Celestron Firstscope 114 Short Telescope
by Celestron
(Click here)
Customers in the UK,
buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: CelestronProduct features:
- Manual slow-motion controls
- Newtonian reflector optics
- 1,000mm focal length
- Comes with adjustable aluminum tripod
- 18-inch tube is compact and portable
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Celestron Firstscope 114 Short Telescope
Customer Review: I like it better and better each time I use it.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had my Firstscope 114 Short for almost two years now. I really think I couldn't have chosen a more appropriate one. I live in a house with a backyard and I have a car. Since the telescope doesn't take up much space, I just keep it set up in a corner of my room for the entire winter when I'm not using it. (I live at 64°N so stargazing in the summer is off.)
It's easy to get it in and out of the car when I want to escape the light pollution. I just take the eyepieces from the tray, unfasten two screws to lift the tube off and then I can put the whole thing in the back seat in two pieces (plus the eyepieces). Taking it out to the backyard is just a matter of carrying it there by one hand and then working the screws to raise the tripod with the other hand. The eyepieces just ride along in their tray. Since it is so easy to handle, I use it a lot when I have the time and the sky is clear.
I could easily use it right away when I got it thanks to the StarPointer, which is much easier to use than a real finderscope.
The optics seem to be of good quality. I learned to collimate the mirrors so I probably get views pretty much as good as anyone does with a scope this size. I think it will turn out to be big enough to keep me entertained with deep sky viewing until I save up for a telescope five times its price. Since it has an equatorial mount, I can also look at the planets and the moon with high magnification.
This telescope isn't really designed with astrophotography in mind, but it does have a piggy back mount and with a T-adapter and T-ring an SLR body can be attached to it. Don't expect it to be any good for long exposures though.
The things that I would complain about, if any, are the setting circles, which are useless due to bad design, the screws that fasten the slow motion dials (and which I should just replace) and that a plastic part on the tripod broke, luckily without detracting from the functionality of the tripod.
If you are looking for a telescope that is easy to use, can be used for observing the planets and also easily be transported in a small car to a dark sky site for deep sky observation (but not necessarily taking pictures) and if it is the right price for you, I recommend the FirstScope 114 Short. I'm very happy with mine.
Description of Celestron Firstscope 114 Short Telescope
Increase portability without sacrificing power or performance -- FirstScope 114 Short features: -- **114mm (4.5") Reflector -- **1000mm focal length, f/9 focal ratio -- **CG-2 Equatorial Mount with setting circles and slow motion adjustment cables -- **Sturdy adjustable aluminum tripod with accessory tray -- Weight: 16 lb. -- Standard Accessories Include -- **1 1/4" 20mm (50x), 10mm (100x) Eyepieces -- **SatPointer Finderscope -- **Equatorial Mount -- **The Sky L1 CD -- The Celestron FirstScope 114 Short is a compact newtonian reflector that offers portability without sacrificing brightness or clarity. The short tube is only 18" long and has a built-in correction lens, giving it all the focal length of the standard model, while reducing aberrations. -- *Special Handling Charges Apply --Celestron's compact Firstscope 114 Short Telescope offers three times the light gathering power of 60mm refractors in a system that's light, portable, and affordable. The package includes the CG-2 equatorial mount, an adjustable aluminum tripod, two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm), a red dot finder scope, and an introductory version of "The Sky" astronomy software.
With this telescope its easy to see Saturn's rings and Jupiter's cloud belts. When the night air is still and clear I've been able to see the Cassini division in Saturn's rings and even spot the shadow of Jupiter's moons crossing the planets cloud tops! Deep space objects like star clusters and galaxies also show up nicely. The Ring Nebula M57, for instance, shows up as a pale smoke ring, and globular clusters like M13 and M15 begin to reveal their individual stars.
The compact 18-inch long optical design of the Firstscope 114 Short is very similar to the computerized Nexstar 114-GT. Like the Nexstar 114, this telescope uses a short focal length mirror combined with a corrector lens to simulate a traditional long tube reflector. This works best at moderate powers; at low power the stars seem out of focus near the edges. Planet views are OK if you keep the planet near the sweet spot in the center, but again sharpness declines toward the edges. If you're willing to spend a little more, Celestron's long tube Firstscope 114EQ is capable of sharper images.
To get the best views from a Newtonian reflector, the optics may need to be tuned up or "collimated" occasionally. I find a Collimation Tool helps get this fine tuning just right. The other essential accessory is a guide book like NightWatch or a subscription to Night Sky magazine; once you own a telescope you'll want to know where to look for cool sights like planets and galaxies! Jeff Phillips
Pros:
- Compact and affordable
- Includes all the basics
- Good (but not great) optics
- Views are soft around the edges
- Optics may need fine tuning
- Terrestrial images are upside down
The Celestron Firstscope 114 Short is a compact Newtonian reflector. This 18-inch scope is portable without sacrificing brightness or clarity of image. It features an equatorial mount for stable observing, as well as setting circles and slow-motion controls on both axes for smooth, easy tracking. This telescope is an excellent choice for viewing galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae, as well as for watching our own solar system. It comes complete with the Celestron Firstscope 114 Short, an adjustable tripod with accessory tray, two eyepieces (20mm, 6mm), and Celestron's one-year limited warranty.
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