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Celestron FirstScope 90EQ Telescope
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Discount Electronics > Celestron > Item 21
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Celestron FirstScope 90EQ Telescope
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by Celestron
Sales Rank: 3316
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List Price: $457.95
$389.26
At Amazon
on 8-31-2008.
Click to copy link, and paste to browser to buy
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Product Review
Celestron's Firstscope 90EQ refractor telescope is a good choice for anyone who wants to try out astronomy at an affordable price, and it can double as a high-power spotting scope. Standing five feet high and weighing nearly 30 pounds, the Firstscope 90EQ is a serious sized achromatic refractor. Achromatic refractors occupy a middle ground between 60mm beginner scopes and premium-priced Apochromatic refractors.
Refractors are known for their sharp, high-contrast views of the moon and planets, and the Firstscope 90 includes everything you need to get sharp views of the moon right out of the box. The low-power 20mm eyepiece (50x) shows a nice overall view of the moon, while the 10mm eyepiece (100x) can be used to zoom in for more detail. When the quarter moon is in the sky, I like to look for detail along the "terminator," the dramatic boundary between bright sunlight and dark shadow.
Brighter deep-space objects also show up nicely in the Firstscope 90. On a moonless night, I like the way the 20mm eyepiece frames the ghostly glow of the Orion nebula. Zooming in with the 10mm eyepiece, I can easily pick out all four stars of the Orion nebula's embedded multiple star, the Trapezium. The moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn are easy to see with the 10mm eyepiece (100x). With careful focusing, I was even able to detect the Cassini division in Saturn's rings using my own Ultima 7.5mm eyepiece. Low-cost refractors like the Firstscope 90 can be troubled by false color and spherical aberration, but I find these effects are well controlled at moderate powers. When I look at Jupiter and Saturn at magnifications over 100x however, the images are not as sharp as the ones I see with my C102HD refractor.
The equatorial mount included with the Firstscope 90EQ is designed to track stars and planets. When I set up the telescope, I simply point the polar axis at Polaris, the North Star. This allows me to keep celestial objects in view by turning one slow-motion knob, and an optional motor drive is available for hands-free tracking. Celestron also offers the Firstscope 90AZ, which is the same telescope with an alt-azimuth mount. The standard equipment Kellner eyepieces are just average quality; I'd add a 32mm plossl like the one in Celestron's optional accessory kit to bring out the full view of deep space highlights like the Pleiades. You'll also want some star charts to help find planets and star clusters; I like the monthly star charts and viewing tips in Night Sky magazine. --Jeff Phillips
Pros: - High-contrast views of the moon and planets
- Durable, low-maintenance design
- Can double as a spotting scope
Cons: - Eyepiece quality just average
- Equatorial mount can be awkward to use
- Planet views over 100x are a little soft
- 90mm is a bit small for deep space viewing
Product Description
The FirstScope 90 EQ is a good choice for the more serious beginning astronomer. The setting circles and slow motion controls on the R.A. and DEC. axes allow for greater control in both locating and tracking objects, making this equatorial telescope one you can grow with over time as your observing interests expand. These telescopes have all glass components, coated optics and smooth functioning mounts, with the added benefit of slow motion controls on the mount for easy adjustments. The FirstScope 90 telescope tubes are glossy black aluminum. The German equatorial mount features setting circles and slow motion controls on the R.A. and DEC axes. These controls will enhance your viewing experience by simplifying both locating and tracking objects. When you're looking for a telescope offering a bit more versatility and control than the altazimuth models, these are the telescopes to consider. The equatorial mount is larger and more rugged than the one supplied with the FirstScope 60's. The tripod is also larger and more rugged than offered on the 60mm sizes or on most competitive 90mm models. The achromatic optics are made to Celestron's exacting specifications and are quite excellent. The standard accessories for this telescope add up to a highly desirable viewing instrument that performs superbly.
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Celestron FirstScope 90EQ Telescope
Available from Amazon
Price: $389.26
Updated on 8-31-2008.
Click to copy link, and paste to browser to buy
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Last Modified : 8-31-2008
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