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
Recommended Eyepieces
For planets
All-rounder
Customer Reviews
3,771 reviews
This is genuinely so good if you're on a budget. it is super super clear. the first night i used it, it was cloudy but some stars decided to pop out for me. granted this isnt like a $20,000 telescope so it does just look like a dot, at least with the lenses provided but its super super cool. it was ...
I love this telescope. It's my first scope but I've borrowed ones in the past and knew this one would be good to learn with because it is not overly complicated and is VERY easy to set-up. I had it put together in less than 10 minutes. The longest time was getting the disc battery into the back of t...
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...