Pros: Smallest and most portable. The tripod comes with a detached bubble to ensure you have accurate leveling during setup. Can the NexStar 4SE be Used on a Different Mount? The 4SE’s specs are honestly quite the mediocre with it having an aperture of 102mm (4″), a focal length of 1325mm resulting in a focal ratio of f/13. Celestron also provides a built-in wedge. Welcome to my Celestron Nexstar 4SE Review! Regarding all the other features whether it be the Sky align for feature for alignment and the setting up process, from what I’ve researched it appears to suffer from the same annoying process of having to put the time, date and align it everytime you turn it back on. This is where the NexStar 4SE comes into the big picture. The tripod weighs 10 lbs, the mount weighs 7 lbs, and the OTA weighs 6 lbs. In this review I’ll cover the pros, cons and the 4SE’s features to ultimately help you decide on whether the system is worth investing in or a beginner level device that you should skip out on. It allows for a lot of possibilities between GoTo, astrophotography, and excellent visual use for both celestial and terrestrial viewing. Some buyers have used lightweight webcam cameras and DSLRs. І lоvе nаturе аnd thе іnfіnіtе bеаutу wе аrе ѕurrоundеd bу. Right off the bat, a beginner is going to start with taking photos of the moon and planets. Sound advice would usually steer a beginner away from this type of telescope, but there are some beginners that must have GoTo – no exceptions. Celestron NexStar 4SE Telescope Review. However, the flat surface must be rock solid and level to allow the GoTo to function correctly. Regarding the pros of the optics found within The 4SE, they include the following : Overall, the optics used by the 4SE are solid and shouldn’t be too much of pain to align (due to sky align) and images viewed through the eyepiece should also be of a solid quality for celestial objects closer to you (like the moon for example). It’s a catadioptric telescope that incorporates a long focal length with a much shorter tube length, spherical mirrors, and corrector lenses. There is no secondary mirror as the meniscus corrector lens with its aluminized spot serves as the secondary mirror. Now regarding the weight and height potential of the device, the tube comes in at a very light weight 2.7kg with the mount and tripod probably adding an extra 7.74kg on top. 9 Biggest Impact Craters In Our Solar System (#1 Will Blow You Away! The NexStar 4SE is a Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope with an aperture of 4” (102mm) and a focal length of 1325mm, giving it a focal ratio of f/13. While the 4” aperture is limiting on DSOs, amazing shots can be taken if you know what to do. You’ll have to experiment and see which setup suits your style best within the limitations of the mount. ), As the optics aren’t exposed, maintenance is not required all too often, Are generally quite compact for their size, the light within the tube is folded one time which means that there will be a loss of some detail, Generally more expensive than similar sized reflector or refractor telescopes, Jupiter, it’s red spot and even its cloud bands with solid detail near the max magnification, Saturn’s rings and the colour of the planet at the max magnification, Uranus and Neptune as blue disc like shape without any details (at around peak magnification as well), The moon and it’s craters in very good detail. But, the firmware update in 2019 corrected for this issue and it should be assumed that any updates released in the future will only get better. Zoomion Genesis 200/800 EQ-4 Review (Hits The Mark Or Falls Short !? If you’re after a huge field of view, look elsewhere. The portability side of the Nexstar 4SE honestly isn’t much of surprise considering it’s aperture nevertheless, if that’s one of your primary motives when it comes to purchasing a telescope, the 4SE is a great option to look at. This also seems to be the case for all the other mounts within the SE line up and honestly is quite a pain in the ass. Peeking into the OTA, you may see a black tube that extends out from the center hole on the primary mirror. With that said, the NexStar will require updates and perhaps additional apps and programs to unlock its full potential. Celestron NexStar 4SE – Review December 17, 2012 Peter Christoforou Telescope Reviews 0 Celestron has been one of the most popular and familiar names in hobbyist telescopes for decades, with the company’s origins dating back to the 1950s when its founder Tom Johnson was contracted to produce electronic parts and components for the US Military. The Celestron Nexstar 4SE in this case has compound based optics what in this case is referred to as a maksutov-cassegrain design. How Do The Celestron Nexstar 4SE’s Optics Work? Many of the objects in the database will appear quite dim. ), Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ Review (A Good Starter Device?! ❌ Worst Feature: SkyAlign firmware issues, Ideal For: Celestial Viewing, Terrestrial Viewing, Lunar & Planetary Observation, Bright DSO Viewing, Limited Astrophotography, Beginners, Intermediates. The Celestron Nexstar 4SE is nice small telescope to use and even though it is some what limited in viewing further objects in space it can be quite worthwhile for a beginner level astronomer. In regards to the computerised market maybe the 6SE might be worth it or you can check out some of our best rated computerised system on this list. This is the main difference between compounds and reflective or refractive telescopes, The difference between a base compound design and a maksutov-cassegrain design is that the Mak devices also use a corrector plate to minimise any spherical aberration that would occur as a result of the spherical lens used. This may be a non-issue as of late as Celestron has fixed the firmware bug that prevented the SkyAlign feature from working accurately. Celestron NexStar 4SE. ), 11 Places Most Likely To Support Life In The Solar System. The NexStar 4SE is a Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope also known as a Mak or a Mak-Cass for short. It can handle up to 10 lbs, and with the OTA weighing in at 6 lb and adding the red dot and eyepieces, you’re pretty much maxed out. ), 7 Best Handheld Telescopes For StarGazing, Zhumell Z10 Review (At $700 Is This Dobsonian System Worth It? Celestron Omni XLT 120 Review (Is It Worth The Price?! But, navigating the skies with a small field of view and high power is a difficult task, so a beginner will quickly learn must-have astronomer skills. Even though the NexStar doesn’t come with a whole lot of extra free apps, it is compatible with many advanced systems, and of course, WiFi. Wait for them to be 20 degrees above the horizon at the least. While the setup has a GPS module, it does not come with a GPS receiver although you can purchase and use one since it’s compatible with the Nexstar. The dual-axis mount is adequately matched with the OTA and offers a built-in wedge for EQ movement on a solid and sturdy tripod. It also doubles as the accessory tray. Easy to use; Cons: Most limited in terms of what you will be able to see. - F. Who is the Celestron NexStar 4SE Best Suited to? If you incorporate the built-in wedge to polar align for EQ movement, you potentially have more astro imaging possibilities to explore, for example, long exposures. The mirror has enhanced multi-layer coatings to increase light transmission and the corrector lens also has a multi-coated treatment to provide anti-reflection benefits. Furthermore, the lack of GPS also means you’ll need to either invest A GPS tracker use their designated app to accurately display your location. It’s a “slow” telescope, so high-power observation is its strong-suit, so you will absolutely be disappointed if you’re after whopping fields of view. The mount as whole does work and due to the 4SE using the vixen dovetail you could also change the mount if you want. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can slew the OTA manually, but you must never do this during “Hibernate” mode. This has been the downfall for many 4SE owners. The little 4SE proves to be a good introduction to GoTo for beginners. Whenever you slew manually or even move the tripod, say, to extend or retract the legs, you can either perform the Set Mount Position procedure to recover your alignment or you’ll be forced to realign the telescope from the beginning.