Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope

The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ is a compact 130mm reflector designed for someone who wants a broad and varied night sky to explore without moving into a large telescope.

Its 130mm aperture gathers enough light to make star clusters, bright nebulae and many of the southern sky's richer star fields genuinely rewarding, while the relatively short 650mm focal length gives the telescope a wider field of view than many longer reflectors.

That makes the AstroMaster particularly enjoyable when exploring open clusters, the Carina region, larger nebulae and dense areas of the Milky Way. Planets provide another completely different observing experience, with Saturn's rings, Jupiter and its four bright moons, Mars when well positioned, and extensive lunar detail all within reach.

It is also more versatile than a conventional astronomy-only reflector might first appear. The supplied 20mm eyepiece incorporates an erect image corrector, producing a correctly oriented 33x view for observing distant landscapes, boats, buildings and other terrestrial subjects during the day.

The optical tube is only around 61cm long, giving you substantial 130mm aperture in a relatively compact format.

Celestron's CG-3 equatorial mount sits on a full-height steel tripod and includes slow-motion controls for precise positioning. Although an equatorial mount can look technical at first, you do not need to understand celestial coordinates or use setting circles before you can start observing. Simply move the telescope towards your target, lock it in place and use the slow-motion controls for fine adjustment.

As you become more familiar with the telescope, a basic polar alignment allows you to follow the movement of astronomical objects across the sky more easily.

For someone wanting a compact 130mm reflector with strong wide-field astronomy capability, useful daytime viewing and a substantial manual observing setup, the AstroMaster 130EQ offers an unusually broad range of ways to explore.

Why Choose the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ?

• 130mm aperture — rewarding on star clusters, bright nebulae, planets and other brighter night-sky targets.
• Broad-field 650mm focal length — particularly enjoyable for larger objects, open clusters and sweeping rich areas of the Milky Way.
• Daytime viewing capability — supplied 20mm eyepiece provides 33x and includes a built-in erect image corrector for correctly oriented terrestrial views.
• Compact optical tube — substantial aperture in a tube only around 61cm long.
• CG-3 equatorial mount — provides controlled manual movement and precise slow-motion adjustment.
• Full-height steel tripod — gives the telescope a substantial floor-standing observing platform.
• Built-in StarPointer red-dot finder — helps you aim towards brighter targets before moving to the main eyepiece.
• 33x and 65x magnifications included — useful powers for the telescope's broad-field observing character.
• Quick no-tool setup — straightforward to assemble and get ready for observing.
• No telescope power required — completely manual operation.

What Can You See?

The AstroMaster 130EQ is particularly enjoyable on star clusters, bright nebulae and broader areas of the night sky.

From New Zealand, the Southern Pleiades and Jewel Box Cluster provide attractive groups of individual stars, while Omega Centauri and 47 Tucanae appear as impressive concentrations of starlight.

The Carina Nebula is an outstanding southern target, particularly away from strong artificial lighting, while the Orion Nebula provides another bright and rewarding object at the appropriate time of year. Sweeping through the southern Milky Way can reveal rich fields filled with stars.

Planets remain very worthwhile targets. Saturn's rings are clearly recognisable, while Jupiter shows its four bright Galilean moons and, under good conditions, its main atmospheric belts. Mars appears as a reddish disc when favourably positioned, while the Moon reveals extensive detail across craters, ridges, mountain ranges and changing shadows.

Under darker skies, brighter galaxies and other fainter deep-sky objects can also be detected, although the AstroMaster's strongest visual character is its broad-field view of brighter clusters, nebulae and star-rich areas of sky.

From the Night Sky to Daytime Views

The supplied 20mm eyepiece is unusual because it includes a built-in erect image corrector.

A Newtonian reflector normally produces an image orientation that is perfectly acceptable for astronomy but awkward for terrestrial viewing. The erect-image eyepiece corrects this, giving you a naturally oriented view at 33x.

That lets you turn the AstroMaster towards distant scenery, boats, buildings, wildlife and other daytime subjects without needing to purchase a separate image-correcting accessory.

The CG-3 equatorial mount remains primarily an astronomy mount, so it is not as intuitive for following fast-moving terrestrial subjects as a simple Alt-Azimuth mount. But for long-distance daytime observation, the supplied eyepiece gives the AstroMaster genuine additional versatility.

The Equatorial Mount Made Simple

You do not need to learn celestial coordinates before using the AstroMaster 130EQ.

To begin, loosen the mount, point the telescope manually towards your target and then use the slow-motion controls to centre it more precisely.

That is enough to start observing.

When you are ready, learning a simple polar alignment makes following astronomical objects across the sky easier because their movement can then be tracked mainly with the Right Ascension slow-motion control.

The equatorial mount therefore gives you more precise control without making your first observing session complicated.

FAQ's

Is the AstroMaster 130EQ suitable if I have never used an equatorial mount before?

• Yes. You can initially use the telescope simply by moving it manually towards your target and using the slow-motion controls for fine adjustment. Polar alignment and setting circles are additional skills you can learn later rather than requirements for getting started.

Can the AstroMaster 130EQ be used during the day?

• Yes. Its supplied 20mm eyepiece contains a built-in erect image corrector, giving a correctly oriented terrestrial view at 33x. It can therefore be used for distant scenery, boats, buildings, wildlife and similar daytime subjects.

What is the AstroMaster 130EQ particularly good for viewing at night?

• Its 130mm aperture and 650mm focal length make it especially enjoyable for star clusters, bright nebulae, rich Milky Way fields and other larger night-sky targets. Saturn, Jupiter, the Moon and double stars are also worthwhile objects.

Does the telescope require batteries or electricity?

• No. The standard AstroMaster 130EQ telescope and mount are completely manual.

• AstroMaster EQ Manual
• AstroMaster 76EQ, 114EQ and 130EQ Quick Setup Guide