Thanks! Good review, much appreciated. trying to reacquaint myself with my scope. I was also scratching my head trying to figure out what the 2" eyepiece was.
I have had mine for 5 years and have enjoyed it. The auto tracking is not always great mainly because I don't do the alignment very well I guess. I used it for the eclipse last year and it was great. I just manually adjusted the tracking. Overall a good beginner scope.
Super late to the party here, but regarding your comment on the laser pointer. I've only had mine for a year now and noticed the same issue when replacing the battery. After playing around with it, I noticed it was the on/off dial that was actually loose. Just tightening the screw that holds the dial on fixed the issue for me at least.
Thanks for the great and informative review! P.S. has anyone told you that you look and sound like the late, great James Gandolfini? I was actually kind of startled by the resemblance at first.
Thanks! Yes actually a few times. The first time was in Chili going to look at the ESO-VLT telescope. He is about 5 years older, I'm about 5 inches taller. He's Italian, me more Scandinavian. He was a very talented man. I don't have a snoballs chance in hell. Other than that we're practically twins. :) Thanks Odd team.
Astrodiver 1 I find it weighs a lot to carry from one side of the yard to the other. With the scope and tripod separated it's fine. But together it's quite heavy.
I've had this same scope for 3 years and it's a great beginner level scope for simple stargazing and some simple astrophotography, like you mentioned :) It's worth it IMO. Thumbs up!
I have a question in some of the Amazon reviews some of the pictures are back and white. Does that mean that you can only see black and white though it?
@@abrahamsanchez3158 Nope, it's color -- the 130 SLT just uses mirrors so WYSIWYG = full color. It has no mechanical device that converts what you see through the eyepiece into B/W. Now things will be bright, like stars and shiny planets -- like Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter -- so bright that you might not be able to make out the color. You can use filters on the eyepieces that can lower the brightness or add some color -- but don't expect greatness (IMO). But, if you imaged these using say, a Celestron NexImage 5 eyepiece camera, you would have to post-process the image to really bring the colors out. I hope that helps :)
@@abrahamsanchez3158 I also found this video that's pretty good if you're wondering how capable it is with astrophotography -- ua-cam.com/video/-s3Vc7k5E1o/v-deo.html
The problem with the red dot finder is the switch. If you take apart the finder you'll find the exposed backside of the switch. Notice a little red paddle that holds open the contacts to power the circuit. What happens over time when the paddle is moved to the on position the little spring loaded contact doesn't close enough to make contact with the post in order to energize the circuit. The fix is to bend the contact post enough to close the gap between it and the switch lever when the switch is on, so the circuit will power up. As for the broken bracket I've found Celestron uses mainly PVC plastic on most of the scopes I've seen. I've had pretty good luck using the PVC cement used on plumbing. You can get it at any home improvement center. You might want to bridge the backside of the break with a splint made from PVC as reinforcement.
Thanks J Bar, The tripod I have wired together with heavy duty wire and it seems to be holding up fine. As for the view finders I;m going to look into that tip you sent me and if thats the case I'll do a video on it!
Nice video. I’ve had one of these for probably 6+ years. Over time I drifted away from astronomy but since quarantine and everything, I’ve been getting back into it and it’s held up pretty well. I feel like I’m starting to outgrow my nexstar 130slt. What recommendations, if any, would you have for an upgrade to this?
A NexStar 6 or 8 would be best, they're amazing and do the same stuff as this one except clearer and more detail from everything I've read, I want to get this though so I can get used to the controls
I have one on the way, I have seen videos where you can dl a free stacking astronomy software and use a webcam in the eye slot and get marvelous photos of planets like Saturn and Jupiter, so I hope you can rig a webcam to this one except I got the 102 the refractor, first telescope I was advised to start with one. So very anxious it should be here tomorrow! So do you have any experience with using a webcam and having it connected to your PC?
Congratulations on your first scope Greg! I have used a homebuilt webcam and a Orion webcam. The most difficulty I have with webcams is the white balance and contrast and that (for me at least) takes a lot of fiddling around to adjust. BTW the astronomy webcams are 1 1/4", the same as the eyepiece so yes it will fit your scope. Basically to get a nice still image you need to take a movie with the cam and use stacking software to get a finished and cleaned up still image. I find stacking software very difficult to use, hopefully you won't. Please let me know how the scope works out!!
I installed an electric focuser makes a huge difference on lowering vibration. Was looking for a compatible mak/cas i can use with it as its more compact.
Yes. M57 will appear faint through an EP unless conditions are good and you can put in a higher magnification EP (like 7mm) Here is a link to pictures I have taken with the SLT 130. Two of the pictures are of M57. The images show roughly the size M57 would appear through a 7mm EP using the 130. ua-cam.com/video/Vq64p8GNZQk/v-deo.html
I have other video's where I have taken images of DSO's (deep space objects) but not the planets. I'm sure someone else has those images. Planets are hard. It has to be close, the weather clear and dry and what EP (eyepiece) your using. You may be able to see the polar caps on Mars, bands of Jupiter and it's 4 large moons, possibly the Cassini gap of Saturn & Titan, and possibly resolve Uranus and a few of it's moons if conditions are good.
@@astrodiver1 All the videos that I've seen were edited. Thank You for your time and quick response. Keep up the good work 🙏🙏🙏 I'm going to buy one for my son because he's more into planets...
@@lovetheoutdoors9485 Research Reflector vs Refractor telescopes. The SLT 130 is a reflector. I own both and generally Refactors are considered better for viewing planets.
The vibration I lessened a lot by using a self made servo focus er. The spotter laser its the contacts . I just bought a skywatcher 10 inch but will keep the 130
Respected sir. It was a nice video. Sir I wants to buy my first computerized telescope. And I have budget of 700 USD. What would you recommend. 130slt or something else. Kindly guide me sir. Thankyou
Besides 3/4" lol, I would say a wider field of view (fov) especially at lower magnifications. Also at star parties where 50 or so people look through the scope (any scope) the 2" seems to give a better viewing experience to novices. I would buy at least one low magnification 2" EP if you can.
