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Celestron NexStar 130SLT 130mm f/5 Reflector Telescope Expired
$445
$639.95
+ Free Shipping
Amazon has Celestron NexStar 130SLT 130mm f/5 Reflector Telescope (31145) for $444.95. Shipping is free.
B&H Photo Video has Celestron NexStar 130SLT 130mm f/5 Reflector Telescope (31145) for $444.95. Shipping starts at ~$12.
Features:
B&H Photo Video has Celestron NexStar 130SLT 130mm f/5 Reflector Telescope (31145) for $444.95. Shipping starts at ~$12.
- Note: B&H includes 20-Oz Klean Kanteen Insulated Classic Bottle with B&H Logo (added to cart automatically when you add telescope)
Features:
- 130mm Newtonian Reflector OTA
- 650mm Focal Length, f/5 Focal Ratio
- Anti-Reflection Multi-Coated Optics
- 1.25" Focuser, 9mm and 25mm Eyepieces
- Computer-Controlled Alt-Az Mount
- 4000+ Object Database
- Multiple Alignment Procedures
- Sky and Constellation Tour Modes
- Expanded Information on 100+ Objects
- Adjustable-Height Stainless Steel Tripod
Original Post
Written by
Edited November 29, 2022
at 01:47 PM
Deal of the day: Celestron - NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope - Compact and Portable - Newtonian Reflector Optical Design - SkyAlign Technology - Computerized Hand Control - 130mm Aperture https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007UQNNQ
Not best price ever, but lowest since pandemic hit.
Not best price ever, but lowest since pandemic hit.
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Community Wiki
Last Edited by powerfuldoppler | Staff
November 29, 2022
at
01:35 PM
Also available for the same price at B&H Photo Video [bhphotovideo.com]
69 Comments
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Featured Comments
If this is your first scope, I recommend getting one without a computer. Scout craigslist for scope under $100. Learn the ropes, feel the sky for your latitude. Any small scope will do. After you gauge your skill and hone in your forte, spend the money on a bigger scope (larger dia). Enjoying the night sky is not about click and see, its about dexterity and patience. Slow and steady is the way to go.
Depending on your location (latitude) you will need to get a planisphere. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0961320745 (30-40 degrees)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0961320753 (40-50 degrees)
Red headlamp to read the Planisphere and other maps/books in the night. The red light reduces eye strain.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XHZTL3C
After you get good at reading sky maps, locating celestial bodies etc. Spend the money on a jump scope (8" or higher). You will appreciate the quality of Celestron scopes much better. Dont make the the mistake I made of incremental sizes and collection 10 scopes you hardly use. Let the first one be small and non computerized. Then jump to the largest one you can afford.
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For maybe views of clusters or a peek at the moon (albeit chromatically challenged), it may be okay.
For those who wish to spend less than $100, I'd recommend the used market. Check out your CL and Facebook Marketplace.
Otherwise, I'd say splurge and either get the Costco AZ102 or AWB scope.
I own an 8" dob, and yep, it's a pain to lug outside. And I also own the AZ 102, a 5" SCT and a 70mm ETX (comparable to what you are looking at). The ETX I got for $20 on CL -- and it's fine for occasional views and certainly nice for the price I paid. But it's probably my least used scope.
Budge is within 2k.
https://www.twitch.tv/clearskiesn.../schedule/ You can view live streams of broadcast and ask questions. You don't even need a scope when you can join and watch others broadcast with their scopes.
If this is your first scope, I recommend getting one without a computer. Scout craigslist for scope under $100. Learn the ropes, feel the sky for your latitude. Any small scope will do. After you gauge your skill and hone in your forte, spend the money on a bigger scope (larger dia). Enjoying the night sky is not about click and see, its about dexterity and patience. Slow and steady is the way to go.
Depending on your location (latitude) you will need to get a planisphere. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0961320745 (30-40 degrees)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0961320753 (40-50 degrees)
Red headlamp to read the Planisphere and other maps/books in the night. The red light reduces eye strain.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XHZTL3C
After you get good at reading sky maps, locating celestial bodies etc. Spend the money on a jump scope (8" or higher). You will appreciate the quality of Celestron scopes much better. Dont make the the mistake I made of incremental sizes and collection 10 scopes you hardly use. Let the first one be small and non computerized. Then jump to the largest one you can afford.
I like the SkySafari app that is very interactive. It tells you what is visible for your location/time and you can find objects using your phone or tablet and hold it up in the sky.
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Zhumell Z114 Portable Altazimuth Reflector Telescope https://a.co/d/gKXmj3z
That's fine, if the price is right. Like if you can find it used < $100 or new $150 (what they used to go for), it's decent. It's basically the same as a Starblast.
I see amazon has one at $325 right now -- that is utterly insane. Way too much.
If you like EQ mounts, you can get a similar mounted scope (starblast flavor) for $200. But EQ isn't for the faint-hearted.
If you can go for $250, the Astronomer's without borders scope would be a better option. Also tabletop, but it's larger, and not quite as fast (meaning easier to calibrate + might be a tad sharper).
Zhumell is fine as a brand by the way (I know someone else mentioned they never heard of them). Most scopes come from one place and are re-branded.
It's like astromart has a great forum for beginners where you can ask questions and it also has a classifieds section where you can purchase used equipment. If you are serious about this hobby, I highly recommend doing your research first. It is a very addicting but expensive hobby. Sort of like people that are into antique cars and just as expensive if not more. Then when you have everything in place, you won't find clear skies for weeks on end. Patience but having the right equipment makes all the difference.
I realized that I do not enjoy being outside in the heat, cold or mosquitos. I rather position my telescopes/mounts with cameras attached and control/watch everything inside the comfort of my home. All I have to do is tell the mount where to go and it's all automated. Skysafari can control your mount. I can look at real time video (in color) at many objects in the night sky. I can also do long exposures for astrophotography as well. Processing and stacking images is an art in itself but very rewarding when you see what you can create.
This is not a bad scope to start off with although I would start with a refractor. You can connect it to your computer and control remotely. Add a small camera and you can start imaging. The problem with this scope comes down to the mount. It is not very stable and vibrates a lot which hurts doing any exposures past a few seconds. This is good for imaging planets.
https://astrobackyard.c
There's plenty of light pollution filters to choose from. Long exposures with a quality mount makes a big difference in images. The filters do a great job but there's nothing like being in a dark site location.
There's plenty of light pollution filters to choose from. Long exposures with a quality mount makes a big difference in images. The filters do a great job but there's nothing like being in a dark site location.
I'm sure he'll respond with a decent recommendation, but I'll throw my two cents in as well.
You don't want a reflector for terrestrial viewing (buildings, whatever) as everything will appear upside down.
So... cheapish-refractor then ... you can first try going used, locally... people almost give away refractors sometimes. I've seen 80-90mm refractors go for like $40-$50.
If just buying one new and quick, I'd say go for the AZ102 at Costco at $200. Being in an urban area you'll likely be limited to star clusters (hopefully they'll still be decent), and the planets/moon. You'll get some chromatic aberration with this sort of refractor, especially on the Moon and Jupiter, but some folks are okay with that. Personally, besides on Jupiter, it has never bothered me much.
And if you don't care about terrestrial viewing, then I'd say go for the astronomer's without borders mini-dob at $250. But again, it won't work for buildings/landscape.
As for filters... eh.... I live in a suburban area with light pollution and I never found they helped much. With astrophotography they may, but you won't be doing that unless you want to spend big bucks (and likely move to a darker area). You just need to pick bright targets and hope the sky cooperates.
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