Introduction: Why the Celestron AstroMaster 90EQ Is Perfect for Beginner Astronomers
Product Dimensions : 34inch D x 30inch W x 50inch Objective Lens Diameter : 102 Millimeters Power Source : Adapter Optical Tube Length : 381 Millimeters
Control your telescope via integrated WiFi using the free Celestron Sky Portal app for iPhone, iPad, and Android devicesSee On Amazon
If you're just stepping into the world of astronomy and searching for a telescope that’s easy to use, durable, and offers clear views of the night sky, the Celestron AstroMaster 90EQ could be your ideal match.
This refractor telescope is designed with beginners in mind, delivering sharp images of celestial objects like the Moon, Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings, Venus phases, and even deep-sky targets like the Orion Nebula or the Andromeda Galaxy under dark skies.
✨ James Webb Nebula Gallery
Iridescent Glory of Nearby Helix Nebula
This composite picture is a seamless blend of ultra-sharp NASA Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images combined with the wide view of the Mosaic Camera on the National Science Foundation's 0.9-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, part of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, near Tucson, Ariz. Astronomers at the Space Telescope Science Institute assembled these images into a mosaic. The mosaic was then blended with a wider photograph taken by the Mosaic Camera. The image shows a fine web of filamentary "bicycle-spoke" features embedded in the colorful red and blue gas ring, which is one of the nearest planetary nebulae to Earth. Because the nebula is nearby, it appears as nearly one-half the diameter of the full Moon. This required HST astronomers to take several exposures with the Advanced Camera for Surveys to capture most of the Helix. HST views were then blended with a wider photo taken by the Mosaic Camera. The portrait offers a dizzying look down what is actually a trillion-mile-long tunnel of glowing gases. The fluorescing tube is pointed nearly directly at Earth, so it looks more like a bubble than a cylinder. A forest of thousands of comet-like filaments, embedded along the inner rim of the nebula, points back toward the central star, which is a small, super-hot white dwarf. The tentacles formed when a hot "stellar wind" of gas plowed into colder shells of dust and gas ejected previously by the doomed star. Ground-based telescopes have seen these comet-like filaments for decades, but never before in such detail. The filaments may actually lie in a disk encircling the hot star, like a collar. The radiant tie-die colors correspond to glowing oxygen (blue) and hydrogen and nitrogen (red). Valuable Hubble observing time became available during the November 2002 Leonid meteor storm. To protect the spacecraft, including HST's precise mirror, controllers turned the aft end into the direction of the meteor stream for about half a day. Fortunately, the Helix Nebula was almost exactly in the opposite direction of the meteor stream, so Hubble used nine orbits to photograph the nebula while it waited out the storm. To capture the sprawling nebula, Hubble had to take nine separate snapshots. Planetary nebulae like the Helix are sculpted late in a Sun-like star's life by a torrential gush of gases escaping from the dying star. They have nothing to do with planet formation, but got their name because they look like planetary disks when viewed through a small telescope. With higher magnification, the classic "donut-hole" in the middle of a planetary nebula can be resolved. Based on the nebula's distance of 650 light-years, its angular size corresponds to a huge ring with a diameter of nearly 3 light-years. That's approximately three-quarters of the distance between our Sun and the nearest star. The Helix Nebula is a popular target of amateur astronomers and can be seen with binoculars as a ghostly, greenish cloud in the constellation Aquarius. Larger amateur telescopes can resolve the ring-shaped nebula, but only the largest ground-based telescopes can resolve the radial streaks. After careful analysis, astronomers concluded the nebula really isn't a bubble, but is a cylinder that happens to be pointed toward Earth. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA18164
Carina Nebula Detail
Carina Nebula Details: Great Clouds Credit for Hubble Image: NASA, ESA, N. Smith (University of California, Berkeley), and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) Credit for CTIO Image: N. Smith (University of California, Berkeley) and NOAO/AURA/NSF The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and the European Space Agency. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute conducts Hubble science operations. Goddard is responsible for HST project management, including mission and science operations, servicing missions, and all associated development activities. To learn more about the Hubble Space Telescope go here: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/index.htmlNASA Goddard Space Flight Center is home to the nation's largest organization of combined scientists, engineers and technologists that build spacecraft, instruments and new technology to study the Earth, the sun, our solar system, and the universe. Follow us on TwitterJoin us on Facebook
Nebulae: Not as Close as They Appear
This image from NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, shows three different nebulae located in the constellation of Perseus. NGC 1491 is seen on the right side of the image, SH 2-209 is on the left side and BFS 34 lies in between.
The Spider Nebula
The spider part of The Spider and the Fly nebulae, IC 417 abounds in star formation, as seen in this infrared image from NASA Spitzer Space Telescope and the Two Micron All Sky Survey 2MASS.
