Review I love bargains, so I was eager to try out Celestron’s new Powerseeker 114 Newtonian reflector telescope. With it is 4.5-inch mirror, Celestron’s Powerseeker 114 gathers three times more starlight than general 60mm refractors. The Powerseeker package includes two eyepieces (K20 and SR4), a plastic 3x barlow, and a lightweight equatorial mount.
Optically, the Powerseeker 114 holds it is own when equated with my Celestron Firstscope 114EQ. Using the K20 eyepiece included as frequent equipment, in regards to 45x magnification, it’s easy to see the Andromeda Galaxy and it is littler satellite galaxy M32. When equated to 60mm refractors, the Powerseeker 114 brings out much more detail in the Orion Nebula, reveals a heap of more stars in Perseus’ Double Cluster and even brings out a few person stars in globular clusters like M13. Saturn looks rather little at 45x with the K20 eyepiece, but using my own 7.5mm eyepiece (120x) I may effortlessly detect the shadow cast by the planet on the rings, and even glimpse the ring’s Cassini Division. When the mirrors are decently lined up or “collimated,” the images are somewhat sharp up to magnifications of 225x. I find a collimation tool helps get this fine tuning just right.
As good as the optics are, however, the effect of cost-cutting shows up in the mechanical components. The focuser is plastic, the finder scope is plastic, the rings that attach the telescope to the tripod are plastic. Even when the tripod legs are clamped at their shortest setting, the telescope wobbles when I undertake to focus at higher magnifications. Celestron’s instruction manual in the right way recommends that most observing be done in the range of 40x to 130x. So what with regards to that 675x exposure proclaimed on the box? I’d say it’s not worth the trouble.
Overall, the Celestron Powerseeker 114 is a budget priced telescope with good optical performance, in particular when using the low power K20 eyepiece. If you’re more than willing to spend a little more money, either Orion’s SkyQuest XT4.5 or Celestron’s Firstscope 114EQ will give you a sturdier mount, an bettered finder scope, and better eyepieces. Also, for in regards to the price of the Powerseeker 114, I like the dependable refractor design of Celestron’s Firstscope 70EQ. –Jeff Phillips
Pros:
- Low cost
- Good optics
- Serviceable K20 eyepiece
Cons:
- Wobbly mount
- Difficult to collimate
- Plastic finder and focuser
Celestron PowerSeeker telescopes are a outstanding way to open up the wonders of the Universe to the aspiring astronomer. The PowerSeeker series is designed to give the first-time telescope user the perfective combining of quality, value, features and power.
Amateur astronomy is a great family sideline that may be enjoyed year round, and Celestron’s PowerSeekers are the idealisti choice for families looking for an lowcost and high quality telescope that will provide a heap of hours of enjoyment for children and adults alike.
PowerSeekers are quick and easy to set up – even for the novice. No tools are required for assembly!
Their sturdy equatorial mounts are perfective for tracking objects in the night sky, and the collapsible alt-azimuth mounts are perfectly suitable for terrestrial (land) observing as well as astronomical use.
All of Celestron’s PowerSeekers include a full range of eyepieces plus a 3x Barlow lens that provides an increase in watching power hundreds of times more outstanding than that of the unaided eye!
PowerSeekers are designed and fabricated using all wholly coated glass optical elements with high transmission coatings for intensified effigy luminance and clarity.
Erect Image Optics are idealisti for terretrial (land) and astronomical (sky) use.
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