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Celestron - NexStar 127SLT Computerized Telescope - Compact and Portable - Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical Design - SkyAlign Technology - Computerized Hand Control - 127mm Aperture

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Availability: Only 4 left in stock, order soon!
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Arrives Mar 30 – Apr 3
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Style: 127 SLT Maksutov


Set: Telescope Only


Features

  • COMPUTERIZED STAR LOCATING TELESCOPE: The Celestron NexStar 127SLT offers a database of more than 40,000 stars, galaxies, nebulae, and more. Simply choose an object and the telescope finds it for you in the night sky and tracks it as it moves.
  • MAKSUTOV-CASSEGRAIN OPTICAL DESIGN: With a large, 127mm aperture, the NexStar 127SLT can gather enough light to see our Solar System and beyond. View Saturns rings, Jupiters cloud bands, the Moon's craters, and the Orion Nebula in brilliant detail.
  • COMPACT AND PORTABLE: The ideal telescope for adults and kids to use together, the NexStar 127SLT is compact, lightweight, and portable. It's easy to transport just about anywhereyour favorite campsite, a dark sky observing site, or simply the backyard.
  • FAST SETUP WITH SKYALIGN: Celestrons proprietary SkyAlign procedure has you ready to observe in minutes. Center any 3 bright objects in the eyepiece and the NexStar SLT aligns to the night sky, ready to locate thousands of objects.
  • UNBEATABLE WARRANTY & SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from Celestron, a leading telescope brand in California since 1960. Your purchase includes a 2-Year US Warranty and unlimited support from our team of US-based experts.
  • BONUS FREE STARRY NIGHT SOFTWARE: Your Celestron NexStar 130SLT includes a free download of Starry Night Special Edition, one of the top-rated astronomy software programs. Simulate the sky, learn about celestial objects, & plan your observing session.

Description

Building on the popularity of our NexStar 114SLT telescope, the 127SLT by Celestron inspires us to go bigger, with 20% more light-gathering power than our 114mm telescope. The Celestron NexStar 127SLT is a computerized telescope that offers a database of more than 40,000 stars, galaxies, nebulae, and more. The telescope locates your object with pinpoint accuracy and tracks it. At the heart of the telescope’s Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design, a large 127mm primary mirror gives fully color-corrected views ideal for astronomical use. The 127SLT comes with a fully computerized NexStar+ hand control. The computerized hand control gives you the ability to automatically slew to any object. This telescope for adults and kids to be used together is ideal for weekend camping trips or excursions to dark sky sites. Its compact form factor makes it easy to transport and assemble just about anywhere. With its pre- assembled, adjustable steel tripod, the NexStar 127SLT can be up and ready to use in a matter of minutes. Our SkyAlign alignment technology and the included StarPointer Finderscope with a red LED make aligning a breeze. Simply center any three bright objects in the eyepiece and the NexStar SLT aligns to the night sky, ready to locate thousands of objects. The NexStar 127SLT Computerized GoTo Telescope also includes a download of our Starry Night Special Edition astronomy software for an interactive sky simulation.The power of this computerized telescope allows you to view the details of the lunar surface, the rings of Saturn, the polar ice caps on Mars, the cloud belts on Jupiter, and a number of the Messier objects, such as the globular cluster in Hercules (M13) or the Great Nebula in Orion (M42). Explore some of the fainter Messier objects using the additional light-gathering capabilities of the 127SLT’s five-inch primary mirror. Buy with confidence from the world’s 1 telescope brand, based in California since 1960.

Brand: Celestron


Optical Tube Length: 27 Inches


Eye Piece Lens Description: Plossl


Objective Lens Diameter: 127 Millimeters


Telescope Mount Description: Altazimuth Mount


Product Dimensions: 15"D x 38"W x 54"H


Focus Type: Manual Focus


Power Source: Battery Powered


Finderscope: Reflex


Item Weight: 18.1 Pounds


Product Dimensions: 40 x 19 x 11 inches


Item Weight: 18.1 pounds


Item model number: 22097


Batteries: 1 Lithium Metal batteries required.


