Celestron PowerSeeker 80AZS telescope: Fat overview

The Celestron PowerSeeker 80AZS is a “do away with and bolt” telescope that’s built for celestial and terrestrial views. Given its total weight of 10 lbs. (4.54 kilograms), or not it is additionally exceedingly light-weight, making it proper for beginners and families.

With an aperture of 3.15 inches and a focal length of 15.75 inches, the PowerSeeker 80AZS provides views of targets that are obvious to be on the looking at list of many skywatchers: the planets, moon, colorful nebulas and galaxies. 

What’s extra, the telescope comes with a vary of tools that originate beginning out in skywatching all of the extra easy: 20 mm and 4 mm Plössl eyepieces, 3x Barlow lens, accent tray, an erect-image massive name diagonal, 5×24 finderscope and a easy-to-spend alt-azimuth mount. Celestron’s Starry Evening Particular Version application is additionally integrated.

Associated: Most animated telescopes

PowerSeeker 80AZS: Gain

• Easy manufacture — no tools required 
• Transportable bask in
• Low-quality plastic tools
• Tripod requires extra care

Whereas many producers offer computerized telescopes or extra sophisticated instruments that require nuts, bolts and tools to place them collectively, it is miles terribly refreshing to see that we bask in been ready to assemble the PowerSeeker 80AZS in decrease than ten minutes. 

We didn’t need to make spend of the provided instructions — which can maybe possibly well be very complete we may possibly possibly well add — since organising is so intuitive. There may be not any want for an Allen wrench, screwdriver or every other forms of tools and it’s easy to suit the optical tube to the mount and tripod. Extra fixtures, such because the finderscope, are additionally easy to glue. 

On inspecting the telescope as soon as it used to be assembled, the manufacture is horny for the value. As that you just may possibly demand with many funds telescopes, the PowerSeeker 80AZS’ focusers are product of plastic, as is the 90-level diagonal. Whereas this isn’t a massive bother, there are funds telescopes in a identical label vary with better quality tools. 

The refractor requires extra care within the center of observations: it is not as grand in contrast to other funds telescopes we now bask in long-established — in particular, the tripod shakes and threatens to descend over when nudged. On a obvious screen the altitude-locking bar, long-established for keeping the setup in position, performed very smartly, whereas the unhurried-motion rod administration permits for upright slewing.

In our journey, Celestron has constantly provided top quality views of a multitude of evening sky targets, so we had high hopes for the PowerSeeker 80AZS’ optics, particularly attributable to they’re multi-coated. 

The refractor has a focal ratio of f/5, which permits broad-attitude objects similar to begin clusters to suit within the field of seek. A vary of diversified targets are nearby of its optical limits, provided the skywatcher is respectful of one of the best most likely and lowest sensible magnifications: 189x and 11x. With the two provided Plössl eyepieces, the telescope is able to conclude magnifications of 20x and 100x, whereas the 3x Barlow lens pushes the optical plan extra by 3 times.

PowerSeeker 80AZS: Morning time and performance

• Upright optics with puny distortion
• Tripod is inclined to shaking
• Comely views for a funds telescope
• Easy-to-navigate mount

Defending the value of this telescope in mind, the PowerSeeker 80AZS’ optics are very horny for the money. Within the beginning place — and on account of the telescope using an erect image diagonal — we bask in been concerned that there would be a level of light being scattered. Yet, given the telescope’s low energy and filthy rich field, we didn’t gain this to be a particular accomplishing. 

With the closing quarter moon within the sky, we took the opportunity to hunt its craters, which bask in been beautifully picked out by the terminator; the purpose the place lunar evening meets lunar day. 

In particular, the part allowed us to plan shut out beautiful sights of Herschel, Archimedes, Clavius and Copernicus in our field of seek — the PowerSeeker 80AZS provided colorful, clear sights without reference to atmospheric distortion. Sadly, we did survey a level of counterfeit coloration but this didn’t damage the journey — we’re clear that beginners will most likely be joyful with the optical plan’s performance.