Yes, you can just use the arrows on the controller. If you are buying a telescope you may want to look-up "Dobsonian" telescope. They are less expensive manual versions of telescopes.
@@astrodiver1 I bought celestron nexstar 130slt AND Gskyer 90mm - 600mm (have you ever heard of Gskyer or used it?) to see which one is like more or if there is a HUGE difference in viewing quality. I’m waiting for the clouds to go away.
@@mays9339 I don't own a Gskyer brand but I own several refractors it's size. The Gskyer will be much easier to use and will probably show planets better. The reflector 130 is bigger and will show stars and nebula better IMO. There will be a larger learning curve plus it needs to be collimated (very important) but the larger 130mm reflector is ultimately the more capable scope. I'm interested which one you like better. Good luck with the clouds!
thanks for taking the time to do this review, well explain. one question how do you like the meade eyepiece , hope you could do a review on it im looking foward in buying a few thanks
Thanks Tony. I like the less expensive GSO 2" EP's just as much in this small 5" scope. I plan on doing an EP review soon but the meade wide FOV EP's visually look better in my larger than 5" scopes.
My mom was looking into getting one of these for my daughter. She is 6 and has autism but loves the moon, stars and telescopes. My brother used to have a computerized telescope and my mom says that’s the only kind she’ll buy again. We found this one for what seems to be a decent price of 279 from what we’ve seen. We are still very much beginners... Do you think that’s a decent price for this and something as beginners we’d be able to use with ease? How often would you say it goes through the AA batteries? Do those batteries power everything from the red dot to the remote? Thanks for the great video!
Hi Crystal. A new computerized telescope should behave similar to an older computerized scope. If your family could figure out your brothers telescope a newer scope will have a learning curve but should work well as long as it's not physically forced. (messes up the gears). $279 is an excellent price for a new one but be careful if it's used (again from inexperienced/impatient people forcing the telescope to move) Mine goes through 8AA batteries in 10-12 hours? depending on use. A plug in adapter that plugs into a common household outlet can be used also. The red dot uses a separate common type battery. If your primarily going to start with the moon (great place to start) I have some advice for you and perhaps a better option. I'll be checking this comment section. Let me know. Thanks.
Thanks for responding and answering all my questions. It is new & still in box so I’m hoping everything is ok with it. What was your other option? I was hoping this would be one that we could get and it would last her a very long time. I think we’d be able to figure it but thought I’d better check on how user friendly it is again before making such a big purchase. I love what it will work with a plug also! That was definitely a plus.
@@crystalmorris1820 Your welcome Crystal. The AC adapters are plentiful (they can be run with a simple extension cord). A simple 4.5" manual reflector can be found in the $50 range and you just manipulate it to your liking, which is great for the moon. 2 things; All reflector telescopes need to be collimated. Collimation tools usually cost $ 30- 90. Also the moon is VERY bright and a "moon filter" that threads into the eyepiece should be used. Looking forward to any questions Crystal.
this video age is over a year and half by now. so if you haven't fixed the broken tripod arm, this is what i did. I went to a wood carpenter, and i asked him to copy the arm without making that slit which the tray goes under it. wood is better and cheaper choice and stronger than plastic.
@@superlinux maybe not unbreakable, but you can make them tough, such as a PLA with carbon Fiber added in or Nylon (though controlling the warping on a part like that would take good gear or a bit of luck
You said you used the scope for astro photography. Did you use a digital camera inserted into where the eyepiece goes like a Celestron 93709 NexImage Solar System Imager ? I could not get a camera to work with the scope because I could not get the camera close enough to hit the camera's focus plane.
How can I calibrate it so the alignment works properly. I bought a used one and it seems off. For example when I select Moon it aligns near the moon but not on it. Please help!
That's a lot to cover! It could be you or the scope or both. Is it level? was the information such as location/time correct? ( if it takes more than a few minutes to align the scope, you have to reset the start time or it will be "behind" a little) Sometimes choosing "3 star over 2star alignment is better. Maybe the mount is messed up from the previous owner? search this site, your not the only one! Hope that helped a little. www.cloudynights.com/index
I just got my scope ... do you have any suggestions for eyepieces. I got a celestron zoom lens 9mm-24mm and a 2X barlow lens. In your opinion is there a must have for this particular scope? Thank you so much and thank you for the awesome video helped out so much.
No, thank you Namik Sevlic! The zoom lens is a great choice with a 2x barlow as it covers the range of the scope visually. At star parties I use a 2 inch (60 degree field of view) 32mm EP for brighter deep space objects because it is more forgiving for the hundreds of people that look through it. When I want to show my wife Saturn early in the morning I usually use a 11 mm ( 1 1/4") Teleview pl (58 degree point of view) or if conditions are good, I will use a Explore Scientific 11mm 82 deg. F.O.V EP. I have used EP's as strong as 5MM but they are at the magnification limits of the scope and need perfect sky conditions. Your sky conditions make all the difference with what you choose. Thank you so much for your comment and please let me know how it works out for you!
Great video. I'm heavily considering this scope for my mom. She has expressed the desire to use her smartphone (galaxy note20 ultra) to take photos primarily of the moon. Would this be a good scope for that? In addition, do you have advice on an eyepiece adapter?
Hi. For the Moon and the money she just may want a digital camera with good zoom capabilities and a decent $80-$100 tripod. An example would be a Canon PowerShot SX420 at $300. It zooms 42x and would be great for the moon. The scope is still at around $500 and then you would want a tripod with a smart-phone adapter that could hold the phone camera over the eyepiece. I've tried that approach, it's tricky and then you have the scope mechanics to deal with. Unless my mom was seriously interested in learning about using telescopes, I would just get her a simple to use camera with good zoom capabilities and a tripod. It's a pain carrying the scope around! :)
I have the newest handcontroler the scrolling menu is unreadable in the cold weather. I called celestron and I was told to use a hand warmer and that I basically had to live with it.
You seem very knowledgeable on telescopes. I'm interested in a good telescope that can see nebulae and far objects in the night sky. My budget is around 500$. Would you recommend the 130slt or are there better telescopes out there at around that price range?
james dean Any boot loader issues...I was thinking about getting it fit $150-$175 cash off of CL...is that a good price...they are asking $200-YUP I am a beginner!
