Celestron · Achromat Refractor
Celestron AstroMaster 102AZ
A capable 102mm refractor that gets you outside and observing on your first night out
Performance Scores
Overview
The Celestron AstroMaster 102AZ is a short-tube achromatic refractor with a 102mm aperture and 660mm focal length, giving it a fast f/6.5 focal ratio. That combination produces a genuinely wide field of view, which makes it well suited to sweeping star fields, open clusters, and the full lunar disk. On brighter targets like the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn, you will see satisfying detail at the magnifications the included 10mm and 20mm eyepieces provide, roughly 33x and 66x respectively.
Being an achromat at f/6.5, you may notice some chromatic aberration around bright objects, particularly the Moon and planets. It is a real limitation worth knowing about, though many beginners find it acceptable at this price point. The alt-azimuth mount is manual but moves smoothly, and the overall package weighs under 6kg, making it genuinely portable.
Setup requires no tools and takes only a few minutes. The StarPointer red dot finder helps with initial alignment, and the erect-image diagonal means the view is correctly oriented for both sky and daytime terrestrial use. At around $270, this is a solid first telescope for someone who wants to observe regularly without a steep learning curve.
At a Glance
102mm
Aperture
f/6.5
Focal Ratio
5.84kg
Weight
660mm
Focal Length
Specifications
Key Features
- 102mm aperture gathers enough light for clear views of the Moon, planets, and bright deep-sky objects like the Pleiades and Orion Nebula
- f/6.5 focal ratio delivers a wide field of view, making star cluster sweeps and lunar observation particularly rewarding
- Achromatic design produces some chromatic aberration on bright targets; acceptable for beginners but worth noting for those prioritizing planetary detail
- Manual alt-azimuth mount is smooth and intuitive, with no motors or electronics to learn or troubleshoot
- Full setup in minutes with no tools required, and the adjustable tripod accommodates observers of different heights
- Dual-purpose design works for daytime terrestrial viewing with a correctly oriented erect image
- Includes two eyepieces, a red dot finder, and access to astronomy planning software, giving beginners a functional starting kit
Customer Reviews
4,415 reviews
Did a lot of research on the best telescope to buy, low maintenance with excellent images. Refractor vs Reflective was the question Refractor won hands down when you put everything together to get a well-rounded scope on a budget. Also bought a filter so as to take pictures of the moon, 2X Barlow le...
Excellent beginner scope! First night saw Saturn and its rings! Optics very clear, hope to see Jupiter soon! Don’t get anything less than 4” diameter on a refractor! I may later step up to a 6-8 reflector but not yet. This scope is great! Really easy setup right out of the box, well worth it.
When you buy your first telescope, like the same 70mm one marketed under several different names, this one is a huge upgrade on the quality of components at little increase in price (I got mine used like new from Amazon for $110 after tax), then you look it up and realize the refractor crew, or more...