Is Discontinued By Manufacturer: No


Date First Available: June 17, 2003


Manufacturer: Celestron


Country of Origin: China


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Mar 30 – Apr 3

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Nexstar 127SLT Mak is an affordable great telescope system, with proper handling
Style: 127 SLT Maksutov Set: Telescope Only
This review is specifically for the Celestron NexStar 127SLT Maksutov Computerized Telescope. There are several reasons I went with the Maksutov design, rather than the refractor or Newtonian SLT variations. The Mak gives a better image across the field of view, without the coma of a Newtonian. The folded optical path results in a long focal length for the instrument, which is ideal for Sun, Moon, and planetary viewing. However it's not as long as a refractor. The Mak can still be used for observing deeep sky objects, such as the Andromeda Galazy (M31) and Hercules Cluster (M13). Just don't expect the views of a Dobsonian 'light bucket'. It's not designed for that. The compact tube size makes it much easier to handle and transport than longer telescopes. Being a closed tube design also means it more easily keeps dust and other debris out of telescope tube. As long as one uses the tube cover on the front, and eyepiece holder plug in the back when not in use, the telescope optics will require cleaning much less often than a typical Newtonian system. The closed tube also means no thermal tube currents to distort the image. The 127 millimeter diameter aperature equates to about 5 inches in size. While this is considered small in today's era of large Dobsonian monsters, the telescope system fits in my car, and is light enough that I can take it outside easily. I get more use out of this scope than my older larger Newtonian, mainly because this instrument is just so much easier to handle. The aperature size is quite sufficient to get good views of solar system objects. It's a bit tricky to focus, as the image will easily show any motion from the focuser knob, but this is mainly a mount limitation. Once focus is acheived though, and the scope settles down, the views are great. I've used the 127 SLT with a Celestron NexImage 5 camera, and FireCapture camera software, to get great images of Jupiter's moon eclipsing the disk, Saturn's ring system, lunar craters, and solar sunspot groups (with an appropriate glass solar filter mounted on the front). Using the camera is ideal with this telescope, as it makes it a 'hands-off' system. The other great feature is the fully computerized "Goto" capability of this telescope. Once the computer system is initialized, it is able to point the telescope to any object in the sky. (Yes, one can even enter arbitrary Right Ascension/Declination coordinates to point the telescope at.) The SLT came with the NexStar+ Hand Controller, which contains the object databases, and interfaces with the user via a red backlit LCD and a red lit keypad. The hand controller I got was not the absolute latest hardware variation, which has a USB port on it, so as to allow updating the firmware in the system via a PC. Instead, I received a slightly older version (2014) that still had the RJ45 phone jack interface providing an RS232 serial connection. (Older stock in the warehouse still?) This required a USB-to-RS232 converter to connect to my laptop to update the internal flash. While the internal motor controller was at the latest firmware revision, the hand controller firmware did need updating. The Celestron Firmware Manager, available onine at their web site, did the upgrade flawlessly. The one armed fork system that connects the tripod mount to the telescope tube contains the motor control system for the alititude and azmimuth DC motors, as well as monitors their optical encoders to keep track of position. This motor controller communicates to the hand controller via a coiled cable. There is a plastic holder on one of the tripod legs made for holding the hand controller when it is not needed. The weakest link in this system has to be the 'wobbliness' of the mount. With the legs fully extended, and the tripod standing on a cement patio, every gust of wind and and hand touch is transferred to the image view. It makes it quite difficult to focus well. However a few simple tricks can be used to lessen the effect. First, don't extend the tripod legs fully. The shorter the tripod legs, the shorter the time it takes to dampen out vibrations, and the sturdier the mount becomes. Second, adding a weight to the tripod helps provide more mass, and lowers the natural vibration frequency. I've seen a picture of one user placing a small sandbag on the central tripod tray to add stability. Third, place the tripod on dirt or sand. A cement patio is not the best foundation for the tripod legs. I have gotten much less image movement by pushing the tripod legs into the dirt in the lawn. Of course, Celestron does sell vibration dampening pads to help with this issue, but they are quite pricey according to my wallet. Now if you want to get a beefier mount, go ahead and spend another grand. Celestron has bigger mounts that are better. You get what you pay for. Just be prepared to lift that heavier mount. I'll stick with this lighter variation, and save my back. I can work around its limitations. Oh, and the eyepieces that come with the telescope are probably not the ones you will want for regular use. I already have a nice set of Plossl's that I obtained years ago. I recommend doing your homework and get the eyepieces separately. My lowest power eyepiece is a 40 mm, and I like the views it gives me in the 127 Mak. One bit of information you will also find useful relates to initializing the NexStar control system. The designers did what they could to make setup as easy as possible, within the budget they had. (I've also bought the SkySync GPS accessory to help make setup easier. However their StarSense AutoAlign product is the ultimate alignment tool, and costs nearly as much as the telesope itself!) Anyway, the more care you take in initialization, the more accurate the NexStar will be in finding objects. I know this, not just from using the NexStar+ system, but from building my own telescope controllers over the years from the wire-wrapped IC sockets on up, and testing them under the night sky. Small errors in alighment will add up. So, if you want the most accurate pointing, follow these tips that are NOT in the manual: 1. Level the tripod as accurately as possible. You must do this FIRST. Every alighment option, with possibly the exception of the two-star alignments, requires a level tripod to work correctly. That's why the tripod includes its own little level, and the instructions do mention that you need to level the mount. I don't trust that little built in thing though. I use a six inch level that I place on top of the tripod, before I put the one-armed fork there. My level is placed in line with each leg in turn, and that leg adjusted until level, before moving onto the next leg. If you have some OCD like me, go around and do it again, just to be sure. Once the tripod is level, then the rest of the mount and telescope can be put together. 2. Enter in Latitude, Longitude, Date, and Time, as accurately as possible. If you have a smart phone, get a GPS app and use it. I eventually got the Celestron SkySync accessory to do this part for me. (However, you still need to double check and make sure the Time Zone and Daylight Savings settings are correct with the SkySync. The instructons don't tell you that.) 3. Use a lighted Reticle Eyepiece to center your alignment stars/planets. Don't use the Sun or Moon if you have an option, as it's very difficult to know where the exact center of those objects are in the eyepiece. A double crosshairs reticle eyepiece lit with a variably dimmed LED works great for this. 4. Keep your chosen alignment objects far apart, and at least 20 degrees above the horizon. I don't know how well the NexStar+ handles refraction corrections, but to do it right requires both temperature and pressure/elevation data. Nexstar doesn't ask for these values, and I doubt the system includes the sensors to measure the quantities directly. One final recomendation: Get an alternate power source to suppliment the eight AA batteries that need to be placed in the half fork arm mount. You still need the AA batteries, as I discovered when I attempted to get by with just a PowerTank attached. Any glitch in the power cord connection to the mount will reset the Nexstar controller, and you will find yourself staring at the intialization prompt again. So, keep the AA batteries. Just suppliment them with either an AC adapter or PowerTank gel cell battery. Otherwise the AA batteries used alone will go dead within that observing session. (I've heard they will drain in as little as 30 minutes. I didn't push it to prove that.) I recommend the PowerTank battery accessory, since you can't always guarantee that an AC power source will be reachable from where you place the telescope. For me, I'm always tripping over cords in the dark. So any long power cord to an outlet that I can get rid of, I will. I place my PowerTank directly below the tripod tray on the SLT tripod mount. That keeps the power cable to the mount away from my toes. There are cheaper telescopes out there, but for ease of use, I just can't think of a better alternative than this 127 SLT NexStar+ system. At least I'm out with it regularly, and have been for over six months now. My old Newtonian never saw this much usage. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2017 by Ruja