Thanks Tony. I really like the eyepiece. It has a wide field of view (82 deg.) and it's water proof (in case it rains I guess?) However it is heavy 890 grams /2 lbs.and pricey at about $150 US. I actually use my less expensive GSO made 2" EP that only cost about $50 and only weighs 320 grams. I guess it would be about how much you use it and if your scope can deal with the heavier EP. P.S. objects look as good to me through both EP's but the Meade is nicer because of the larger field of view. (FOV)
I had the same issue with the laser pointer in my Nexstar 6SE out of the box, it was a problem with the battery retaining clip not applying tension to the battery. Simply took the battery out and pressed the clip down and never had another issue with the LED not working. Wonder if this was the same issue as yours?
I had that with one of the pointers, and I put a little piece of paper between the contact and the cover. Another viewer suggested a fix for the switch below in the comments. I have 3 broken pointers so when I try that fix i'll make a video of it.
Great video! Are there any particular accessories you recommend buying with this scope? This will be my first computerized telescope (I've used many "manual" scopes in the past) and I'm not sure if I should look at other things such as battery packs to purchase along with it.
Thanks Austen King, I used the Celestron power pack for a few years with my friends scope. It will pay for itself vs AA batteries after about 120 hrs. (about $70) I'll probably purchase a battery pack before my winter viewing season. If you have other scopes you probably have some decent eyepieces, if not look into a nice 1 1/4" 9-11mm EP. The 25 and 15MM EP's that come with the scope are just ...OK-ish. Also I would recommend a 2" EP around 28- 32mm. I would buy new and inexpensive on the 2" EP :)
Hey, would you recommend this telescope to a beginner that want to see rings of Saturn, Jupiter, and some galaxies, also to start astrophotography?, thanks.
Yes for viewing the planets and deep sky objects (DSO,s) but the DSO,s will appear small and Grey. If your serious about taking pictures I would suggest starting with a Equatorial mounted telescope. This particular scope is not designed for the long term exposure needed to get the great shots.
If not mentioned already, put the eyepiece tray on to strengthen the locking struts and reduce chances of breakage. Con's - Celestron spares policy sucks bigtime
That's a good point and one I forgot to mention. My borrowed scope did not have a tray but the new one did. Completely agree about Celestron's spare parts!
I Dont Care For The Red Dot Finder,I Went With The Star Pointer Pro,Santa Brought Me a New Nexstar 8se,Orion Over Me,and 0 Deg.Out..The Cold Is My Dilemma.Great Video..Youve Got a New Sub❤️🔭❤️🛰🌎
great review. I just purchased this, it came with a 25mm & 9mm eyepiece. I have been trying to watch planets, specifically Jupiter but no luck yet. Any advice, should I get another eyepiece and/or a collimator?
Thanks sulabh. Definitely purchase a collimation tool, you will need it. Inexpensive collimation eye pieces (which work fine) cost around $30 USD. Laser collimation tools which are easier to use (I think) start around $100. I would wait until you master the scope before buying more expensive Eye Pieces (EP's) With the scope properly collimated those EP's are surprisingly good. Let's talk Jupiter. With a full or partial moon turn on both the scope and the red dot finder. Using the arrows on the controller aim the scope towards the moon. When you are close get directly behind the red dot finder and keep using the controller arrows until the finder dot is on the moon. Using your 25mm EP look to see if the moon is showing, if not you should see bright light glowing to the side of your field of view, adjust towards that. When the moon comes into your Field Of View (FOV) and it will be VERY bright, focus and then center the moon in the EP. Then adjust your Red dot finder so the moon is in the center. Now the Telescope and red dot finder are aligned. When Jupiter is up all you need to do is move the scope using the controller and the red dot finder. Put the red dot right on top of Jupiter and then Jupiter should be in the EP. Now you can use the "solar system align" function on the scope. Pick Jupiter and the scope should track it fairly well for a few hours. Hope that helps!
Is this telescope long lasting?Im about to buy a second hand which originally was purchased 4 years ago...I won't want to see the software playing up/broken/rusted in a year...
I would not purchase any used tracking telescope, unless it was proven to work properly. if you are purchasing your first second hand telescope buy a dobsonian.
Yes. I had never used a telescope like this before. Go slow and be careful not to force the scope by hand, it's bad for the gears. Remember you will also need a collimation tool to align the mirrors from time to time.
I'm thinking about picking this for my first scope but I also want something good for viewing the solar eclipse this year. I know I'll need a solar filter for the front lens but is this a good scope for the eclipse? would you suggest any special eye pieces or a different scope all together. thanks
Personally I'm just going to use solar glasses for the eclipse, however I will bring a 114mm reflector that I have a front filter for. As long as you have a good secure front filter for the SLT 130 it would be fine for the eclipse. (remove the starfinder also) I have always used ordinary eyepieces for viewing the sun (with the filter on the front of the scope). Coranado is a brand of telescopes designed specifically for viewing the sun that you may want to look into. I would be interested to know what you decided on! BTW you have great taste in music!
Have you found any other difference between the older one and the newer one apart from the controller? Are the differences between both versions very important? The new model costs new about 450-500€, but I found one of the older ones for a little less than 300€ in the second hand market. What do you think about it? Thanks ;)
+Xoan Cosmed No Sir just the controller. They seemed to work equally well, I just like the ergonomics of the newer one. My best pictures came from the older 2013 model mainly because of better viewing conditions ( ie I could easily see a nearly magnitude 6 Uranus with the naked eye ) I need to make a video about this but what you want to look out for Xoan, is that the used scope's gears and motors haven't been worn or broken by a frustrated un-experienced user. I would watch one of the Celeston SLT set-up video's and make sure that the used scope your looking at reacts the same. Hope that helps man.
Thank you very much for the information and for the fast answer. I think that it's a good idea to watch a set-up video before buying to make sure that is in right condition (I'll purchase it in hand) as you said, so thanks for that idea!
