Celestron · Achromat Refractor
Celestron Travel Scope 70 Portable Refractor Telescope – 70mm Aperture
A capable 70mm grab-and-go refractor that earns its place in any beginner's kit without breaking the bank.
Performance Scores
Overview
The Celestron Travel Scope 70 is a 70mm f/5.7 achromatic refractor built around portability and ease of use. At 400mm focal length, it sits in a useful sweet spot: wide enough for decent low-power lunar sweeps, yet capable of resolving crater detail, the Galilean moons of Jupiter, and Saturn's rings when conditions cooperate. The fully coated optics make a genuine difference over uncoated glass at this price point, pulling in more light and improving contrast noticeably. The included 20mm eyepiece gives 20x magnification for wide-field views, while the 10mm steps up to 40x for closer planetary work.
Practically speaking, 40x is modest but honest for a 70mm aperture. Pushing beyond that will soften the image. The alt-azimuth mount is intuitive for beginners but offers no tracking, so you will be nudging the scope manually to follow objects. At 1.91kg and packed into a backpack, this scope genuinely travels well.
It suits dark-sky trips, camping, and daytime terrestrial use equally. It is not a deep-sky instrument, but for the Moon, brighter planets, and star clusters, it delivers real, rewarding views for a first-time observer.
At a Glance
70mm
Aperture
f/5.7
Focal Ratio
1.91kg
Weight
400mm
Focal Length
Specifications
Key Features
- 70mm fully coated aperture provides noticeably brighter views than the 50mm or 60mm scopes often sold at this price
- Two included eyepieces (20mm and 10mm) cover low and moderate magnification without needing immediate upgrades
- Compact 1.91kg design packs into a padded backpack, making it genuinely portable for travel and field use
- Resolves lunar craters, Saturn's rings, and Jupiter's moons under reasonably dark skies
- Alt-azimuth mount sets up quickly with no tools and works intuitively for beginners
- Bundled Starry Night software helps new observers plan sessions and identify targets before heading out
- Honest limitation: no clock drive or tracking means manual adjustments are needed, and high magnification above 40x will show optical softening typical of this aperture class
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Customer Reviews
14,727 reviews
I wanted a telescope that would grow with my grandkid who was turning 8 and this was one of her birthday gifts. In making this choice, I turned to the reviews left by fellow Amazon reviewers. This telescope elicited mostly favorable responses and convinced me that with all its features it would be a...
I really like this travel telescope at 70mm. Here is how to really fall in love with it. Purchase the used like new offer and then spend the money you saved to buy an upgraded red dot finder this is a must to avoid frustration, and a better upgraded aluminum camera tripod stand for stability. Then g...
Celestron travel scope is a good product for what it is made for. It is primarily a terrestrial viewing scope. The objective (large lens in front of the scope) is good quality and is functional. However, the eyepieces that come with the scope are (in my opinion) lower quality (this is probably done ...