ActiveOutdoorsOutdoor TechThe Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ: an affordable telescope for studying planets and the MoonThe Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ isn’t the most versatile telescope around, but if you only want to study the solar system it just about does the job for a low priceWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Jamie Carter)T3 VerdictThe Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ refractor telescope is an affordable telescope with limited horizons and a below average build quality, though if all you want to do is look at the moon and bright planets then it will suffice.Reasons to buy+Low price+Good solar system views+Realistic coloursReasons to avoid-Difficult to find targets-Poor quality mount-Lacks versatilityWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
ActiveOutdoorsOutdoor TechThe Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ: an affordable telescope for studying planets and the MoonThe Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ isn’t the most versatile telescope around, but if you only want to study the solar system it just about does the job for a low priceWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Jamie Carter)T3 VerdictThe Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ refractor telescope is an affordable telescope with limited horizons and a below average build quality, though if all you want to do is look at the moon and bright planets then it will suffice.Reasons to buy+Low price+Good solar system views+Realistic coloursReasons to avoid-Difficult to find targets-Poor quality mount-Lacks versatilityWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ isn’t the most versatile telescope around, but if you only want to study the solar system it just about does the job for a low price
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)T3 VerdictThe Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ refractor telescope is an affordable telescope with limited horizons and a below average build quality, though if all you want to do is look at the moon and bright planets then it will suffice.Reasons to buy+Low price+Good solar system views+Realistic coloursReasons to avoid-Difficult to find targets-Poor quality mount-Lacks versatility
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
T3 VerdictThe Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ refractor telescope is an affordable telescope with limited horizons and a below average build quality, though if all you want to do is look at the moon and bright planets then it will suffice.Reasons to buy+Low price+Good solar system views+Realistic coloursReasons to avoid-Difficult to find targets-Poor quality mount-Lacks versatility
T3 VerdictThe Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ refractor telescope is an affordable telescope with limited horizons and a below average build quality, though if all you want to do is look at the moon and bright planets then it will suffice.
T3 Verdict
The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ refractor telescope is an affordable telescope with limited horizons and a below average build quality, though if all you want to do is look at the moon and bright planets then it will suffice.
Reasons to buy+Low price+Good solar system views+Realistic coloursReasons to avoid-Difficult to find targets-Poor quality mount-Lacks versatility
Reasons to buy+Low price+Good solar system views+Realistic colours
Low price
Good solar system views
Realistic colours
Reasons to avoid-Difficult to find targets-Poor quality mount-Lacks versatility
Difficult to find targets
Poor quality mount
Lacks versatility
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ refractor telescope is, like all telescopes, a delicate balance of features. Equipped with a small 2.7”/70 mm aperture but also with a relatively long tube, it’s a good case study in why there is no answer to the simple question “what’s the best telescope?”
Unable to muster usable views of deep sky objects, the AstroMaster 70AZ is not quite up there with the verybest telescopesaround. Nevertheless it is a goodtelescope for beginnersand a solid choice for anyone who is happy to stick to studying objects in our solar system, such as planets and the Moon. However, there are a few things you should know about the AstroMaster 70AZ before you purchase.
Today’s best Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ telescope deals390 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆$159.95$139.99View$148.95View$149.99ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ telescope deals390 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆$159.95$139.99View$148.95View$149.99ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ telescope deals
390 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
390 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
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$159.95$139.99View$148.95View$149.99View
$159.95$139.99View
$159.95$139.99View
$159.95$139.99View
$159.95$139.99
$139.99
$148.95View
$148.95View
$148.95View
$148.95
$148.95
$149.99View
$149.99View
$149.99View
$149.99
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Show More Deals
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ telescope review: price and release date
Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ telescope review: features and additions
The AstroMaster 70AZ is an achromatic refractor telescope, which means it uses a lens on the front to form an image. The AZ in its name reveals the presence of an alt-azimuth mount, a basic array with both a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. The fact that it’s a refractor on an alt-azimuth makes it seem a rather run-of-the-mill beginner’s telescope, but there is something unusual about it.
Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ telescope review: specsOptical design:RefractorAperture:70 mmFocal length:900 mmFocal ratio:f/13Eyepiece focal length:20mm (45x) and 10mm (90x)Total kit weight:3.44 kgMount type:manual alt-azimuth
Optical design:RefractorAperture:70 mmFocal length:900 mmFocal ratio:f/13Eyepiece focal length:20mm (45x) and 10mm (90x)Total kit weight:3.44 kgMount type:manual alt-azimuth
Optical design:RefractorAperture:70 mmFocal length:900 mmFocal ratio:f/13Eyepiece focal length:20mm (45x) and 10mm (90x)Total kit weight:3.44 kgMount type:manual alt-azimuth
Optical design:Refractor
Aperture:70 mm
Focal length:900 mm
Focal ratio:f/13
Eyepiece focal length:20mm (45x) and 10mm (90x)
Total kit weight:3.44 kg
Mount type:manual alt-azimuth
The AstroMaster 70AZ arrives on a tripod that can be set-up at two different heights while in the box are two Kellner eyepieces (20mm for wide-angle views and 10mm for close-ups) as well as a StarPointer red-dot finderscope for getting targets roughly into the telescope’s field of view. Also included is an image diagonal, which proves to be very useful indeed.
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ telescope review: set-up and use
It’s only a small device, but the image diagonal essentially makes the AstroMaster 70AZ usable from an observing point of view. An L-shaped device that slips into the eyepiece, it turns the AstroMaster 70AZ from a telescope that you have to stand directly behind – or underneath if your target is high above you – to a telescope that can be peered through whilst standing over the eyepiece.
It’s the first clue that the AstroMaster 70AZ is primarily about usability rather than versatility. It’s an incredibly easy telescope to set up, from fixing the tripod in place and attaching the eyepieces to using the basic red dot finder.
However, the AstroMaster 70AZ does have one major usability problem that will rule it out for a lot of users. It lacks accuracy. Even if you know the night sky well and can find objects easily, fixing this telescope in place so a target is in the centre of its field of view takes a lot of trial and error. There’s not much wrong with its tripod, which seems solid enough, but even with a bright moon in its crosshairs the AstroMaster 70AZ seems incapable of staying still. Although it does come fitted with one small hand control for fine-tuning, the way the telescope is fixed into position isn’t intuitive enough, nor is it solid enough. As a result, the AstroMaster 70AZ tends to recoil when at rest, making any attempt to get a target still in the eyepiece a tricky task that needs repeating way too much.
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ telescope review: performance
In some ways its lack of versatility is worth the sacrifice. When pointed at Jupiter, close to its bright annual opposition, the AstroMaster 70AZ showed us a natural-looking planet that completely lacked the false colour the most many of its rivals feature. However, we did notice a little light spillage and glare from the bright planet, which could be something to do with the prism in that erect image diagonal. In our tests, regardless of what we looked at, the wide angle 25 mm eyepiece always gave us the sharpest views.
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ telescope review: alternatives to consider
If you’re after something that will give you views of the deep sky that also comes with guidance tech then have a look at theCelestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZtelescope, a 5.1-inches Newtonian reflector telescope that’s packed with versatility. An entirely different price point they may be, but a smart telescope like theVanois VesperaandUnistellar eVscope 2will automatically take images of the night sky that can be viewed on a smartphone or tablet.
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ telescope review: overall conclusions
The unusually long length of the AstroMaster 70AZ’s telescope tube makes it almost uniquely good at suppressing false colour, something that marrs the performance of many of its rivals. However, the use of some rather basic optical equipment as well as a rather poor mount that lacks precision and reliability does take the shine from the AstroMaster 70AZ.
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