Additionally, since catadioptric telescopes can succumb to moisture during observations, a dew shield would be a worthy investment to protect the optical system and prolong the telescope's lifetime. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Celestron NexStar 6SE Specifications & Features The Celestron NexStar 6SE utilizes the Schmidt–Cassegrain Telescope Optical Design. You just select an object in the database and the telescopes automatically takes you to the right spot. Over time — and with constantly replacing the batteries — using the telescope has the potential to become quite an expensive enterprise. All About Space magazine When we brought the heart of the star-forming region into view we did notice a degree of vibration while focusing but, once finished, observations could be taken in without any hindrance. NY 10036. And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. Remember though, you will need a Vixen adapter if you want to fit the tube to another Celestron mount. 6” Planetary and deep space telescope All the high-tech computerized stuff aside, the Celestron NexStar 6SE is a very capable telescope thanks to the ultra-wide 6” aperture. If you’re looking for a slightly better telescope in the same category, check this NexStar 127 SLT. For one, the star alignment — which employs Celestron's SkyAlign technology and enables calibration for accurately finding targets — was impressively simple, and it wasn’t long before we were all set up and ready to tour the winter night sky. Pair the telescope with the 9mm eyepiece to observe the moon and planets and the 25mm eyepiece to enjoy a wide-field view of stars and galaxies. When …, When you’re shopping for a new telescope, chances are you’ve staked out a good pitch …, The Meade ETX series consists of three models: the ETX90, the ETX80 and the ETX125. compound based optics tend to utilise a combination of a mirror and lens as opposed to just one or the other. Thank you for signing up to Space. It’s best for observing static objects. A blue filter will provide excellent contrast, playing up the rills and festoons in the gas giant's cloud layers and promote easy viewing of the planetary king's famous storm: the Great Red Spot. All of this fits into a compact orange tube that weighs 11kg and is just 432mm long. Aperture: 150 mm (5.91") © Setting this Schmidt-Cassegrain up took next to no time at all, and we were impressed with the quality of many of its components, especially its red dot finder and sturdy stainless steel tripod. The Celestron NexStar 102 SLT is a great choice for beginner and amateur astronomers looking for a GoTo (computerised) telescope with good optical performance and a reasonable price tag. (9.53 kg) With the telescope aligned, even a complete beginner can locate and track night sky object. The Celestron NexStar 102 SLT is a great choice for beginner and amateur astronomers looking for a GoTo (computerised) telescope with good optical performance and a reasonable price tag. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? Undeterred, we tried out rechargeable batteries as a means to investigate an alternative route for powering the NexStar 6SE, but discovered that the telescope would act strangely with low power and found a quick loss of charge was still a problem. Celestron promises a great deal when it comes to the operational abilities of this instrument, so we were delighted to discover that the NexStar 6SE did exactly what it says on the tin when we took it out to test on a clear December evening. See how easy it is. In some cases though, astrophotography picks out some of the fainter targets that are visible in telescopes with larger apertures. The only mildly challenging step is aligning the telescope. If you plan to travel with it, I recommend getting one for easier portability and to protect the telescope from damage. With the nearly-full moon taking pride of place quite late into the evening, we took the opportunity to view our natural satellite’s cratered surface. This is the main difference between compounds and reflective or refractive telescopes Not many eyepieces are provided despite this Schmidt-Cassegrain's high RRP and it does drain batteries quickly when in use, meaning that operation and add-ons come at an extra cost. …, We all know the feeling when being in an amazing place, the awe and desire …, 10 Interesting Facts about the Solar System …, Meade ETX 125 Review: MAK Computerized Telescope. Here’s a quick video from Celestron explaining how to go about the alignment process. Jack Bennett is the founder and editor of Stargazing in the UK. The Celestron NexStar 102 SLT telescope is not just great for night sky observations; you can also use it for terrestrial viewing much like a pair of binoculars. Weighing in at 21 lbs. It’s more expensive than an ordinary manual telescope but it makes observations more fun and productive. The best part about having a GoTo telescope is that it becomes much easier to spot objects in the sky. You probably don’t know which area of the sky Jupiter appears in at a certain time of the year, but the telescope does. Mount type: Single-arm fork, alt-azimuth. All you need to do is set the right date and time and then align the telescope using the included finderscope. The NexStar 6SE is a great representation of Celestron's iconic telescope range. The setup offers a lifetime of observations provided it is treated with care and little-to-no maintenance is carried out on the optics and computerized mount. Given its capabilities, this telescope is quite difficult to outgrow — it can be used as an observer's main instrument or even as an add-on to existing kit, providing the astronomer with the flexibility of a quicker, fuss-free skywatching experience over more complex setups. Using the included eyepieces, you’ll enjoy great views of the moon, planet and stars. Combine the Celestron NexStar 6SE's flawless optical coating, its ease of use and high-quality build and you have an instrument that is built to provide excellent views of the night sky for many observing sessions to come. The GoTo facility does drain batteries and is a tad on the noisy side when in operation, but a constant power supply and taking the telescope to a remote location (if you're concerned about waking the neighbors!) The mount sits on a steel tripod to ensure it remains sturdy during observations. Despite this, the NexStar 6SE boasts quality over lighter instruments, so we don't consider this to be a major setback in the design. The NexStar 6SE's alignment technology takes the hassle out of calibrating the instrument and, once completed, the GoTo system is exceedingly accurate in locating targets at the touch of a button. Jupiter will only continue to make an excellent target by increasing the telescope’s magnification, something we highly recommend either by using a Barlow lens as well as additional eyepieces with a 1.25” fitting. He lives in London and have started this blog about stargazing and amateur astronomy for beginners to keep track of his attempts to explore the Universe. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. Faint brown and cream bands were visible across Jupiter's surface. Star Pointer Finderscope with mounting bracket, The Sky™ Level 1 astronomy software with a database of over 10,000 objects. Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! We strongly recommend purchasing an AC power cord from Celestron — unfortunately, this is not included with the telescope. Track night sky with intense clarity from the very best components of reflector and refractor are! 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