Best Celestron telescope for astrophotography.
In recent years, there have been multiple technological advancements in the world of optics. Besides using a telescope to view celestial objects, you can connect your telescope to your smartphone and take photographs or record videos but nothing beats a quality telescope. So, if you are an astronomy enthusiast and you would love to document what you see, a telescope for astrophotography is an indispensable item to have.
Celestron makes some of the best telescopes for astrophotography. These telescopes are well-made and ideal for astrophotography as well as live viewing.
They are easy to use and suitable for experienced astronomers and beginners as well.
With that in mind, let’s now look at the best Celestron telescope for astrophotography available on the market.
Best Celestron Telescope for Astrophotography-Top Picks
Celestron-NexStar 127SLT Computerized Telescope
This Celestron-NexStar 127SLT is known for its durability and versatility. The telescope is easy to operate and suitable for beginners and seasoned astronomers as well. It is fully computerized to track your objects automatically and provide pinpoint accuracy.
Featuring the Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design, the telescope provides quality images in any lighting condition. The extra-large 127mm aperture collects optimum light to see the solar system and beyond.
The telescope is suitable for weekend camping trips and night-time excursions. It can be used by both adults and kids as it is easy to use. Besides, the compact and lightweight design makes it easy to assemble and great for travel. With the pre-assembled, adjustable steel tripod, you’ll be up and ready to take photographs within the shortest period of time.
Features
- Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design
- 60x, 167x Magnifcation
- Large 127mm aperture
- Fast set up
- f/12 Focal ratio
- 1500mm (59”) Focal length
- 127mm (5”) Aperture
- Free starry night software
- Compact, lightweight, and portable
- Adjustable tripod
- Fully computerized GoTo mount
- 18x-300x magnification
Celestron-Nexstar 8SE Telescope
This Celestron-Nexstar 8SE is a computerized telescope suitable for beginners and professional astronomers. Featuring a fully automated GoTo mount, the telescope offers revolutionary alignment technology. It has a fast setup design so you’ll be ready to use it in a matter of minutes.
The 8-inch primary mirror collects enough light to provide the best views of the solar system. When it comes to viewing deep-sky objects, the telescope provides great views of hundreds of pinpoint stars across the Hercules Globular cluster. Better yet, the automatic GoTo mount locates and tracks thousands of celestial objects for you.
The telescope is not only easy to use but easy to mount as well. You can mount in the steel tripod included and get it aligned and ready to use within minutes. Furthermore, the telescope is compatible with all high-tech accessories and smartphones. You can also provide GPS coordinates to the telescope via SkySync or use the StarSense AutoAlign to add automatic alignment functionality.
Features
- Premium quality optics
- Premium StarBright XLT coatings
- Powerful 2,032mm focal length
- Light and portable
- Computerized GoTo tracking
- Ultra-sturdy steel tripod
- Quick and straightforward tool-free setup
- Free starry night software
- Large 8-inch aperture
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- f/10 ratio
- 29x–480x magnification
- 14 limiting magnitude
- Starsense technology compatibility
Celestron- AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope
This Celestron- AstroMaster 70AZ is your ideal option if you are looking for an affordable yet quality telescope. This powerful refractor telescope is user-friendly and great for both adults and kids. It comes with a 70mm aperture for optimum light collection and fully-coated glass optics for brilliant and vivid images.
The high-quality telescope features 2 eyepieces, 20mm and 10mm. With the 20mm eyepiece you get a 45x magnification and up to 90x magnification with the 10mm eyepiece. This combination lets you focus on faraway targets with excellent clarity and perception.
The telescope is highly versatile. You can use it to view land objects such as birds and wildlife during the day and then switch to viewing the stars, moon, and planets at night. The rugged, pre-assembled tripod included provides a stable platform for fatigue-free viewing. The setup of the tripod and mounting process is quick and simple, with no tools needed. Also included is a red dot finder scope and an erect image star diagonal.
Features
- High-quality optics
- Fully-coated 70mm glass optic objective lens
- Erect image star diagonal
- Day and night application
- Quick and simple, tool-free set up
- 2 eyepieces, 20mm and 10mm
- Red dot finderscope
- Adjustable-height tripod
- Bonus Astronomy Software Package
- 70mm (2.76”) aperture
- 900mm (35”) focal length
- f/13 focal ratio
- 11.7 limiting magnitude
- 10x–165x magnification
Celestron- 70mm Travel Telescope
Here is another quality Celestron telescope suitable for budget-conscious users. If you love going for adventures, this travel telescope suits. It’s fairly light and easy to carry. It has a user-friendly design which makes it ideal for both adults and kids regardless of their skills.
The telescope is well-made to provide bright and vivid images. It is equipped with fully-coated, high-quality glass optics which enhance light transmission. Moreover, the telescope has a wide 70mm aperture which allows for high image resolution, without adding so much extra weight. An additional coating on the 70mm objective lens makes the images bright and clear.
The scope comes with two eyepieces, 20mm and 10mm. This combination lets you focus on long-range targets with amazing clarity and perception. It also features a star diagonal for clear low-and-high-power viewing during the day and at night.
When not in use, the telescope packs into the travel pack for convenient traveling and easy storage. It offers the best way to enjoy quality images of the moon, stars, and planets at night and birds, wildlife, and other land-based targets during the day.
Features
- Superior optics
- High-quality eyepieces
- Large 70mm objective lens
- Bonus bag, tripod, and software
- Day and night use
- Easy installation
- User-friendly
- Lightweight, portable, and great for travel
- Premium-quality fully-coated lenses
- 400mm (16”) focal length
- 70mm (2.76”) aperture
- f/5.71 focal ratio
- 10x–165x magnification
Celestron- NexStar 5SE Telescope
This is a high-end computerized telescope suitable for family use. The telescope provides incredible optical clarity and magnification which makes it suitable for multiple outdoor applications. You can use it to view land-based objects during the day and celestial objects at night.
