Celestron 21062 AstroMaster 70 EQ Refractor Telescope

by Celestron

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 40.9 x 15.1 x 9.7 inches ; 18 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 26 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000MLL6QE
• Item model number: 21062
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,551 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
  • #16 in Camera & Photo > Binoculars, Telescopes & Optics > Telescopes > Refractors
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 1, 2007

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Celestron’s AstroMaster 70 EQ combines the solid optical performance of a classic achromatic refractor with a German style equatorial mount. The Astromaster 70 features easy no-tool setup and much better optics than 60mm beginner scopes. The Astromaster package includes high and low power eyepieces, a correct image diagonal prism, illustrated instructions, and planetarium software for your PC.

The AstroMaster 70 EQ features very good optical performance. Achromatic refractors have a two piece objective lens, the second lens element compensates for “chromatic aberration”, the false color or blue fringes seen in low cost telescopes. In daylight tests I see very little blue fringing with the standard equipment 10mm eyepiece (90X magnification), and none at all with the 20mm eyepiece (45X). Stars and planets show up very nicely with the AstroMaster 70. The bright double star Castor, one of the “twins” in the constellation Gemini, is cleanly split at 90X with the 10mm eyepiece. When I tried an optional 6mm Plossl eyepiece for a magnification of 150X, I was treated to lovely views of Saturn’s rings and the little orange disk of Mars. My view of the Moon was delightfully crisp and clear; the 20mm eyepiece nicely frames the Lunar disk, and using the 10mm eyepiece I could easily see mountain peaks and terraced walls inside the crater Copernicus.

The AstroMaster 70 EQ also features a newly designed tripod with 1.25 inch stainless steel legs. This new tripod holds the telescope firmly; I had no trouble focusing even with a high power eyepiece. The equatorial mount is a little more complicated to balance and align than the AstroMaster 70 AZ , but the reward is better slow motion control and tracking at magnifications over 100X. Simply point the equatorial axis at Polaris, the North Star, and the telescope tracks celestial objects by turning one slow motion knob. This makes it much easier to use a high power eyepiece while viewing the Moon and Planets. The “star pointer” finder scope works by shining a red LED on a plastic window; just look through the window and line up the red spot with your target. This works OK for bright objects like the Moon and planets but not so well for finding galaxies and deep space objects.

The AstroMaster 70 EQ is a very good entry level telescope for a student or family. The good quality 70mm optics produce an image that is significantly sharper and brighter than 60mm beginner scopes, and the AstroMaster 70 EQ includes a solid mount, two good eyepieces, and fully illustrated instructions. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Reliable refractor design
• Good views of the Moon and planets
• Complete accessory package
• Simple no tool setup

Cons:

• Star-pointer not so easy to use

Product Description

If you're looking for a dual-purpose telescope appropriate for both terrestrial and celestial viewing, then the AstroMaster Series is for you. Each AstroMaster model is capable of giving correct views of land and sky. The AstroMaster Series produce bright, clear images of the Moon and planets. It is easy to see the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn with every one of these fine instruments. For views of the brighter deep space objects like galaxies and nebulae, we recommend the larger aperture and light gathering ability of the Newtonian reflectors.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for beginners, March 3, 2010

By 

SaM4842 (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Celestron 21062 AstroMaster 70 EQ Refractor Telescope (Electronics)

At first I was skeptical about the quality of this telescope because of it's price range, but once I received it, I was pleasantly surprised.

The build quality is quite good. The tripod is very sturdy and the equatorial mount is well constructed. If I am not mistaken, some of the more expensive Celestron telescopes use this same tripod and mount. This package comes with a software that helps you locate stars and planets, so as long as you set the telescope to the north correctly, trying to locate stars is not a problem.

One thing I wished I had paid more attention to is the dimensions of the whole telescope kit. It is much larger than I anticipated; my reasoning was: it is a kid's telescope, it is probably not full sized. Not so!

Most telescope books I read said you cannot get a decent telescope for under $300, but for the beginner, the price and quality of this telescope is a great buy.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great beginner telescope, October 4, 2010

By 

C. Vitalos - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Celestron 21062 AstroMaster 70 EQ Refractor Telescope (Electronics)

I bought this telescope for my 7 year old daughter's birthday. She was absolutely delighted when she and I viewed Jupiter and its moons, and Venus.

This telescope provides stunning views of the Moon. You can also see "naked eye" planets e.g. Venus, Jupiter, however, they are a bit small. If you want to see them in greater detail I would suggest purchasing a telescope with a higher magnification rating.

The equatorial mount is worth the additional money over the altazimuth mount (Astromaster 70 AZ) in my opinion. The ability to track objects with one slight turn of a nob (after you accurately align the scope to Polaris) with the equatorial mount is much more convenient. Also, this mount is a "must have" if you plan to get the optional tracking motor and intend to take pictures with the optional camera mount.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astromomy for an eight year old, September 25, 2011

By 

Rene F. De Groof "rdegro" (Southern Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Celestron 21062 AstroMaster 70 EQ Refractor Telescope (Electronics)

I purchased this piece of equipment for a Christmas present for my then seven year old grand daughter. It turned out to be complicated to learn to use, even for her well educated parents but with patience, became an important device that is now used regularly with crisp, clear observation of the heavens. I would recommend the Celestron 21062 refractor telescope to the more serious amateur.