Thinking about exploring the night sky but don’t want to spend a fortune? The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ gives you an affordable entry point into astronomy—great for beginners and families alike.
This refractor telescope comes with a 70mm lens, so you’ll get clear views of the moon, planets, and bright star clusters. Setup is refreshingly simple, honestly—it doesn’t need any tools and you can put it together in just a few minutes.
Most people say the image quality is good for moon viewing, though the mount sometimes feels a bit wobbly if you fully extend it. It works for daytime viewing too, so you’re not stuck using it just at night.
You get two eyepieces and a red dot finder scope in the box, which makes finding objects a little less frustrating. The whole thing weighs under 11 pounds, so moving it around is no big deal.
Overview of the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ
This entry-level refractor telescope really opens up astronomy for beginners and families. Celestron built the AstroMaster 70AZ with a 70mm achromatic lens, so you get clear views of the moon, planets, and those bright star clusters everyone loves.
You’ll mount the telescope on an alt-azimuth base with a panhandle, making it easy to move up, down, and side to side. No complicated setup, no sweat. Plus, you can use it for night sky viewing or daytime observation.
Key Features:
- 70mm fully-coated objective lens
- Two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm)
- StarPointer red dot finderscope
- Adjustable tripod
- Tool-free assembly
The telescope, once fully assembled, weighs about 11 pounds. Most users mention the views of the moon and planets are pretty solid, though the mount does get a little shaky at full height. Since it’s a refractor, you don’t have to worry about maintenance like you would with a reflector.
Celestron throws in astronomy software to help you plan your sessions. The simple setup means both kids and adults can use it together without much fuss.
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Fully Coated 70mm Optics
The optical system is really the heart of this refractor. Its 70mm objective lens pulls in enough light to show off the moon’s craters and bright planets like Jupiter and Saturn.
Key Optical Features:
- Aperture: 70mm diameter lens
- Coating: Fully coated glass surfaces
- Focal Length: 685mm
Celestron’s fully coated glass reduces light loss and glare, making images brighter and clearer than what you’d get with uncoated lenses. You’ll spot sharper details when looking at the moon or planets.
The 70mm aperture is great for beginners, but it does have its limits. Faint deep-sky objects, like distant galaxies, are tough to see well. This telescope really shines on bright stuff—the moon, planets, double stars.
Image quality holds up across the field of view. Some folks notice a little color fringing around bright objects, but honestly, that’s normal at this price.
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Alt-Azimuth Mount and Easy Navigation
You’ll find moving the telescope around the sky feels pretty intuitive with the manual alt-azimuth mount. Just grab the panhandle and point the AstroMaster 70AZ wherever you want—up, down, left, right. It’s about as natural as looking around with your own eyes.
This mount really works for beginners. Forget polar alignment or any complicated steps. Just point and look. The smooth motion helps you track the moon or planets as they drift across the sky.
Some people say the mount gets a bit shaky if you fully extend the tripod, which seems to be a thing with a lot of entry-level scopes. The wobble is most annoying when you’re changing eyepieces or making adjustments.
The panhandle lets you fine-tune your aim without shaking the scope too much. Kids and adults both seem to manage it without trouble.
Want to try smooth sky navigation? See the AstroMaster 70AZ on Amazon and see what you can spot tonight.
Versatile Night and Day Observing
One thing that’s genuinely nice about this telescope: you can use it for both space and land viewing. Not every beginner scope can do that well, honestly.
Night Sky Performance:
- Shows off the Moon’s craters and surface features
- Lets you see bright planets like Jupiter and Saturn
- Reveals star clusters and other bright deep-sky objects
Daytime Capabilities:
- Watch wildlife from a distance
- Enjoy landscapes and landmarks
- Spot birds
The 70mm lens gathers enough light for decent night views and still delivers sharp images during the day. You can check out the mountains in the afternoon, then switch to stargazing after dark without swapping gear.
Images appear upright during land viewing, which makes tracking birds or moving animals a lot easier. Still, it’s best for bright targets—not so much for the faint stuff way out in space.
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Fast and Tool-Free Setup
You don’t need a pile of tools (or an engineering degree) to get started with this telescope. The AstroMaster 70AZ comes with just a few main parts and snaps together in minutes.
Forget screwdrivers and wrenches. The design is simple, so you’ll go from box to sky without much hassle. The tripod legs extend and lock in place—no hardware needed.
Setup includes:
- Attaching the telescope tube to the mount
- Extending the tripod
- Installing the eyepieces and finderscope
The adjustable tripod works for different heights, so you can set it up for kids or adults, sitting or standing. That flexibility is great for families.
You don’t get as many adjustment options as with more complex scopes, but for beginners, that’s usually a plus. Less fiddling, more stargazing.
Want to get started quickly? See the AstroMaster 70AZ on Amazon for details.
Included Accessories and Astronomy Software
Celestron packs in some nice accessories to get you going right away. You’ll find two eyepieces—a 20mm and 10mm eyepiece—so you can switch up your magnification depending on what you’re observing.
There’s also an erect image star diagonal, which makes daytime viewing more comfortable by flipping the image the right way up. The StarPointer red dot finderscope helps you aim at your target without all the guesswork.
