre of the eyepiece’s field of view. Seemingly as part of an effort to reduce manufacturing costs and maximize profit, Celestron is putting spherical primary mirrors in at least some of its AstroMaster 130EQ units. These mirrors cannot focus light correctly (a proper Newtonian telescope uses a parabolic mirror), and they make the telescope nearly unusable at high magnifications. I did have a chance to try it out. At 150x (9mm with 2x barlow) stars were nice points but they did have a slight asymmetry and tended to bulge out on one side with the slightest amount of defocus (either direction). I could see a couple faint "airy disk" rings that came and went, these had that slight asymmetry in the same direction as the bulge.I'm calling all this coma unless someone tells me otherwise.What magnification do people usually use for star testing? 150x seemed barely enough, I would like to have tried 250x.

Spherical mirrors are less expensive to manufacture but are prone to spherical aberration, especially in larger mirrors, affecting image clarity. Conversely, parabolic mirrors, which are free from spherical aberration, are considered superior in terms of image quality. They are particularly beneficial for larger apertures, but this comes at a higher cost. All these features make it an ideal instrument for both novice astronomers looking for an affordable entry-level setup or experienced stargazers who want to expand their collection of telescopes. Celestron Astromaster 130EQ OTA Assembly With a primary mirror diameter of 130mm and focal ratio of f/5, the Astromaster 130EQ reflector telescope delivers crisp and clear images that make it suitable for both deep-space observation and terrestrial viewing. We also measure the Power with our systems which is essentially the error from the reference sphere to the test optic. The reference sphere we use on our system is a very high quality sphere so the closer to zero the Power, the less error between the 2 elements thus ensuring a higher quality optical surface. Here’s a tip you’ve probably heard from experienced astronomers: one feature worth paying more for when buying a telescope is an equatorial mount.The Astromaster 130EQ reflector telescope offers high magnification capabilities that allow viewers to observe even faint details on celestial objects such as planets, galaxies, and nebulae. The maximum useful magnification of this instrument is approximately 260x, which can be achieved using a Barlow lens or other accessories. If you are looking for a telescope mostly to observe Jupiter, Saturn and the moon, then the 130EQ is a great choice. Accessories include a 20mm and 10mm eyepiece, a finderscope. The two eyepieces offer different magnifications for low and high powered views. The 20mm has a built-in erect image corrector. For this article, we’ll use the AstroMaster 130EQ as an example. This telescope’s focal length is 650mm. (To find the focal length of your telescope, look at the telescope’s nameplate or retaining ring.) The aperture is 130mm. The scope’s highest useful magnification is 307x and the lowest is roughly 19x.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced stargazer looking to experience the wonders of the night sky, the Celestron Astromaster 130 EQ is an excellent choice for exploring the cosmos. All the parts weight about 13kg, which is a bit hefty but not enough that you can’t take it with you when camping. How easy is it to use? Second, the outer edge of the primary mirror isn't visible in the sight tube image. I also can't tell precisely where the secondary mirror edge is located (but I suspect the face is, in fact, fully illuminated). If the face is fully illuminated, this changes my annotated image in post 12 with regards to the actual placement of the secondary mirror (green circle), and the optimal placement (violet circle). The Celestron Astromaster 130EQ is a great entry-level telescope for beginners who want to explore the night sky. With its 130mm aperture and 650mm focal length, it can provide clear views of planets, stars, galaxies, and other deep-space objects. For the same price as or a little more than that of the AstroMaster 130EQ, there are a number of other, much higher-quality telescopes you should definitely consider instead, including the following:One of the best things about the Astromaster 130 EQ is its ease of use. It is simple to set up and comes with a StarPointer red dot finder and Starry Night Astronomy software. The Starry Night Astronomy software helps you learn more about astronomy and makes locating objects in the night sky easy. I'm doing my first ever collimation and have some questions (my scope is an 130mm x 650mm Celestron Astromaster 130EQ). Now, setup the stand – ensure the legs are each pulled out fully (horizontally) and the accessory tray positioned centrally (if this is a structural part of your stand). The primary mirror of the Astromaster 130 EQ has a diameter of 130mm and a focal ratio of f/5, making it ideal for both deep-space observation and terrestrial viewing. Within the solar system, you’re limited primarily by the scope’s optical quality. With a good sample of the 130EQ, Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, the Cassini division in Saturn’s rings, the ice caps and albedo markings of Mars, and even the tiniest lunar craters (as small as a few miles across) are visible with the telescope. With a poor unit, the planets are mushy and devoid of fine detail, though the rings of Saturn and the cloud belts of Jupiter are still visible and the Moon may look acceptable to a beginner. Alternative Recommendations

If you can make these three circles relatively close in apparent size, you can use the outermost circle (the bottom edge of the sight tube or focuser drawtube) and the innermost circle (the reflected edge of the primary mirror) to constrain the alignment of the secondary mirror. Since the primary mirror center spot is referenced from the edge of the primary mirror, the proper alignment of the center spot relative to the sight tube cross hairs indicates the innermost circle(the reflected edge of the primary mirror) is in fact, centered under the focuser.

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. With the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ, a telescope boasting a fast focal ratio of F/5, users can experience wide-field observations of the night sky. This characteristic makes it particularly suitable for viewing larger, more spread-out celestial phenomena rather than focusing on finer details of individual objects.