I see right now that it's listed at $25.00. That's a steal. This product is great for people just starting out. Easy to use. Very sturdy base. Just look down the barrel toward your target just a little below it. Then, swivel back and forth, raise a little, swivel again, etc, and you will find it pretty quickly. The lenses that come with it are adequate to see detailed looks at the moon, Jupiter's moons (won't see Jupiter's bands)and can see the easy nebulae and double stars. I haven't tried it yet on Saturn's rings, although I suspect the rings would be difficult to see if you weren't in pristine conditions.
You could order this for $25.00 and stop. If you wanted to upgrade to Plossl lenses, (I did), I would recomend a 20-25 mm which makes finding objects a total snap. I would also recommend a 12.5 mm and maybe a 6 mm. I tried a 4 mm plossl to try and see Jupiter's bands and the telescope simply could not focus enough to use it. I had the same experience trying Barlow lenses. Simply couldn't focus except with the 20 mm. I read somewhere that Celestron had a certain Barlow of their own that would work on this telescope, but don't order any other ones just for this telescope, because it probably won't work.
A neighbor who was moving gave me his deceased father in law's Celestron 60 EQ Refractor. I tried the 12.5 Plossl and could see Saturn's rings clearly with it. I doubt you could see that with the FirstScope, although, like I said, I haven't tried it on Saturn yet. The plossls sure came in handy on that free scope. Not sure it's worth the money or not to get plossls just for the firstscope, although they do make the viewing experience significantly better with clearer views and much bigger lense holes to look through. The ones that come with it aren't bad, though. They are adequate.
For the price, you can't beat this scope. It's very portable and lightweight also. Great for taking on trips to places with no light pollution. Would easily fit in a carry on bag for an airline. I highly recommend it.
Update: I determined that the secondary mirror collimation was a little off. The directions online show you to align it with your eyeball (looking through eyepiece holder with no eyepiece. However, that doesn't get it perfect, and if you want to see Saturn's rings or the bands of Jupiter, it needs to be perfect. I used a collimation cap that came with another telescope and I got it aligned perfectly. A huge improvement. It's really hard to find a collimation cap to buy though. I only see laser collimaters for sale, and they are much too expensive if this is the only Reflector Scope you own.
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- Celestron – 76mm Signature Series FirstScope – Compact and Portable Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope – Ideal Telescope for Beginners – Features Custom Moon Map Wrap – Bonus Astronomy Software Package$31.81 shippingOnly 18 left in stock - order soon.
From the manufacturer
Celestron FirstScope Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope
Anyone can become an instant astronomer with this simple, affordable, and feature-packed tabletop telescope. It’s the perfect introduction to the hobby of astronomy for observers of all ages.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
Large 76mm Primary Mirror
This quality Dobsonian-style telescope features a 76mm Newtonian reflector with enough light gathering ability to view all the best celestial objects like the rings of Saturn and the Orion Nebula.
Navigate the Night Sky Like Galileo
This Dobsonian telescope on a rotating tabletop stand makes it easy to view the night sky. Simply move the tube in the direction of the object you wish to view and look through the eyepiece.
A Tribute to Great Astronomers
FirstScope pays tribute to history’s most notable astronomers and scientists by displaying their names around the optical tube. We honor the past while encouraging a new generation of deep-sky explorers.
Perfectly Portable
FirstScope features a lightweight, compact design, perfect for taking with you on your next outdoor adventure. It’s also stylish enough to be a decorative fixture on your bookshelf or desk.
Two Eyepieces Included
The FirstScope comes with both a 20mm and a 4mm eyepiece, allowing for magnification up to 75x. Start with the low power eyepiece, and then switch to high power for a closer look.
Learn More about the Night Sky
Your purchase includes access to Starry Night educational software, our SkyPortal planetarium app for iOS and Android.
Trust Celestron
Buy from the world’s #1 telescope brand, based in California since 1960. You’ll also receive unlimited access to support from our team of US-based experts.