Little gem
This colourful bubble is a planetary nebula called NGC 6818, also known as the Little Gem Nebula. It is located in the constellation of Sagittarius (The Archer), roughly 6000 light-years away from us. The rich glow of the cloud is just over half a light-year across — humongous compared to its tiny central star — but still a little gem on a cosmic scale. When stars like the Sun enter retirement, they shed their outer layers into space to create glowing clouds of gas called planetary nebulae. This ejection of mass is uneven, and planetary nebulae can have very complex shapes. NGC 6818 shows knotty filament-like structures and distinct layers of material, with a bright and enclosed central bubble surrounded by a larger, more diffuse cloud. Scientists believe that the stellar wind from the central star propels the outflowing material, sculpting the elongated shape of NGC 6818. As this fast wind smashes through the slower-moving cloud it creates particularly bright blowouts at the bubble’s outer layers. Hubble previously imaged this nebula back in 1997 with its Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, using a mix of filters that highlighted emission from ionised oxygen and hydrogen (opo9811h). This image, while from the same camera, uses different filters to reveal a different view of the nebula. A version of the image was submitted to the Hubble’s Hidden Treasures image processing competition by contestant Judy Schmidt.
Hubble sniffs out a brilliant star death in a “rotten egg” nebula
The Calabash Nebula, pictured here — which has the technical name OH 231.8+04.2 — is a spectacular example of the death of a low-mass star like the sun. This image taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows the star going through a rapid transformation from a red giant to a planetary nebula, during which it blows its outer layers of gas and dust out into the surrounding space. The recently ejected material is spat out in opposite directions with immense speed — the gas shown in yellow is moving close to one million kilometers per hour (621,371 miles per hour). Astronomers rarely capture a star in this phase of its evolution because it occurs within the blink of an eye — in astronomical terms. Over the next thousand years the nebula is expected to evolve into a fully-fledged planetary nebula. The nebula is also known as the Rotten Egg Nebula because it contains a lot of sulphur, an element that, when combined with other elements, smells like a rotten egg — but luckily, it resides over 5,000 light-years away in the constellation of Puppis. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt NASA image use policy.NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookFind us on Instagram
Whether you're a hobbyist, a student, or a parent introducing astronomy to kids, the AstroMaster 90EQ provides a solid balance of affordability, portability, and optical performance. Plus, its manual German equatorial mount makes celestial tracking both educational and rewarding.
Product Highlights: Key Features of the AstroMaster 90EQ and What to Look for
90mm Aperture and Fully Coated Optics
With a 90mm aperture, this refractor telescope collects ample light for planetary viewing. Fully coated glass optics ensure high-contrast images with minimal chromatic aberration.
German Equatorial Mount
The manual EQ mount with slow-motion controls allows for accurate tracking of celestial objects, teaching users how to follow the Earth's rotation — a skill important for any amateur astronomer.
Dual-Purpose Use: Terrestrial and Celestial
Unlike many telescopes, the AstroMaster 90EQ can also be used for daytime terrestrial viewing, such as observing birds or distant landscapes.
Included Accessories
Two eyepieces (typically 10mm and 20mm)
StarPointer™ red dot finderscope
Sturdy tripod with accessory tray
These included tools reduce your need for additional investments right out of the box.
Budget Considerations
Priced reasonably for a refractor with equatorial mount, this telescope sits in the sweet spot for entry-level users who want long-term value without breaking the bank. It’s a practical step up from cheap department store telescopes.
How to Choose: Is the AstroMaster 90EQ Right for You?
How to Choose: Is the AstroMaster 90EQ Right for You?
Type: Refractors like the 90EQ are ideal for low-maintenance use and sharp planetary views.
Mount Type: EQ mounts require a learning curve but offer greater control for tracking.
Portability: Weighs about 19 lbs (8.6 kg) — manageable for travel and home use.
Price vs. Features: For the price range (usually around $250–$300 USD), the AstroMaster 90EQ is hard to beat in terms of quality and versatility.
If you’re more interested in deep-sky astrophotography, this telescope may not be the best fit — but for planetary and lunar viewing, it excels.
Ready to Explore the Stars?
If you're looking for a telescope that offers clear planetary views, quality construction, and a gentle learning curve, the Celestron AstroMaster 90EQ is a fantastic option.
What can you see with the Celestron AstroMaster 90EQ?You can see the Moon in great detail, Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings, Venus phases, and bright deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy.
Is the AstroMaster 90EQ good for beginners?Yes, it's one of the most recommended entry-level telescopes due to its simple setup and reliable optics.
Can the 90EQ be used during the day?Yes. It's suitable for terrestrial viewing with an upright image diagonal.
What kind of mount does the 90EQ have?It has a manual German Equatorial (EQ) mount, ideal for learning how to track objects.
Does the telescope come with eyepieces?Yes, it includes 10mm and 20mm eyepieces for different magnification levels.
Can I take astrophotography shots with the 90EQ?Basic lunar photos are possible with a smartphone mount, but it’s not designed for long-exposure astrophotography.
How heavy is the AstroMaster 90EQ?It weighs around 19 lbs (8.6 kg), making it moderately portable.
What is the focal length of this telescope?It has a focal length of 1000mm, giving it a focal ratio of f/11.1.