Celestron NexStar 127 SLT Telescope Review: See What Makes It Stand Out

If you’re a stargazing enthusiast, then you should definitely check out our Celestron NexStar 127 SLT telescope review. Combining only the best Celestron has to offer, the NexStar 127 SLT telescope is a great way to begin your journey to the stars.

The main thing that distinguishes this Celestron NexStar model from other computerized scopes is its high-quality multi-coated optics, which enables the viewer to make fine observations.

With this scope, you can see Saturn’s rings as clearly as the Moon’s craters.

What Is the Celestron NexStar 127 SLT Telescope?

Compared to other telescopes we’ve covered in our reviews, most of which fall under the refractor or reflector telescope category, the Celestron NexStar 127 SLT is a bit special since it sports a Maksutov-Cassegrain design.

Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes, also known as catadioptric telescopes, are far more versatile than reflector or refractor ones.

They are mostly hailed for their excellent near focus capabilities. Since the optics and light-gathering systems are more advanced than those of a reflector or refracting scope, catadioptric scopes are excellent for observing binary star systems or for astrophotography.

Another advantage of Maksutov-Cassegrain scopes is that they are much more durable and compact than Newtonian scopes. But this difference in performance is directly reflected in the cost of the product, meaning that Maksutov-Cassegrain designs are much more expensive than Schmidt-Cassegrain scopes.

Furthermore, due to its close-tube design, the NexStar 127SLT telescope produces higher quality images without the user having to compensate for degrading air current.

Traditionally, SLT computerized telescopes are very difficult to set up and to calibrate. However, this is not the case with the Celestron NexStar 127 SLT model.

When putting together this great piece of equipment, Celestron thought that a good telescope would be welcome, but customers need an easy-to-use telescope as well.

Thanks to the no-tools technology, the Celestron NexStar 127 SLT can be assembled in less than 10 minutes. Thanks to the provided user manual, any newbie can align the telescope without having to consult any videos or written tutorials first

Product Info

Dimensions	Weight	Batteries	Aperture	Focal Length	Software
40 x 19 x 11 inches	32 lbs.	8 AA batteries needed (included)	127mm (5”)	1500mm (59”)	“The SkyX” Planetarium

Other Specs and Features:

• Optical Design: Maksutov-Cassegrain;
• Magnification Factor of Eyepiece One: 60x;
• Magnification Factor of Eyepiece Two: 167x;
• Finderscope design: StarPointer;
• Tripod material: Steel;
• Lowest magnification factor: 18x;
• Light-gathering capabilities: Up to 300x;
• Slew Speed System: 9 slew speeds;
• Flashable hand controllers;
• Various alignment procedures: Solar System Align, One-Star or Two-Star Align, Auto-Two-Star Align, and Sky Align;
• Fully-coated optics;
• Hand controller features a database with over 4,000 astronomical objects.

Pros & Cons of the Celestron NexStar 127 SLT

Pros.

• Easy-to-use;
• Easy to deploy;
• No expert documentation needed to align the scope;
• Improved precision;
• High-quality optics;
• Vast database containing tips for tracking celestial objects;
• Astrophotography support.

Cons.

• Can be a bit expensive compared to other telescopes with the same aperture;
• Design can seem a bit unusual;
• The telescope is on the heavy side;
• Some light loss may occur due to the secondary mirror;
• The Celestron NexStar 127 SLT telescope user review section is not void of complaints.

Where to Find the Celestron NexStar 127 SLT Telescope

The best place to get the Celestron NexStar 127 SLT telescope is at online retailers such as Amazon. You can often find this telescope on sale and even enjoy free shipping.

Wherever you decide to buy it from, we urge you to make sure the online seller is a trusted source.

Telescope Performance

As part of our Celestron NexStar 127 SLT telescope review, we had the chance of taking a closer look at its optical features. The first thing that we’ve observed is that the 127 SLT has a wide 127mm aperture, which can easily cover a 0.83-degree field of view.

The scope’s focal length is 1500mm, and it has a focal ratio of f/12. As far as eyepieces are concerned, each Celestron NexStar 127 SLT telescope comes with a 25mm eyepiece and a 9mm eyepiece, having a maximum magnification of 167x with the default 9 mm eyepiece.

The Celestron NexStar 127 SLT telescope stands on top of a Motorized Altazimuth mount, which can be controlled via the provided digital hand controller.

Alternatively, the mount can be hooked to a computer for increased precision. With the 127 SLT, you can see the Moon in detail, but also Jupiter, Venus, and other deep-space objects.

Extra Info

Maintenance Advice

The NexStar 127SLT does not require special care. Users just need to use it reasonably, and carefully store it away from the sun and moisture. The optical elements should get special attention. Users should handle them very carefully, paying attention not to touch the lens or mirrors.

As usually, the best brushes for lenses are camel hair brushes. As cleaning liquid, we recommend you to try distilled water, or the manufacturer’s own cleaning solution, if available.

Telescope Accessories

What’s in the Box?

Our Celestron NexStar 127 SLT telescope review also features a “What’s in the Box?” section for customers curious to know what accessories they’ll receive along with the scope.

Here’s what you are going to find in the box:

• The Celestron 127 SLT computerized telescope;
• 1 x 25mm eyepiece;
• 1 x 9mm eyepiece;
• 1 x stainless steel tripod;
• The StarPointer Finderscope;
• 1 x computerized Altazimuth mount;
• 1 x computerized hand controller;
• CD-ROM with “The SkyX” Planetarium software;
• 2-year warranty certificate.

Warranty And Guarantee Information

The manufacturer offers a 2-year product warranty for the NexStar 127 SLT telescope. Keep the proof-of-purchase in a safe place throughout the warranty period, as you will need it in case you want Celestron to repair or replace your scope.

Keep in mind that you will be required to prepay all the insurance and transportation costs to and from the Celestron factory.

Our Recommendation

To conclude our Celestron NexStar 127 SLT telescope review, we should add in a few words about this telescope. As far as our team is concerned, this was the best computerized mount telescope we’ve ever had the privilege to test out.

The hand controller on the mount lets you control the 127 Mak SLT with increased precision, compared to regular hand-driven Dobsonian on Newtonian designs.

Furthermore, we’ve actually managed to set quite a record with this telescope: it took us no more than 10 minutes to set it up and to align it only by using the manual included in the package.

The eyepieces included in the pack were enough for viewing the Moon’s craters or observing nebulas, but you can always increase the quality of your observation by buying the additional accessories kit.

The Moon filter was pretty useful at trimming out the excess light, especially if you use the telescope in the city.

All in all, the Celestron 127 SLT is a sturdy piece of equipment, and very easy-to-use. Moreover, thanks to its no-tools setup, every user, regardless of his or her experience, can set it up without consulting any additional materials.

Click here to purchase the Celestron NexStar 127 SLT Telescope and start exploring today!

What was your experience with the NexStar 127 SLT? Please share your thoughts on scope below! Your input is very important to us!

Recommended Read: Celestron NexStar 130 SLT Computerized Telescope Review