Celestron C5 Review

The optics on a Celestron C5 are so good that NASA uses it on many of their space shuttle missions. This little telescope is very light and works great for bird watching, observing nature, and space observation. It weighs just under seven pounds so it is very easy to tote around or carry along on hiking trips.

With its aperture of 5", the C5 has more than four times the light gathering capabilities than a 60mm telescope. The exceptionally bright images that are captured also are crisp and make great focal points for picture taking. There are optional hardware pieces available to mount a camera to the telescope. The T-Ring and T-Adapter are designed to mount right on the back of the telescope and will hold a 35mm SLR camera. The tripod adapter is also sturdy and makes observing and taking pictures easier.

The versatility of this telescope means that various hobbyists could get a lot of use out of it. It can be used to view terrestial objects and nature. It has the capacity to near focus up to 20 feet which is ideal for studying plants, animals, bugs, and birds. It can then just as easily slip into high-powered telescope mode with the use of the 1250 mm f/10 telephoto lens.

The power of this little telescope can be astonishing. One wouldn't expect such clear shots from a C5, especially after looking through 80mm scopes. The crisp and bright images of the moon are breathtaking. Budding astronomers will delight in the detail of the craters, shadows, and hills that mottle the moon's surface.

Stargazing through the Celestron C5 is also a thrilling experience. The stars are bright and focused. Finding constellations is a breeze with the superior optic capability of this telescope. Viewing planets, nebulae, and other celestial objects rounds out the viewing experience. Checking out Jupiter with this telescope is a real treat. The belts are shown in great detail and are very defined. Being such a high-contrast planet, fixing in on the right resolution is important, but not difficult. Any newbie to space exploration with a telescope can get a handle for how to operate the resolution tuning knob. The amount of detail this telescope picks up is breathtaking. The viewing and photography possibilities are endless with a C5.