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Celestron NexStar 5SE Computerized Telescope – 5-Inch Schmidt-Cassegrain Optical Tube – Fully Automated GoTo Mount with SkyAlign – Ideal for Beginners and Advanced Users – 40,000+ Object Database

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Availability: In Stock.
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Arrives Friday, Sep 26
Order within 16 hours and 42 minutes
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Style: NexStar 5SE


Features

  • ADVANCED TECH MEETS ICONIC DESIGN: The NexStar 5SE pairs Celestrons legendary orange tube with a fully computerized GoTo systemideal for those ready to step up from manual scopes and explore more of the night sky with precision and ease.
  • 5-INCH SCHMIDT-CASSEGRAIN OPTICS: The 5" aperture gathers enough light to reveal fine lunar details, cloud bands on Jupiter, and deep-sky objects like galaxies and globular clustersall in a compact, portable form factor.
  • FULLY AUTOMATED GoTo MOUNT WITH NEXSTAR+ HAND CONTROL: Use the NexStar+ hand control to select from a 40,000+ object database. The computerized mount then automatically slews to your target and tracks itno star charts or manual alignment needed.
  • FAST & EASY ALIGNMENT WITH SKYALIGN TECHNOLOGY: SkyAlign gets you observing fastjust center any three bright stars or planets, even if you dont know their names. The system then calculates your position and aligns the mount in minutes.
  • BUILT-IN WEDGE FOR ASTROIMAGING: Capture long-exposure images of the night skyperfect for entry-level astrophotography. The integrated wedge lets you polar align the mount, reducing field rotation for improved tracking during imaging.
  • COMPATIBLE WITH CELESTRON ACCESSORIES: Easily upgrade your setup with all our latest accessories to enhance automation, wireless control, or location accuracy as your skills grow.
  • UNBEATABLE WARRANTY & CUSTOMER SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from the telescope brand, based in California since 1960. Youll also receive a 2-year warranty and unlimited access to technical support from our team of US-based experts.

