Celestron NexStar 5 SE Schmidt-Cassegrain Computerized Telescope with SkyPortal WiFi Module

I have really enjoyed getting to know this scope. I am an amateur Astronomer but have had college courses in astronomy and am well versed in the field. I have previously owned non-computerized reflectors and refractors but never delved into a Schmidt-Cassegrain computer aided one before. After consulting the staff Astronomer as the local museum, I finally broke down and got this model Celestron 5SE. I had considered a bigger model like the 6 or 8SE, but decided I wanted a smaller model for portability.<br /><br />I have been pleasantly surprised by the versatility of this model. Very good imagery and a lot of expandable features like the WiFi connector so you can hook it up to your smart phone app. That renders the hand control unit almost redundant, though that is a nice feature when your cell is out of juice. <br /><br />My one gripe was the initial set up, which otherwise went smoothly but after putting in the batteries, I could not for the life of me fine the power on switch. You have to look underneath the main carriage to find it. I had to look for like ten minutes. Once you figure that out, it's smooth sailing. <br /><br />Otherwise, I have really enjoyed using it and think it is quality that I hope to use for many years.

Celestron 5 is pretty sturdy and optically excellent, the Tilt tripod makes it possible to use as a go to equatorial mount