Trying to find a telescope that’s good for both newbies and folks with more experience? The AstroMaster 90AZ could be just what you’re looking for. This refractor telescope pulls in more light than a lot of the smaller starter scopes, so you’ll get better views of planets and some deep space objects.
You get two eyepieces in the box, so you can switch things up depending on what you want to see. The 20mm eyepiece gives you 50x magnification, which frames the moon or nebulae nicely. If you pop in the 10mm eyepiece, you’ll push things up to 100x and start spotting details on Saturn’s rings or Jupiter’s moons.
Setting up is a breeze—no tools, no frustration. The tripod comes ready to go, and you just attach the telescope on top. That said, if you’re tall, you might wish the tripod was a bit higher. And since the mount doesn’t track stars automatically, you’ll need a little patience to keep things in view.
Overview of the Celestron 21063 AstroMaster 90AZ Refractor Telescope
This refractor telescope really stands out as a solid choice for beginners and those who’ve already dipped their toes into astronomy. The AstroMaster 90AZ comes with 90mm fully-coated optics that give you crisp, high-contrast views of the moon and planets.
There are two eyepieces included. The 20mm gives you 50x magnification, and the 10mm bumps it up to 100x for a closer look at details.
You’ll find an altazimuth mount with a panning handle for smooth tracking. Assembly is quick and painless. The tripod uses steel tube legs, so it feels stable enough for regular use.
What works well:
- Sharp views of lunar craters and planetary details
- Super quick assembly
- Lightweight but doesn’t feel cheap
- Good for both astronomy and checking out things during the day
What could be better:
- Objects drift out of view fast at high magnification
- Mount doesn’t track stars automatically
- Light pollution really cuts down what you can see
Fully assembled, the telescope stands almost five feet tall and weighs in at about 20 pounds.
Optical Performance and Clarity
With its 90mm aperture, this scope gathers a decent amount of light for the price. You’ll get sharp, high-contrast views of the Moon and planets right out of the box. The fully-coated glass optics cut down on glare and make everything look brighter.
Moon and Planet Viewing:
- 20mm eyepiece (50x): Frames the Moon with nice detail
- 10mm eyepiece (100x): Brings out crisp lunar features and planetary details
The achromatic optics do a solid job on bright targets like Saturn and Jupiter. You can spot Jupiter’s four largest moons and see Saturn’s rings pretty clearly. Deep space objects like nebulae look good too, though you shouldn’t expect to see faint galaxies pop out.
Honestly, the optics seem to work best at lower magnifications. When you crank up the power, objects get dimmer and harder to keep in view. The refractor design means you won’t have to fuss with the maintenance that comes with reflectors.
Best Performance:
- Lunar observations
- Bright planets
- Double stars
- Brighter nebulae like Orion
User-Friendly Mount and Navigation
You can set up the AstroMaster 90AZ in just a few minutes, and you don’t need any tools. The manual altazimuth mount lets you swing the telescope up, down, left, or right without hassle.
A panning handle makes it easier to keep up with objects as they move. You can make small tweaks to keep planets or stars in the eyepiece.
The StarPointer red dot finderscope helps you line up your targets quickly. Instead of squinting through a tiny scope, you get a red dot that shows you exactly where you’re aiming—so much easier.
The frame feels light enough to carry around the yard or toss in the car for a trip to darker skies. The adjustable tripod handles uneven ground pretty well.
Some users have mentioned that the mount can feel a bit loose over time, especially if you use it a lot. The plastic parts don’t quite match up to the metal hardware you find on pricier scopes.
Accessories and Bonus Astronomy Software
You’ll get a solid batch of accessories right out of the box. There are two eyepieces—20mm and 10mm—so you can switch up the magnification depending on what you want to see.
The StarPointer red dot finderscope makes it way easier to find things in the sky. It’s a big step up from telescopes that don’t include finder scopes.
Key Accessories Included:
- Two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm)
- Erect image star diagonal
- StarPointer red dot finderscope
- Adjustable tripod
You also get a free astronomy software download, which is a nice extra. It helps you learn the constellations and plan your observing sessions—pretty handy if you’re new to stargazing.
If you’re looking for more magnification options, you might feel limited by just two eyepieces. The tripod does the job but isn’t the sturdiest thing out there.
Build Quality and Portability
A lot of entry-level telescopes feel pretty flimsy, but the AstroMaster 90AZ strikes a nice balance between being sturdy and not weighing a ton. It’s about 20 pounds and stands nearly five feet tall when you set it up.
The frame uses lightweight materials but still feels stable. The steel tube tripod legs provide a solid base, so you don’t have to worry about it tipping over. Most users say the mount stays steady even when you’re pushing the magnification.
Setup and Assembly:
- No tools needed
- Tripod comes ready to go
- Telescope clamps into a standard dovetail mount
- Super quick to set up
It’s not as portable as some smaller scopes, though. You’ll need to break it down into a few pieces if you want to travel with it.
The altazimuth mount feels solid enough during use. The panning handle lets you make smooth adjustments when you’re tracking things. At high power, you might notice a bit of vibration, but it settles down quickly.
Quick and Tool-Free Setup
Getting this telescope ready to use couldn’t be much easier. The AstroMaster 90AZ comes with all the basics, so you can start observing right away.
No tools are required—just connect the manual Altazimuth mount to the adjustable tripod and you’re good. The lightweight frame means you can move it around your yard or pack it up for a quick trip.
Beginners should have no trouble setting it up in just a few minutes. Once everything’s together, the panning handle lets you make smooth adjustments.
Some folks find the tripod legs could be a bit more stable, especially on bumpy ground. The lightweight design is great for setup but can mean a little vibration during use.
