As a child, I was continually astonished by astronomy and space, which inspired me to pursue a degree in astrophysics, which allowed me to have fantastic work and enjoy doing what I love.
Today, my children are the right age (10 and 13) to be as interested in this activity as I was, so I opted to purchase this telescope for them, and even though I acquired it for a low price ($499! ), I knew the expression on their faces would be priceless.
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The Celestron NexStar 130 SLT was the model I chose, and it proved to be an excellent option…
It was simple to put together, and we were done in a matter of minutes (the parts were lightweight and we had no problem carrying them). I was immediately struck by how far these scopes have come since I was a child…
The lens’ 130 mm reflector performs much better than the 90 mm designs of my previous versions, and it has more than double the light-gathering capability!
Not to mention the color-correcting tool, which makes things seem closer and more colorful!
The real eye-opener, however, came with its motorized mount features; high-tech software named “SkyAlign” alignment technology uses the “StarPointer Finderscope” along with a red LED laser to automatically move the telescope and pinpoint objects in the sky, allowing you to sit back and let the telescope do all the work.
Surprisingly, it knows about over 4,000 celestial objects, and we were able to quickly detect ones like Saturn and even something obscure like the globular cluster in the constellation Hercules (M13).
All of these eye-catching technological aspects meant that once my children got their hands on it, it was difficult to take them off and put them to bed. They now know how to use this telescope better than I do, and when their friends come around, they rush over to show them this planet or that moon.
It turned out to be more than simply a toy or a cheap technological gimmick (like most things for kids these days), but a fantastic learning tool, which was precisely what I was looking for: something that would not only captivate their little attention spans but also teach them.
I’m not sure how long their infatuation will last, and I may have to complement it with other edu-science devices one day, but I regarded it as one of the finest things I could do for them at this time of their development.
Features
When compared to comparable telescopes in its price range, the Celestron NexStar 130 SLT is at the top of its class. It provides an incredible number of functions at an affordable price. The sleek, eye-catching appearance, together with the functions mentioned in the next section, make it a great delight to use.
This unit’s most eye-catching characteristics include:
- Two-inch eyepiece compatibility
- Wide field views
- High-quality 130 mm reflector
- 30% more light-gathering power than the previous 114mm model
- The StarPointer finderscope helps you perfectly align the telescope, allowing you to precisely locate objects
- The computerized Altazimuth mount puts the power in your hands, enabling you to accurately pinpoint over 4000 interstellar objects along with galaxies and stars
- Quick, tool-free setup, which is made possible by the quick-release fork arm mount, optical tube, and accessory tray
- Durable stainless steel tripod
- Included CD-ROM titled “The Sky”, which will educate you on what you will be seeing through this telescope and also gives you printable maps
User Reviews
Other owners can’t get enough of the Celestron NexStar 130 SLT! Here’s what some of them had to say:
“This telescope’s view is exceedingly crisp and the alignment process is simple. It weighs in at about 18 pounds and that makes it easier to transport. It is most definitely worth the money.”
-Phillip Matthews, filipmat.us
“I live in a large neighborhood. I’m surrounded by fences and trees and that has always been a hindrance while watching the sky. This telescope, along with the two inch eyepiece, have allowed me to view the sky perfectly even in the midst of all the clutter and lights. I can’t imagine using any other telescope.”
-Amazon Verified User, Jon Beltran
“My whole family enjoys using this telescope. The diversity of it being good enough for me to use and simple enough for my children to use is great. My search for an amazing telescope is over!”
-Amazon Verified User, Hank Vera
Pros and Cons
Positives:
- Great telescope for kids to use, it educates and takes all the unnecessary work out of setting up a great view.
- The simple design allows for quick assembly, even my kids can do it by themselves (as long as I’m watching them though, haha).
- Telescope alignment can be really tricky if you don’t know how to do it, the “Skyalign” makes this step extremely easy so the only thing you need to do is gaze at the stars.
- If you don’t know what to look for but want to see some beautiful sights, the “skytour” will show you the best things in the sky, just put in your location, time and date.
- 2 full years of warranty, if your telescope breaks (ours hasn’t, but accidents happen.) then send it to Celestron and they will fix it for you.
Negatives:
- It doesn’t have as many features as something like the Celestron Nexstar 8 SE, but that telescope is in a different price range. I personally paid $499 and got more than what I paid for.
- My Daughter was upset with the fact that they don’t make them in pink (c’mon Celestron! haha).
Telescope FAQs
- What is the price?
Because it is against Amazon policy for me to provide an exact amount because it is subject to change, the easiest method to verify the price is to go straight to the Amazon website here.
- What exactly does a 130mm reflector mean?
The aperture or “size” of the telescope’s mirror is 130mm; the larger that number, the clearer and brighter your vision will be.
- All of that technological equipment seem difficult to use; how competent do you need to be to operate this telescope?
Anyone should be able to use this telescope reasonably quickly; a user manual is supplied, and there are a plethora of helpful set-up videos on Celestron’s YouTube account.
- What should I do if my telescope fails?
In the odd event that your telescope breaks (these things are tough! ), there is a free two-year guarantee included with your purchase; just mail it to Celestron and they will repair it for you.
My Final Verdict
Yes, yes, yes, my kids and I adore this fantastic telescope, and I’m certain it will be in our house for many years to come! It’s fun to watch the telescope move and teach my kids about various celestial objects. The expressions on their faces warmed my heart, and I hope this instills in them a feeling of wonder and interest in the world. If this seems like something you’d want for your children, you can acquire it on Amazon at a discounted price.
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