Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope Review: Is it Worth the Investment?
I’ve always been fascinated by the night sky, ever since I was a kid. I would spend hours staring up at the stars, wondering what was out there. But I never had a telescope. I always thought they were too expensive, and I didn’t know where to start. I felt like I was missing out on a whole other world, and I knew I had to find a way to experience it for myself.
Telescopes can be a great way to explore the night sky and learn about the universe. They come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and prices, so it’s important to do your research before you buy one. Here are some things to consider:
The first thing you need to think about is what you want to see. If you’re just starting out, you might want to stick with a simple telescope that’s good for observing the moon and planets. If you’re more experienced, you might want a telescope that’s capable of seeing fainter objects like galaxies and nebulae.
You also need to think about your budget. Telescopes can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. It’s important to set a budget before you start shopping so you don’t overspend.
Finally, you need to consider the portability of the telescope. If you plan on taking it with you on trips, you’ll want a telescope that’s lightweight and easy to transport.
- POWERFUL TELESCOPE FOR BEGINNERS: The AstroMaster 70AZ is the perfect entry-level telescope for adults and kids eager to explore the night sky. You get...
- HIGH-QUALITY 70MM OPTICS: Enjoy crisp, detailed views through the fully coated 70mm (2.8") achromatic refractor — perfect for observing the Moon,...
- VERSATILE DAY & NIGHT USE: Designed for both astronomical and land-based viewing, the AstroMaster 70AZ lets you explore the stars at night and enjoy...
Introducing the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope
The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope is a great option for beginners who are looking for a telescope that’s easy to use and affordable. It features a 70mm aperture, which is large enough to see the moon, planets, and some deep-sky objects. It comes with two eyepieces, a finderscope, and a sturdy tripod.
The AstroMaster 70AZ is a great option for people who are looking for a telescope that’s both affordable and easy to use. It’s compact and lightweight, making it a great choice for beginners who want to take their telescope on trips. However, it’s not the best choice for experienced astronomers who want to see fainter objects like galaxies and nebulae.
Pros of the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope
* Easy to Use: The AstroMaster 70AZ is very easy to set up and use. It comes with clear instructions and a simple design that makes it easy for beginners to get started.
* Affordable: The AstroMaster 70AZ is a relatively affordable telescope, making it a great choice for people who are on a budget.
* Portable: The AstroMaster 70AZ is lightweight and compact, making it easy to transport.
* Good for Beginners: The AstroMaster 70AZ is a great choice for beginners who are looking for a telescope that can help them explore the night sky.
* Great for Observing the Moon and Planets: The AstroMaster 70AZ is a good option for people who want to see the moon, planets, and some deep-sky objects.
Cons of the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope
* Not as Powerful as Larger Telescopes: The AstroMaster 70AZ is a smaller telescope, so it doesn’t have as much power as larger telescopes. This means that it’s not the best choice for people who want to see fainter objects like galaxies and nebulae.
* Tripod Could Be Better: The tripod that comes with the AstroMaster 70AZ is not the most sturdy. This can make it difficult to keep the telescope steady and track objects in the night sky.
* Limited Magnification: The AstroMaster 70AZ has a limited magnification, meaning you can’t zoom in as much on objects as you could with a more powerful telescope.
Exploring the Features and Benefits of the AstroMaster 70AZ
The Optics
The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope uses fully coated glass optics, which helps to produce brighter and sharper images. The 70mm aperture is large enough to see the moon, planets, and some deep-sky objects in detail.
The fully coated glass optics are important because they help to minimize light loss. This is important because it results in brighter and sharper images. The 70mm aperture is a good size for beginners, as it provides a good balance of light gathering power and portability.
The Tripod
The AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope comes with a sturdy tripod that helps to keep the telescope stable. The tripod is adjustable in height and has a slow-motion control that allows you to track objects in the night sky smoothly. The tripod is also lightweight and easy to transport.
This tripod is an important part of the telescope, as it provides a stable platform for viewing. However, it’s not as sturdy as some other tripods on the market. If you’re serious about astrophotography, you may want to consider upgrading to a more robust tripod. The tripod’s slow-motion control is a great feature that allows you to track objects in the night sky without having to manually adjust the telescope.
The Finderscope
The AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope comes with a finderscope that helps you locate objects in the night sky. The finderscope is a smaller telescope that’s mounted on the main telescope. You can use it to locate objects in the sky, then center the object in the main telescope’s eyepiece. This is a very helpful feature for beginners, as it makes it much easier to find objects in the night sky.
The finderscope is very important for any telescope, especially for beginners. It provides a wider field of view than the main telescope, which makes it easier to find objects in the night sky. The finderscope allows you to align the telescope with the object you want to see, then switch to the main telescope’s eyepiece to view the object.
Eyepieces
The AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope comes with two eyepieces: a 20mm eyepiece and a 10mm eyepiece. The 20mm eyepiece provides a wider field of view, while the 10mm eyepiece provides higher magnification. Both eyepieces are made of high-quality glass and deliver crisp, sharp images.
The eyepieces are an important part of the telescope, as they determine the magnification and field of view. The 20mm eyepiece is a good choice for viewing larger objects like the moon and planets. The 10mm eyepiece is a good choice for viewing smaller objects or for getting a closer look at a specific feature.
The Bonus Astronomy Software
The AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope comes with a bonus astronomy software package. The software can be used to identify objects in the night sky, plan observing sessions, and even generate star charts. The software is easy to use and provides a great introduction to astronomy.
This software is a great bonus feature that helps you learn more about astronomy. It can be used to identify objects in the night sky, plan observing sessions, and generate star charts.
