Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Motor Drive
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The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Motor Drive is a 130mm Newtonian reflector telescope equipped with an equatorial mount and motorized single-axis tracking, making it a capable mid-range option for backyard astronomers. It offers enough aperture and focal length to split a wide range of double stars while the motor drive helps keep targets centered without constant manual adjustment. Overall it strikes a reasonable balance between performance and affordability, though it does require some patience during initial setup and collimation.
Key Features & Specs
| Aperture | 130mm (5.1 inch) primary mirror for solid light-gathering and resolving power |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 650mm focal length yielding an f/5 focal ratio suitable for wide and medium-power views |
| Mount Type | German equatorial mount (EQ) with motorized right ascension drive for automatic object tracking |
| Included Eyepieces | Two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm) providing 33x and 65x magnification out of the box |
| Power | Motor drive powered by standard AA batteries; no external power source required |
| Optical Design | Newtonian reflector with fully coated glass optics for enhanced brightness and contrast |
| Warranty | Two-year limited warranty backed by Celestron customer support |
Best for: Beginner to intermediate astronomers who want an affordable, tracking-equipped reflector telescope capable of resolving double stars and exploring other deep-sky objects without the complexity of a computerized GoTo system.