Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ Telescope

The Celestron AstroMaster LT70AZ is a traditional 70mm refractor for someone who wants to concentrate on seeing the night sky rather than managing complicated telescope technology.

Its 70mm aperture and 700mm focal length provide a useful combination for bright astronomical targets. Saturn’s rings are clearly recognisable, Jupiter’s four major moons are easy to follow, and its main cloud belts can become visible under good conditions. The Moon reveals extensive crater, mountain and shadow detail, while double stars and brighter star clusters provide plenty more to seek out.

The supplied 20mm and 10mm eyepieces provide sensible 35x and 70x magnifications, allowing you to move from broader views to closer inspection without chasing unrealistic magnification figures.

The AstroMaster mount is manual and intuitive. A pan handle allows you to guide the telescope naturally around the sky, while the steel-legged full-height tripod provides a more substantial observing platform.

Finding bright objects is also straightforward with Celestron’s built-in StarPointer red-dot finder. Line the red dot up with the object you want to observe, then move to the telescope eyepiece for the magnified view.

There are no motors, batteries or electronic alignment systems to manage. Set the telescope up, point it at the sky and start observing.

For someone wanting a straightforward 70mm telescope with crisp refractor views and a solid manual setup, the AstroMaster LT70AZ is an appealing way to begin exploring astronomy.

Why Choose the Celestron AstroMaster LT70AZ?

• 70mm refractor optics — well suited to the Moon, planets, double stars and brighter star clusters.
• Useful 35x and 70x magnifications included — sensible powers for a telescope of this aperture.
• Built-in StarPointer red-dot finder — helps you aim accurately at bright astronomical targets.
• Steel-legged tripod — provides a solid full-height observing platform.
• Simple Alt-Azimuth control — move naturally around the sky using the pan handle.
• Fully coated glass optics — designed to provide clear, crisp views.
• No telescope power required — completely manual operation keeps setup straightforward.

What Can You See?

The AstroMaster LT70AZ offers plenty of rewarding astronomy without making unrealistic promises about what a small telescope can show.

Saturn’s rings are clearly recognisable, while Jupiter’s four bright Galilean moons can be watched as their positions change from night to night. Under good conditions, Jupiter’s principal cloud belts can also become visible.

The Moon is particularly impressive through a 70mm refractor. Craters, mountains, ridges and shadows become dramatically more apparent as the Sun illuminates them from different angles.

Bright star clusters provide another enjoyable class of object. The Southern Pleiades and Jewel Box Cluster are attractive New Zealand targets, while larger clusters such as Omega Centauri appear as concentrations of starlight.

Bright nebulae such as Orion can also be detected under suitable skies, giving you worthwhile targets beyond the Solar System without suggesting that this is a large-aperture deep-sky telescope.

Simple Manual Astronomy

The AstroMaster LT70AZ is designed around straightforward observing.

The Alt-Azimuth mount works in familiar up/down and left/right directions, while the pan handle lets you move smoothly across the sky. The built-in red-dot finder helps with aiming, and the supplied eyepieces then provide either a wider 35x view or a closer 70x view.

There are no apps, motors or alignment procedures. For many people, that simplicity is part of the appeal.

FAQ's

Is the AstroMaster LT70AZ suitable as a first telescope?

Yes. Its manual controls are straightforward, the red-dot finder helps with aiming, and the supplied 35x and 70x eyepieces provide useful magnifications without unnecessary complexity.

What is the AstroMaster LT70AZ best for viewing?

Its strongest targets are the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, double stars and brighter star clusters. Bright nebulae such as Orion can also be observed under suitable conditions.

Does the AstroMaster LT70AZ require batteries or power?

No. The telescope and mount are completely manual, so there is no external power supply, motor drive or electronic alignment system to manage.

Is this telescope suitable for beginners?  Yes

Warranty:  2 Years

AstroMaster Manual