Description

The Celestron NexStar 5SE is a powerful, feature-rich telescope designed to launch beginners into their journey through the night sky. With its iconic orange tube and advanced Schmidt-Cassegrain optics, the 5SE offers impressive light-gathering ability in a compact, portable form—perfect for detailed views of the Moon, planets, and deep-sky objects like nebulae and galaxies. The fully automated GoTo mount makes finding objects effortless. Use the included NexStar+ hand control to choose from a database of over 40,000 celestial objects, and the mount will automatically locate and track your target with precision. Getting started is easy with SkyAlign technology: simply center any three bright stars or planets in the eyepiece—even if you don’t know their names—and the system calculates your position and aligns the telescope in minutes. For those interested in astrophotography, the built-in wedge allows for polar alignment, enabling longer exposures and more accurate tracking of celestial objects. The NexStar 5SE is also compatible with a wide range of Celestron accessories, including StarSense AutoAlign for hands-free setup, SkyPortal WiFi for wireless control, and SkySync GPS for enhanced accuracy. With its combination of optical performance, smart technology, and upgrade potential, the NexStar 5SE is built to grow with you. Backed by Celestron’s 2-Year Warranty and US-based technical support. Celestron's NexStar 5 SE computerized telescope combines excellent optics and easy computerized GoTo tracking in a convenient portable size. The standard equipment tripod and mount feature easy no-tool setup, and the package even includes a student version of "The Sky" planetarium software for your computer. The excellent optics of Celestron's classic C5 Schmidt- Cassegrain telescope have been updated with premium Starbright XLT optical coatings. This telescope consistently delivers crisp, high contrast views of the moon, the planets, and brighter deep space objects. The standard equipment 25mm plossl eyepiece produces a magnification of 50x, powerful enough to show the rings of Saturn, the cloud bands of Jupiter, and the changing face of the Lunar disk. Optional eyepieces can be added to bring out significantly more detail. I like to use a 12.5mm plossl (100x magnification) or a 7.5mm Ultrascopic eyepiece (166x) for high power views of the planets. With the 7.5mm Ultrascopic eyepiece I can usually see the Cassini Division in Saturn's rings and cloud bands on the planet itself. I like to use a 32mm plossl eyepiece for great low power views of deep space highlights like the Orion Nebula or the Double Cluster in Perseus. The NexStar 5 SE package also includes a sturdy adjustable tripod, a motorized alt-azimuth mount, and the NexStar hand held computer controller. You won't need a GPS receiver or star charts to operate this telescope. The SkyAlign procedure is easy to use, and experienced observers will like the two-star align and solar-system align options because they are even quicker to set up. The steel tripod and alt- azimuth mount provide a solid base for the NexStar 5 SE. Vibration is not a problem, even while focusing at high power. The computerized tracking is also very good, easily keeping planets in the field of a high power eyepiece. The disadvantage of a computerized telescope, of course, is battery consumption. I like to use a rechargeable Celestron Power Tank because the standard AA alkaline batteries only last a few hours. This telescope is perfect for visual observing, and allowed me to capture some sweet images of the moon and planets using a Celestron NexImage web-cam. For long exposure deep space photography, however, I'd take a look at Celestron's Advanced Series equatorial telescopes such as the C6 N-GT --Jeff PhillipsPros:Excellent optics Light and portable Computerized GoTo tracking Cons:Short battery life Too light for deep space photography Suggested Options: Celestron Nine-Piece Accessory Kit Celestron Power Tank Battery Celestron NexImage Webcam P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); From the Manufacturer Manufacturer Description Featuring high-quality Schmidt- Cassegrain optics, the NexStar 5 SE is an ideal telescope for observing and photographing the wonders of space. With a total weight of 28 pounds including the tripod, the ultra portable 5 SE features a precision optical system with 1,250mm focal length (f10) standard with our premium StarBright XLT coatings and offers 56% more light gathering power than a 4-inch model. The 5 SE includes a camera control feature that allows you to remotely take a series of timed exposures using your digital SLR camera. Plus the tripod featuring a built-in wedge helps make short-exposure astrophotography a heavenly experience. About the NexStar SE Series: NexStar 5 SE Highlights: The NexStar 5 SE has all the same features as Celestron's most advanced computerized GoTo telescopes, including our revolutionary SkyAlign alignment technology, a sky tour feature, a database of nearly 40,000 celestial objects, and easy-to-use hand control. Plug the optional CN-16 GPS accessory into NexStar's auxiliary port and download data from orbiting GPS satellites for truly quick and easy alignments. The universe may be full of mysteries, but using the NexStar 5 SE isn't one of them. In the tradition of Celestron's famous orange optical tubes, the NexStar SE Family combines the classic heritage of the original orange tube telescopes with state-of-the-art features including a fully computerized operating system, flash upgradeable hand control, our superior StarBright XLT coatings, our revolutionary SkyAlign telescope alignment software, and much more. Whether you are a seasoned astronomer looking for a portable scope with advanced features or just starting your astronomy adventure and looking for an easy way to enjoy the night sky, a NexStar SE will help you take a closer look. Every NexStar SE includes a version of The Sky software Level 1 Planetarium software for exploring the Universe on your PC and printing out custom star charts of the sky. In addition, you receive our NexRemote software that allows you to operate your telescope via your PC. This software package, valued at over $100, is included free with your NexStar SE! General Features: 5-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope SE combines the classic heritage of the original orange tube telescopes with the latest state- of-the-art features StarBright XLT high transmission coatings come standard StarPointer finderscope to help with alignment and accurately locating objects Quick-release fork arm mount, optical tube, and accessory tray for no-tool setup Sturdy computerized altazimuth mount Internal battery compartment to prevent cord wrap during use Ultra sturdy steel tripod features built-in wedge which allows 5 SE to be used for astrophotography Includes CD-ROM "The Sky" astronomy software which provides education about the sky and printable sky maps Computerized Features: Proven NexStar computer control technology Nearly 40,000 object database with 200 user-definable objects and expanded information on over 200 objects SkyAlign allows you to align on any three bright celestial objects, making for a fast and easy alignment process Flash upgradeable hand control software and motor control units for downloading product updates over the Internet Includes a camera control feature and shutter release cable that allows you to remotely take a series of exposures using your digital SLR camera Custom database lists of all the most famous deep-sky objects by name and catalog number; the most beautiful double, triple, and quadruple stars; variable star; solar systems; objects and asterisms DC Servo motors with encoders on both axes Double line, 16-character liquid crystal display hand control with backlit LED buttons for easy operation of go-to features NexRemote telescope control software and RS-232 cable included for advanced control of your telescope via computer GPS- compatible with optional CN16 GPS accessory See more

Brand: Celestron


Model Name: NexStar 5SE Computerized Telescope


Optical Tube Length: 330 Millimeters


Eye Piece Lens Description: 25mm eyepiece


Objective Lens Diameter: 127 Millimeters


Telescope Mount Description: Computerized Altitude-Azimuth Single Fork Arm


Product Dimensions: 32"D x 34"W x 52"H


Focus Type: Manual Focus


Power Source: Battery Powered


Finderscope: Reflex


Product Dimensions: 32 x 34 x 52 inches


Item Weight: 17.6 pounds


Item model number: 11036


Batteries: 8 Lithium Metal batteries required. (included)