Key Accessories:
- 20mm eyepiece (lower magnification)
- 10mm eyepiece (higher magnification)
- Erect image star diagonal
- StarPointer red dot finderscope
You even get a free astronomy software download. This is handy for beginners who want to learn about the night sky and plan their sessions. It adds a bit of educational value—not bad for a freebie.
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Portability and Adjustable Tripod
Moving this telescope around is easy, thanks to its lightweight design. The AstroMaster 70AZ weighs just 10.8 pounds fully assembled. You can carry it from your backyard to a dark sky spot without much effort.
The tripod is honestly one of the best parts. You can adjust it for different heights, so adults and kids both get a comfortable view. Set it up for standing or sitting—it’s flexible.
Setup Benefits:
- No tools needed
- Takes just minutes to assemble
- Sturdy base for stable viewing
Some people notice the tripod gets a little wobbly at full height, especially if it’s windy. The mount still works smoothly for basic pointing and tracking.
With fewer parts to lose or break, you get a reliable scope that’s ready to go when the skies clear.
Want easy setup and portable stargazing? Check out the AstroMaster 70AZ on Amazon.
Warranty and Technical Support
When you’re buying astronomy gear, having reliable backup is a big deal. The AstroMaster 70AZ comes with a 2-year warranty from Celestron.
What’s Covered:
- Manufacturing defects
- Parts that fail under normal use
- Quality issues with optics
Celestron’s been making telescopes since 1960, so they know their stuff. Their technical support team is based in the US, so you can reach them during normal business hours.
Plenty of users report positive experiences with support. The staff seems to understand telescope issues and can walk you through fixes or setup if you get stuck.
Support Options:
- Phone support during business hours
- Email assistance
- Online resources and manuals
The warranty doesn’t cover drops or rough handling, and normal wear and tear isn’t included after it expires.
Want to check the latest price? See the AstroMaster 70AZ on Amazon.
Pros and Cons
When you’re looking at beginner telescopes, the AstroMaster 70AZ brings both strengths and weaknesses to the table. Knowing these helps you decide if it’s the right fit.
Pros
Easy Setup and Operation
You don’t need any tools to put together the AstroMaster 70AZ, and honestly, you’ll have it up and running in just a few minutes. With its alt-azimuth mount, you can move the telescope around easily in any direction using simple controls.
Clear Viewing Quality
People often say the moon looks fantastic through this scope, with craters and details popping out. The 70mm fully-coated optics give you bright, crisp images, whether you’re checking out the night sky or just looking around during the day.
Great Value for Money
For the price, you get solid components. The telescope comes with two eyepieces, a red dot finder, and even some bonus astronomy software. Not bad at all for a budget pick.
Versatile Use
You can use this thing for both stargazing and checking out stuff on land. It’s handy for watching stars at night or spotting wildlife when the sun’s up.
Beginner-Friendly Features
Kids as young as five can figure this telescope out. The controls are straightforward, and the included accessories make it a good choice for families who are just getting into astronomy.
Cons
Mount Stability Issues
If you extend the tripod all the way, it gets a bit wobbly. That makes it tough to keep the image steady, especially when you’re zoomed in.
Limited Performance in Light Pollution
The moon still looks great in the city, but you’ll struggle to see deep-sky objects if there’s a lot of light pollution around.
Basic Accessories
The eyepieces that come with it don’t offer a huge range of magnification. A lot of folks end up wanting extra lenses for more options.
Ready to start your astronomy journey? Check out the AstroMaster 70AZ on Amazon and see what the night sky has to offer.
Customer Reviews
Buyers keep mentioning how clear the moon and planets look through the AstroMaster 70AZ. Quite a few people say they spotted sharp lunar craters, even from light-polluted areas. Parents like that their kids can use it right away, and several mention their children managed it on the first try.
The quick setup comes up a lot in reviews. People like being able to get started almost immediately, without fussing over complicated adjustments. That’s a real bonus when the weather’s unpredictable.
Common complaints:
- The mount feels wobbly when you extend it all the way
- It struggles in areas with a lot of light pollution
- The basic accessories leave some folks wanting upgrades
International buyers seem happy with it too. Beginners in different countries say it performs well, though a few suggest picking up extra eyepieces for more viewing options.
Most reviews mention the excellent value for the money, especially for families and folks just starting out.
Ready to start your stargazing journey? Check out the AstroMaster 70AZ on Amazon to see current pricing and availability.
Conclusion
If you’re after a budget-friendly telescope, this one really holds its own for beginners and families just dipping their toes into astronomy. The AstroMaster 70AZ shows off the moon’s craters and bright planets like Jupiter and Mars with surprisingly clear views. Honestly, I love how you can get it set up in no time—no fiddling with complicated parts.
Strengths:
- Clear optics make moon and planet viewing a breeze
- Quick setup—no need for tricky adjustments
- Good value if you’re new to stargazing
Weaknesses:
- Mount gets wobbly if you extend it all the way
- Struggles in areas with lots of city lights
- Eyepieces are pretty basic—nothing fancy
This telescope really shines for casual observation. Both kids and adults can have fun checking out lunar details and spotting bright planets. Sure, it can’t compete with those high-end models, but for the price, it’s a solid way to jump into astronomy.
Curious to give it a try? Check out the AstroMaster 70AZ on Amazon for the latest price and availability.