Best Celestron Telescope 2022: Our Top 5 Favorite Models

We love the Celestron brand telescopes. Celestron is a leading telescope manufacturer with a track record of reliability dating back to the 1960s. They provide top-notch products at every price point, guaranteed by one of the longer warranties available.  In this article we’ll share with you our top 5 picks for the best Celestron telescope.

Technologies That Set the Celestron Telescopes Apart

Technology sets Celestron apart. Celestron’s superb team of engineers pushes their technology / features forward to truly differentiate Celestron from others.  When choosing the best Celestron telescope or other telescope for yourself, you will want to consider the following important technologies that Celestron offers:

Our Take on the Best Celestron Telescopes (Top 5 Picks)

Of course, there’s no single best Celestron telescope that’s right for everyone. As a top brand, Celestron offers quality products at every price point that could be right for you. You will find some of the best Celestron telescopes on our lists of telescopes under $100, $200, $300, $500 and $1000.

The list below curates our favorite options (with emphasis on Celestron’s exceptional computerized, go-to models) and adds some truly world-class options for you to explore.

1. Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope – Our Top All-Around Choice

Our #1 pick for the best Celestron telescope is the Celestron NexStar 8SE (full review here) – an all-around versatile, high quality choice no matter your experience level. Celeston’s NexStar SE line is one of the most popular computerized telescopes, and the NexStar 8SE serves as the flagship.

Scorecard – Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Why We Like It

The NexStar 8SE excels in a number of areas. First, its 8″ Schmidt-Cassegrain optical design with StarBright XLT optical coating provides excellent performance. You can really enjoy bright, detailed images with this scope. Second, the computerized mount quickly orientates itself with SkyAlign technology and can automatically find 40,000 astronomical objects selected by a handheld remote. Third, Celestron’s NexStar 8SE sets up and breaks down quick, so you’re more likely to use it. Fourth, at 33 lbs, it can also be ported around without much trouble.

Image Credit: S. D. Falchetti (Used with Permission)

The great optics, computerized features, ease-of-use and relative portability make the NexStar 8SE one of the best all-around Celestron telescopes in our view.  (In fact, we’re big fans of the entire Celestron NexStar SE family, and this #1 ranking is our vote of confidence in the SE product line.)

It offers excellent value from a reliable brand backed by a 2-year warranty. The telescope weighs in light enough to transport to your favorite site (though not for hiking).  It provides great images from its 2032mm focal length and 203.2mm aperture. With the right accessories, the NexStar 8SE can also serve as a solid option for short-exposure astrophotography.

Celestron has built a truly high-quality, all-around winner with the NexStar 8SE that will keep you engaged with stargazing for many years.

Pros

• Superb value for money in our opinion
• User-friendly design, fully computerized “GoTo” capability making it easy to track and find objects
• Simple setup; great portability for the price point
• Quality construction
• 2-year Celestron warranty
• Great visuals, capable of beginner (short-exposure) astrophotography

Cons

• We wish it came with more eyepiece options and GPS

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2. Celestron CPC 1100 StarBright XLT GPS Telescope – Our Top Enthusiast Choice

The CPC 1100 offers next-level deep sky images and planetary viewing, making it one of the best Celestron telescopes. It’s an excellent option for intermediate amateur astronomers looking for stunning visuals combined with goto capability.

A few CPC 1100 features really stand out. Most importantly is its superb images. The sizeable 11” Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube with StarBright XLT optical coating provides amazingly sharp, bright views. Celestron has also put considerable effort into crafting a solidly-built instrument with good ergonomics.

Additionally, the computerized altazimuth mount allows for good tracking accuracy, and the SkyAlign and GPS technologies make the CPC 1100 exceptionally easy to orientate. (The GPS means you don’t need to enter the date or location coordinates by hand.)

Finally, the CPC database and go-to functionality simplifies the process of finding over 40,000 celestial objects (including Messier objects, galaxies, nebulae and planets) for a highly enjoyable user experience.

Overall, the stunning views, solid construction, ease of use and strong support make the CPC 1100 a worthwhile investment that you can enjoy for decades.

Scorecard – Celestron CPC 1100 StarBright XLT GPS Telescope

Why We Like It

The CPC 1100 is, in our view, one of the best Celestron telescopes for astro-images and overall enjoyment. We strongly recommend a deep dive into this one.

Celestron went back to the drawing board with the CPC line of telescopes. The results were a top-rated product that offers simple alignment, functional GPS, unsurpassed optical quality, easy set-up, thoughtful ergonomics and enhanced computerization.

The construction quality is top notch, and the views can be breathtaking. The solid dual fork-arm mount and tripod also provide a very sturdy base for what is one of the heavier telescopes on our site (over 90 lbs including mount).