Is Discontinued By Manufacturer: No


Date First Available: June 17, 2003


Manufacturer: Celestron


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Friday, Sep 26

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


  • Great telescope for beginners
Style: NexStar 5SE
Great telescope for a full year now. I brought the 5'' because it fits my budget and is much more portable than the 6" & 8". The telescope arrived in two boxes and was packaged well. It was quite easy to assemble and was straightforward. But the first night when I tested it the red dot finder failed and would not turn on. I contacted product support and they refunded the price of the red dot finder to let me buy another. I think this is reasonable. The telescope was of good quality and was fairly portable in two pieces. I also brought it with the Nex-yz adapter and eyepiece kit. In my opinion, I would not buy the phone adapter and eyepiece kit because I don't use the adapter and eyepiece often. You will pretty much only use the moon filter, 13, 17, and 32mm eyepieces. I also brought a generic LPR filter which helps somewhat in revealing dim objects and filtering out the light pollution . The goto function was really helpful in finding objects especially DSO's. I will use the auto 2 star alignment procedure and manual location settings. This scope was fine for starting astrophotography but exposures can only be limited to 30 seconds maximum. Even though there was a polar alignment option, it was really hard to do since I am living quite close to the equator in Hong Kong and the mount twists into a really weird position when tracking. In the first few months I viewed only from the city, which was a bortle 9 scale. The planets are easy to see, you can see the belts of Jupiter and its moons, and the rings of Saturn easily. If you want a telescope for ONLY the planets, I would recommend some of the scopes without go to like a dobsonian or maktusov because you will be able to see more detail with increased aperture. You don't need go-to because planets are really bright and sometimes the mount will go off track. The Orion Nebula can be seen though only the bright parts. The andromeda galaxy can NOT be seen at all in light polluted places. Later I was able to go out to a better spot ( bortle 5 ) and it was excellent, and I was able to see the double cluster, Orion Nebula and andromeda galaxy a lot better. I would recommend this scope to beginners and people starting astronomy. You can get good results in the middle of the city, but driving to a deep sky site really makes the view impressive. I will not recommend this for astrophotography but instead will recommend scopes with German equatorial mounts. * images are taken with A6000 camera with remote control. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2019 by Judy Sit Judy Sit

  • Great Telescope for the Money
Style: NexStar 4SE Computerized Telescope
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE NEXSTAR 4SE: I don't normally write reviews for most products but since buying a telescope can be trickey I thought I should help others with this process. First of all if you buy this product you will need to buy a 12v power adapter since the only other option is using AA batteries. If you choose to use batteries you will run into several problems. First of all is the fact that the telescope will run through batteries quickly. I really don't even know why they made batteries an option. Second, batteries do not function well during the cold months. Lastly, batteries do not provide sufficient power for this product to function properly. Now that I have discussed power let me tell you about the scope. This telescope comes with a 25mm lens which is fine but you will want more lenses to enhance your experience. I started by getting a Barlow lens (celestron X-cel Barlow). This is a great Barlow for the money and only has slight dimming. My next purchase will be a X-cel 12mm lens. Back to the telescope. The telescope is very easy to set up and provides great views of Jupiter, the moon, Saturn and deep sky objects. It is easy to focus and lived up to all my expectations. I looked at the nexstar 5 but by the time you buy the accessories you need you will be in the $1000 range. I have never viewed through the Nexstar 5 but based on the reviews I would assume that there is not a significant difference unless you are willing to shell out the $$ for something like the nexstar 6 or 8. The tripod that comes with this telescope is heavy duty and stable. The go to features of this telescope are what makes viewing a pleasure and so easy. You will want to make sure and read the Manuel and watch videos on YouTube to learn how the controller works. Once you have learned how to operate the controller you are well on your way to viewing the night sky. For me this telescope has been life changing because I have always wanted a telescope and just never committed to spending the money. I can tell you that it is money well spent because I have spent a lot of quality time viewing with my son and my friends. You can easily transport this scope wherever you go (outdoors) to make any occasion more interesting. I often find that many people have not viewed the planets through a quality scope and they really appreciate the opportunity it provides. So there it is. I highly reccomend this product. I am including some photos of the moon I took through the lens with my iPhone. I am giving 5 stars because of the quality of the telescope. I can overlook the battery issues due to the bottom line fact that I was impressed with the views of the night sky. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2016 by Brian Lessig Brian Lessig

  • Amazing telescope, endless features!
Style: NexStar 4SE Computerized Telescope
The media could not be loaded. This telescope is truly versatile. It’s suitable to everyone from amateurs to professionals. If you’re interested in using the advanced features you can set up the programming in a matter of minutes and have the telescope simply point to the planet/star you want to view next. And if you’re not interested in going through the set up steps, the hand held remote and laser pointer allows you to simply explore the night sky. You can even use this unit as a table top device and bypass the tripod altogether. But what I love most about this telescope is the ability to connect my Canon camera for some amazing shots of everything from the moon to nature photos (see attached photos and video)! I purchased some additional accessories that included planetary filters and a variety of lenses which allow me to get the most out of this telescope and I love it!! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2023 by Jacqueline Jacqueline

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