Celestron NexStar 5

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Brand and Model:Celestron NexStar 5
Price ($USD):$1199.00
Type:Schmidt-Cassegrain
Attributes: checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:127mm (5")
f Ratio:f/10
Focal Length:1270mm
Finder:Star Pointer
Electric Power:8 AA Batteries; AC adaptor
Mount:Alt-Az table top mount
Tripod:Celestron offers optional Tripod
Weight (lbs):17.6 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):OTA length: 11"
Description:Hand Control: Double line, 16 character Liquid Crystal Display, 19 fiber
optic backlit LED buttons.
Database includes:
18,473 objects
25 user defined programmable objects.
6 user defined programmable longitudes and latitudes.
Enhanced information on over 100 objects
Fork Arm: Cast aluminum, with integrated hand control receptacle

NexStar 5 Specifications:
127mm (5") Diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain
Focal Length of 1250mm
Focal Ratio of f/10
RS-232 Port to Communicate with a PC
Nine Available Slew Speeds
Incredible 6.5º Per Second Go-To Slew Speed
Weight: 17.6 lbs.
Made in the U.S.A.
Multicoated 25mm (50x) 1¼" Plössl Eyepiece
Star Pointer Finderscope
Star Diagonal - 1¼"
Visual Back - 1¼"
Standard AC Adapter or 8 user supplied AA Batteries
Heavy Duty Base with Rubber Feet
Deluxe Computer Hand Control for Go-To Tracking with over 18,000 Object Memory
Adjustable Aluminum Tripod/Wedge

Celestron's Nexstar 5 Page
Cloudy Nights' Nextsar 5 vs. TV-102 APO

Vote Highlights Vote
Celestron NexStar 5
In the 5" goto SCT's, this is the best. with so many problems with the Meade, it just isn't worth the trouble. One has to look at the whole package and the Nexstar 5 really stands out. The electronics is much more superior and sturdier than the competition. I've never have a problem with mine from day one and right out of the box the setup was less than 5 minutes. It is a joy using this scope. I only wish mine came with the heavy duty tripod.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Mount:8 Ease of Use:9 Value:8
Weight: 12 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=62040

Celestron NexStar 5
A great little scope for the money. The GOTO worked flawlessly and had some cool features, like single star alignment that worked well enough to allow me to find a Mag 6 comet from my front porch in the suburbs. It was a bit of a power hog though, so be prepared to go through some batteries until you get an external source to power it. The drive was noisier and slower than my old LX90 but that was not a big deal. What was a big deal, and what led me to sell the scope, was the optics. I bought an inexpensive 4" ED refractor for just a little more money and while it didn't have GOTO capability, I found that I don't really need GOTO to look at the moon and planets. In a side by side comparison, the views through the 4" ED blew away the views through the 5" Nexstar. I never used the Nexstar again and sold it as soon as I could. The refractor was that much better. I don't think there was anything wrong with the 5", its just the nature of the catadioptric design when compared to the superb optics of a refractor.

Overall Rating: 7
Optics:3 Mount:8 Ease of Use:10 Value:7
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=566549

Celestron NexStar 5
For a compact scope...not much can come close anywhere near the price. I bought mine used (mint condition) and truly enjoy it. In the future, a Nexstar 8 will certainly be on my "to buy" list. Combine this scope with a few Celestron Ultima eyepieces and you have a great "starter" scope. I'm new at the astonomy thing...but this seems like a great place to start regarding scope choices.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:8 Mount:10 Ease of Use:8 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=248192

Celestron NexStar 5
Optically this telescope is up there with the best. I had
another C5 before and the optics were similar, very, very good. The mount is far sturdier than it looks the advertisements. Goto works very well and usually puts the
target right in view of a 26mm plossl. My only complaint
is that the batteries are tough to get out of the compartment.
Still, this scope I think is a very good deal.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Mount:9 Ease of Use:9 Value:9
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=204156

Celestron NexStar 5
As with the comment dated 4/12/2001, my NexStar 5 suffers from severe spherical abberation. Luck of the draw, I guess. Sorta wish that Celestron cared a bit more about this sort of thing. It appears from all the comments above that Celestron makes good scopes and so-so scopes, i.e., the optics are highly variable. I'm buying my next scope from Company 7 (bought mine at Natural Wonders) -- let some serious optics folks screen the thing before I buy it.

Anyway, the tracking in Alt/Az mode is reasonable, but not suitable for long-exposure photography. While I understand that it was not manufactured for long-exposure photography, it's always interesting to see how far you can push these things. I'm tempted to get a wedge and try the Eq. tracking. The whole system is fairly stable. The go-to function on my scope has performed well. My only major disappointment is the optics.