Pros

• Excellent viewing experience
• Fully-computerized operating system with GPS
• Sturdy, ergonomic design

Cons

• Heavy; not portable

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3. Celestron 91038-XLT 14″ Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope – Our Top Astrophotography Choice

Oh man… the real beast on our list, the Celestron 91038-XLT is an amazing telescope with a massive 14 inch aperture for absolutely fantastic images. The fourteen inch aperture of this world-class optical tube allows for significantly more light gathering capability than 8″ or 11″ options. This will open up an entirely new level of detail versus what you’ve experienced at lower apertures. Its huge aperture, together with a long, 3910 mm focal length (f/11), lightweight aluminum construction and StarBright XLT optical coating, make the 91038-XLT a superb option for astrophotography.

Additionally, the Celestron 91038-XLT comes equipped with 40mm eyepiece (98x), 9×50 optical finderscope, 2” star diagonal, 2” visual back, CGEM-style dovetail bar for mount compatibility, and is Fastar compatible.

According to Celestron, “[w]ith Fastar, the telescope’s secondary mirror can be removed and replaced with a field-flattening lens assembly (sold separately by third party manufacturers) so that a CCD camera can be used in the front of the telescope at the f/2 focus of the instrument’s primary mirror.” This allows for extraordinary astrophotography of planets, nebulae and galaxies in much less time than it would otherwise take.

Scorecard – Celestron 91038-XLT Telescope

Why We Like It

The Celestron 91038 is our top pick among the best Celestron telescopes for astrophotography. The telescope particularly excels at planetary images, where some have called it the “gold standard.” This is not the cheapest or most portable option around, but the high quality of construction and extreme beauty of its images make it, in our view, one of the best investments you could make.

Pros

• World-class viewing experience
• A top option for astrophotography
• High quality construction and warranty

Cons

• Optical tube alone; mount and accessories sold separately

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4. Celestron NexStar 127SLT Computerized Telescope – Great Option for Beginners

Our top pick for new beginners among the best Celestron telescopes is the Celestron NexStar 127SLT, a Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope with computerized Star Locating Technology (i.e. “SLT”).

Like others on this list, the 127SLT includes a database of more than 40,000 stars, galaxies and nebulae, which it can automatically locate for you after orientating itself based your location.  You can use the hand-held control to choose specific objects that you would like to see, or have the telescope take you on a tour of the night sky.

This is an amazing telescope for a great price that’s perfect for viewing from cities or suburban areas.

Scorecard – Celestron NexStar 127SLT Computerized Telescope

Why We Like It

The NexStar 127SLT is a fantastic telescope that, in our view, provides good value from a reliable brand backed by a 2-year warranty. At 18 lbs, the telescope is very portable. The controls and SLT automation make it extremely easy to use (alignment can be easily done via GPS coordinates).

The 127SLT also provides great images at the price point with its 60x and 167x magnification, 127mm aperture and 1500mm focal length. The field of view is narrower than the 130SLT version below, but the telescope provides great planetary views and is appropriately sized for its mount.

Pros

• Extremely easy to track and find objects
• Simple setup; great portability
• Good visuals within a narrow field

Cons

• Best used with power tank or cable

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5. Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope – Another Great Option for Beginners

Rounding out our top five picks for the best Celestron telescope, the Celestron NexStar 130SLT offers a very portable, Newtonian Reflector with the same great SLT option as the NexStar 127SLT above. The 130SLT provides a wider field of view compared with the 127SLT, and would be preferable if you were viewing large clusters and nebulae under a very dark sky. The optics permit you to see Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s cloud bands, the Moon, & brighter deep sky objects.

The NexStar 130SLT also includes a database of more than 40,000 stars, galaxies and nebulae, which it can automatically locate for you after orientating itself based your location – much like other Celestron go-to telescopes. You can use the hand-held control to choose specific objects that you would like to see, or have the telescope take you on a tour of the night sky.

In sum, the Nexstar 130SLT is a great option if you’re looking for a “go-to” telescope with a wider field of view than the 127SLT.

Scorecard – Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope

Why We Like It

Like the Nexstar 127SLT above, the NexStar 130SLT provides good value from a reliable brand that offers a 2-year warranty. At 18 lbs, the telescope is definitely portable, and like the 127SLT, the controls and automation of the 130SLT make it extremely easy to use (alignment can be easily done via GPS coordinates). The telescope can be a bit much for the mount, but the 130SLT provides great images at the price point with its 130mm aperture, 650mm focal length, and 26x and 72x magnification.

Pros

• Extremely easy to find objects due to SLT
• Simple setup; great portability
• Good visuals with a wider field of view than the NexStar 127SLT
• 2-year Celestron warranty

Cons

• Best used with power tank or cable
• A bit oversized for the mount

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Final Thoughts: Best Celestron Telescopes

These are just some of our favorite products in Celestron’s huge range of telescopes. As you can see, there is a wide variety in their product line – ranging from entry-level telescopes to high-end computerized options with impressive optical quality plus advanced technology.

At TelescopeGuide.org, we generally stick with brands that we trust for beginners in astronomy – including Celestron, Orion / Meade, Sky-Watcher, and a few others.  We’re confident you can find a great option for your needs and budget among the recommendations highlighted here.

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Feature Image Credit: Annette1209 / Pixabay