Celestron NexStar 5SE SCT
Celestron’s NexStar 5SE 125mm f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope is a powerful, versatile, and user-friendly Schmidt-Cassegrain-style scope that can be used for observing everything from the Moon and planets to bright deep-sky objects like stars, galaxies, and nebulae. Using Celestron’s proprietary StarBright XLT multi-coating system, light transmission is increased throughout the entire optical path with anti-reflection multi-coated lenses, highly reflective multi-coated mirrors, and crown optical glass elements. While the focal ratio is a relatively slow f/10, the mount’s precision tracking system and integrated equatorial wedge allow it to be a competent astrophotography imaging platform for the Moon and planets.
Driving the dual servo motors on the mount is the brain of the NexStar 5SE: the iconic NexStar+ computer hand controller. Packed with 40,000+ celestial objects, it can hold up to 100 additional user-defined destinations and is updatable via the Celestron website. It has multiple alignment procedures to get you observing fast—including the super-easy SkyAlign system. Capable of being used in the Northern or Southern Hemispheres, the NexStar has sidereal, lunar, and solar tracking speeds to accurately follow near- and deep-sky objects, plus nine slew speeds and the ability to automatically trigger a camera’s shutter release for Fastar or piggyback wide-field photography or conventional prime-focus astrophotography.
Performance
5″ aperture
f/10 focal ratio
1250mm focal length
Crown optical glass primary mirror
StarBright XLT optical coatings: Multi-layer aluminum/SiO2 (quartz)/TiO2 (titanium dioxide) mirror coatings with flat reflectivity across the light spectrum for both astrophotography/astroimaging and visual observation
Multi-layer MgF2 (magnesium fluoride) and HfO2 (hafnium dioxide) anti-reflective lens coatings
High-transmission water white glass corrector lens with 97.4% light transmission
Resolution: 1.11 arcsec (Rayleigh); 0.91 arcsec (Dawes)
Secondary mirror obstruction: 2″; 40% by diameter; 16.6% by area
Secondary mirror can be removed and a DSLR or imaging rig mounted in its place for fast f/2 wide-field astrophotography
NexStar+ Computer Controller
2-line, 16-character LCD display
19 fibre optic backlit red LED buttons
Database of over 40,000 celestial objects plus 100 user-defined
Automatically slew to planets, stars, constellations, and a variety of catalogues
Camera control: For piggyback wide-field or conventional astrophotography through the optical tube assembly, the controller can automatically trigger the shutter release to capture the image
Anti-backlash compensation programs out play between gears for more precise tracking
Tour Mode: Shows a selection of the most popular objects for the time and date you are observing
Constellation Tour: This allows you to take a tour of all the best objects within a particular constellation
Alignment procedures: SkyAlign, Auto 2-Star, 1-Star, 2-Star, and Solar System
SkyAlign alignment: Takes minutes, with minimal effort or experience—point the telescope at three bright objects in the sky, and the telescope does the rest
Nine slew speeds: 4°/sec, 2°/sec, 1°/sec, 0.5°/sec, 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, and 32x
Sidereal, Solar, and Lunar tracking rates for observing the fast-moving Moon, to slower-moving deep-space subjects
Tracking modes: Alt-Az (default, for general GoTo use), EQ North (use for long-exposure astrophotography in Northern Hemisphere with EQ wedge engaged), EQ South (use for long-exposure astrophotography in Southern Hemisphere with EQ wedge engaged), Off (no tracking when using as a terrestrial spotting scope)
RS-232 communication port allows for computer control
Flash updatable via the Celestron website
Database Details
Solar system objects including the Sun, Moon, and planets
Named objects
Stars: Asterism, variable stars, double stars, named stars
Caldwell catalogue
Messier catalogue
NGC catalogue
SAO catalogue
Constellations
Mount & Tripod
Mount
Single-fork alt-az
Dual-axis servo motors allow for precise tracking with virtually no vibration
Motor resolution: 0.26 arcsec
Optical encoders track mount movement to improve tracking and GoTo accuracy while allowing the mount to maintain alignment when
moved manually
Communication ports: Autoguider port, Aux port, hand controller
Runs on eight user-supplied AA batteries or an optional 12 VDC power supply
Tripod
Stainless steel legs
Adjustable height accommodates a variety of observation positions or users
Built-in equatorial wedge enables more precise tracking accuracy during long-exposure astrophotography
The tray holds accessories such as eyepieces and filters and adds stability and vibration reduction
Weight: 10 pounds
Included Accessories
Eyepiece:
1.25″-diameter barrel
25mm focal length produces 50x magnification
Anti-reflection multi-coated glass improves colour rendition and contrast
Threaded barrel accepts most 1.25″ astronomical filters
Fold-down rubber eyecup for use with or without eyeglasses
52.5′ field of view at 1000 yards
Diagonal:
1.25″ input and output accepts most 1.25″ astronomical eyepieces and accessories
90° angle puts the head in a comfortable position when observing at or near the zenith
Corrects view horizontally, but not vertically
StarPointer Finder:
Projects a single red dot in line of sight
Unmagnified view ensures a wide field of view to make finding objects faster and star-hopping navigation easier
