Celestron NexStar 4SE: The Best Beginner Telescope?

Some products shown/mentioned in the video:

The Celestron NexStar 4 SE has a lot of neat features for what is considered a beginners telescope. It has a very unique flip-mirror, and a polar wedge mounted to its sturdy tripod.

The Celestron NexStar 4 SE telescopes utilizes the awesome Maksutov-Cassegrain design. This design uses a Maksutov lens and small secondary spot, resulting in high power, contrasty views of the planets and deep sky objects.

The unique flip mirror on this telescope allows a camera to be attached at the rear (with the necessary adapter) and an eyepiece to drop in just above that. Switching between camera and eyepiece couldn't be simpler.

Of all the telescopes I have ever owned, this comes close to being the king of portability. It has been a very reliable, durable and portable telescope. Camping trips, car rides, and other outings are perfect for this telescope, and you don't have to worry about losing collimation with the Maksutov-Cassegrain design.

With a 4" diameter mirror, and an extremely solid mount this telescope can do it all. Beginner astrophotography? No problem. Quick trips? Check.

I can't say enough about this fantastic telescope, other then I highly recommend it!

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[BrandonJEvansPhotography]

I loved it for as long as I had it! When I was showing my brother how to use it, I was able to show him Jupiter in broad daylight. It was awesome! I do recommend with any Celestron mount to get the GPS module so you don't have to plug in coordinates, dates, or times!

[michaelfrazier]

I bought my grandson a used 130SLT from a friend in our Astronomy Group for $100. He loves it. I told him if he sticks with it for over a year, I will purchase him the Nexstar 5 se. Thank you for the video. I purchased my 8se over a year ago and love it. But, the downside is that on cold nights, I don't feel like dragging it out.

[matteovecera]

Thanks mate, this video is so detailed that I don’t need to ask anything else about it. Really really thanks! I’m going to buy it right now!

[calebelkins]

I recently bought the 4se as my 1st telescope. Im still learning how to use it and all of its functions. This video is extremely helpful and im looking forward to expanding my setup.

[brettatton]

I went for for the 5SE model to get the additional aperture and because it also has a slightly shorter focal length than the 4SE. The 5SE is an SCT so you can add a standard 0.63 reducer. This will reduce the 1250mm focal length to 787mm. That will give you a significant increase in the low power field of view. The two scopes share the same mount/wedge/tripod. It's another $300 new but I think its a good investment.

[jdastro]

Very good video presentation. But a word of caution. For tracking purposes this scope's tripod and mount are not good near the equator, The single arm would have to be pointing near the horizon to have it polar aligned, basically level with the ground, and the mount cannot be configured that way. I have a Nexstar8i, three degrees south of the equator, so, no polar alignment for me.

[doco]

Well said. I really enjoy and learn from your videos. Thanks!

[rogermetcalfe]

The telescope is good - highly recommended. No collimation needed and excellent contrast. Light weight and easily transportable. The flip mirror is very useful to allow you to have both an eyepiece and camera attached at the same time. The mount is not good. The connection to the tripod is plastic which is liable to break.

[cristian_]

This video helped me so much thank you

[SkyblueVoodoo]

Im having trouble focusing mine, the moon is just a big white dot and the stars look like black holes in the eye peice

[tonyeasley]

You can also screw the t adapter into the astro camera and mount on the back as well

[jorymil]

How well would it work to replace the wedge rod with some simple threaded rod? Seems like that would allow for a decent polar alignment.

[mejoe]

I have the 5se. What's your favorite eyepiece?

[FuNzZyPT]

You can use that mount with other telescope ? Like Skywalker or something ? Thanks

[pm]

I purchased my 4se over 10 years ago and its still going strong. I agree with everything you said. Do yo have any thoughts on using a Asiair Plus with the 4se? Thanks again!

[danytoob]

Don't you have to tell the scope what stars you are using to align? I'm so confused... 🤔🤔😯😯

[pgrundle]

Great video and addressed almost all my questions on this telescope. Just one quick one, one model of camera, non dslr, do you use? Thank you!

[jackfrost]

Is the there a risk during automatic searching the OTA look at the zenith destroying the eye piece if 2’’ or the dslr

[phottomatt]

If it has horizontal and vertical motors, why would you need to put it in equatorial mode?

[selfworthy]

I bought my kid a C70 mini mak for 150. You can see the two biggest cloud bands on jupiter and you can use 1, 25 eyepieces or a camera.