Celestron Travel Scope 70mm Beginner Portable Telescope with Backpack

I wanted a telescope that would grow with my grandkid who was turning 8 and this was one of her birthday gifts. In making this choice, I turned to the reviews left by fellow Amazon reviewers. This telescope elicited mostly favorable responses and convinced me that with all its features it would be a good buy. As it turned out, I am glad I turned to the reviews. My greatest concern was the tripod but it is stable yet light enough to not be cumbersome and is easy to use and set up. The magnification/optics are good and produces a detailed view of the night sky, stars, etc. Best feature of all is the response from my grand daughter. She drags her dad to the park near their home and is really enjoying this telescope. However, I suggest you read Amazon's description that convinced me it was easy to use and had a lot of features that could grow with the child. The truth is this is not really a toy. It is a learning experience. My grandkid is learning about the planets and the stars. She has been dragging her parents to the planetarium in the city and learning a lot which carries over to using this telescope. If treated kindly, this telescope should last for years. It is fairly well made considering its modest price. Included is a backpack/case that offers good protection and makes it conveniently portable. The only thing that I can add is that this works far better in the country without the interference of city lights. The view is better in the country without mechanical interferences and really couldn't be more lovely.

TL;DR Review: Great portable scope. Get a separate tripod - tripod wobbles. Definitely recommended for anyone who would like to take a scope with them on a trip, for someone who doesn't have the space for a permanently mounted scope, for a student whose interested in astronomy, or as a fun add-on to keep in the trunk on trips to anywhere. It’s small, lightweight, and priced right. It’s light enough that a five-year old could carry it for an entire trip without effort, giving them direct participation in the setup process. This is an amazing little telescope which you can easily take anywhere you're going. Looking at the moon, you'll be able to see the moon in fantastic detail, clearly seeing the ridges of the craters peaking above the moon's northern pole. Aimed at any patch of the sky, stars will become visible when before you saw nothing but darkness. As with all telescopes with this magnification, you will not see the individual rings of Saturn, but you will be able to make out the halo of the rings. Jupiter's moons, though, will be easy to spot, but speaking of spots, you won't see Jupiter's red-spot. Mars and Venus are indistinctive. As for galaxies, if you know where to look, Andromeda can be seen. As for using this scope for daytime viewing of birds and bees, it's perfect. My recommendation is to pair this scope with a Gosky Cell Phone Adapter Mount (you can order one here on Amazon - see my review for photos and videos take with it) and use your phone's camera to capture some amazing shots. Note positioning the Gosky is tricky, so prepared to be frustrated as you try to get the phone's camera and the telescope aligned. It’s not a defect and it's not something you're doing wrong - it's just worth it, but difficult. And if you want to get photos of objects you can't even see through the telescope with your phone, Google "android [or iphone] astronomy photo stacking", "NightCap Pro," or "iastrophotography". What makes this scope a winner it how easy it is to carry around. The included backpack has enough extra space that you can easily toss a laptop or Chromebook in it - I have. It also comes with two high-quality eyepieces (20mm and 10mm) which allow you toquickly switch them up as needed. Each lens also comes with a cap (a needed feature), though I wouldn't fret too much if I lost one. The side finderscope is well aligned and will make targeting much simpler. But the tripod! The tripod! It's OK, but because it's tiny and lightweight, it's not stiff and suffers from touch-wobble. You'll repeatedly find yourself aiming for an object and then when you let go of the telescope or tripod, sometimes it will move out of alignment. You just need to be cognizant of this and use a light touch once you've locked it down to where you want to aim. Since I’ve gotten it, my son and I have used it in City locations and in the country – obviously it works great in both locations. So if the tripod is poor - why did you give it 5 stars instead of 4? For the size, price, and weight of the tripod, it’s what you would expect. A sturdier tripod will weigh a whole lot more and will be bigger, killing the portability aspects of what without the tripod would automatically make this a 5-star telescope. So it’s neither the tripod’s fault nor the Celestron’s. A better-built tripod would weigh more and cost a lot more. As a person who doesn’t read manuals, do read the instruction manual. Some parts aren’t obvious. I managed to figure out how to put it together but would have had a much easier time if I had taken two minutes to flip through the instruction manual.

