Celestron NexStar 5 SE Telescope

by Celestron

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 32 x 21 x 14 inches ; 15 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 39 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000GUHOYE
• Item model number: 11036
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,121 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
  • #11 in Camera & Photo > Binoculars, Telescopes & Optics > Telescopes > Catadioptric
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Celestron's NexStar 5 SE computerized telescope combines excellent optics and easy computerized GoTo tracking in a convenient portable size. The standard equipment tripod and mount feature easy no-tool setup, and the package even includes a student version of "The Sky" planetarium software for your computer.

The excellent optics of Celestron's classic C5 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope have been updated with premium Starbright XLT optical coatings. This telescope consistently delivers crisp, high contrast views of the moon, the planets, and brighter deep space objects. The standard equipment 25mm plossl eyepiece produces a magnification of 50x, powerful enough to show the rings of Saturn, the cloud bands of Jupiter, and the changing face of the Lunar disk. Optional eyepieces can be added to bring out significantly more detail. I like to use a 12.5mm plossl (100x magnification) or a 7.5mm Ultrascopic eyepiece (166x) for high power views of the planets. With the 7.5mm Ultrascopic eyepiece I can usually see the Cassini Division in Saturn's rings and cloud bands on the planet itself. I like to use a 32mm plossl eyepiece for great low power views of deep space highlights like the Orion Nebula or the Double Cluster in Perseus.

The NexStar 5 SE package also includes a sturdy adjustable tripod, a motorized alt-azimuth mount, and the NexStar hand held computer controller. You won't need a GPS receiver or star charts to operate this telescope. The SkyAlign procedure is easy to use, and experienced observers will like the two-star align and solar-system align options because they are even quicker to set up. The steel tripod and alt-azimuth mount provide a solid base for the NexStar 5 SE. Vibration is not a problem, even while focusing at high power. The computerized tracking is also very good, easily keeping planets in the field of a high power eyepiece. The disadvantage of a computerized telescope, of course, is battery consumption. I like to use a rechargeable Celestron Power Tank because the standard AA alkaline batteries only last a few hours.

This telescope is perfect for visual observing, and allowed me to capture some sweet images of the moon and planets using a Celestron NexImage web-cam. For long exposure deep space photography, however, I'd take a look at Celestron's Advanced Series equatorial telescopes such as the C6 N-GT --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Excellent optics
• Light and portable
• Computerized GoTo tracking

Cons:

• Short battery life
• Too light for deep space photography

Suggested Options: Celestron Nine-Piece Accessory Kit Celestron Power Tank Battery Celestron NexImage Webcam

Product Description

Boost your viewing experience with 56% more light gathering power in this high-quality telescope.Features:5" Schmidt – Cassegrain telescope with 125mm aperture56% more light gathering power than 4" models1250mm focal lengthFocal ratio: 10Ultra portable – weighs just 28 lbs. including the tripodAn ideal telescope for observing and photographing the wonders of spaceCombines the classic heritage of the original orange tube telescopes with the latest state-of-the-art featuresStarBright XLT high transmission coatings come standardProven NexStar computer control technologyIncludes:StarPointer finderscope to help with alignment and accurately locating objectsQuick release fork arm mount, optical tube and accessory tray for no-tool setupSturdy computerized altazimuth mountInternal battery compartment to prevent cord wrap during useUltra sturdy steel tripod features built-in wedge for astrophotographyCD-ROM "The Sky" Astronomy Software which provides education about the sky and printable sky mapsNearly 40,000 object database with 200 user-definable objects and expanded information on over 200 objectsSkyAlign allows you to align on any three bright celestial objects, making for a fast and easy alignment processFlash upgradeable hand control software and motor control units for downloading product updates over the InternetCamera control feature and shutter release cable that allows you to remotely take a series of exposures using your digital SLR cameraCustom database lists of all the most famous deep-sky objects by name and catalog number; the most beautiful double, triple and quadruple stars; variable star; solar systems; objects and asterismsDC Servo motors with encoders on both axesDouble line, 16-character Liquid Crystal Display Hand Control with backlit LED buttons for easy operation of GOTO featuresNexRemote telescope control software and RS-232 cable included for advanced control of your telescope via computerGPS-compatible with optional CN16 GPS Ac

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good telescope, but Celestron does not give full specs upfront, October 4, 2008

By 

Hrishikesh Murukkathampoondi "nomdeguerre" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celestron NexStar 5 SE Telescope (Electronics)

This is a very nice telescope. I have been using it the past week and have viewed the Moon, Venus, Jupiter. Overall the optics are excellent. But there are a few issues, which had I known earlier I may not have purchased this scope.

1. Celestron advertises that the scope can be used with 8 AA batteries. This is not completely true. The batteries drain very quickly and will probably not even last one viewing session (say 30 mins).

2. Without power the telescope cannot be moved along the azimuth (left-right direction). So you cannot use it at all.

So essentially if you want to take this telescope out of the city to some dark sky location you have to buy a powertank (or maybe run it off your car). I would have liked a design that allows me to use the goto feature when I want it but still be able to slew the telescope manually, without power.

Why do I still give it 3 stars. Well, Celestron tech support is very responsive (over e-mail). The telescope itself is excellent (optically). I have gotten very good views of planets. It has been a little too cloudy and light polluted (I live in a city) for me to try seeing nebulae.

Details:
The DC motors that slew the telescope are very sensitive to the voltage and current of the power supply. If you use the telescope for 20-30 minutes after that the batteries drain down and the scope becomes unusable (till you replace the batteries of course). Celestron tech support told me that they recommend using the battery only as an emergency back up!!! Strange that they don't mention on their website that batteries are only for "backup" and you have to run the telescope on wall socket, or a "power tank".

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Celestron Nexstar 5 SE, March 2, 2008

By 

W. Burke (Williamsburg, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celestron NexStar 5 SE Telescope (Electronics)

It was cold as heck out, but I've owned my Celestron NexStar 5 SE telescope (my first scope) for three days now and the sky was fairly clear; so out I go. I whip through the Sky Align auto alignment process and then ask the telescope to show me Saturn (FYI: I had already aligned my finder scope during the day, something I highly recommend). There it was, rings and all, as advertized near the center of my eyepiece. Awesome!! I took a quick peak at Mars and then went back inside before my fingers fell off from frostbite. I am hooked!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just as ecpected, March 8, 2009

By 

C. Cartwright "Kale" (Keaau, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Celestron NexStar 5 SE Telescope (Electronics)

I have nothing new to add to the reviews already online. The included software will not load on my computers, after making contact with Celestron I found a new release is in the works. The telescope optics are all I thought they would be. If I was intrested in deep sky I would have ordered a larger unit for the increased light gathering, but for planets and casual star gazing it is fine. My choice was between physical size and portability. I find this unit to fit my needs perfectly.