busyintoronto's Full Review: Celestron NexStar 130SLT (31145) (306 x 130mm) Tel...
I bought this for my daughter's 8th birthday. OK, maybe it was also partly for me. As this was an educational toy, I was pondering whether it was better to have a manual system which would demonstrate the curved relative motion of celestial objects across the sky, or have a computerized/motorized system which will allow easier locating and tracking of more objects. In the end, I thought a child would prefer quantity over quality.
The Celestron Nexstar 130SLT is a 130mm reflector lens telescope, with a motorized drive which the included software uses to locate and track a large database of space objects. It comes with 9mm and 25mm eyepiece lenses.
We live right beside the University grounds upon which resides one of the largest optical telescopes in North America. I have looked at Saturn through that huge telescope. In optimal conditions, that large telescope should be far better than our 130SLT. However, with the light pollution (despite the city having enacted anti-light pollution regulation in this area), exhaust pollution, etc, I can really say that Saturn through our 130SLT was pretty close in quality to that big telescope. This is not to say that the 130SLT is absolutely superb - but that within the visible light range in the atmospheric conditions in the city, a good 130mm reflector lens is reasonably as good as the observatory's. Of course, our 130SLT is not good with deeper space objects on even really clear nights. In fact, I have not located any of the deep space objects I thought I would see. On the other hand, the moon is so bright (you can see detailed craters) that you have to get a light filter to avoid discomfort. Jupiter's thicker bands were also very clear.
A comment on the motorized drive & locating/tracking software: the system seems to like locating by going the long way even when there is a shorter direct route - but maybe that is required to ensure smooth tracking.
Note that, with the 15mm Plossl and Barlow eyepieces which I purchased separately (that combination on this telescope seems to be near the usable magnification limits in this area), any slight wind will vibrate the image. I don't really think that a bigger (and much more expensive) reflector in this suburban environment would be much more useful.
Now, if only my daughter will get as excited about her telescope as I did...
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