Celestron Nexstar 5i Telescope
by Celestron

List Price: $1,698.99
Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details

• 127mm (5-inch) diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain refractor
• Compass calibration, enabling you to point to true north more accurately
• Manually slew across the sky in seconds or track a star equatorially
• Electronic controls allows you to move the telescope at six different rates
• Auxiliary Port for optional accessories, including GPS module

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• The NexStar User's Guide

Description of Celestron Nexstar 5i Telescope

The NextStar handset is your user-friendly guide to more than 40,000 celestial objects.

What can I see with the Nexstar 5i? Using an optional Ultima 7.5mm eyepiece for a magnification of 166X, on a good night I can see the Cassini division in Saturn's rings, the famous Great Red Spot on Jupiter (it's actually tan this year), and the polar cap and dark surface markings on Mars. From a dark viewing site in the country, I've been able to find all the Messier galaxies. When I look at M86 in the Virgo galaxy cluster with the included 25mm plossl (50X), for example, I can see five galaxies at once, including M84 and three fainter NGC galaxies. When I look at brighter globular clusters like M13 and M22 with a 12.5mm plossl (100X) I can resolve many individual stars.

Adding the optional computerized hand control will turn the Nexstar 5i into an easy to use automated system. The Nexstar 5i is much easier to use than earlier generations of computerized telescopes. You can choose from four different alignment modes, from the traditional two star alignment to the latest GPS aided automatic setup using the optional CN-16 GPS module. The "quick align" feature is perfect for those nights that I just want a quick look at the planets, and the GPS alignment works so well I've been able to find and observe Venus in broad daylight!

The biggest drawback to the Nexstar 5i is the short life of AA batteries. I've been able to avoid computer crashes caused by low batteries by using Celestron's car battery adapter with a rechargeable jump-start power pack. Like all Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, dew forms easily on the front corrector lens, but Orion's # 4209 Flexishield dew cap works well to prevent problems with fog on the lens. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Proven optical performance of Celestron's five inch SCT.
• Small enough to keep set up ready to go.
• The optional Nexstar computer is easy to use.

• Short battery life.

Reflectors     This is a reflector telescope. Reflectors (also known as Newtonian reflectors or catoptrics) capture light with a mirror at the bottom of a tube, which sends the image to the eyepiece at the top of the tube.    First-time telescope users sometimes have difficulty with the idea of looking through the side of a telescope, but the big draw for reflectors is that they are by far the cheapest to manufacture--and thus offer the best value--of all telescope types. They also generally have zero chromatic aberration.     Read more about different telescope designs in our buying guide

The Celestron FirstScope Series of telescopes is designed with the first-time telescope buyer in mind. Offering exceptional value, these scopes feature compact and portable designs with ample optical performance to excite any newcomer to the world of amateur astronomy. Each telescope has its own design characteristics to help you choose which is best for you. The smaller FirstScopes feature refractor optical designs while the larger apertures feature Newtonian reflector optical systems.

Some of the new features include an AutoAlign Routine function, which guides you through a two-star alignment based on time, date, and location information, and the Polar Alignment Routine function, enabling polar alignment for CCD imaging or conventional 35mm astrophotography.

Other features include:

• 127mm (5-inch) diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain refractor
• Focal length of 1250mm and focal ratio of f10
• 6-degree-per-second slew speed
• Fully enclosed high-speed motors on both axes
• Integrated hand controller built into the side of the fork arm
• Auxiliary port for adding optional accessories

Moon viewing 101
The moon is often one of the first celestial objects a beginner will look at through his or her telescope. Here are a couple hints for you once you get your hands on your new NexStar 5i.

Often, it is tempting to look at the Moon when it is full. At this time, the face we see is fully illuminated and its light can be overpowering. In addition, little or no contrast can be seen during this phase. One of the best times to observe the Moon is during its partial phases (around the time of first or third quarter). Long shadows reveal a great amount of detail on the lunar surface. At low power you will be able to see most of the lunar disk at one time. The optional Reducer/Corrector lens allows for breath-taking views of the entire lunar disk when used with a low power eyepiece. Change to higher power (magnification) to focus in on a smaller area. Choose the lunar tracking rate from the NexStar's MENU tracking rate options to keep the moon centered in the eyepiece even at high magnifications.

Observing the Planets
Other fascinating targets include the five naked-eye planets. You can see Venus go through its lunar-like phases. Mars can reveal a host of surface detail and one, if not both, of its polar caps. You will be able to see the cloud belts of Jupiter and the great Red Spot (if it is visible at the time you are observing). In addition, you will also be able to see the moons of Jupiter as they orbit the giant planet. Saturn, with its beautiful rings, is easily visible at moderate power. Remember that atmospheric conditions are usually the limiting factor on how much planetary detail will be visible. So avoid observing the planets when they are low on the horizon or when they are directly over a source of radiating heat, such as a rooftop or chimney.

The Nuts and Bolts

Optical Tube Star Pointer Finderscope Eyepiece Star Diagonal Focuser Knob Battery Compartment ON/OFF Switch / 12v power Fork Arm Hand Control Schmidt Corrector Plate (not shown)

Catadioptric

• Camera & Photo > Binoculars, Telescopes & Optics > Telescopes > Catadioptric