Take a compact optic that works as a telescope or spotting scope, add the gear to capture images through your phone, top it off with a filter for safely observing a solar eclipse, and you get this Celestron Travel Scope 70mm f/5.7 AZ Refractor Telescope and EclipSmart Solar Filter Kit from B&H. You can use the Travel Scope DX for everything from wildlife observation to stargazing, and when you add the ISO-compliant solar filter, you can observe an eclipse. The kit even comes with a backpack so you can take this versatile optic and its accessories wherever adventure leads you.
The Celestron Travel Scope 70mm f/5.7 AZ Refractor Telescope Kit is designed for portability and ease of use for both astronomical and terrestrial use. Its refractor-style optical tube assembly (OTA) has a respectable aperture that gathers copious amounts of light, and a shorter focal length that produces a moderate magnification potential. A photo-style alt-az pan/tilt head easily mounts the OTA with a simple screw and has a single control handle that allows for smooth movement and locks the altitude in place for hands-free use to minimize vibration. Supporting it all is a photo-style tripod that collapses low enough for tabletop use and extends to full-sized height. The included erecting prism corrects views horizontally and laterally so the Travel Scope can be used as a conventional spotting scope, and it comes with two eyepieces offering 20x and 40x magnifications—although any 1.25" astronomical eyepiece may be used. Everything in this kit—OTA, tripod, head, and accessories—fits inside the included canvas backpack to make it as portable possible.
- 70mm aperture
- f/5.7 focal ratio
- 400mm focal length
- Achromatic refractor optical design
- Anti-reflection fully coated optics improves light transmission, color rendition, sharpness, and contrast
- Resolution: 1.99 arcsec, Raleigh; 1.66 arcsec, Dawes
- 1.25" rack-and-pinion focuser
- Integrated dew shield prevents condensation at night, and minimizes glare during the day
- Mount:
- Manual pan/tilt photo-style alt-azimuth
- Control handle for easier pan/tilt and subject tracking
- Locking handle sets altitude
- Integrated level
- Tripod:
- Easy-use photo-style
- Lightweight and durable aluminum legs
- Four leg sections allow it to be set on a table or extended to full-height
- Simple snap-locks allow for fast setup and breakdown
- Eyepieces:
- 1.25" diameter barrel accepts most astronomical filters
- 10mm produces 40x power, 50° apparent field of view, 67' field of view at 1000 yards (22m @ 1000m)
- 20mm produces 20x magnification, 50° apparent field of view, 131' field of view at 1000 yards (44m @ 1000m), 19' (5.8m) close focus distance
- Diagonal:
- 45° angle puts head in comfortable position for celestial and terrestrial viewing
- Integrated erecting prism corrects view horizontally and vertically for land use
- 1.25" diameter eyepiece holder accepts many eyepieces and accessories
- 2x24 Finderscope:
- 5x magnification produces a wide field of view to make finding subjects easy and star-hopping navigation faster
- Straight-through viewing
- Backpack:
- Water and tear-resistant canvas
- Holds scope, tripod, mount, and accessories
- Padded interior protects gear
Purpose-built to fit their 70mm Travel Scope and AZ or EQ PowerSeeker OTA's, the Celestron EclipSmart White-Light Solar Filter easily mounts to the front of the dew shield to convert it into a solar scope for viewing the sun or solar eclipses. The housing is modeled on the original lens cap for a tight fit and is equipped with three thumbscrews to secure it place for additional safety. Made of a proprietary Mylar film, if filters 99.999% of the intense visible light from the sun while blocking 100% of harmful ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation. A push-on cap protects the filter when not in use. This filter conforms to and meets the transmission requirements of ISO 12312-2, Filters for Direct Observation of the Sun, EN 1836:2005 + A1:2007 (E) for an E15 Filter for the Direct Observation of the Sun and, AS/NZS 1338.1:2012, Filters for Eye Protectors.
