The NexStar 102SLT telescope from Celestron offers an appealing combination of simplicity, portability, and durability. Its easy to understand design, combined with its proven durability under heavy usage and its small size make it an ideal telescope for anyone wishing to delve more deeply in the field of stargazing without investing excessive amounts of time and energy into figuring out more complex telescopes.
Specs
• Item number: 22096
• Weight: 14 pounds
• Dimensions: 24 in. x 20 in. x 8 in.
• Aperture: 102 mm (4.02 in.)
• Eyepiece magnification: 26x
• ASIN: BOOO7UQNN6
• Mount: Fork arm
• Warranty: 2-year warranty on the telescope for damage and defects
• Focal length: 660mm
• Eyepiece size: 25mm
• Focal ratio: 6.47
• Objects in database: 10,000
The Celestron NexStar 102SLT is one of the company’s line of telescopes designed for use by beginners to the field of astronomy. As such, it comes affordably priced at just a few hundred dollars and sports a number of basic but reliable features that make it easy to use and understand for beginners. For instance, the scope comes with an automated Altazimuth mount and single fork arm that is far less complex to put together than geographic mounts. As a result, it is lighter and simpler to put together than many other types of telescopes for those who do not have extensive experience with telescopes or stargazing. The construction also comes with very few separate parts, screws, and other small pieces that can fall and get lost at night. The only downside to the design is that more experienced star gazers may find it too simplistic to use for their tastes. However, because the scope is designed for beginners, it should appeal to anyone who is looking to gain more experiences in the field or who is looking for an easy way to begin stargazing.
In addition to its quick set up and practical design, the 102SLT sports a number of basic features. For instance, it comes with a database of 10,000 nighttime objects. In addition, it can easily locate objects requested by the consumer, and sports Celestron’s SkyAlign technology that allows the scope to align itself using three spots in the sky. It can also align itself using one or two different locations. Once aligned, the scope provides acceptable views of many nighttime attractions, such as Venus. The small size of the scope does mean that it cannot bring some objects into view, but it does provide enough views to make it an appealing choice for anyone just learning about the nighttime sky. In addition, it comes with a wide angle that allows it to show more of the nighttime sky than other, similar telescopes.
Most negative customer reviews include complaints that the scope is too basic or does not show enough nighttime objects. However, the scope, when used by beginners, offers an appealing and affordable way to begin enjoying stargazing. Its capabilities make it simple to use, allowing the user to enjoy learning about stargazing instead of spending large amounts of time figuring out the complexities of a more complicated telescope.