For those who are looking for large aperture and light gathering capability, the answer may lie with the choice of the Celestron AstroMaster 130 EQ-MD newtonian reflector telescope. Its 5.1" diameter is considered excellent for light collection. When you are looking for faint sky objects such as clusters and nebulae, large aperture becomes relevant.
A 650mm f/5 aperture is considered really bright in optical terms, and offers a wide field of view. In order to take full advantage of the telescope's short focal length and wide field of view, the user may consider the purchase of a longer eyepiece than the standard 20mm for viewing galaxies.
The AstroMaster 130 EQ-MD features coated glass optics, and is capable of producing clear and bright images of the moon and the planets. This unit comes with the sturdy Celestron CG-3 German equatorial mount to allow slow motion controls on both axes, a quick dovetail attachment, a Star Pointer finderscope, a set of two eyepieces, star chart software, and a rugged, pre-assembled tripod for your convenience.
| Optical Design | Reflector |
| Optical Lens Diameter | 5.1" (130mm) |
| Focal Length | 650mm |
| Focal Ratio | f/5.0 |
| Maximum Useful Magnification | 255xx |
| Resolving Power | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Optical Tube Dimensions | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Mount Type | Equatorial |
| Eyepiece Barrel Diameter | 1.25" |
| Finderscope | StarPointer |
| Tripod | Aluminum |
| Motor | No |
| GO-TO Capability | No |
| PC Compatible | No |
| Power Source | None |
| Weight | 24.0 lbs (10.89kg) |
Displaying reviews 1-2
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Celestron AstroMaster 130 EQ MD 5.1"/130mm Reflector Telescope Kit:
My first telescope mainly for beginner astrophotography. With the correct adapters, my DSLR mounts perfectly. The only issue you might have for astrophotography using prime focus is not being able to focus in far enough. The length of the eye piece mounting might be an issue for some. A good barlow lens helps but doubles your magnification.
Scope itself is decent. It's small and light enough to travel with. The stand is 'ok'. Best to not extend the legs out to full as the stand begins to become a little unstable.
For the price, I would definitley purchase again.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Celestron AstroMaster 130 EQ MD 5.1"/130mm Reflector Telescope Kit:
This was actually a birthday gift for my son. He has been out every clear night so far exploring with it. The images are fantastic and clear[...]
Displaying reviews 1-2