Explore Scientific · Newtonian
Explore Scientific FirstLight 114mm
Wide-field Newtonian power at an entry price, ready for planets, clusters, and first astrophotos.
Price updated Mar 22, 2026
Performance Scores
Overview
The Explore Scientific FirstLight 114mm is a fast Newtonian reflector that trades focal length for a wide, bright field of view. With a 114mm aperture and 500mm focal length at f/4.3, it gathers enough light to show you lunar craters, Jupiter's cloud bands, Saturn's rings, and deep-sky targets like the Orion Nebula and star clusters with genuine detail. The short focal ratio makes wide-field sweeping enjoyable, though it also means the included 25mm Plossl eyepiece gives a fairly low magnification of around 20x, which is actually well suited to large open clusters and nebulae.
The Twilight Nano alt-azimuth mount is straightforward to use and handles the 7.71kg total system weight reasonably well for casual visual sessions, though serious planetary observers may eventually want more tracking precision. The included smartphone camera adapter is a welcome addition for beginners wanting to capture their first lunar images without extra investment. At $299.99, the trade-off is a modest Amazon rating of 3.9 from a small review base, so user experiences vary.
As with any fast Newtonian, collimation checks will be part of your regular routine. This scope suits beginners who want broad sky coverage and a path into astrophotography over high-magnification planetary work.
At a Glance
114mm
Aperture
f/4.3
Focal Ratio
7.71kg
Weight
500mm
Focal Length
Specifications
Key Features
- 114mm aperture collects meaningful light for nebulae, clusters, and planetary detail
- Fast f/4.3 focal ratio produces a wide, bright field well suited to deep-sky browsing
- Included smartphone adapter allows lunar and bright-planet photography from day one
- Twilight Nano alt-azimuth mount is lightweight and simple to set up for quick sessions
- 25mm Plossl eyepiece delivers around 20x magnification, ideal for large sky objects
- At 7.71kg total weight, the system is portable enough for backyard or car-camping use
- Collimation will be required periodically, a manageable skill that improves your results over time
Customer Reviews
4 reviews
This telescope is ok. Not super clear or powerful, but it was cheap.
I have a 10 inch Explore Sci Dob. This is like a miniature version of that scope. Bought it on a good sale at amazon. A little cold here, so i have not had a chance to check out the optics yet. Was simple to assemble and i like the mount and tripod, seems very solid for the price. More than 40 years...
I got this thing and it’s like I can see across the street. So big deal. It’s not worth it imo. I tried to send it back but where would I get a box for this telescope. The box it came in was destroyed unboxing it.