The Celestron PowerSeeker 60EQ is a reflector telescope with a 60mm aperture that’s part of the EQ PowerSeeker range (70EQ, 80EQ, 114EQ, 127EQ) from Celestron.
Celestron PowerSeeker Review Card
-
Manufacturer - 9.9/10
9.9/10
-
Optics - 9.6/10
9.6/10
-
Value - 9/10
9/10
Summary
The Celestron PowerSeeker 60EQ is a great telescope for beginners but it’s main drawback would be it’s power. Even so though you still get fantastic images of the Moon, planets and even deeper sky objects. The optics deliver crisp images and the overall design is very aesthetically pleasing.
When you mention the 60EQ you have to add a few words on how it compares to the rest of the telescopes from the same range. As far as power goes, it’s the least powerful given it’s 60mm aperture. The fact that it’s less powerful doesn’t mean it’s a bad telescope, it simply means that it is oriented at beginner astronomers with different goals and the slightly reduced budget. But before we get into the pros and cons of this telescope let’s take a look at that we have in the box.
The package contains the following: the optical tube, the finderscope, the equatorial mount, the tripod, two eyepieces (20mm, 4mm), a 3x barlow lens and TheSkyX astronomy software.
The optical tube has fully coated glass optics which deliver bright and clear images, as you would expect with a Celestron telescope. It was a lenght of 914mm which despite it’s total weight (10lbs), makes this telescope hard to put in your back pack and take it with you outdoors. It does an erect image optics which makes it available for viewing terrestrial as well as astronomical objects. However if you’re looking for a better option for terrestrial viewing the telescopes from the AZ PowerSeeker range are better suited to do the job given their alt-azimuth mount.
On the optical tube you will be able to attach the finderscope which will help you locate and focus on the the astronomical objects you are looking. And once you’ve found those objects, tracking them as they move on the night sky will be very easy thanks to the equatorial mount that is simply fantastic.
The entire telescope setup sits on the aluminium tripod. The tripod also has an accessory tray which is very handy for storing the different eyepieces and accessories in order to have them close by.
Overall it’s a telescope that provides a good beginner telescope experience being easy to assemble and producing good images of the moon making it easy to track the celestial objects with it’s equatorial mount.
The pros of the Celestron PowerSeeker 60EQ:
This telescope had great optics and might be the ideal choice for an absolute beginner that what’s an uncomplicated telescope that still is able to deliver good images. The price point is also attractive if you’re buying this telescope simply as an amateur astronomer with infrequent viewing of the moon and the rest of our solar system.
The cons of the Celestron PowerSeeker 60EQ:
This is a good telescope if it is to be judges on it’s own. But the fact of the matter is that it’s part of a range in which you can find a telescope that delivers more at a slightly higher price point. The 127EQ PowerSeeker comes to mind here. In fact all of the other telescopes from this range starting with the 70EQ with the 70mm aperture deliver significantly improved images and overall power. If you’re a beginner astronomer that wasn’t to explore as much of the night sky as possible and looking to get the best value for your money, this telescope might not be the right answer and I suggest looking at the other telescopes from this range.
Full Technical Specifications
Optical Design: Refractor
Aperture (mm): 60 mm (2.36 in)
Focal Length: 900 mm (35 in)
Focal Ratio: 15
Focal Length of Eyepiece 1 (mm): 20 mm (0.79 in)
Magnification of Eyepiece 1: 45 x
Focal Length of Eyepiece 2 (mm): 4 mm (0.16 in)
Magnification of Eyepiece 2: 225 x
Barlow Lens: 3 x
Finderscope: 5×24
Star Diagonal: 1.25″ Erect Image Diagonal
Mount Type: Equatorial
Accessory Tray: No-Tool Tray with Eyepiece holder
Tripod: Aluminum
Highest Useful Magnification: 142 x
Lowest Useful Magnification: 8.57 x
Limiting Stellar Magnitude: 11.4
Resolution (Rayleigh): 2.32 arc seconds
Resolution (Dawes): 1.93 arc seconds
Light Gathering Power (Compared to human eye): 73 x
Apparent Field of View: 1.1 °
Linear Field of View (@1000 yds): 58 ft (18 m)
Optical Coatings: Fully-Coated
Optical Tube Length: 36 in (914 mm)
Total Telescope Kit Weight: 10 lbs (4.54 kg)