What Other Users are Saying
I scoured the internet for reviews from real users who have used the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope. Here’s what I found:
“I have been using this telescope for about a year now and it never bores me. You can easily watch the below celestial objects-> Moon in a very high definition-> Mars-> Jupiter with jupiter’s moons-> Saturn-> Venus-> Orion Nebula and many many objects. The First light software is very helpful. The sturdy design is great and the 90-degree prism makes erect images. The focal length is very nice. The only thing I’d say is the tripod is very very bad. The movement of the telescope up and down while tracking will be a big challenge. The horizontal rotation is fine. But when you move up and down while you’re watching through the eyepiece, it will become very difficult to track due to the spillover movement in the tripod’s rotators. When you tighten your telescope, it gets tight in a different position. With this tripod, it almost becomes impossible to tighten the telescope exactly after tracking something. You fix it and the telescope will move and gets fixed somewhere where you can only see blank sky. For such a company like Celestron, this tripod is a black mark. Heavy vibration on the tripods. The nuts and bolts and joints start sounding unusually after some days of usage. If you plan to buy this, better buy it along with vibration suppression pads or else it will not be fruitful in the long term. From a telescope perspective, this is a very nice investment for a beginner to intermediate astronomers. You will enjoy the fun of it when you see it in refractors. My suggestion to Celestron is to fix these tripods to avoid frustration on these nice telescopes. The goodwill of the telescope is lost because of the bad quality tripod. Overall, this is a product I am enjoying every day. Please be very choosy between reflectors and refractors. And please don’t see the sun using this. Even with a solar filter, I suggest NO. Refractors get in a lot of light focus which sometimes makes the UV rays even come out of solar filters. Nice product except for the Irritating Tripod.”
“I dropped a star due to the annoying telescope mount on the tripod. Even with the mechanisms unlocked, when I first got the telescope, the mount was very hard to rotate, both horizontally and vertically. Basically, it is so stiff that once you put enough pressure to overcome the friction, it suddenly shoots past your target. I will provide directions on how to reduce this problem, but plan on buying an 8 mm hex key (or 5/16 inch hex key) and Super Lube synthetic grease. I had a beginner telescope since I was 8 or 10 years old and shared it with my kids from time to time until it fell apart somewhere in my late 30s. I’m now past 60 and wanted to be able occasionally look at the moon and planets again, without breaking the bank. I first bought a $150 80mm Hexeum telescope, but returned it a few days later, realizing that I would have to spend lots more to replace every eyepiece and and drill some holes to install a better finder scope. So, it took a big breath, and bought the Celestron 102AZ for $300. When it arrived, I pulled the large refractor scope out of the box and was impressed. The telescope is best described as advanced beginner or pre-intermediate. I put it together and adjusted the finder scope while it was still daylight. After nightfall saw Jupiter and at least 4 moons and Saturn with its rings and at least one moon. The red-spot finder was a big help in targeting the planets and the eyepieces were pretty good for inexpensive Keller lenses. I also bought a 2X and a 3X Svbony Barlow lens to make the images bigger. I was impressed by the quality of the images, even with the beginner eyepieces. Now for the tripod. I know some reviewers expect a heavier tripod, but i found it sturdy enough, especially after trying the lightweight tripod that came with the $150 Hexeum telescope that I returned. However, the telescope mount was very, very stiff for both horizontal rotation (azimuth) and vertical up and down (altitude). I tried oiling various parts with WD-40 and light oil, but that solution failed. After email correspondence with Celestron and reading about similar complaints online, here is what I found. Between the tripod legs, under the mount, there is an overtightened bolt that attaches the horizontal rotating plate to the base that attaches to the legs. Turn the mount upside-down, then use an 8mm (or 5/16 inch hex key) (same thing as an Allen wrench) to loosen the bottom bolt counter-clockwise about a quarter turn. If that’s not enough, turn it a hair more. Now flip it back over and try rotating the mount horizontally. If unlocked, it should turn smoothly and freely with almost no friction. The altitude (up and down) mechanism is a little harder to fix. The altitude mechanism attaches the telescope to a horizontally split tube that rotates around two parallel black disks, one on each side of the altitude mechanism, The disks are hidden by an orange cap on one side and grey metal on the other side, but they are visible though the horizontal split (or gap) in the mechanism. You may need a bright light or flashlight to look in the gap and see the black disks. The twisting handle, called the pan handle, reduces the size of the horizontal split (gap), causing the tube to grip onto the disks. Unfortunately, even when completely loosened, there still too much friction on the disks. To reduce the friction, buy some Super Lube Multipurpose Synthetic Grease, then take a toothpick or skewer and dab some grease on the edge of the black disks, which can only be reached through the horizontal “split” or gap in the altitude tube. After you dab in some grease, loosen the pan handle lever and rotate the altitude down and up, over and back in order to spread the grease. I had to dab the grease on the edges of the gap a several times and at multiple altitudes. Although the altitude rotation is not as smooth as I would like, it is a lot better with the synthetic grease. One more detail. Unlike the Hexeum telescope, the Celestron AstroMaster 102AZ does not come with a free carry bag. A decent carry bag is not cheap but is a worthwhile purchase to protect your telescope, especially if you ever need to store the telescope, move to a new apartment, or travel with the telescope.”
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an affordable and easy-to-use telescope, the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope is a great option. It’s easy to set up, use, and transport, making it a good choice for beginners. It’s also capable of producing sharp images of the moon and planets. However, the tripod is not the most sturdy, and the telescope’s magnification is limited. If you’re serious about astronomy, you may want to consider a more powerful telescope. Overall, the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope is a great value for the price, and it’s a great way to get started with astronomy.
Click here to learn more about the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope and see if it’s the right choice for you.
Last update on 2025-09-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API