Celestron travel scope is a good product for what it is made for. It is primarily a terrestrial viewing scope. The objective (large lens in front of the scope) is good quality and is functional. However, the eyepieces that come with the scope are (in my opinion) lower quality (this is probably done to keep the total cost of the scope low). Without a decent eyepiece the experience of viewing objects will be minimal. What I did was invest about $25.00 (they can be higher priced - based on quality) in a good quality 20mm x1.25 inch (a good standard starting size) "Plossel" type eyepiece (several listed on Amazon for under $30.00). The addition of a higher quality eyepiece really changed the viewing experience with this scope. Or, if you want to get into astronomical viewing with this scope Celestron makes an Observers Accessory Kit (#94308- you can get it on Amazon - about $70.00). It comes with two Plossel eyepieces -17mm and 6mm-, a moon filter (definitely will need it to bring down the glare if observing the moon), a 2X Barlow lens (doubles the magnification of the eyepieces), and two planetary filters, and a case. It seems like a well put together and thought out accessory kit (I know, another $70.00 !!). Also (as stated in other reviews) the tripod is weak (when extended to its full length). What I recommend is getting a sturdy table (and chair) and set the tripod (in its non-extended or shortest length) on the table. Sit in the chair, and rotate the 45 degree prism (with eyepiece attached) until you can see what you want. You don't need to be standing to view the stars (or whatever)!! It is even better to get a 90 degree correct image diagonal to view the heavens with (that way you don't have to bend over so far, and you can aim the scope higher - I know even more money - actually about $45.00 for a starter correct image diagonal). Become familiar with how the pieces attach (eyepiece to 45 degree prism to insertion in the telescopes focusing tube-and how they can be rotated to your seated position) and you will get a lot more enjoyment out of this well made product. Remember, this is not a heavy duty alt-azimuth tripod with slow motion controls (Celestron #93607 - which looks like it would fit this scopes screw on base). It is basically a standard camera tripod. You will have to "play" with it and figure out (especially on celestial objects) how to aim it high and then tighten the adjustments (which will lower the object into your field of view). You could even buy a heavier tripod with the same type of adjustments that this tripod has - Celestron #93610- it would make the scope more secure if you needed to fully extend the legs on the tripod - I have one that I use with some of my other telescopes - you just have to get used to the way it adjusts -think each mentioned tripod is about $80.00 to $90.00 (that money just keeps adding up !!). The adjustment for lowering the object into view while tightening the tripod controls takes some getting used to, but it can be learned -and is part of the overall "experience" of this fine travel scope. Also, about the adjustments on the tripod. The vertical (up and down) lever on the tripod - do not back it out all the way. What happened to me is that a small nut that attaches the handle to the tripod will fall out. So what I did was put a piece of tape over the hole where the nut is - so if I backed out the adjustment to far, the nut would not fall out (no big deal - just need to be aware that it could happen). I have had this scope for several years, and have seen many celestial objects with it (although I use a correct image 90 degree star diagonal - as stated previously). It is a nice scope for its intended purpose, however (in my opinion) it does need a couple of upgrades (as suggested). Further, if you need to make the tripod more secure when it is on a table top or partially extended - try draping some "strap on ankle weights" over one or more of the tripod's braces (let one or both sides of the weight rest on the table - so you don't over stress the brace). I had some old strap on ankle weights lying around, just draped one over the brace (without strapping it down), and it makes it much more secure. Also, you get two ankle braces in a set. So you will have an extra one if you need it !! So let's review. The most important item on any telescope is the objective lens (as stated previously) the large lens in the front of the scope. The Celestron Travel scope objective lens is of good quality, that's where I think the product excels. I recommend to buy a higher quality eyepiece (Plossel type), add some weight to the tripod (as suggested)-do not extend the tripod into its fully extended position (becomes really shaky and weak)-keep it as "low as possible"-preferably on a table top (add an "ankle weight" to the fold out extensions), learn how to rotate the 45 degree diagonal so you can view while seated (this won't change the correct image view of the object), and you have a very well made, fairly light weight travel scope. I have used this scope for terrestrial and astronomical purposes, and as a "spotting scope" while at the range. Works perfectly !! I hope this review has assisted you in your decision (I know -I didn't intend for this review to be so long - but there you have it !!). Have fun !!

