- 400mm focal length, with a 3.25-degree wide field of view
- 2 eyepieces (16x and 40x)
- Observe immediately with the computerized auto align feature
- Automatic slewing to over 4,000 celestial objects
- Common sense menu descriptions
Technical Details
Product Details
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Product Description
Amazon.com Review
Amazon.com Review Celestron’s little NexStar 80GT is a popular scope at an attractive price. It features a short 80mm f/5 optical tube assembly, mated to a single-sided swing arm assembly, tripod, and the motorized computer system. The scope also comes with 25 mm (16X) and 10 mm (40X) eyepieces, a red dot finder, star diagonal for easier viewing, and a basic version of The Sky on CD ROM.
If you think you’ve seen the optical tube before, you have -- it’s the same Chinese-sourced tube sold by other retailers. The optics are decent at low powers, but as you climb in magnification, the fast f/5 focal ratio optics start showing some aberrations -- there’s false color (purple halos) around brighter objects, and as you get near 100X, image quality starts to break down. The moral: Take it easy on the magnification, and you’ll be OK. Even without pushing it, you can still easily see the rings of Saturn, four moons of Jupiter, and a lot of lunar detail. And aberrrations aside, the little NexStar 80 is a fun low-power rich field telescope. You’re going to have a lot of fun looking at the Pleiades, the Double Cluster in Perseus, the Andromeda galaxy, the Orion Nebula, and dozens of other objects.
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| The NexStar handset is your user-friendly guide to more than 4,000 celestial objects. |
The telescope’s Goto system will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s initialized a NexStar (or Meade’s similar Autostar system.) If you haven’t done this before, the scope needs to be told some basic information: the current time, date, location on the planet, etc. Then you center two known stars to the best of your ability. The scope takes over from there, automatically slewing to the desired object, and keeping it in the field of view as the earth rotates. Mostly it works well, but there are a few minor glitches here and there. The battery pack has a loose connector, which is prone to falling off, forcing you to reinitialize (hint: try attaching the pack to the fork arm itself using velcro.) The computer sometimes takes the "long" way around, strangling itself with its own cord. And the unit’s light weight -- only 11 pounds -- won’t break your back, but it’s so light that any accidental bump (easy to do in the dark) will knock the scope out of alignment, forcing another reinitialization.
The hand held controller contains a wealth of information. The 4,000 object database is probably optimistic for such a small scope (you won't be able to actually see all those objects), but it’s a nice touch, and besides, silicon’s cheap, right? In fact, one of the fun things you can do with a scope like this on a rainy day is to do a "fake" initialization indoors (yes, even in the daytime.) Then, just start pushing buttons on the controller and read all about the objects in the sky.
So, in the end, what we have here is a nice telescope that offers good value for the price. No scope in this price range is perfect, of course, but there are few other options in this price range. Meade’s ETX70AT is similar to the NexStar 80GT. If you‘re looking for more light gathering ability, go with an Orion XT6 or XT8. If you like the NexStar system but want a more serious telescope, consider saving up for Celestron’s NexStar 5i. --Ed Ting
Pros:
- Light, compact, versatile, and inexpensive
- On-board computer makes finding objects a snap
- Good at low power
Cons:
- Optics only so-so at higher powers
- Cords tend to tangle
- Relatively small aperture (80 mm)
Product Description
Nexstar 80 SLT Refractor Telescope You'll get bright, crisp images with the NexStar 80 SLT Refractor . The computerized hand control has a database of over 4,000 celestial objects providing push button locating and tracking of objects. This 80 mm refractor comes with 36X and 100X magnification, computerized azimuth mount, and "The Sky" educational astronomy software on CD-ROM with printable sky maps. No-hassle set-up with a pre-assembled, adjustable stainless steel tripod and no-tool, quick-release mounts. Has SkyAlign alignment technology, and the StarPointer finderscope with a red LED. It's a stellar intro scope for new astronomers, and a great land-based spotting telescope for nature lovers and photographers.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
69 of 69 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A whole lot of scope for the dollar,
This review is from: Celestron Nexstar 80GT 80mm Go-To Refractor Telescope (Electronics)
The only reason this product does not get five stars is due to the fact that it is still a "beginner" model and the customer should not expect to see crisp detail in far away novas or brilliant color in the gas bands of the Gas Giants. HOWEVER, for... this telescope is one of the best bargains currently on the market. For one, it bears the top name in the business: Celestron. This is not you Home Shopping Network bargain basement model. Secondly, it come equipped with a computerized database of pre-set star coordinates that (once aligned) the telescope can point itself to with the push of a button. Finally, although (as previously stated) you won't get to see images that look like pages out of Astronomy Magazine, you will clearly see at least 4 of Jupiters moons, the rings of Saturn, the Orion Nebula, and a host of other objects that the average stargazer misses out on. On top of all of this, this telescope is mind-boggling easy to assemble. If it takes you more than 5 minutes out of the box to have it up and running, then you should probably consider a tutor of some sort. All in all, the 80 GT is a spectacular buy.
65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Scop, You'll love this!,
By
This review is from: Celestron Nexstar 80GT 80mm Go-To Refractor Telescope (Electronics)
I just got this scope and its wonderfull. I didn't think the telesope would be very accurate, boy was I wrong. Out of 35 objects I asked it to "go to", it missed only one. And that one was just outsid the field of view. Even though its 3.1 inches, many objects appeard bright and detailed. It also tracked the objects perfectly. This is a very good scope. Anyone who has an interest in astronomy should get this scope. Its well worth the money.
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Beginner Scope - Some Small Annoyances,
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This review is from: Celestron Nexstar 80GT 80mm Go-To Refractor Telescope (Electronics)
I've wanted a telescope for years, and finally decided to get one this Christmas. I bought the Celestron Nexstar 80 based on what I deemed as a good compromise between optical capabilities and ease of use. For the most part, I'm very happy with the purchase.Setup could not be easier. I was ready to rumble in minutes. Being a pure beginner, I needed the GOTO functions to help get me started. Within five minutes of bringing the scope outside, I was checking out Saturn's rings and scoping out Jupiter. I even managed to find the Orion Nebula. And I had no idea how to find these things without the scope's help. Now, after only a few days, I can find them on my own - which saves lots of battery life. There are some annoying design problems. As many other reviews have noted, the battery pack is a pain. The connection to the scope slides out far too easily, dumping alignment. Also, the wiring on the battery pack itself is fairly fragile. As soon as you break the scope out of the box, you should Velcro or tape the battery pack to the motorized mount (not the tripod legs). This will save you some disappointment. I was also disappointed in the readability of the hand controller. As the text scrolls by, it's very difficult to read. Don't fret too much about this, though. After you align it once or twice - you won't need to read the display that often, anyway. Lastly, while I have found the optics very good, I would recommend purchasing a 6mm and/or 4mm eyepiece right off the bat when you order your scope. The 25mm and 10mm eyepieces that come with the kit are great, but you're going to want more magnification the first time you look at Jupiter, Saturn, etc. And while you're buying an additional eyepiece, grab a moon filter and a solar filter as well. My daughter loves looking at the moon with the telescope, but it's so bright that it destroys your night vision for ten minutes without the filter. Overall, I'm very happy with the telescope. I have really enjoyed it, and look forward to exploring the night sky for years to come. Who knows, maybe this is the first of more telescopes in my future.
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