I wouldn't suggest any specific EP upgrade. I have about 50 EP's but what makes things look great one night might not the next night because of different atmospheric conditions. I would suggest however getting a zoom EP that adjusts between 8-24mm they are always fun to play with! Those type EP's start at around $50. I use a Hotech laser collimation tool. Pricey but no problems over the last 7-8 years with it.
That's a good question! I'm not an expert and optics can go over my head quickly but I'm almost positive it's a parabolic mirror. It's a f5 5.1 inch mirror. It has no spherical aberration that you would expect to observe from a spherical mirror in such a "fast" F5 scope. (my meade eq. 127mm f 8.8 short tube has a built in corrector for example) I have noticed a slight coma of the image with really low power EP's , which is also a trait of a parabolic mirror. Out of the 8 scopes I own (3.5" & 6" refractor's and 4.5" through 10" reflector's) The 130slt is the sharpest except for the 10" f 4.7 Meade reflector. Hope that helps.
Thanks, I agree that most likely the mirror is likely parabolic.incredibly strange and incomprehensible that Celestron doesn't choose to play that up in their marketing plan, as it would sell a ton more scopes that way.
Great vids. I've been looking to get a Go To scope, but been on the fence with the 130SLT. Looks like a great scope for the price. Do you get any vignetting with the 2 inch eyepiece?
Wow, another great question! Honestly Riccardo I've never visually used any of my fancier 2" EP's with this telescope. I primarily use this scope for imaging DSO's (which it can find more easily than me) and for public outreach. I can remember a night a year back under very good conditions when hundreds a people looked through this scope at M31 (Orion nebula) through an in-expensive 2" 32mm GSO EP (3-4 element design) without any noticeable vignetting. However the Meade EP in the video is 7 element so it may add to vignetting (lighter on the outside of the image) It'll be a few weeks before conditions will be right to test out "fancier" EP's but now you have me wondering! Thanks!
Yes. Visually you should be able to see all the Messier objects (and many others) but DSO's greater than magnitude 8 will appear very faint. Everything will appear in black and white/grey except for stars. Remember this is a small telescope and observing conditions make a huge difference! Here is a link to a video I did recently with images at the end. ua-cam.com/video/cY_bt_BMg7A/v-deo.html
Well I don't know if this is just mine that I just bought, but the focuser is very stiff. Also, the tube when mounted allows some horizontal movement. ie when you slide the dovetail piece into the mount and tighten up the nut as soon as you let the tube go, it drops a couple of mm away from the mount. I believe this is part of the reason i get so much shake when focusing. Celestron have advised shimming this up with some felt!... Anyway, i came to this video to see if anyone else had the same issue..
I haven't had the dove-tail problem. The focuser is crap ( I forgot to put that in the video ) try taking it apart and removing the gooey factory grease and apply a fine oil, that usually makes a difference.
Said I could see jupiter or at least mars... I can barely see the moon without getting a headache from focusing with my eyeball. I wanted to be stoked but this sucks.
@@astrodiver1 I’m glad to know that. And I would love to see more about your telescope since I’m thinking of buying one because my Dobsonian is too big
Dude...nice scopes, but you need a wireless microphone on you when making these videos. Scrap this one and make it again with a personal microphone on you. Sound quality makes my ears hurt and I am getting listening fatigue... Nice scopes though, and was shocked to see the size of the focuser's, I had to laugh at the size. You could take those off, and mount them separately as their own scopes, holy criminy...lol.
Thanks! Good review, much appreciated. trying to reacquaint myself with my scope. I was also scratching my head trying to figure out what the 2" eyepiece was.
I have had mine for 5 years and have enjoyed it. The auto tracking is not always great mainly because I don't do the alignment very well I guess. I used it for the eclipse last year and it was great. I just manually adjusted the tracking. Overall a good beginner scope.
Super late to the party here, but regarding your comment on the laser pointer. I've only had mine for a year now and noticed the same issue when replacing the battery. After playing around with it, I noticed it was the on/off dial that was actually loose. Just tightening the screw that holds the dial on fixed the issue for me at least.
Thanks for the great and informative review! P.S. has anyone told you that you look and sound like the late, great James Gandolfini? I was actually kind of startled by the resemblance at first.
Thanks! Yes actually a few times. The first time was in Chili going to look at the ESO-VLT telescope. He is about 5 years older, I'm about 5 inches taller. He's Italian, me more Scandinavian.
He was a very talented man. I don't have a snoballs chance in hell. Other than that we're practically twins. :) Thanks Odd team.
Thanks I have not used it you. you given me the confidence to try
Nice set up! Great details! That is a waxing crescent Moon, with Mare Crisium (Sea of Crisis) being the big crater to the far left side, i believe?
Haha ... well you got me to watch my video for the first time in 2 yrs.
@@astrodiver1 ua-cam.com/users/shortsv4CCgfk69fc?feature=share
Somehow that comment posted to your video, instead of this short!
@@astrodiver1But I enjoyed your video! Very good info! My brother in law has one of these, has had it for several years. Clear skies my friend!
I have the 130 SLT. It is a great little grab and go scope when I don't have time to set up my big one.
it does not weigh much
Astrodiver 1 I find it weighs a lot to carry from one side of the yard to the other. With the scope and tripod separated it's fine. But together it's quite heavy.
I've had this same scope for 3 years and it's a great beginner level scope for simple stargazing and some simple astrophotography, like you mentioned :) It's worth it IMO. Thumbs up!
Thanks Justin.
I have a question in some of the Amazon reviews some of the pictures are back and white. Does that mean that you can only see black and white though it?
@@abrahamsanchez3158 Nope, it's color -- the 130 SLT just uses mirrors so WYSIWYG = full color. It has no mechanical device that converts what you see through the eyepiece into B/W. Now things will be bright, like stars and shiny planets -- like Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter -- so bright that you might not be able to make out the color. You can use filters on the eyepieces that can lower the brightness or add some color -- but don't expect greatness (IMO). But, if you imaged these using say, a Celestron NexImage 5 eyepiece camera, you would have to post-process the image to really bring the colors out. I hope that helps :)
@@abrahamsanchez3158 I also found this video that's pretty good if you're wondering how capable it is with astrophotography -- ua-cam.com/video/-s3Vc7k5E1o/v-deo.html
@@jwgaming75 thank you!