The telescope uses state-of-the-art technology to provide accurate objects’ locations. It provides programmed access to thousands of deep sky, solar system, and other terrestrial objects, which viewers can view through the large 235mm aperture. The large 2350mm focal length and the 13mm eyepiece provide a high 181x magnification for the best image views.
The telescope features StarBright XLT high transmission coatings for bright, clear, and sharp images. The durable and sturdy steel tripod features a built-in wedge that you can use for astrophotography. You can also control it through the CPWI telescope control software.
For beginners, the telescope provides excellent easy-to-use features for easy operation. You can easily align it on any 3 bright objects in the sky and you are good to go. Plus, it’s GPS-compatible and compatible with most high-tech accessories as well.
Features
- StarPointer finderscope
- GPS-compatible with optional CN16 GPS accessory
- Wide 5-inch aperture
- Lightweight and portable
- Very sturdy steel tripod
- A sturdy computerized altazimuth mount
- Quick and simple tool-free set up
- StarBright XLT high transmission lens coatings
- Fully automated GoTo mount
- 18x–295x magnification
- f/10 focal ratio
- 1250 mm (49”) focal length
- Schmidt-Cassegrain optical design
See Also
- 7 Best Celestron Telescopes under $500
- Best Telescopes for Viewing Planets and Galaxies
- 6 Best Telescopes under $500
- Best Telescope for Astrophotography under $1300
Choosing the Best Celestron Telescope for Astrophotography
When shopping for the best Celestron Telescope for Astrophotography, here are some of the key factors you should consider.
- Level of Experience
The best Celestron Telescope for Astrophotography is one that suits your experience level. If you are a beginner, you’ll want a telescope that’s decently affordable and easy to use. You’ll want to first learn how to use the telescope before you can get a high-end one. Try to look for a model which is user-friendly and easy to mount or make adjustments. This way, you will have more time to view whatever you are viewing rather than trying to figure out how to use the telescope.
For seasoned Astrophotographers, you must be looking for a more powerful telescope with complex and high-end features such as GPS compatibility and electronic touchpads. With such high-end features, expect to pay more for the equipment you choose to buy.
- Aperture Size
When buying a new telescope for astrophotography, the size of the aperture is an important factor you should consider. The bigger the aperture diameter, the more light is collected. The result is brighter and vivid images all through.
The size of the aperture/objective lens is measured in mm or inches. To have the best photographs and quality videos, look for a telescope with at least a 70mm aperture/objective lens.
- Magnification
The telescope’s magnification power is the other important factor to consider. With telescopes, the magnification increases with a change in the size of the eyepiece. Very high magnification results in the production of dim and blurry images. To avoid that, look for a scope with large aperture size. The aperture will collect in more light, so dim and blurry images will become clearer.
Most Astrophotographers find telescopes with about 20x to 50x per aperture inch sufficient. In favorable viewing conditions, it means that a 4-inch telescope will give about 200x magnification which is very useful in astrophotography. Avoid telescopes with extreme magnification power such as 600x as they will be overkill.
- Size and Portability
Before you buy a telescope for astrophotography, consider where you intend to use it. If you intend to use the telescope for viewing celestial bodies at the home, you don’t have to worry about portability. However, the telescope should have the right size in terms of objective lens diameter and magnification to ensure quality views.
On the other hand, if you intend to use the telescope for adventure activities and travel, you’ll want the scope to be lightweight and easy to carry around. It should be compact enough so it’s easy to pack in your travel backpack or car.
- Additional Accessories
Some extra accessories may come with the telescope or telescope mount to make your viewing session better and worthwhile. Such accessories include a carrying case, GoTo mount feature, and smartphone mount.
A carrying case is important as it keeps your telescope safe during travel or storage. The best telescope cases are made with high-quality materials to last long. They are also padded on the inside to protect the telescope from getting scratches and other damages during transit.
A smartphone mount is a handy accessory for Astrophotographers. You can use it to take photographs or record videos of the objects you are watching during the day or at night.
A GoTo mount is mostly found in high-end telescopes. This is a compact onboard computer that is attached to a motorized mount. The computer comes with every information about the deep sky and celestial bodies. All you have to do is choose an object such as a star, planet, or moon and it will automatically locate that chosen object.
FAQs
- Are Celestron Telescopes for Astrophotography worth it?
Absolutely. Getting a Celestron telescope is an important investment in your advanced interest in Astrophotography. It helps you to take quality pictures or record videos of the objects you are viewing.
- How much should I spend on a telescope for astrophotography?
It depends. If you are just a beginner, you don’t have to spend so much. There are multiple budget telescopes you can buy and still enjoy the quality and clear views. However, if you are a seasoned Astrophotographer, you can spend more and get yourself a high-end telescope with high-end features.
- What size telescope do I need?
Your ideal telescope size will depend on where you intend to use it. You can get a large telescope if you intend to use it to view celestial objects at home only. For travel and outdoor adventures, you’ll need a compact telescope that’s easy to maneuver with and lightweight for easy transportation.
Conclusion
It is our hope that you have found this buying guide insightful. Surprisingly, there is a wide range of Celestron telescopes available on the market, but not all are suitable for astrophotography. The telescopes listed above are quality, durable and versatile. They are compatible with smartphones so you can take good-quality pictures and record videos of stars, planets, moon, and land-based objects.