This telescope is perfect for a beginner which is what I am. I was very impressed with this telescope for the price. I use it at my house (located in the middle of two cities about 10-20 mins away from each one) and I can see quite a few stars. I did get to use it in a low light area for a very short time before clouds moved in and I was able to see quite a bit.The tripod it comes with is pretty much a camera tripod. If you plan on using it without the legs extended (using it on a table or something) then go ahead an use it but if you are planning to fully extend the legs I wouldn't. It is way too flimsy. I got the Celestron Heavy-Duty Altazimuth Tripod based on a friend's recommendation and it is super sturdy. It might actually be a bit too much for this telescope but I'm glad I got it since now I won't have to buy another tripod if I decide to upgrade to a bigger telescope. For people asking this tripod can take pictures (reviews have been written with pictures attached) I'm not sure what you would need to do it though. There have been some comments saying that it isn't very good for star gazing. If you are really close to a city it really won't since it isn't a high powered telescope and there will be too much light pollution. If you want to view stars really close to a city get a higher powered telescope if you don't want to do that then you're going to have to go to a lower light area to see more stars, planets, etc. Overall I am very happy with this telescope.

At this price point I didn't expect much from a telescope, I bought it for my son who is turning 7. It comes with a bag and that's nice, but the straps inside are way too long to hold the telescope or tripod securely so the rattle around and bang against each other. This probably causes no harm, but I teach my kids to take care of their things and it's difficult to do when a 7 year old points out this basic design flaw, we will just attach more velcro further up the straps so they will tightly hold the telescope and tripod. The bag is also very soft so a drop from any distance could harm the telescope. I'd say the bag is more of a padded travel bag than meant for protection. The tripod is pretty adjustable, I was impressed with that. The head can move back and forth, side to side and it can swivel. The tension screws that hold the placement are cheap, and it's difficult to get the tripod to keep the telescope where you want it when you're adjusting for up and down because the head has pre-set positions. This makes it very difficult to view tiny stars or even the moon. Also, the day we got it one of the legs came out of the top where they connect so we will have to glue that in. Otherwise, the tripod is cheap but it isn't terrible. The telescope itself is pretty nice. It's all plastic exterior, of course but it has a number of nice features for what I consider a very beginner telescope. It comes with two different eye pieces, a 10mm and a 20mm which drop into the refactor. It comes with a number of other little things also that I wasn't expecting like lens caps for everything, a metal mount for the scope, aluminum housing where the lenses and refactor insert into the telescope and the bag. You wont see details on the moon and stars will just be a little bigger bright spots, but on the right night the craters of the moon are more visible as are the rings of Saturn. Patience is a must for these things. We also got a very up close view of a bird in our back yard. All in all, this isn't a bad purchase but it isn't the purchase of the year either. It did ship quickly and arrived undamaged. Although I could be happier with a little better tripod and a more protective bag, I am not unhappy and my son is thrilled, so I guess it's a win. Definitely a decent purchase for a kid just getting into the moon and planets.

I don't know why people are expecting the results of the Hubble Telescope in the reviews. It does exactly what it's designed to do. It takes the moon and makes it look like a large marble that's placed a few inches from your eye that's in pretty good focus. You can see some craters on the Moon, but you can't see Niel Armstrong's footprints. You can see the rings of Saturn, but you can't count them like a tree that's been cut in half. I'm not sure why some individuals have ridiculous expectations for something that's less than $100... There are better scopes out there, sure, but it's a great beginner scope for kids and amateurs. I got this for my 7 year old who has shown interest in the Cosmos. If he really gets into it, I'll invest more later and pass this to his younger siblings. For right now, it's perfect. The frame is light, but the scope is light and doesn't need a heavy duty frame. It holds the scope, which is what it's designed to do. All the pieces were accounted for, and it came with a backpack so it can be taken on trips so you don't need to buy a separate case to hold it when you're traveling in the car or walking somewhere. It does what it was designed to do. Great for kids and amateurs at a modest price to see nature, take it to a long distance shooting range, see space a bit better, and anything else that is legal to do. If you want to see a nebula, and have a few thousand dollars to spare, go for it and buy that kind of scope. For the normal people with real expectations, this is a great telescope for beginners and kids. Well worth the investment if you're unsure if you want to invest a large amount of money to see footprints on the Moon. Take care!

