If you’re into stargazing or terrestrial observation, then the Celestron 21061 astromaster is your best bet. Combining high-resolution optics and am ergonomic design, the 21061 astromaster can be used to produce crystal-clear images of Jupiter’s rings and the moon. Moreover, the dual-mode optics also allows the user to make precise terrestrial observations.
Product Description
As far as stellar eyepieces go, the Celestron 21061 is considered a decent telescope. Sporting out two sets of eyepieces, this telescope can achieve a maximum magnification of 45x for the first eyepiece and 90x for the second eyepiece.
With the Celestron 21610 astromaster, you will be able to make precise observations of the Moon, as well as observe Jupiter’s outer rings. As mentioned before, thanks to its dual optics system, this telescope is suited for both celestial and terrestrial and ground observation.
Although refractor scopes are somewhat being shunned by professional, because they lack the capacity to observe crisp details of more distant celestial objects, they are a good start for amateur astronomers.
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Setting Up Your Telescope
As a refractor telescope, the Celestron 21061 astromaster is easier to set up and to use than a compound telescope or a Newtonian eyepiece. Although it sacrifices magnification power for functionality, this telescope is nonetheless considered a good choice as far as refractor telescopes go.
It’s also a great head start for your child if he’s into astronomy. Weighing less than 52 pounds, this telescope can be easily carried around. And don’t worry too much about storage space, because the astromaster can be disassembled and stored everywhere.
Another great asset of the Celestron 21061 astromaster is that you can even pack it and carry it around with you in the trunk of your car. It takes about 10 minutes to set up, thanks to the astromaster’s user manual.
Product Specifications
The telescope is mounted on an alt-azimuth mount, which offers a higher degree of movement and improved precision. Moreover, the mount also features a handle for panning and a clutch for improved precision.
With an alt-azimuth mount, you’ll get higher precision when lining up your telescope, but it requires a steady hand in order to be operated. Still, the alt-azimuth mount requires less skill to operate than a traditional EW mount, and it’s cheaper as far as mounts go.
Affixing stellar objects is easier using the Built-on StarPointer, which features the red reticle technology, which is far more precise than telescopes functioning with the red dot technology.
As far as optics are concerned, the Celestron 21061 astromaster sports out a 2.6-inch lens with a 70mm aperture, meaning that this telescope is capable of capturing the fine details of the lunar surface. Although it’s not that powerful compared to a Newtonian telescope, the astromaster can still produce crisp and detailed images.
Other Features
- No-tool Setup – you don’t need any tools in order to set up the telescope.
- Dovetail attachment;
- Coated glass optics for crisp images;
- 25-inch, stainless steel tube legs;
- Erect Image Optics;
- Focal length: 35 inches;
- Focal ratio: 13
- Combined magnification: 165;
- Telescope Weight: 18 pounds;
- Storage case;
- 25-inch Erect Image Diagonal.
What’s in the Box?
After you purchase the Celestron 21061 astromaster 70AZ telescope, this is what you’ll find in the box:
- The Celestron 210610 astromaster-70 AZ 2.7-inch refractor kit;
- Finderscope: StarPointer;
- 20 mm eyepiece, with a maximum magnification of 45x;
- 10 mm eyepiece, for a 90x magnification;
- 25-inch stainless steel tube tripod with pan clutch;
- Diagonal;
- CD-ROM with “TheSkyX- First Edition”, which includes a comprehensible database of nearly 10,000 celestial objects and 75 sky maps;
- 2-year warranty certificate
Additional Accessories for the Celestron 21061 astromaster
- 25-inch Moon filter;
- Astromaster accessory kit which includes a foamed-lined plastic case for shock protection, 15mm Kellner eyepiece, 6mm Plossl eyepiece, 2x Barlow lens with T-threads technology, #80 blue filter, 25# red filter, moon filter, and a microfiber cloth.;
- Universal 1.25-inch T-adapter that helps you connect either an SLR or a DSLR camera to the refractor optics;
- Night Vision Flashlight;
- 25-inch, 8-24mm zoom eyepiece, which is multi-coated for improved light focus;
- 25-inch eyepiece and filter kit;
- Celestron Sky Maps manual;
Pros:
- The Celestron 210610 astromaster is lightweight, perfect for any outdoor activities;
- Its 70mm aperture multi-coated optics is perfect to capture crisp images of nebulas and planets;
- It’s very easy to set up and use, thanks to the no-tool setup;
- Wallet-friendly: you can buy this telescope for less than 70 dollars;
- Ideal for beginners;
Cons:
- Very high amount of chromatic aberration;
- Small aperture: the 70mm aperture optics is great for seeing large celestial objects like Jupiter’s rings, but it’s not suitable for observing subtle objects;
- Heat can distort images, so it’s best to keep the telescope away from any heat source;
- The tripod is too short.
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Customer Reviews
Surprisingly enough, even though this eyepiece is addressed to amateur astronomers, it has quite good ratings even among the pros. On Amazon.com, the Celestron 21061 astromaster has an average 4.2-star rating.
Among the most popular comments, are the ones praising the improved pan control clutch and its great price. Furthermore, many customers have said that this is the perfect gift for a child who is fascinated by astronomy.
Also, when submitting their reviews, some customers said that this type of telescope is incredibly versatile, meaning that it can be used for all kind of outdoor situations, like beaches and fields.
Where to Find it
As always, Amazon.com is your best bet if you’re interested in buying this amazing beginner’s telescope. The Celestron 21061 astromaster costs only 118.44 dollars, and Amazon will even throw in free delivery.
Our Verdict
Based on the customer’s review sections and the telescope’s specifications, we can clearly state that this telescope is a great bargain for those who want to take up astronomy. With a good price per quality ratio, the Celestron 21061 will help you spot Jupiter’s Ring or see crisp details of the Moon’s surface.
Even though it’s far more rudimentary that a Newtonian telescope, the Celestron 70Az still manages to pack quite a punch. And with the additional accessories like the 1.25-inch filter kit or the Universal DSLR/SLR adapter kit, the term of “stargazing” will take an entirely different turn.
If you’ve never owned a telescope before or if you’ve recently discovered that you have a thing for astronomy, the 70Az eyepiece is a good head start.
Another great thing about this eyepiece is that you can basically carry it out anywhere you like thanks to its lightweight construction and that it requires no tools for the assembling process.
We encourage all those interested in astronomy to go ahead and buy the Celestron 21061 astromaster. Plus, you don’t have to get cluttered with all kinds of astronomy manual of star charts printed from the internet because the included manual has everything you need in order to get started.
The software included on the CD starts by explaining the basics concepts of stargazing and then gives you a few tips on what to look for in the sky. If you’ve managed to peruse through the material included on the CD, you can always browse the telescope’s official site for more material. Click here to purchase the Celestron 21061 Astromaster Telescope and start exploring today!
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