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Celestron’s signature orange-tube telescope combines advanced features and excellent optics in one easy-to-use system, the NexStar 5SE. It’s the perfect choice for your first serious telescope, offering striking views at an economical price.

  • Celestron’s iconic “orange tube” design is updated with all the latest features to provide the best stargazing experience for beginners and experienced observers alike.
  • 5-inch aperture provides excellent light-gathering ability at an affordable price. You’ll get impressive views of the Moon and planets, along with deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula, while retaining a compact form factor.
  • Fully automated GoTo mount with database of 40,000+ celestial objects automatically locates and tracks objects for you.
  • SkyAlign technology gets your telescope aligned and ready to observe in minutes. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the night sky, you can easily align your telescope on any three bright objects.
  • Unique single fork arm design and sturdy steel tripod all break down into separate components for easy transport and quick assembly.

Our Founder’s Vision, Reimagined for the 21stCentury

In the 1970s, Celestron’s Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes brought the hobby of astronomy to the masses and established Celestron as the world’s premier telescope maker. Our founder, Tom Johnson, invented Celestron’s proprietary method of producing Schmidt corrector plates for superior views and maximum portability. Johnson believed in creating high-quality optical instruments at an affordable price, and inspired a generation of amateur astronomers.

Four decades later, we’ve improved upon this design by adding cutting-edge features, while staying true to our founder’s intent.

View the Universe’s Most Impressive Celestial Objects

The 5SE’s five-inch primary mirror packs enough light-gathering ability to observe the best that the solar system has to offer: Saturn’s rings, the cloud bands on Jupiter, and geographic features on the surface of the Moon. When it comes to deep sky objects, take your 5SE to a dark-sky site and you’ll see hundreds of pinpoint stars in the Hercules Globular Cluster, the spiral arms of the Whirlpool Galaxy, and more.

Revolutionary Single Fork Arm Mount

We know the best telescope is the one you will use most often. That’s why Celestron’s engineers created NexStar SE’s unique, patented single fork arm mount. It’s perfectly portable and makes setup quick and easy. What’s more, the NexStar SE breaks down into several lightweight and compact pieces, making it easy to transport, even in small vehicles. You’ll have no problem getting the NexStar SE to your favorite observing site, or setting it up quickly in your backyard.

Of course, it’s what’s inside the mount that really counts. Sturdy construction from high-quality components give NexStar SE the pointing and tracking accuracy needed to observe and follow your favorite targets with push-button ease. Use the included NexStar+ hand control to locate over 40,000 celestial objects, or take a Sky Tour and let your telescope show you the best objects currently visible.

Aligning your telescope is simple and painless, too, thanks to SkyAlign. This process makes alignment as easy as 1-2-3: just center three bright objects in your eyepiece and press ALIGN. For even easier alignment, attach our StarSense AutoAlign and your NexStar SE aligns itself!

Advanced Features Let the NexStar SE Grow with You

The NexStar SE is compatible with all the high-tech accessories advanced users love. Provide GPS coordinates to your telescope with SkySync, or add automatic alignment functionality with StarSense AutoAlign.

If you want to explore the world of astroimaging, the 5SE is a perfect choice. Its built-in wedge allows you to track long exposures. You can even remove the telescope’s secondary mirror and replace it with a DSLR or astronomical CCD camera for wide field images captured at f/2 using a Fastar/HyperStar lens assembly. Or, if you’re interested in imaging the Moon and planets, pair your NexStar 5SE with one of our Skyris cameras. From your first observing session and for years to come, the NexStar SE is your trusted companion.

Specifications

OPTICAL TUBE INFO:
Optical Design Schmidt-Cassegrain
Aperture 125mm (4.92")
Focal Length 1250mm (49")
Focal Ratio f/10
Focal Length of Eyepiece 1 25mm (.98")
Magnification of Eyepiece 1 50x
Finderscope StarPointer™ red dot finderscope
Star Diagonal 1.25" Star Diagonal
Optical Tube Aluminum
Highest Useful Magnification 295x
Lowest Useful Magnification 18x
Limiting Stellar Magnitude 13
Resolution (Rayleigh) 1.11 arc seconds
Resolution (Dawes) 0.93 arc seconds
Light Gathering Power (Compared to human eye) 329x
Secondary Mirror Obstruction 51mm (2.0")
Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Diameter 40% %
Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Area 16.6% %
Optical Coatings StarBright XLT
Optical Tube Length 330mm (13")
Optical Tube Diameter 152mm (6")
Optical Tube Weight 6 lbs (2.7 kg)
Dovetail CG-5 Dovetail bar
MOUNT INFO:
Mount Type Computerized Altitude-Azimuth Single Fork Arm
Instrument load capacity 10 lbs (4.54 kg)
Height adjustment range (includes mount and tripod) 939.8mm - 2397mm (37" - 55")
Tripod leg diameter 50.8mm (2") Stainless Steel
Mount Head Weight 7 lbs (3.2 kg)
Accessory Tray Yes
Tripod Weight 10 lbs (4.54 kg)
Slew Speeds 9 slew speeds - max speed 3°/second
Tracking Rates Sidereal, Solar and Lunar
Tracking Modes Alt-Az, EQ North & EQ South
GPS N/A
Dovetail Compatibility CG-5 dovetail
Number of Auxiliary ports 1x Aux port
Autoguide port No
USB port Yes, Hand Control input
Power Requirements 8-AA batteries (not included) | 12 VDC-750 mA (Tip positive)
Motor Drive DC servo motors
Alignment Procedures SkyAlign, 1-Star Align, 2-Star Align, Auto 2-Star Align, Solar System Align, EQ North / EQ South Alignment (EQ align requires an equatorial wedge)
Periodic Error Correction No
Computerized Hand Control Double line, 18 character Liquid Crystal Display with 19 fiber optic backlit LED buttons
NexStar+ Database 38,181 accessible objects. Enhanced information on over 200 objects.
Software Celestron's Starry Night Special Edition Software, SkyPortal App
Total Kit Weight 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Included Items NexStar SE OTA | Single Fork Arm Mount | Tripod | Accessory Tray | Star Pointer Finderscope | Built-In Wedge | NexStar+ Hand Control | 25mm eyepiece | Star Diagonal