Straight out of the box everything was packaged with care. The instructions were easy to follow and assembly took around 15 minutes. Aligning the finder scope takes a little longer to really dial it in but for the price and what you get and ease of use it is worth it for someone just starting out or wants a highly portable telescope.

First off, this telescope is practically unusable until you upgrade the tripod. You can get the moon, with some pain, but you won't get stars or planets, as others have noted. I upgraded to a hundred dollar Celestron Heavy-Duty Altazimuth tripod, and that made this a wonderful experience. That tripod lets you do tiny adjustments to altitude and azimuth (i.e. pitch and yaw), so you can get objects in view once you're in the vicinity and then keep them in view as they move with earth's rotation. With no visual upgrades, I was able to easily and clearly see Saturn, its rings, and at least one its moons. It will be small. Saturn is about the size of the saturn emoji on a cell phone held arms length from you, but it is bright, clear, and wonderful. If you see it and it looks like a giant dull orb with a line through it, you're out of focus. I made that mistake the first try. It will be small but crystal clear, with unmistable rings. I was also able to see Jupiter and four of its moons. I could not make out any banding or the red spot without making optical upgrades. Seeing the planets got me excited, so I've since spent many times more the original price of the telescope getting a new adjustable zoom eyepiece, new star diagonal, and a 2x barlow. They've improved the clarity and magnification enough for me to make out banding on Jupiter, and I'll be able to bring those along to future telescopes. Earth's moon is glorious, of course. This is a great beginner telescope, and I can't wait to see what I can see with it once this full moon goes away and gives me a darker sky.

De schroefdraad van het statiefplaatje ontbreekt, dus kun je de kijker niet op het statief vastzetten. Ik zet de kijker daarom op een eigen fotostatief, en dat gaat goed. De richtkijker is speelgoed. Toch nog 2 sterren, de kijker zelf is redelijk te noemen voor deze prijs. En het geheel is licht en makkelijk vervoerbaar.

Gostei da facilidade de montagem. Muito leve, prático, bem acondicionado. Já sabia que não seria fácil observar planetas, pois como moro em uma cidade onde a luminosidade é muito alta, fica mais difícil. A visualização da Lua Cheia foi fantástico. Satisfeito com o produto. Atendeu minhas expectativas.

Esto va pera todos aquellos que disponéis de este telescopio: disfruto de varios prismáticos astronómicos en formatos 20x90 20x80 15x70 y 10x50 también tengo un refractor 120mm.ATENCION para obtener de una imagen luminosa y detallada teneis que obtener 3 oculares:25mm 27mm 30mm y 40mm.El secreto esta en obtener una pupila de salida superior a 4mm / 25mm=4,3 mmm a 16x 30mm=5,2mm a 13x 40mm=7mm a 10x. El ocular de serie el de 20mm con 40 grados de visión, la imagen no es lo su ficiente brillante por la aperura del refractor 70mm para eso debería de ser 80mm de diámetro.En amazon disponéis de varios oculares de bajo coste Orbinar muy buenos con un campo de visión de entre 50-70 grados a un precio entre 15- 50 euros. RESULTADOS imágenes nítidas y detalladas DEL ESPACIO PROFUNDO DE GRAN CAMPO con nebulosas y cúmulos abiertos cerrados y galaxias como andromeda m81 m82..... Para uso DIURNO las imágenes son de ALTA DEFINICION.La pupila de salida se obtiene dividiendo la apertura del telescopio entre el aumento. El aumento se obtiene dividiendo la distancia focal del telescopio entre los mm del ocular.Hacer la prueba y contareis vuestras impresiones asombrados de como se transforma el telescopio.Recordar que es un refractor y las imágenes son mas definidas que un reflector.Todo esto en un telescopio de viaje.Para planetaria admite 100x como máximo con un ocular de 4mm, mas aumentos la imagen es borrosa.Fijaros que mis prismáticos astronomicos tienen una pupila de salida entre 4-5 mm.Con el ocular de serie de 20mm son 3,5mm y de hay para arriba el refractor se transforma en un traga luz.

bonne partie optique mais le pieds est faible.. à voir dans le temps