Celestron AstroMaster 70EQ Review

The Celestron AstroMaster 70EQ is a 70mm refractor telescope part of the AstroMaster range featuring an equatorial mount.

The 70EQ is very similar to the 70AZ from the same range, the difference of course being the mount. The 70AZ features the alt azimuth mount making it more suitable for terrestrial viewing while the 70EQ has the equatorial mount which makes this model more orientated towards astronomical viewing.

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The box comes with the following items: the optical tube with the build on StarPointer finder scope, the equatorial mount, two eyepieces (10mm, 20mm), the tripod and the SkyX software.

Setting up the telescope is easy and straight forward not taking more then 10 minutes.

The optical tube is rather lengthy at 36in (914mm) which is the first thing that struck me when I unpacked it. There are telescope which are much larger, but given that this is a beginner telescope, the length of the tube might be something you want to take into consideration especially if you’re thinking of taking this telescope with you on a trip. It’s not a telescope build for portability and I thought I’d mention that since some people might be fooled by looking at the images.

The tube does however deliver great images. Like all the models from the AstroMaster range, the optics are very good being able to deliver images of the Moon and it’s craters as well as seeing Jupiter in detail and Saturn with it’s rings. The StarPointer is attached to the tube and makes finding these object easier. The StarPointer has an on/off switch and runs on battery which is included as well.

The two eyepieces are to be inserted in the correct image prism which insures that the viewed images are displayed correctly and not flipped horizontally and vertically. This makes the telescope good for terrestrial viewing as well. It’s not specifically built for terrestrial viewing but it gets the job done very well. If you are however looking for a telescope that’s better suited for that purpose I recommend a telescope with an alt azimuth mount like the 70AZ.

The entire telescope is mounter on the equatorial mount and sits on the tripod (steel tube legs), which are two strong points of this telescope. Once set up, the equatorial mount is the best possible thing for easily tracking astronomical object on the sky and this mount is top quality for the price. Also the aluminium tripod had proved to be very sturdy which helps a lot.

Although the 70EQ does not have the power of some of the other models from this range, it is a good beginner telescope which can deliver great images of the night sky in particular the moon and the planets. If you’re looking for a relatively simple and easy to use telescope that has an elegant design and does not break the bank, then this might the the telescope for you.

Pros for the Celestron AstroMaster 70EQ:

• Great optics
• Sturdy aluminium mount
• Simple and easy to use
• Equatorial mount

Cons for the Celestron AstroMaster 70EQ:

• Portability
• Slightly less powerful than the other models from this range

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Full technical specifications:

Optical Design: Refractor
Aperture (mm): 70 mm (2.76 in)
Focal Length: 900 mm (35 in)
Focal Ratio: 13
Focal Length of Eyepiece 1 (mm): 20 mm (0.79 in)
Magnification of Eyepiece 1: 45 x
Focal Length of Eyepiece 2: (mm) 10 mm (0.39 in)
Magnification of Eyepiece 2: 90 x
Finderscope: Built-on StarPointer
Star Diagonal: Erect Image Diagonal – 1.25″
Mount Type: CG-2 Equatorial
Tripod: 1.25″ steel tube legs
Highest Useful Magnification: 165 x
Lowest Useful Magnification: 10 x
Limiting Stellar Magnitude: 11.7
Resolution (Rayleigh): 1.99 arc seconds
Resolution (Dawes): 1.66 arc seconds
Light Gathering Power (Compared to human eye): 100 x
Apparent Field of View: 1.1 °
Linear Field of View (@1000 yds): 58 ft (18 m)
Optical Tube Length: 36 in (914 mm)