Given the low magnification provided by the 20 mm Plössl, the moon doesn’t acquire the field of seek and we bask in been ready to soak up all of the lunar flooring. There is a obvious to this — beginners will not salvage misplaced navigating craters and mare. Upping the magnification with the 4 mm eyepiece, the field of seek restful remained keen as we bask in been introduced closer to the rugged terrain. 

The 3x Barlow lens triples the telescope’s energy — an spectacular feat that sadly introduced about blurred sights: evidence that the optical plan has been pushed means past its sensible magnification. We recommend accessorizing with a vary of eyepieces and filters in snort to be respectful of the 189x and 11x limits.   

The 5×24 finderscope is a ample addition to the PowerSeeker 80AZS in assisting with our navigation of the moon’s flooring. Generally, optical finders battle to plan shut out faint stars for massive name-hopping from light-polluted areas but when we build this to the test, we didn’t feel this to be a accomplishing for the 5×24 — stars a little of underneath the threshold for bare-see observation (magnitude +6) are picked out clearly by the optics. 

To originate navigating the evening sky even extra easy, we propose procuring a crimson dot finder for stipulations the place picking out faint stars is a reveal. The PowerSeeker 80AZS provides a thread for easy attachment to the optical tube.

Swinging the telescope up and down and left to horny, the alt-azimuth mount is a trip to dawdle, with no catching or sticking. We did screen an obvious level of shaking when slewing from one target to the following, forcing us to retain the tripod firmly for extra steadiness.

Given the telescope’s broad procedure lens, the optical plan is able to picking up massive name clusters in a single single seek: the Pleiades (Messier 45) in Taurus (the Bull), with its magnitude of +1.6, is an awfully beautiful sight by the PowerSeeker 80AZS. The seven fundamental stellar persons are pin-keen with no inner reflections within the optics and, with a level of averted imaginative and prescient, the cluster’s Merope Nebula (NGC 1435) is easy to plan shut out as a white, ghostly haze.

Slewing over to United states Main (the Immense Undergo), we rapid and without reveal atomize up the double stars Alcor and Mizar within the take care of of the Expansive Dipper. Thanks to the coated lens, the blue-white coloration of the pair is crystal clear and bask in been ready to originate out Mizar’s smaller partner, Mizar B.   

With the constellation of Orion (the Hunter) at a top assert for viewing, the Orion Nebula (Messier 42) is a excellent sight by the PowerSeeker 80AZS. As anticipated, the massive name-forming procedure is itsy-bitsy but we bask in been ready to plan shut out the tight Trapezium Cluster at its coronary heart.

Saturn used to be additionally seen within the sky, offering the correct opportunity to place the gas massive’s rings. Utilizing our maintain more than a few of Celestron eyepieces, we’re impressed with the refractor’s skill to salvage to the bottom of the planet as a yellow-orange disk with its rings tipped at a 45-level attitude. The Cassini Division — a pickle within the ring plan — wasn’t seen by the PowerSeeker 80AZS but views of the planet will galvanize fresh skywatchers regardless.

PowerSeeker 80AZS: Verdict

The PowerSeeker 80AZS is an efficient telescope for beginners, offering views of an very perfect more than a few of photograph voltaic plan and deep-sky targets. Sights are crisp and clear by the  eyepiece with no fundamental optical distortion with the exception of a level of counterfeit coloration.

It be provided with a first price amount of tools that suit low budgets but we abolish suggest furnishing the telescope with eyepieces. We recommend leaving out the Barlow lens since the optical plan just will not be ready to deal with the amplify in magnification.  

The bulk of the PowerSeeker 80AZS’ scheme are product of plastic, which is unsurprising for a funds telescope. On the assorted hand, the focusers, massive name diagonal and eyepieces are of a decrease quality in contrast to other beginner instruments we now bask in long-established within the identical label vary. 

The tripod just will not be as stable as hoped and skywatchers would possibly want to toughen all of the setup when slewing the tube. The mount operates without anguish and the unhurried-motion rod administration additionally permits for upright navigation. 

Whereas it has its drawbacks, the PowerSeeker 80AZS provides an very perfect introduction to skywatching — particularly whereas you occur to’re aiming to originate it an informal ardour for yourself or the family and bask in a low funds.