| The Celestron AstroMaster 114 AZ altazimuth reflector is a great gift for the young budding astronomer, one that won’t break Grandma or Grandpa’s birthday or holiday budget. It’s also the right size scope for the grownups to plop down on the patio for quick glimpses of the sky between dunks in the pool on a hot summer night. In addition to being a good way to begin your journey into the night sky, this sensibly-priced medium aperture reflector will let you explore nature during the day. It provides you with detailed high-contrast views of the Moon and planets in the heavens, as well as sharp erect image views of birds and animals across a lake or across the way. The optical quality of this Celestron is surprisingly good, considering its very modest price. It has all-glass optical components, with high reflectivity aluminized mirrors that are overcoated with durable quartz for long life. The mount has a convenient pan handle, like the control handle on a camera tripod, for guiding the scope around the skies or the landscape. A built-in clutch makes operating the well-balanced scope with the pan handle smooth and easy. The scope assembles in only a minute or two, with no tools required. For the astronomical observer whose interests are the brighter solar system and deep space objects, the AstroMaster 114 has a lot to offer. Its 4.5” aperture has a light grasp 265 times that of the sharpest eye for nighttime and twilight use, making it surprisingly good for much deep space observing. Galaxies, nebulas, binary stars, and star clusters are all within the grasp of this economical scope. The AstroMaster 114 can also resolve details sixteen times smaller than you can see clearly with your unaided eye. Combine that sharpness with its two eyepieces (an erect image 20mm for 50x magnification and a 10mm for 100x), and you have the ability to see many, many celestial details that are simply invisible to the unaided eye. Its views of subtle lunar and planetary details are sharp and clear, bringing the planets to vivid life in the eyepiece. Once you have scanned your way through the solar system and the Milky Way, you can use the AstroMaster 114 to look at things closer to home. Unlike most reflectors that produce upside-down images, the 20mm eyepiece of the AstroMaster 114 provides erect images. You see people and animals standing on their feet, not on their heads. The altazimuth mount will let you easily track objects on the ground and allow you to get a sharply-detailed closer look at nature and your surroundings. The AstroMaster 114 is an economy-priced scope that can open new worlds for you, both on the ground and in the sky.
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