The Celestron PowerSeeker 80AZS is a “seize and go” telescope that is constructed for celestial and terrestrial views. Given its complete weight of 10 lbs. (four.54 kilograms), it is also exceedingly light-weight, making it appropriate for novices and households.
With an aperture of three.15 inches and a focal size of 15.75 inches, the PowerSeeker 80AZS gives views of targets which can be positive to be on the observing checklist of many skywatchers: the planets, moon, vibrant nebulas and galaxies.
What’s extra, the telescope comes with quite a lot of equipment that make beginning out in skywatching the entire extra easy: 20 mm and four mm Plössl eyepieces, 3x Barlow lens, accent tray, an erect-image star diagonal, 5×24 finderscope and an easy-to-use alt-azimuth mount. Celestron’s Starry Night time Particular Version software program can also be included.
Associated: Best telescopes
Celestron PowerSeeker 80AZS key specs
Optical design: Refractor
Aperture: three.15″ (80 mm)
Focal size: 15.75″ (400 mm)
Focal ratio: f/5
Eyepiece 1 focal size: 20 mm (20x)
Eyepiece 2 focal size: four mm (100x)
Whole equipment weight: 10 lbs. (four.54 kg)
Mount sort: Alt-azimuth
Celestron PowerSeeker 80AZS: Design
- Easy construct — no instruments required
- Transportable design
- Low-quality plastic equipment
- Tripod requires additional care
Whereas many producers provide computerized telescopes or extra sophisticated devices that require nuts, bolts and instruments to place them collectively, it is rather refreshing to find that we have been in a position to assemble the PowerSeeker 80AZS in lower than ten minutes.
We didn’t want to make use of the equipped directions — that are very complete we’d add — since establishing is so intuitive. There isn’t any want for an Allen wrench, screwdriver or some other sorts of instruments and it’s straightforward to suit the optical tube to the mount and tripod. Further fixtures, such because the finderscope, are additionally easy to connect.
On inspecting the telescope as soon as it was assembled, the construct is honest for the worth. As you’d anticipate with many price range telescopes, the PowerSeeker 80AZS’ focusers are manufactured from plastic, as is the 90-degree diagonal. Whereas this isn’t a large downside, there are price range telescopes in an identical value vary with greater high quality equipment.
The refractor requires additional care throughout observations: it isn’t as sturdy in comparison with different price range telescopes we’ve used — particularly, the tripod shakes and threatens to topple over when nudged. On a constructive observe the altitude-locking bar, used for protecting the setup in place, carried out very nicely, whereas the slow-motion rod management permits for correct slewing.
In our expertise, Celestron has all the time provided high-quality views of a large number of evening sky targets, so we had excessive hopes for the PowerSeeker 80AZS’ optics, significantly as a result of they’re multi-coated.
The refractor has a focal ratio of f/5, which permits wide-angle objects reminiscent of open clusters to slot in the sphere of view. Quite a lot of completely different targets are inside attain of its optical limits, supplied the skywatcher is respectful of the best and lowest helpful magnifications: 189x and 11x. With the 2 equipped Plössl eyepieces, the telescope is ready to obtain magnifications of 20x and 100x, whereas the 3x Barlow lens pushes the optical system additional by thrice.
Celestron PowerSeeker 80AZS: First gentle and performance
- Good optics with slight distortion
- Tripod is liable to shaking
- Pleasing views for a price range telescope
- Simple-to-navigate mount
Preserving the worth of this telescope in thoughts, the PowerSeeker 80AZS’ optics are superb for the cash. Initially — and because of the telescope using an erect picture diagonal — we have been involved that there can be a level of sunshine being scattered. But, given the telescope’s low energy and wealthy subject, we didn’t discover this to be a specific drawback.
With the last quarter moon within the sky, we took the chance to view its craters, which have been fantastically picked out by the terminator; the purpose the place lunar evening meets lunar day.
Particularly, the section allowed us to select beautiful sights of Herschel, Archimedes, Clavius and Copernicus in our subject of view — the PowerSeeker 80AZS provided vibrant, clear sights regardless of atmospheric distortion. Sadly, we did discover a level of false coloration however this didn’t spoil the expertise — we’re sure that novices will likely be happy with the optical system’s efficiency.
