Celestron 31042 AstroMaster 114EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope, Dark Blue

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The moon will look spectacular. You will be able to see every large crater in detail as well as all the major geological features. You won’t be able to see the flags on the Moon, but no telescope can. The 114EQ uses a Bird-Jones optical arrangement. It pretends to be a Newtonian telescope, except that the focal length is much longer than the tube itself. How does this work? A corrector lens is placed in the optical path both to correct for the spherical aberration of the primary mirror and to compress the light path to fit into a shorter tube. In theory, such an arrangement could be a good, cheap alternative to a parabolic Newtonian, especially when it was invented–in the days before correctly figured parabolic mirrors were common in mass-market telescopes. In practice, though, pretty much every Bird-Jones is implemented incorrectly, with the corrector lens in the focuser. The AstroMaster accessory kit, which includes a 2x Barlow (not a very good one, but much better than the 50 cent one that comes with many of the PowerSeekers and AstroMasters), a 9mm eyepiece (again redundant with the 10mm), and a 6mm eyepiece, which is actually a good idea for planetary viewing, although it will be uncomfortable to use if you wear glasses due to its small eye lens. It also includes the same filters as the PowerSeeker’s kit. The 6mm eyepiece, when doubled with the Barlow produces a magnification of 333x, which is way too much for this telescope. But the 6mm alone produces a reasonable 167x, which is good for planetary detail that might otherwise be elusive.

Moving on to the mechanical aspects of the OTA, we come to another problem: the plastic castings. The giant casting with the AstroMaster logo that protrudes nearly halfway along the tube, as well as the area around the focuser, means that you cannot slide the tube in its rings to achieve balance on the declination axis in most situations. This strains the mount and is a nuisance while observing, as you will always have to tighten the declination axis. If you’re going to build up your own accessory kit, I recommend getting a 25mm and/or 32mm Plossl for wide-field views (good for finding objects and for taking in large clusters and nebulae), and a 6mm Goldline for planetary and lunar views. Should I buy a used Astromaster 114EQ? The AstroMaster 114EQ is a good entry-level Newtonian telescope. This is the kind of telescope that will last you for many years and grow with you from beginner to enthusiast. Submit a valuation request and we'll provide guide prices with no delay. Plus, we'll collect your gear from your home or work for FREE. For a bit less money, the Zhumell Z114 offers a 114mm telescope like the AstroMaster or StarBlast but with great accessories, great optics and a simple, lightweight and affordable Dobsonian mount.Comptabile Optics Any 1.25" eyepiece supplied with PowerSeeker and AstroMaster telescope kits or any eyepieces with a 34 mm outside diameter Apply the above-mentioned solution to an unscented tissue and gently rub it Starting from the middle of the lens to the periphery of the lens.

Were it not for the balance issues, the CG-3 would actually make a fairly adequate mount for the Celestron Astromaster 114EQ. However, given that the telescope cannot actually balance on the declination axis, it is nearly impossible to aim accurately. Alternative Recommendations Ans: Answer: Yeah, but in this case you require two additional accessories. One is T-adapter, and the other is T-ring. In addition, the ISO and shutter speed require manual adjustment. With the mount aligned, it’s also easier to use astronomy software or maps to locate objects in the sky. Why is this a problem? The focuser moves to accommodate different eyepieces and different eyes. Thus, the corrector lens could never have a chance of actually correcting for spherical aberration–it only corrects at one specific distance from the primary mirror. Although the correctors in these Bird-Jones don’t seem to be actual correctors anyway, merely Barlow lenses which increase the effective focal length of the telescope.Read on for my full review. Celestron Astromaster 114 review What are you buying? 1. 114mm reflector telescope View our closest planetary neighbour with the Celestron Moon Filter. This tinted 1.25” filter is ideal for viewing the Moon through a telescope as reducing the brightness of the planet’s surface brings out more details on the lunar surface. Increase the contrast and view greater details such as craters, mountain ranges, seas and valleys The telescope is attached to the mount by a standard dovetail with tube-rings, so it can be placed on any compatible mount, such as the AstroMaster Alt-az mount or a larger Equatorial Mount.

The Zhumell Z130, with significantly more aperture, better optics, better accessories and an easy-to-use Dobsonian mount. Setting up and adjusting the AstroMaster 114EQ takes a bit of time and practice. It takes a few tries to learn how to adjust the mount and mirrors. For one, it’s bulkier than a refractor telescope. Secondly, you have to regularly align the mirrors (collimation) to get a good image. 2. Equatorial mount and steel tripod Setting up the telescope is a breeze. Even on your first time out, you can assemble the telescope and its accessories in just a few minutes. The total telescope kit weighs in at just 6.7 pounds—perfect for impromptu observing sessions or transporting wherever life’s adventures take you.

The Bird-Jones design is outdated and no longer needed. The cheap Kellner eyepieces supplied with many entry-level telescopes today would’ve amazed a 1950s amateur with their quality and work well enough with even a relatively fast focal ratio telescope. Furthermore, Celestron didn’t even bother to execute the design correctly. Celestron’s Bird-Jones design places the corrector lens inside the focuser. This causes two problems. This is an amazing telescope for astrology hobbyists. It allows you to enjoy the pristine view of the star-studded night sky. This is a beginner level telescope. New astrologers get the first breathtaking experience of watching other planets of the solar system through Celestron Astromaster 114.

The PowerSeeker accessory kit, which I actually got (and still use), contains a 15mm Kellner, a 9mm Kellner, and three filters: an #80A light blue filter, a #25 dark red filter, and a cheap dark Moon filter, which I never use and you don’t need. The 15mm eyepiece is a nice middle-ground between the 20mm and 10mm, but the 9mm is redundant when paired with the AstroMaster’s 10mm. The 80A filter is actually quite useful for bringing out details on Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. The telescope has two useless setting circles for Right Ascension and Declination. In theory, these are used to align with a given object and use them to find a different object by moving the telescope until the RA and Dec displayed on the circles match that of the target object. In practice, they’re nowhere near precise enough to get you to the object you’re looking for–a star-hop is more fun. To make matters worse, they don’t always turn with the telescope; sometimes they slip. For the price, it’s a pretty good deal for anyone looking for a good quality entry-level telescope. Where to buy? Any 1.25" eyepiece supplied with PowerSeeker and AstroMaster telescope kits or any eyepieces with a 34mm outside diameterThe Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ is a great choice for beginners looking for an affordable but good quality reflector telescope.