Celestron Nexstar 4SE Computerized Telescope

102mm f/13 Maksutov-Cassegrain Optics

The 102mm Maksutov-Cassegrain has a 1325mm focal length at f/13, with a highest useful magnification of 241x and a lowest of 15x. The secondary obstruction is 34% by diameter and 12% by area.

This design uses a combination of mirrors and a corrector lens to fold a long light path into a compact optical tube that is only 343mm (13.5") long and weighs just 6 lbs.

StarBright XLT Coatings and 1.14 Arc Second Resolution

The optics have Celestron's StarBright XLT coatings. Light gathering power is 212 times that of the human eye and the limiting stellar magnitude is 12.5. The 4SE's four-inch aperture shows Saturn's rings, the cloud bands on Jupiter and geographic features on the surface of the Moon, and from a dark-sky site hundreds of pinpoint stars in the Hercules Globular Cluster and the spiral arms of the Whirlpool Galaxy.

The telescope's theoretical resolving power is defined by its ability to separate closely spaced details. It achieves a Rayleigh resolution of 1.37 arc seconds and a Dawes limit of 1.14 arc seconds.

NexStar+ Computerized Mount with a 38,181 Object Database

The core of the NexStar 4SE is its computerized GoTo system, engineered for intuitive object location and precise tracking. The included NexStar+ hand control provides access to a database of 38,181 objects, and the DC servo motors slew at up to 3° per second. Celestron's patented single fork arm mount is designed to be portable and quick to set up, and the NexStar SE breaks down into several lightweight, compact pieces that are easy to transport, even in small vehicles. The mount has fully enclosed motors and optical encoders for position location, and the NexStar+ hand control sits in the side of the fork arm.

• 9 Slew Speeds: Choose from nine different speeds to move quickly across the sky or make fine centering adjustments in the eyepiece.
• Multiple Tracking Rates: The mount automatically tracks at Sidereal, Solar, or Lunar rates, keeping your target centered for extended observation or imaging.
• 10 lb Load Capacity: the mount carries 10 lbs (4.54 kg); the tube weighs 6 lbs.

SkyAlign: A 3-Object Alignment Without Knowing Any Stars

SkyAlign makes alignment as easy as 1-2-3: center three bright objects in the eyepiece and press ALIGN. Beginners can take a Sky Tour, which finds the most interesting objects currently visible and slews to each one. Optional accessories include StarSense AutoAlign, which makes the NexStar SE align itself, and SkySync, which provides GPS coordinates.

For more advanced users or specific situations, the hand control also offers 1-Star, 2-Star, Auto 2-Star, and Solar System alignment procedures.

A 23 lb Go-Anywhere System Designed for Portability

The best telescope is the one you use most often, and the NexStar 4SE is built to get outside. The entire system weighs only 23 lbs and breaks down into three manageable components: the 6 lb optical tube, the mount head, and the 1.5" stainless steel tripod.

The included accessory tray fits the tripod's center leg brace, secured by the leg brace locking knob. The telescope base sits over the positioning pin on the tripod head, its three rubber feet line up with the mounting screws, and the captive mounting bolts tighten from underneath. The tube attaches by its CG-5 dovetail bar; slide it in the dovetail clamp to balance, holding it firmly. The altitude axis has a slip clutch you can move by hand; the azimuth axis does not, and forcing it left or right without the hand control can permanently damage the gears.

From Visual to Imaging: The Internal Flip Mirror and Built-In Wedge

The 4SE has an internal flip mirror instead of a separate star diagonal: in the up position it sends light to the 1.25" eyepiece barrel on top of the rear cell, and in the down position straight through the photographic opening at the back.

The steel tripod has a built-in equatorial wedge tilt plate with a latitude adjustment rod, and it lets you track long exposures; the hand control has a Wedge Align for it. For the Moon and planets, pair the 4SE with one of the Celestron NexImage cameras. There is no autoguide port.