The problem with the red dot finder is the switch. If you take apart the finder you'll find the exposed backside of the switch. Notice a little red paddle that holds open the contacts to power the circuit. What happens over time when the paddle is moved to the on position the little spring loaded contact doesn't close enough to make contact with the post in order to energize the circuit. The fix is to bend the contact post enough to close the gap between it and the switch lever when the switch is on, so the circuit will power up.
As for the broken bracket I've found Celestron uses mainly PVC plastic on most of the scopes I've seen. I've had pretty good luck using the PVC cement used on plumbing. You can get it at any home improvement center. You might want to bridge the backside of the break with a splint made from PVC as reinforcement.
Thanks J Bar, The tripod I have wired together with heavy duty wire and it seems to be holding up fine. As for the view finders I;m going to look into that tip you sent me and if thats the case I'll do a video on it!
Nice video. I’ve had one of these for probably 6+ years. Over time I drifted away from astronomy but since quarantine and everything, I’ve been getting back into it and it’s held up pretty well. I feel like I’m starting to outgrow my nexstar 130slt. What recommendations, if any, would you have for an upgrade to this?
A NexStar 6 or 8 would be best, they're amazing and do the same stuff as this one except clearer and more detail from everything I've read, I want to get this though so I can get used to the controls
Solid Review! Thank you for sharing. Aloha!
Ha2aii
Thanks good review. I have one of these with the filters and several eyepieces.
I have one on the way, I have seen videos where you can dl a free stacking astronomy software and use a webcam in the eye slot and get marvelous photos of planets like Saturn and Jupiter, so I hope you can rig a webcam to this one except I got the 102 the refractor, first telescope I was advised to start with one. So very anxious it should be here tomorrow! So do you have any experience with using a webcam and having it connected to your PC?
Congratulations on your first scope Greg! I have used a homebuilt webcam and a Orion webcam. The most difficulty I have with webcams is the white balance and contrast and that (for me at least) takes a lot of fiddling around to adjust. BTW the astronomy webcams are 1 1/4", the same as the eyepiece so yes it will fit your scope. Basically to get a nice still image you need to take a movie with the cam and use stacking software to get a finished and cleaned up still image. I find stacking software very difficult to use, hopefully you won't. Please let me know how the scope works out!!
Great video!!! I plan on getting this hopefully before the end of the year.
Cool! Any questions let me know.
I encourage you to purchase a telescope ☺👍:)
I installed an electric focuser makes a huge difference on lowering vibration. Was looking for a compatible mak/cas i can use with it as its more compact.
What size?1 1/2" or 2"?
I used the Orion 7375 electronic focuser. I usually use the 1.5 lenses because I like zoom lenses and I inly have a 1.5 one.
I wrote Celestron and told them the make and they took a week and sent me one center tray/stiffener. No charge.
Great overview thank you!
Great video bro. Just want to know, can I borrow it when your done
HA HA Just saw this!🤣
I may be getting the Celestron 130SLT Newtonian for my birthday this month. I was wondering if I could see messier objects like the Ring nebula.
Yes. M57 will appear faint through an EP unless conditions are good and you can put in a higher magnification EP
(like 7mm) Here is a link to pictures I have taken with the SLT 130. Two of the pictures are of M57. The images show roughly the size M57 would appear through a 7mm EP using the 130. ua-cam.com/video/Vq64p8GNZQk/v-deo.html
Would you be able or do you have a video on how does the planets look without camera or editing? Looking for this one for my son. Thanks 👍👍👍
I have other video's where I have taken images of DSO's (deep space objects) but not the planets. I'm sure someone else has those images. Planets are hard. It has to be close, the weather clear and dry and what EP (eyepiece) your using. You may be able to see the polar caps on Mars, bands of Jupiter and it's 4 large moons, possibly the Cassini gap of Saturn & Titan, and possibly resolve Uranus and a few of it's moons if conditions are good.
@@astrodiver1 All the videos that I've seen were edited. Thank You for your time and quick response. Keep up the good work 🙏🙏🙏 I'm going to buy one for my son because he's more into planets...
@@lovetheoutdoors9485 Research Reflector vs Refractor telescopes. The SLT 130 is a reflector. I own both and generally Refactors are considered better for viewing planets.
@@astrodiver1 I know the difference between them. I was thinking about getting both as well. Million Thanks
The vibration I lessened a lot by using a self made servo focus er. The spotter laser its the contacts . I just bought a skywatcher 10 inch but will keep the 130
Respected sir. It was a nice video.
Sir I wants to buy my first computerized telescope. And I have budget of 700 USD. What would you recommend. 130slt or something else. Kindly guide me sir.
Thankyou
I have the same scope. What is the practical difference between the 1.25 and 2 inch eyepieces?
Besides 3/4" lol, I would say a wider field of view (fov) especially at lower magnifications. Also at star parties where 50 or so people look through the scope (any scope) the 2" seems to give a better viewing experience to novices. I would buy at least one low magnification 2" EP if you can.
Nice scopes, did you ever have to clean the primary mirror?
question were did you get the replacement peaces like the leg spreaders and leg attachments ?
Mine stand cant go left and right why ?
Would I be able to control it manually? Instead of having the telescope find stars for me?
Yes, you can just use the arrows on the controller. If you are buying a telescope you may want to look-up "Dobsonian" telescope. They are less expensive manual versions of telescopes.
@@astrodiver1 I bought celestron nexstar 130slt AND Gskyer 90mm - 600mm (have you ever heard of Gskyer or used it?) to see which one is like more or if there is a HUGE difference in viewing quality. I’m waiting for the clouds to go away.
@@mays9339 I don't own a Gskyer brand but I own several refractors it's size. The Gskyer will be much easier to use and will probably show planets better. The reflector 130 is bigger and will show stars and nebula better IMO. There will be a larger learning curve plus it needs to be collimated (very important) but the larger 130mm reflector is ultimately the more capable scope. I'm interested which one you like better. Good luck with the clouds!
