Celestron Inspire 100AZ Refractor Telescope

100mm Aperture and f/6.5 Optics for Bright, Wide Views

The Inspire 100AZ's optical system is built around a 100mm objective lens, the largest in the Inspire series, providing the light-gathering power needed for more than just the Moon and planets. The 660mm focal length creates a short, manageable optical tube and an f/6.5 focal ratio that is ideal for viewing large star clusters and brighter deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula (M42) and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). The included 90° erect image diagonal ensures correct image orientation, making the telescope equally capable as a spotting scope for terrestrial viewing during the day.

Grab-and-Go Alt-Azimuth Mount with 5.62 kg Total Weight

Designed for portability and rapid setup, the entire Inspire 100AZ kit weighs just 12.4 lbs (5.62 kg). The manual alt-azimuth mount features a simple panning handle with a clutch for smooth, intuitive up/down and left/right aiming. The steel tripod, with 31.75mm diameter legs, provides a stable platform, and the clever folding accessory tray is integrated directly into the tripod legs, meaning there are no extra parts to attach in the dark. A unique feature is the built-in red LED flashlight that illuminates the tray, which can be removed for use wherever needed.

Complete Kit: Smartphone Adapter, 2 Eyepieces, and Starry Night Software

The Inspire 100AZ arrives with everything you need to start observing immediately. The integrated smartphone adapter clamps onto an eyepiece, allowing you to capture and share images of the Moon and bright planets. You get two Kellner eyepieces—a 20mm for low-power, wide-field views (33x) and a 10mm for higher-power detail (66x). Aiming is made simple with the included StarPointer™ Pro finderscope, which projects a red dot onto your target. For planning your observations, a free download of Celestron's Starry Night Basic Edition software is included.

Inspire 100AZ vs. 80AZ: 56% More Light for Fainter Objects

While the smaller Inspire 80AZ is slightly more compact, the primary advantage of the 100AZ is its significant increase in light-gathering power. The 100mm aperture collects approximately 56% more light than the 80mm model, a substantial difference that directly impacts what you can see.

• Brighter Deep-Sky Views: The extra light makes faint objects like galaxies and nebulae appear brighter and more detailed against the background sky.
• Higher Resolution: The larger aperture improves the telescope's ability to resolve fine detail, providing sharper views of planetary features like Jupiter's cloud bands and the Cassini Division in Saturn's rings.

For observers who want to push beyond the brightest targets and get more satisfying views of the deep sky, the aperture jump to the Inspire 100AZ is the critical choice.