Question 1

Can you use this as a tabletop without the tripod?

Accepted Answer

I guess you could do that but it wouldn't be very stable. It depends what you are trying to do. if you want to point it to the moon or bright objects then I guess it would work. Deep space and astrophotography would require you to put it on the tripod. The tripod that it comes with is very good quality and very stable.

Question 2

What is the difference between the Celestron Nexstar 127slt and the Nexstar 5se? Which one is better?

Accepted Answer

Check this link out http://www.astronomyforum.net/celestron-nexstar-telescope-forum/134708-nexstar-slt-127-vs-5se-6se.html

Question 3

Is this a good telescope for a new astronomer / astrophotographer to use to start out? How much extra gear would I need to get?

Accepted Answer

I am a newcomer to telescopes & I am very pleased to have purchased a 5" Celestron.  The bigger ones are heavier & too big to lug around all of the time.  If you want a bigger Celestron, they actually work the same as the 5".  With it, I got a pretty neat CD with star positions for every day of the year.  I have researched the extras you need or might want & came up with the following:  Celestron case...It seems expensive, but my Celestron 5" fits perfectly in there plus a lot of extras...very well built. Celestron tripod case...fits my tripod very well...good quality.  Celestron GPS...not needed, but is very convenient, especially if you view from different locations...saves you the trouble of re-entering latitude & longitude.  Celestron case of assorted lenses & filters...good idea because you will want them sooner or later anyway.  Celestron battery pack...used when you are away from electric hookup...I bought the cheaper one...It includes a adapter to plug into your car if you want to use power from there.  I didn't need a radio like the more expensive one & seems to be of good quality.  I bought a $125.00 solar lens for looking at the sun.  You must have a solar lens for sun viewing.  You can get cheaper ones.  I hope this helps...

Question 4

What is the exact weight of the package in pounds? The amazon description says it weighs 39 pounds! this telescope is very small! I need to know.

Accepted Answer

Leonardo O -   I think that the weight is correct.  The reason is not the telescope...but Celestron includes also a sturdy tripod... and the tripod does weigh at least fifteen pounds or so ( my guess ).  Also because this is a telescope , Celestron uses quiet a bit of cardboard and packing materials to protect it.

ASIN	B000GUHOYE
Additional Features	Fully Automated GoTo Mount, SkyAlign Technology, Built-in Wedge for Astroimaging, Compatibility with Celestron Accessories, 2-Year Warranty and US-Based Technical Support
Age Range Description	Adults
Best Sellers Rank	#381 in Camera & Photo Products ( See Top 100 in Camera & Photo Products ) #3 in Catadioptric Telescopes
Brand	Celestron
Built-In Media	25mm eyepiece, Accessory Tray, Built-In Wedge, NexStar+ Hand Control, Optical tube, Single Fork Arm Mount and Tripod, Star Diagonal, Star Pointer Finderscope
Coating	StarBright XLT
Compatible Devices	Personal Computer
Customer Reviews	4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (530)
Dawes Limit	0.93 Arc Sec
Exit Pupil Diameter	12.5 Millimeters
Eye Piece Lens Description	25mm eyepiece
Field Of View	1.3 Degrees
Finderscope	StarPointer™ red dot finderscope (includes 51632 with CR2032 battery)
Focal Length Description	2500 millimeters
Focus Type	Manual Focus
Global Trade Identification Number	00050234110365
Item Dimensions D x W x H	32"D x 34"W x 52"H
Item Weight	17.6 Pounds
Manufacturer	Celestron
Manufacturer Part Number	11036-CGL
Model Name	NexStar 5SE Computerized Telescope
Model Number	11036
Mount	Computerized Altitude-Azimuth Single Fork Arm
Number of Batteries	8 Lithium Metal batteries required. (included)
Objective Lens Diameter	127 Millimeters
Optical-Tube Length	330 Millimeters
Power Source	8-AA batteries, 12v AC adapter, or any of Celestron’s PowerTank external power sources – none of which are included.
UPC	050234110365
Unit Count	1.0 Count
Warranty Description	TWO-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
Zoom Ratio	5

Celestron NexStar 5SE Computerized Telescope – 5-Inch Schmidt-Cassegrain Optical Tube – Fully Automated GoTo Mount with SkyAlign – Ideal for Beginners and Advanced Users – 40,000+ Object Database

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