@@astrodiver1 Thank you for that information! Im very new to this, but I’ll let you know once the clouds are gone. 😊
thanks for taking the time to do this review, well explain. one question how do you like the meade eyepiece , hope you could do a review on it im looking foward in buying a few thanks
Thanks Tony. I like the less expensive GSO 2" EP's just as much in this small 5" scope. I plan on doing an EP review soon but the meade wide FOV EP's visually look better in my larger than 5" scopes.
My mom was looking into getting one of these for my daughter. She is 6 and has autism but loves the moon, stars and telescopes. My brother used to have a computerized telescope and my mom says that’s the only kind she’ll buy again. We found this one for what seems to be a decent price of 279 from what we’ve seen. We are still very much beginners... Do you think that’s a decent price for this and something as beginners we’d be able to use with ease? How often would you say it goes through the AA batteries? Do those batteries power everything from the red dot to the remote? Thanks for the great video!
Hi Crystal. A new computerized telescope should behave similar to an older computerized scope. If your family could figure out your brothers telescope a newer scope will have a learning curve but should work well as long as it's not physically forced. (messes up the gears). $279 is an excellent price for a new one but be careful if it's used (again from inexperienced/impatient people forcing the telescope to move) Mine goes through 8AA batteries in 10-12 hours? depending on use. A plug in adapter that plugs into a common household outlet can be used also. The red dot uses a separate common type battery. If your primarily going to start with the moon (great place to start) I have some advice for you and perhaps a better option. I'll be checking this comment section. Let me know. Thanks.
Thanks for responding and answering all my questions. It is new & still in box so I’m hoping everything is ok with it. What was your other option? I was hoping this would be one that we could get and it would last her a very long time. I think we’d be able to figure it but thought I’d better check on how user friendly it is again before making such a big purchase. I love what it will work with a plug also! That was definitely a plus.
@@crystalmorris1820 Your welcome Crystal. The AC adapters are plentiful (they can be run with a simple extension cord). A simple 4.5" manual reflector can be found in the $50 range and you just manipulate it to your liking, which is great for the moon.
2 things; All reflector telescopes need to be collimated. Collimation tools usually cost $ 30- 90. Also the moon is VERY bright and a "moon filter" that threads into the eyepiece should be used. Looking forward to any questions Crystal.
You said it eats batteries. Can you use and outside battery? Like a 12 volt car battery?
can i have a the link from celestron for the new and the old??
Hi can i used reflex in this telescope?
this video age is over a year and half by now. so if you haven't fixed the broken tripod arm, this is what i did. I went to a wood carpenter, and i asked him to copy the arm without making that slit which the tray goes under it. wood is better and cheaper choice and stronger than plastic.
Cool idea my friend ☺
Just send it to a 3D printer!
@@szaki the 3D printing will not make a hard and unbreakable one.
I ended up using wire around the break and stiffening up the tripod using the tray. It is pretty stiff!
@@superlinux maybe not unbreakable, but you can make them tough, such as a PLA with carbon Fiber added in or Nylon (though controlling the warping on a part like that would take good gear or a bit of luck
You said you used the scope for astro photography. Did you use a digital camera inserted into where the eyepiece goes like a Celestron 93709 NexImage Solar System Imager ? I could not get a camera to work with the scope because I could not get the camera close enough to hit the camera's focus plane.
Try a 2x Barlow
Are the Eye pieces 2 inch or 1”25? Thank you!
The eyepieces that are included with the telescope are 1"25. (25mm and I think 12mm?)
What eye piece u recommend with the 130 for those that wear eye glasses ?
How can I calibrate it so the alignment works properly. I bought a used one and it seems off. For example when I select Moon it aligns near the moon but not on it. Please help!
That's a lot to cover! It could be you or the scope or both. Is it level? was the information such as location/time correct? ( if it takes more than a few minutes to align the scope, you have to reset the start time or it will be "behind" a little) Sometimes choosing "3 star over 2star alignment is better. Maybe the mount is messed up from the previous owner? search this site, your not the only one! Hope that helped a little. www.cloudynights.com/index
I just got my scope ... do you have any suggestions for eyepieces. I got a celestron zoom lens 9mm-24mm and a 2X barlow lens. In your opinion is there a must have for this particular scope? Thank you so much and thank you for the awesome video helped out so much.
No, thank you Namik Sevlic! The zoom lens is a great choice with a 2x barlow as it covers the range of the scope visually. At star parties I use a 2 inch (60 degree field of view) 32mm EP for brighter deep space objects because it is more forgiving for the hundreds of people that look through it. When I want to show my wife Saturn early in the morning I usually use a 11 mm ( 1 1/4") Teleview pl (58 degree point of view) or if conditions are good, I will use a Explore Scientific 11mm 82 deg. F.O.V EP.
I have used EP's as strong as 5MM but they are at the magnification limits of the scope and need perfect sky conditions. Your sky conditions make all the difference with what you choose.
Thank you so much for your comment and please let me know how it works out for you!
How are you getting on with your new telescope!
Great video. I'm heavily considering this scope for my mom. She has expressed the desire to use her smartphone (galaxy note20 ultra) to take photos primarily of the moon. Would this be a good scope for that? In addition, do you have advice on an eyepiece adapter?
Hi. For the Moon and the money she just may want a digital camera with good zoom capabilities and a decent $80-$100 tripod. An example would be a Canon PowerShot SX420 at $300. It zooms 42x and would be great for the moon. The scope is still at around $500 and then you would want a tripod with a smart-phone adapter that could hold the phone camera over the eyepiece. I've tried that approach, it's tricky and then you have the scope mechanics to deal with. Unless my mom was seriously interested in learning about using telescopes, I would just get her a simple to use camera with good zoom capabilities and a tripod. It's a pain carrying the scope around! :)
I have the newest handcontroler the scrolling menu is unreadable in the cold weather. I called celestron and I was told to use a hand warmer and that I basically had to live with it.
You seem very knowledgeable on telescopes. I'm interested in a good telescope that can see nebulae and far objects in the night sky. My budget is around 500$. Would you recommend the 130slt or are there better telescopes out there at around that price range?