I recommend the scope IF you have a chance to star test it before you purchase it. If Celestron isn't going to screen these things, then it's up to you...

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39829

Celestron NexStar 5
Well, traded in G-8 for this GOTO baby. G-8 too big to lug down a flight of stairs every night. Had major problems with my first nexstar 5 - severe tool marks on rear cell threads. Sent it back, got #2 and it would not slew in RA. Send it back got #3, worked fine until last week. Now there a great deal of play in the Dec axis, making GOTO useless. Celestron will fix though, so they gets points for good customer service. Now I plan on using the nexstar 5 as an autoguider for my Takahashi FS60C refractor.

Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39828

Celestron NexStar 5
Celestron NexStar5 is a great scope. Good aperture to portability ratio. Large enough to view significant detail on all messier items, but small enough to bring along a trip (or to a dark sky site if you live in a city).
Focusser is extremely smooth, with very little movement of the object while focussing. This is a significant point, as with high magnification or small - chip CCD imaging, any mirror slop while focussing causes the object to be lost from the field of view.
Very solid metal mount, potential purchasers should note that the exact same mount is also used for the Nexstar 8. Thats why the Nexstar 5 mount appears to be "over-engineered". Over-engineering the rigidity of a mount is always a plus.
Good quality commercial grade Pittman motors and gearheads.Menu system and controller are well thought out, also the storage of the hand controller in the scope arm is a nice touch.
Only negative points, it should use worm gears instead of spur gears, and the star list should be SAO numbers instead of Celestron's own numbering system.
Overall I am extremely pleased with my little goto scope.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39827

Celestron NexStar 5
Rated this before. Since then contracted Osteomylitis in right heal. Then ruptured right Achillies tendon. I'm fairly badly handicapped at this point. I doubt seriously that there are many scopes of usable apature I could use. If you are handicapped give this a real close look. I can set it up and sit on my chair the rest of the night. I couldn't pursue my much beloved hobby with as much pleasure as I can with this scope. Standing more than 5 minutes is virtually impossible for me but thast's about all I need with this scope. I am still able to pursue my hobby because of my purchase of this scope. I've tried several others a 4.5 refractor and a 6 DOB couldn't do it if you're handicapped this may be a solution for you.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39826

Celestron NexStar 5
Had my first chance to put my new NexStar 5 though its paces in a dark skies site and was very pleased with its performance. Collimation seemed perfect, but I am no expert. Using the supplied 50X lens it would put objects into the field of view 90% of the time. Entering & centering new stars (or any other objects) near your search area, then using them for a new alignment, improved that accuracy. Focusing is very fast & easy. Tracking was supurb. Vibrations minimal & damping very fast when it did occur. A man using a Meade ETX-90 tried my NexStar & preferred the NexStar in every respect. My only complaints are with the need to reenter so much data when aligning for planetary, lunar, or solar observation (or when star aligning if you don't know the skies well enough to do a quick & simple 2-star alignment). This should be storeable & pulled up only when change is necessary. The star catalog numbering is a pain and non-standard. I would like to have an "identify" feature like I had on my first goto, a Meade 70. Let me say that this is nit-picking, but does show a need for improvement in future releases. I do believe this may be the perfect small scope for beginners, and for others who want portability & want to center objects ASAP.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39825

Celestron NexStar 5
I purchased my little N5 @ a Natural Wonders store in Burlington, Massachusetts on 4-2-2001. Solid scope - no cheap plastic etx

To echo comments of another N5 owner.....be honest...the LX 200 looks cool..but would you ever haul it out to observe???...most of us have limited time and seeing opportunities. This scope is "fun" to set up, align and track. I went out on monday, pulled Jupiter and saturn at 50x...had fun...went home....1 hr.

I agree...all you read on the web is etx this and etx that.....If you are one to tinker with this and that, like to pull thinks apart..get the Meade...they always are in need of something. If you are a software guy..the autostar is hackable.
Why bother? The Nexstar is so good, you pull it out, set it up and observe. Celestron made the family guy's scope here in the N5.

I have been using recheargeable NiMH batteries 1.2 v from Radio Shack...no problems. Cheaper in the long run and the batteries can be used for the kids toys when not observing!

Who has time for long exposure photography? Buy the magazines or the hubble book... The N5 will do more than most of us are capable of using.

I bought it because of the appearance, quality optics and goto ability.

I rate it a 9.0

-rq

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39819

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