Celestron · Achromat Refractor
Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ
A no-fuss 70mm refractor that gets beginners outside and observing on their first night out.
Performance Scores
Overview
The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ is a straightforward entry point into visual astronomy, built around a 70mm achromatic refractor with a 900mm focal length and an f/12.9 focal ratio. That long focal ratio works in your favor for planetary and lunar observing, keeping chromatic aberration reasonably controlled for a budget achromat. You can expect satisfying views of the Moon's craters, Saturn's rings, Jupiter's cloud bands and Galilean moons, and bright star clusters like the Pleiades or the Beehive.
Where it has real limits is deep-sky work. At 70mm, faint nebulae and galaxies will be dim and mostly unresolved. This is a solar system and bright-object telescope, and being honest about that upfront saves frustration later.
The alt-azimuth mount is manual and intuitive, which suits beginners well, though tracking objects at higher magnifications requires frequent nudging. The included 20mm and 10mm eyepieces give you 45x and 90x respectively, which covers most of what this aperture can usefully deliver. Setup takes under ten minutes, and the whole package weighs under 5kg, making it genuinely portable for backyard or travel use.
At a Glance
70mm
Aperture
f/12.9
Focal Ratio
4.9kg
Weight
900mm
Focal Length
Specifications
Key Features
- The 70mm fully coated achromatic lens delivers clear, usable views of the Moon, planets, and bright star clusters
- A 900mm focal length and f/12.9 ratio help minimize chromatic aberration, a common weakness in budget refractors
- The manual alt-azimuth mount is intuitive for beginners but requires frequent adjustment to keep objects centered at higher magnifications
- Included 20mm and 10mm eyepieces provide 45x and 90x magnification, well matched to what this aperture can realistically resolve
- Dual-purpose design works equally well for daytime terrestrial viewing, adding practical value beyond nighttime use
- At under 5kg and with a quick no-tools setup, it travels easily and works well for kids and adults sharing the same session
- Deep-sky performance is limited by aperture; this scope is best suited to bright objects rather than faint nebulae or galaxies
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...