Hi!
I have the same telescope.
Do you have any idea where can be found the list of all the 4000(+) objects from the database??
Thanks
www.nexstarsite.com/NSOL.htm here ya go
I had this scope for 5 years and i still use it
james dean
Any boot loader issues...I was thinking about getting it fit $150-$175 cash off of CL...is that a good price...they are asking $200-YUP I am a beginner!
Nice to know you've had your telescope so long! have you taken any deep space images ☺
great review, i been looking around for a 2 inch eyepiece, how do you like that meade eyepiece thank
Thanks Tony. I really like the eyepiece. It has a wide field of view (82 deg.) and it's water proof (in case it rains I guess?) However it is heavy 890 grams /2 lbs.and pricey at about $150 US. I actually use my less expensive GSO
made 2" EP that only cost about $50 and only weighs 320 grams. I guess it would be about how much you use it and if your scope can deal with the heavier EP. P.S. objects look as good to me through both EP's but the Meade is nicer because of the larger field of view. (FOV)
I had the same issue with the laser pointer in my Nexstar 6SE out of the box, it was a problem with the battery retaining clip not applying tension to the battery. Simply took the battery out and pressed the clip down and never had another issue with the LED not working. Wonder if this was the same issue as yours?
I had that with one of the pointers, and I put a little piece of paper between the contact and the cover. Another viewer suggested a fix for the switch below in the comments. I have 3 broken pointers so when I try that fix i'll make a video of it.
Would you recommend this telescope over a Sky-Watcher’s 8 Dobsonians?
130 is better
@@lyliachafaa5661 Thank you! I actually bought the 130 a few days ago but think it needs to be collimated.
Great video! Are there any particular accessories you recommend buying with this scope? This will be my first computerized telescope (I've used many "manual" scopes in the past) and I'm not sure if I should look at other things such as battery packs to purchase along with it.
Thanks Austen King, I used the Celestron power pack for a few years with my friends scope. It will pay for itself vs AA batteries after about 120 hrs. (about $70) I'll probably purchase a battery pack before my winter viewing season.
If you have other scopes you probably have some decent eyepieces, if not look into a nice 1 1/4" 9-11mm EP. The 25 and 15MM EP's that come with the scope are just ...OK-ish. Also I would recommend a 2" EP around 28- 32mm. I would buy new and inexpensive on the 2" EP :)
Hey, would you recommend this telescope to a beginner that want to see rings of Saturn, Jupiter, and some galaxies, also to start astrophotography?, thanks.
Yes for viewing the planets and deep sky objects (DSO,s) but the DSO,s will appear small and Grey. If your serious about taking pictures I would suggest starting with a Equatorial mounted telescope. This particular scope is not designed for the long term exposure needed to get the great shots.
@@astrodiver1 does equatorial mounted telescope mean the 130EQ version?
Two Pancakes the 130EQ is the Equatorial mount, you do need to manually track objects with that one, I’ve had no issues with the SLT tracking.
@@TwoPancakes if you're talking about astromaster 130eq - this scope is best used as a trash bin.
If not mentioned already, put the eyepiece tray on to strengthen the locking struts and reduce chances of breakage.
Con's - Celestron spares policy sucks bigtime
That's a good point and one I forgot to mention. My borrowed scope did not have a tray but the new one did. Completely agree about Celestron's spare parts!
I Dont Care For The Red Dot Finder,I Went With The Star Pointer Pro,Santa Brought Me a New Nexstar 8se,Orion Over Me,and 0 Deg.Out..The Cold Is My Dilemma.Great Video..Youve Got a New Sub❤️🔭❤️🛰🌎
Mano que maneiro, adorei
Nice telescopes ☺👍:)
great review. I just purchased this, it came with a 25mm & 9mm eyepiece. I have been trying to watch planets, specifically Jupiter but no luck yet. Any advice, should I get another eyepiece and/or a collimator?
Thanks sulabh. Definitely purchase a collimation tool, you will need it. Inexpensive collimation eye pieces (which work fine) cost around $30 USD. Laser collimation tools which are easier to use (I think) start around $100. I would wait until you master the scope before buying more expensive Eye Pieces (EP's) With the scope properly collimated those EP's are surprisingly good. Let's talk Jupiter. With a full or partial moon turn on both the scope and the red dot finder. Using the arrows on the controller aim the scope towards the moon. When you are close get directly behind the red dot finder and keep using the controller arrows until the finder dot is on the moon. Using your 25mm EP look to see if the moon is showing, if not you should see bright light glowing to the side of your field of view, adjust towards that. When the moon comes into your Field Of View (FOV) and it will be VERY bright, focus and then center the moon in the EP. Then adjust your Red dot finder so the moon is in the center. Now the Telescope and red dot finder are aligned. When Jupiter is up all you need to do is move the scope using the controller and the red dot finder. Put the red dot right on top of Jupiter and then Jupiter should be in the EP. Now you can use the "solar system align" function on the scope. Pick Jupiter and the scope should track it fairly well for a few hours. Hope that helps!
thank you very much for a detailed response. cannot wait to give this is a shot. Appreciate the help
Is this telescope long lasting?Im about to buy a second hand which originally was purchased 4 years ago...I won't want to see the software playing up/broken/rusted in a year...
Don't pay too much ali...
Can you explain a bit more?Do you specifically mean this telescope?OR the cost of it?It is very hard to make a good choice:((
I would not purchase any used tracking telescope, unless it was proven to work properly. if you are purchasing your first second hand telescope buy a dobsonian.
I am 15, would I be able to operate it easily with no telescope experience?
Yes. I had never used a telescope like this before. Go slow and be careful not to force the scope by hand, it's bad for the gears. Remember you will also need a collimation tool to align the mirrors from time to time.
@@astrodiver1 do you have a video on how to align the mirrors?
What Is Price?
