Buzzillions.com - Celestron AstroMaster 130 EQ Telescope Reviews www.buzzillions.com

Fix to finderscope

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:00:01 GMT

Fix to finderscope

Peanut from Alabama

This was my first telescope. I was worried I would get the "trashy Christmas telescope". After fixing the finder scope tonight, I'm quite happy. Its a sturdy mount. The eyepieces are comfortable, well made and not made cheap. It focuses well. Its weighted well, but you may need two people to move it.[...] Its made of steel, not plastic. It balances well, once you are educated.Now, about the Finder scope problem. There are two pieces of glass within the finder scope, that are adjustable. But this does not help much because, the two pieces of glass are to help triangulate your object into view, but the triangulation is not long enough. And one is not sure where to look at the finder scope. I have fixed this problem by gluing an object on the holding braces of the telescope, so I know where to look, basically I've elongated the finder scope. I fixed this during the day. Read more

Great for Starters

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Great for Starters

Angela from Grand Rapids, MI

I bought this telescope for my fiance for Christmas and he was so excited. It was larger than we expected and awsome. Easy to put together and you just have to experiment with the lenses to get the best view. I had also purchased the zhumell eye piece kit with it. Read more

I am Happy!

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

I am Happy!

Lucid from Tampa, FL

I purchased this telescope as my first one about a month ago. I have used it about 10 times or so. I am very happy with it. I learned how to use the EQ mount right away (This is essential for tracking objects), although I did need to look up on the internet a few times for other techniques and tips on aligning the scope. As for viewing, I live in FL and have moderate to low viewing conditions a lot of the time. Having said that I feel that the scope performs quite well given these conditions. I am able to see Jupiter and its four moons, along with being able to make out the two central atmospheric bands of the Jovian planet. I have seen Venus and its phases, however it is very tiny. I have also found Saturn. The morning that I found Saturn, it was low on the horizon and the conditions weren't that good, needless to say I could not make out the rings. It too was very small. All in all, I am very pleased, I have learned a lot about Astronomy just by using this scope. I am eager … Read more

Great starter telescope!

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Great starter telescope!

Mooble from Austin

The optics are fantastic for a scope in this price range. Terrestrial viewing is amazingly sharp! Celestial viewing is also very impressive. This is a fantastic scope to pique your interest. Even if you outgrow it for celestial viewing, you still have a great terrestrial scope. You can tell they skimped on the mount, but with a little improvisation you can make it suit your needs. Overall this offers amazing bang for your buck. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to get into the hobby. The lenses aren't worth much, but they are worthwhile for terrestrial viewing. Spend a few dollars and get some Zhumell planetary lenses. For $50 they offer another unbelievable bargain. I give it 5 stars despite it's faults just because you can't do any better for the money. This was taken with a camera phone of all things and a 14mm Zhumell planetary lens. Even with a camera phone, it's still impressive. Read more

Good beginner scope

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Good beginner scope

PapaTripleJ from Auburn, CA

This scope is exactly what I expected for the money. A good beginner scope. I haven't used any other telescopes, so I have nothing to really compare with, but this does what I wanted. I've had it for about a month and spent several hours with it. I mentioned it was unstable, which is referring to the fact that the scope has slight jiggles. Not so bad at low power, but noticeable at higher power. It isn't like the whole telescope is unstable or going to tip, just that with an inexpensive telescope, I hear the manufacturer often skimps on the tripod. I'm planning to get some more powerful eyepieces to see the planets, so I am a bit concerned about the jiggling. Even when I am not touching the unit, just peering through the eyepiece, it still jiggles. That being said, I thoroughly enjoy this scope. It's my first, and I doubt it will be my last. I'm getting some new eyepieces, filters, and more so I can expand my use of it. I would recommend this to anyone getting into astron … Read more