  • Christmas gift for wife. Great buy!
Style: 127 SLT Maksutov Set: Telescope Only
It’s perfect for our use. Not too big and not too small. I personally would like to have a large telescope with a larger field of view. This one works very well and tracks well. It’s not perfectly accurate at alignment but I haven’t tried to do the 3 star alignment either. You can just barely see the rings of Jupiter with it. And slightly see rings on Saturn. Great for my wife since she loves viewing the moon. I did replace the finder scope. A definitely needed upgrade! Other than that. No issues. The batteries are actually holding up better than expected. The tripod has been acceptable and doesn’t bother me at all. The focus is touchy but there are hacks for the shaking. The clothes pin is cheap and easy. Good buy for the price. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024 by Jody Wilson

  • First Light on Celstron NexStar 127SLT MAK
Style: 127 SLT Maksutov Set: Telescope Only
In my opinion, this is an excellent beginner/intermediate or advanced grab and go scope providing crisp images, ease of use and many desirable software capabilities. I recommend it. My training is in the physical sciences but not specializing in Astronomy or Astrophysics. I have always had interest in the stars from childhood and from having been a navigator in a destroyer during my naval service where I used them to navigate by. Several years ago when I retired I purchased two 1960s vintage equatorial mount 60mm refractors at garage sales and I have been using them while I did some research and reading to decide on the best next telescope to purchase. I decided on a Maksutov-Cassegrain due its reputation for crisp, clear images and on Celestron NexStar for its quality reputation and the features of its GoTo/tracking software program. The deciding factor was that it was on sale at a large discount. I did consider Meade and Orion scopes before deciding on this particular Mak. This year (2013) I took some of my tax refund dollars and purchased the Celestron NexStar 127 SLT Mak and also purchased some of what I consider to be essential accessories. The purchase price of the tube and mount are only part of the price for a complete capable system. Beyond the sock items provided in the initial package, you will need lenses, filters, adapters, etc to fully exploit the capabilities of the mount, software and optics. In other words, to see the most, coolest stuff. By the time I have purchased all of the essential accessories to do this, they will cost almost as much as the telescope itself. I have used the telescope every clear night for the last several weeks and I am very pleased. The NexStar program and alignment are easy to use and provide a better that ballpark result when going to an object. I did purchase the GPS unit, the Celestron accessory kit with additional lenses and filters, the house current and car battery power adapter chords, the USB interface cord, and the light pollution and oxygen filters. I live in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale so light pollution is a factor. The filters help. So far everything works beautifully. My only two complaints are not vital but more nuisance -that the GPS can take some time to synch -- be patient, I was not and had some self inflicted difficulties the first time I used the Mak. -the tripod can be a little wobbly. I will eventually get a heavier tripod, the GPS is what it is. I will try adding some five or ten pound weights to the tripod to see if that stabilizes it sufficiently. I am not done with accessories. Next on my list is a hard case for the tube and a canvass bag for the tripod and accessories so I can safely carry the system to the dark sky sites and star parties. I do want to try some web cam photography of solar system objects so a webcam purchase is in the future. Further down the road, I will get a digital camera adapter, a collimation lens and some higher quality viewing lenses and perhaps a dielectric diagonal. Though I want to eventually get a large GoTo Dobsonian and I always lust after a nice, large Apochromatic telescope with a solid EQ mount for astrophotography,for now I am very happy with my NexStar 127 SLT Mak. I will update as I do new things with the Mak or as I learn new things that may be of interest to buyers. May your skies be clear and dark. Iñigo de Oña Nome de plume ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2013 by Iñigo de Oña

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