Around $500 US
I'm thinking about picking this for my first scope but I also want something good for viewing the solar eclipse this year. I know I'll need a solar filter for the front lens but is this a good scope for the eclipse? would you suggest any special eye pieces or a different scope all together. thanks
Personally I'm just going to use solar glasses for the eclipse, however I will bring a 114mm reflector that I have a front filter for. As long as you have a good secure front filter for the SLT 130 it would be fine for the eclipse. (remove the starfinder also) I have always used ordinary eyepieces for viewing the sun (with the filter on the front of the scope). Coranado is a brand of telescopes designed specifically for viewing the sun that you may want to look into. I would be interested to know what you decided on! BTW you have great taste in music!
Nice gear.👌🇺🇸
Have you found any other difference between the older one and the newer one apart from the controller? Are the differences between both versions very important?
The new model costs new about 450-500€, but I found one of the older ones for a little less than 300€ in the second hand market. What do you think about it?
Thanks ;)
+Xoan Cosmed No Sir just the controller. They seemed to work equally well, I just like the ergonomics of the newer one. My best pictures came from the older 2013 model mainly because of better viewing conditions ( ie I could easily see a nearly magnitude 6 Uranus with the naked eye ) I need to make a video about this but what you want to look out for Xoan, is that the used scope's gears and motors haven't been worn or broken by a frustrated un-experienced user. I would watch one of the Celeston SLT set-up video's and make sure that the used scope your looking at reacts the same. Hope that helps man.
Thank you very much for the information and for the fast answer.
I think that it's a good idea to watch a set-up video before buying to make sure that is in right condition (I'll purchase it in hand) as you said, so thanks for that idea!
Hope it turns out well!
Cute! Did you notice the squirrel @ 0:48 at center right?
Lol, at the end you can see them on the right and jumping tree to tree.
What do you suggest as an eye piece upgrade? I have the new version.
and do you recommend a specific Laser collimation tool?
I wouldn't suggest any specific EP upgrade. I have about 50 EP's but what makes things look great one night might not the next night because of different atmospheric conditions. I would suggest however getting a zoom EP that adjusts between 8-24mm they are always fun to play with! Those type EP's start at around $50. I use a Hotech laser collimation tool. Pricey but no problems over the last 7-8 years with it.
Is the primary mirror spherical or parabolic?
That's a good question! I'm not an expert and optics can go over my head quickly but I'm almost positive it's a parabolic mirror. It's a f5 5.1 inch mirror. It has no spherical aberration that you would expect to observe from a spherical mirror in such a "fast" F5 scope. (my meade eq. 127mm f 8.8 short tube has a built in corrector for example)
I have noticed a slight coma of the image with really low power EP's , which is also a trait of a parabolic mirror.
Out of the 8 scopes I own (3.5" & 6" refractor's and 4.5" through 10" reflector's) The 130slt is the sharpest except
for the 10" f 4.7 Meade reflector. Hope that helps.
Thanks, I agree that most likely the mirror is likely parabolic.incredibly strange and incomprehensible that Celestron doesn't choose to play that up in their marketing plan, as it would sell a ton more scopes that way.
Agree.
daaaaamn those bazucas are huge
Great vids. I've been looking to get a Go To scope, but been on the fence with the 130SLT. Looks like a great scope for the price. Do you get any vignetting with the 2 inch eyepiece?
Wow, another great question! Honestly Riccardo I've never visually used any of my fancier 2" EP's with this telescope. I primarily use this scope for imaging DSO's (which it can find more easily than me) and for public outreach. I can remember a night a year back under very good conditions when hundreds a people looked through this scope at M31 (Orion nebula) through an in-expensive 2" 32mm GSO EP (3-4 element design) without any noticeable vignetting. However the Meade EP in the video is 7 element so it may add to vignetting (lighter on the outside of the image) It'll be a few weeks before conditions will be right to test out "fancier" EP's but now you have me wondering! Thanks!
Thanks for the quick response. I'll be tuned in.
Nice review
Thanks Fred.
Sure is a nice review 👍
can you see deep space objects?
Yes. Visually you should be able to see all the Messier objects (and many others) but DSO's greater than magnitude 8 will appear very faint. Everything will appear in black and white/grey except for stars. Remember this is a small telescope and observing conditions make a huge difference! Here is a link to a video I did recently with images at the end. ua-cam.com/video/cY_bt_BMg7A/v-deo.html
Agree 100%
These are the same model ?
Yes. 3 years apart.
Well I don't know if this is just mine that I just bought, but the focuser is very stiff. Also, the tube when mounted allows some horizontal movement. ie when you slide the dovetail piece into the mount and tighten up the nut as soon as you let the tube go, it drops a couple of mm away from the mount. I believe this is part of the reason i get so much shake when focusing. Celestron have advised shimming this up with some felt!... Anyway, i came to this video to see if anyone else had the same issue..
I haven't had the dove-tail problem. The focuser is crap ( I forgot to put that in the video ) try taking it apart and removing the gooey factory grease and apply a fine oil, that usually makes a difference.
potresti vederlo uno
0:49 there is a lizard on the right
nice video :)
Squirrel fam
No look closely it’s a reptile 🦎
It is a squirrel
It's the reptilian order!
For any broken plastic piece have a 3d printer/scanner and make 1 I did
🛸🛸🛸🛸
Made in China?
awwww maybe your friend should have received the new one from you
Very confusing having two different scopes in the video!
My dream to have telescope 😣
those indentations are for blind people I believe
That's me at night.
David Schwarz why would a blind person own a telescope?
Hahaha!!!! Black humor!
Kind of undermines the credibility of your review when you call the LED finder scope a "LASER pointer."
Said I could see jupiter or at least mars...
I can barely see the moon without getting a headache from focusing with my eyeball.
I wanted to be stoked but this sucks.
Just give her the new one
I did.
@@astrodiver1 I’m glad to know that. And I would love to see more about your telescope since I’m thinking of buying one because my Dobsonian is too big
Dude...nice scopes, but you need a wireless microphone on you when making these videos. Scrap this one and make it again with a personal microphone on you. Sound quality makes my ears hurt and I am getting listening fatigue... Nice scopes though, and was shocked to see the size of the focuser's, I had to laugh at the size. You could take those off, and mount them separately as their own scopes, holy criminy...lol.
I think he never used it and come up with a brand new equipment!!!!!😂😂