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| Customer Reviews |
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| Optical Design: | Newtonian Reflector | Newtonian Reflector | Newtonian Reflector |
| Aperture: | 76mm (2.99") | 76mm (2.99") | 76mm (2.99") |
| Focal Length: | 300mm (12") | 300mm (12") | 300mm (12") |
| Focal Ratio: | f/3.95 | f/3.95 | f/3.95 |
| Magnification: | 15x, 75x | 15x, 75x | 15x, 30x |
| Limiting Magnitude: | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.9 |
| Lowest Useful Magnification: | 11x | 11x | 11x |
| Highest Useful Magnification: | 180x | 180x | 180x |
| Assembled Weight: | 3.6 lbs (1.63 kg) | 3.6 lbs (1.63 kg) | 3.6 lbs (1.63 kg) |
Compare with similar items
This Item  Celestron – 76mm Classic FirstScope – Compact and Portable Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope – Ideal Telescope for Beginners – Features Notable Astronomers and Scientists – BONUS Astronomy Software Package | Recommendations  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | — | -25% $263.49 List: $349.95 | -8% $119.99 List: $129.99 | $133.80 | -33% $86.99 List: $129.99 | -35% $142.49 List: $219.95 |
| Delivery | — | — | Get it as soon as Thursday, Jan 9 | — | Get it as soon as Thursday, Jan 9 | — |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold By | — | Amazon.com | DoubleSun | Amazon.com | Gskyer Distribution | Amazon.com |
| focal length | 300mm (12") | 1000 millimeters | 750 millimeters | 457 millimeters | 400 millimeters | 1000 millimeters |
| focus type | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus |
| zoom ratio | 15 or 75 | 2.5:1 | 37.5 multiplier x | 2 | 120 multiplier x | — |
| eye piece lens | Brandon | 17mm and 10mm Kellner eyepiece | Barlow | Barlow | Barlow | 20mm and 4mm |
| objective lens diameter | 76 millimeters | 114 millimeters | 60 millimeters | 80 millimeters | 70 millimeters | 127 millimeters |
| aperture diameter | 76 millimeters millimeters | — | — | 80 millimeters millimeters | 70 millimeters millimeters | — |
| exit pupil diameter | 3.8 millimeters | 2.85 millimeters | 1.6 millimeters | 4 millimeters | — | 5.08 millimeters |
| telescope mount | Altazimuth Mount | Altazimuth Mount | Tripod Mount | Tripod Mount | Altazimuth Mount | Manual German Equatorial |
| lens coating | Aluminum;Silicon Dioxide | Aluminum and SiO2 | Fully Multi-Coated | Fully Coated | Fully Coated | Glass mirrors coated with aluminum and SiO₂ |
| field of view | 38 degrees | 64 degrees | 90 degrees | 1.7 degrees | — | 2.5 degrees |
| weight | 3.7 pounds | 12.6 pounds | — | 4.5 pounds | 5.7 pounds | 13 pounds |
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Inspiration from this brand
Ideal Beginner Telescope
First of all I've just started amature astronomy this year so I've never owned a telescope, I've been using a 15x70 celestron binocular on a tripod. I've had the Celestron Firstscope for a couple of weeks now and I've been please with it..considering how much I paid for it (big bang for the buck). Anyway, I know a lot of people suggest not to buy the accessory but one thing I learn when I attended a star party prior to buying this telescope is Finder Scope is very useful/important when trying to align your scope with a certain object. So I did buy the accessory, and I'm glad I did. Although it's true that using the finder scope is hard to use if you have the telescope on top of a table or the ground, so what I did is I look around my house that is tall enough that I can put it on top and I found an old cd rack in the garage that is about 5 feet tall. It was very sturdy and made using the telescope so easy with the finder scope.With the eyepiece that came with the telescope and accessory everyone who said that they are useless...they are correct, those type of eyepiece are really hard to look into and may disappoint you. So what I did is I baught a 2x Barlow and a 25mm plossl eyepeice from Orion and the diffrence are night and day, with the eyepiece I purchase it made field of view much clear, crisp and I saw more stars. So far I've been out observing and star gazing as much as I could and as much as the weather permits. The moon through this telescope with the 25mm and 2x barlow eypiece looks awesome the craters are very clear, mars look like a tiny orange dot and saturn...so far same as mars look like a dot maybe with a medium or higher power eyepiece I might be able to see saturns ring. Overall great buy specially for a starter like me, I will probably use this until I'm ready to move to the next level at least now I can save up to a much powerful and expensive telescope.
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2011Product Packaging: Standard PackagingVerified Purchase
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ALAN S.Reviewed in Mexico on January 9, 2023
Chido
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Todo bien por el precioChidoALAN S.
Reviewed in Mexico on January 9, 2023
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عبدالمجيدReviewed in Saudi Arabia on October 17, 2023
وجود عدسة مع الجهاز
Product Packaging: Standard PackagingVerified Purchase - zeroby0Reviewed in India on July 18, 2020
Superb telescope.
Product Packaging: Standard PackagingVerified Purchase - Graham FrostReviewed in Australia on June 3, 2022
Good for kids
Product Packaging: Standard PackagingVerified Purchase - limkReviewed in Singapore on December 9, 2020
Good value intro to astronomy, well packed
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