REVIEW
CELESTRON ASTROMASTER 130EQ
This reflector is great for observing the planets and bright sky objects, but absolute beginners will require patience with its mount
Reviewed by Damian Peach
TELESCOPE ADVICE
Cost: £174 (approx. $249.25)
From: Amazon
Type: Newtonian reflector
Aperture: 5.11”
Focal length: 25.6”
Best for…
? BEGINNERS
£ MEDIUM BUDGETS
PLANETARY VIEWING
BRIGHT DEEP-SKY OBJECTS
Choosing a telescope as a beginner is a process often fraught with pitfalls. These days we are spoilt for choice with the enormous range of equipment available. Telescopes for beginners are wide and varied, but some are most certainly better than others. The budget Celestron AstroMaster range seeks to reveal the wonders of the cosmos to those who are perhaps just taking their first steps into exploring an interest in the night sky without breaking the bank. In this review we test the 130mm-aperture reflecting telescope, which is available for under £200 –a great price for a complete telescope of this size.
The AstroMaster 130EQ comes supplied in a single box which includes the telescope optical tube, mount and accessories. Assembly of the whole telescope takes around 10 to 15 minutes and is very straightforward. The telescope is supplied with a German equatorial mounting, which unlike its more simplistic alt-azimuth counterparts requires a little more thought and patience to set up correctly.