The Celestron PowerSeeker 60 altazimuth refractor is a very economical introduction to casual astronomy and nature study for the backyard astronomer, but one that can supply good images of nature, the Moon, the planets, and many of the brighter deep space objects.
The 60mm altazimuth Celestron PowerSeeker is a good choice for a beginning astronomer who also has an eye for nature. Its sensibly-priced refractor optical system is a good way to begin your journey into the night sky, providing you with high contrast views of the Moon and planets.
The construction of the optical system is quite good, as the PowerSeeker has all-glass optical components, with high transmission coatings for enhanced image brightness and clarity. The altitude slow motion control of the telescope's mount comes in handy for keeping objects in view as they move across the night sky.
Once you have scanned your way through the solar system and the Milky Way, you can use the PowerSeeker to look at things closer to home. The altazimuth mount will let you easily track objects on the ground and allow you to get a closer look at nature and your surroundings.
The Celestron PowerSeeker 60 has a light grasp 76 times that of the sharpest eye. Combine that light grasp with its two eyepieces (a 20mm and a 4mm) and 3x Barlow lens, and you have the ability to see many, many celestial and terrestrial objects that are simply invisible to the unaided eye. It can open a whole new world to you, at a price well within reach and reason.
This PowerSeeker Telescope's Optical System . . .
Refractor optical tube: 60mm (2.4") aperture air-spaced two-element crown and flint glass achromatic lens. 700mm focal length f/12 all-glass optics. No plastic lenses.
Coated optics: The objective lens has antireflection coatings on all surfaces for high light transmission and good contrast.
Dew shield: A dew shield (an extension of the optical tube that's threaded onto the front of the objective lens) slows the formation of dew on the lens in cold weather. This extends your undisturbed observing time.
Rack and pinion focuser: The 1.25" focuser has dual focusing knobs for precise image control with either hand. The large focus knobs are easy to operate, even while wearing gloves or mittens in cold weather.
Star diagonal: The 90° viewing angle 1.25" star diagonal (eyepiece holder) allows comfortable viewing when looking overhead at the sky. It has a built-in image erecting prism that provides right-reading images that show you the sky and lunar features oriented the same way you see them through binoculars or with your unaided eye.
Two eyepieces: You get a high power 1.25" 4mm (175x) eyepiece and a low power 1.25" 20mm (35x) with a 1.3° field of view (almost three times the diameter of the full Moon). Both eyepieces have antireflection coatings on their lens surfaces for sharp images and good contrast.
Barlow lens: A 1.25" 3x Barlow lens is included that triples the magnification of the two supplied eyepieces to 105x and 525x. The 525x magnification of the 4mm eyepiece/Barlow combination is realistically far beyond the scope's usable magnification capability, however. Do not count on using that optical combination very often, if at all. A lower power eyepiece, such as a 40mm (17.5x; 52.5x with the Barlow), would provide a pair of magnifications more useful than the 525x of the 4mm and Barlow combination.
Finderscope: A low power 5x24mm finderscope attaches to the side of the optical tube. The straight-through viewing refractor finderscope provides a traditional inverted mirror-image astronomical view. If properly collimated (aligned) with the view through the main telescope, its crosshairs will help you center distant objects in the telescope so you don't have to search for them using the narrow eyepiece field of view.
This PowerSeeker Telescope's Mount . . .
Altazimuth mount: The altazimuth mount provides right/left and up/down motions. This is suitable for casual astronomical observing, and will let you easily track objects on the ground to allow you to get a closer look at nature and your surroundings. A knob at the base of the mount allows you to lock the tube in place or to adjust the drag on the scope during right/left motions. This lets you control how smoothly the mount moves as you manually push the tube left or right to follow objects moving through the sky or on the land.
Altitude slow motion control rod: A threaded rod with a knurled control nut provides vertical slow motion control while following objects across the sky. Turning the control nut moves the scope up or down in small increments. The control rod has a locking knob that can be easily released so you can quickly move the scope vertically from object to object.
Tripod: The lightweight aluminum tripod easily adjusts for standing or seated observations through the telescope. The tripod includes an accessory shelf that holds your eyepieces and Barlow.
Two year warranty: As an expression of Celestron's confidence in the quality of their products, the PowerSeeker is protected by Celestron's two-year limited warranty against flaws in materials and workmanship.