Versatile Viewing for Celestial and Terrestrial Objects
One of the best things about this refractor is how well it handles both stargazing at night and checking out distant stuff during the day. The 90mm aperture brings in enough light to show good detail on the Moon and bright planets like Jupiter and Saturn.
Thanks to the included erect image prism, daytime viewing is a breeze. You can use the AstroMaster 90AZ as a spotting scope for birdwatching or just taking in the landscape. The optics give you sharp, right-side-up images that look great.
Night Sky Performance:
- Moon and planets look sharp
- Bright deep space objects like the Orion Nebula stand out
- 50x and 100x magnifications cover most of what you’ll want to see
Daytime Capabilities:
- Doubles as a long-range spotting scope
- Erect image prism keeps views right-side-up
- Great for wildlife and landscape viewing
The altazimuth mount does have its limits for astronomy. At higher magnifications, objects drift out of view pretty fast since the mount doesn’t track Earth’s rotation. Extended viewing of celestial targets takes a bit more effort.
Ready to check out both earth and sky? Take a look at the AstroMaster 90AZ on Amazon for current pricing and availability.
Warranty and Customer Support
Celestron stands behind the AstroMaster 90AZ with solid warranty coverage and support. The telescope comes with a two-year warranty straight from the manufacturer, so you can buy with a bit more confidence.
Customer Support Features:
- Two-year warranty on all telescope parts
- Unlimited technical support from US-based experts
- Phone and email support during regular business hours
Their support team really knows telescopes. If you run into setup issues, troubleshooting headaches, or just want some maintenance tips, they’re usually ready to help. Plenty of users say customer service actually gave them useful answers.
Some buyers do mention slow response times when things get busy. The support quality stays pretty steady, but you might be left waiting a bit longer for a reply during peak seasons.
The two-year warranty covers manufacturing defects, but not accidental damage or misuse, which seems pretty standard for telescopes. Celestron’s customer service gets a good reputation in the astronomy world.
Curious to see how Celestron’s support holds up in real life? Check out the AstroMaster 90AZ on Amazon and maybe start your own astronomy adventure.
Pros and Cons
After digging through a ton of customer reviews and specs, the AstroMaster 90AZ definitely has its strengths, though it’s not without a few downsides. Here’s what stands out about its performance.
Pros
Easy Setup and Use: You don’t need any tools to assemble the AstroMaster 90AZ, and setup goes pretty fast. The frame is lightweight, so moving it around the yard or packing it for a trip isn’t a hassle.
Good Planetary Viewing: Jupiter and its four moons show up clearly, which is honestly pretty cool. You’ll spot Saturn’s rings with the included 10mm eyepiece, and the moon’s craters look great.
Quality Optics for the Price: The 90mm fully-coated glass optics give you sharp images. Since it’s a refractor, you don’t have to mess with collimation like you would with a reflector.
Complete Starter Package: It comes with everything you need to get observing right away—two eyepieces, a tripod, star diagonal, and a red dot finder scope.
Family-Friendly: Both kids and adults can use it together, making it a nice pick for beginners or families wanting to dip their toes into astronomy.
Cons
Tripod Height Issues: The tripod sits pretty low, which isn’t great for comfortable viewing—even for shorter folks. You might find your neck getting sore if you’re out there for a while.
Mount Stability Problems: The altazimuth mount doesn’t track planets well at high magnification. When you use the 10mm eyepiece, objects tend to drift out of view fast.
Quality Control Concerns: Some people get units with factory defects or misaligned parts. If yours doesn’t work right out of the box, you might have to send it back.
Limited Deep Sky Performance: This scope shines with the moon and planets, but don’t expect to see nebulae or distant galaxies in any real detail.
Feeling ready to check out the night sky yourself? Check out the AstroMaster 90AZ on Amazon for current prices and availability.
Customer Reviews
Most users say the AstroMaster 90AZ works well for beginners and families. Quite a few parents picked up this scope for their kids and report good results with the moon and planets.
What customers like:
- Easy to use, even for first-timers
- Shows Jupiter and its moons clearly
- Saturn looks good with the included 10mm lens
- Decent for both space and land viewing
- Needs less maintenance than reflectors
Common complaints:
- Tripod feels too low and a bit wobbly for some
- Objects drift out of view quickly at high magnification
- Build quality isn’t always consistent, so assembly can be tricky
Some customers say this telescope blew away their expectations after using cheap department store scopes. With a 4.3-star rating from over 400 reviews, most buyers seem happy with what they got.
A handful of users had to return defective units, but replacements worked fine. Overall, the AstroMaster 90AZ feels best for casual stargazing, not hardcore astronomy.
Thinking about starting your own stargazing journey? Check out the AstroMaster 90AZ on Amazon to see what it’s going for right now.
Conclusion
So, after digging into the details, I think the AstroMaster 90AZ really suits beginners. You’ll get a crisp view of the moon and can spot Jupiter, sometimes even its four moons. With the right eyepiece, Saturn shows up too—pretty cool for a starter scope.
But let’s be honest, there are some drawbacks. The tripod feels kind of wobbly and sits too low for most adults. Tracking planets at high magnification? That’s a pain because of the altazimuth mount. Some folks even received units with factory issues and had to send them back.
The good parts:
- You can set it up fast, and using it feels straightforward
- Planets and moon details actually pop
- Makes sense for families who want to try stargazing
- Needs less maintenance than reflector telescopes
The not-so-good parts:
- The tripod’s pretty shaky
- Tracking stuff that moves isn’t easy
- Some quality control misses
Honestly, this telescope just fits if you want something simple for casual sky watching. It works great for kids or adults who are new to astronomy.
If you’re feeling curious and want to get started, check out the AstroMaster 90AZ on Amazon to see what it’s going for right now.