Given the low magnification provided by the 20 mm Plössl, the moon would not fill the sphere of view and we have been ready to absorb all the lunar floor. There is a constructive to this — novices will not get misplaced navigating craters and mare. Upping the magnification with the four mm eyepiece, the sphere of view nonetheless remained sharp as we have been introduced nearer to the rugged terrain.
The 3x Barlow lens triples the telescope’s energy — a powerful feat that sadly precipitated blurred sights: proof that the optical system has been pushed method past its helpful magnification. We advocate accessorizing with quite a lot of eyepieces and filters to be able to be respectful of the 189x and 11x limits.
The 5×24 finderscope is a passable addition to the PowerSeeker 80AZS in helping with our navigation of the moon’s floor. Typically, optical finders battle to select faint stars for star-hopping from light-polluted areas however once we put this to the check, we did not really feel this to be an issue for the 5×24 — stars barely under the brink for naked-eye commentary (magnitude +6) are picked out clearly by the optics.
To make navigating the evening sky much more easy, we advocate buying a pink dot finder for circumstances the place choosing out faint stars is a problem. The PowerSeeker 80AZS gives a thread for simple attachment to the optical tube.
Swinging the telescope up and down and left to proper, the alt-azimuth mount is a breeze to maneuver, with no catching or sticking. We did observe an apparent diploma of shaking when slewing from one goal to the following, forcing us to carry the tripod firmly for additional stability.
Given the telescope’s vast goal lens, the optical system is able to choosing up star clusters in a single single view: the Pleiades (Messier 45) in Taurus (the Bull), with its magnitude of +1.6, is a very beautiful sight by means of the PowerSeeker 80AZS. The seven main stellar members are pin-sharp with no inner reflections within the optics and, with a level of averted imaginative and prescient, the cluster’s Merope Nebula (NGC 1435) is simple to select as a white, ghostly haze.
Slewing over to Ursa Main (the Nice Bear), we shortly and simply break up the double stars Alcor and Mizar within the deal with of the Big Dipper. Due to the coated lens, the blue-white coloration of the pair is crystal clear and have been in a position to make out Mizar’s smaller companion, Mizar B.
With the constellation of Orion (the Hunter) at a chief location for viewing, the Orion Nebula (Messier 42) is a lovely sight by means of the PowerSeeker 80AZS. As anticipated, the star-forming area is small however we have been ready to select the tight Trapezium Cluster at its coronary heart.
Saturn was additionally seen within the sky, providing the right alternative to catch the fuel big’s rings. Utilizing our personal number of Celestron eyepieces, we’re impressed with the refractor’s means to resolve the planet as a yellow-orange disk with its rings tipped at a 45-degree angle. The Cassini Division — a spot within the ring system — wasn’t seen by means of the PowerSeeker 80AZS however views of the planet will impress new skywatchers regardless.
Celestron PowerSeeker 80AZS: Verdict
The PowerSeeker 80AZS is an efficient telescope for novices, providing views of a wide selection of photo voltaic system and deep-sky targets. Sights are crisp and clear by means of the eyepiece with no main optical distortion besides a level of false coloration.
It is equipped with an honest quantity of equipment that swimsuit low budgets however we do advocate furnishing the telescope with eyepieces. We advise leaving out the Barlow lens because the optical system is not in a position to deal with the rise in magnification.
Nearly all of the PowerSeeker 80AZS’ options are manufactured from plastic, which is unsurprising for a price range telescope. Nevertheless, the focusers, star diagonal and eyepieces are of a decrease high quality in comparison with different newbie devices we’ve utilized in the identical value vary.
The tripod is not as secure as hoped and skywatchers might want to assist all the setup when slewing the tube. The mount operates easily and the slow-motion rod management additionally permits for correct navigation.
Whereas it has its drawbacks, the PowerSeeker 80AZS gives introduction to skywatching — particularly when you’re aiming to make it an off-the-cuff pastime for your self or the household and have a low price range.
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