Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope Review

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Celestron - PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope - Manual German Equatorial Telescope for Beginners - Compact and Portable - BONUS Astronomy Software Package - 127mm Aperture
3x Barlow Lens
German Equatorial Mount
127mm Aperture
1000mm Focal Length
Comes with aluminum tripod and accessory tray
Product Description
CES1071 Features: -Telescope. -PowerSeeker collection. -Color: Black. -Material: Aluminum. -127 mm (5'') Newtonian reflector. -3x Barlow lens triples the magnifying power of each eyepiece. -Quick and easy no-tool setup. -Slow motion controls for smooth tracking. -Erect image optics - ideal for terrestrial and astronomical use. -Fully coated glass optical components with high transmission coatings. -Enhanced image brightness and clarity. -Accessory tray for convenient storage of accessories. -''The Sky'' level 1 planetarium software with 10,000 object database. -Dimensions: 11'' H x 17'' W x 33'' D.
From the Manufacturer
PowerSeeker 127 EQ Telescope PhotoPowerSeeker 127 EQ - General Features
Quick and easy no-tool setup
Celestron PowerSeeker telescopes are a great way to open up the wonders of the Universe to the aspiring astronomer. The PowerSeeker series is designed to give the first-time telescope user the perfect combination of quality, value, features and power.
Amateur astronomy is a great family hobby that can be enjoyed year round, and Celestron’s PowerSeekers are the ideal choice for families looking for an affordable and high quality telescope that will provide many hours of enjoyment for children and adults alike.
PowerSeekers are quick and easy to set up - even for the novice. No tools are required for assembly!
Their sturdy equatorial mounts are perfect for tracking objects in the night sky, and the collapsible alt-azimuth mounts are perfectly suited for terrestrial (land) viewing as well as astronomical use.
All of Celestron’s PowerSeekers include a full range of eyepieces plus a 3x Barlow lens that provides an increase in viewing power hundreds of times greater than that of the unaided eye!
PowerSeekers are designed and manufactured using all fully coated glass optical components with high transmission coatings for enhanced image brightness and clarity.
Amateur astronomers will love the user-friendly features of Celestron’s PowerSeeker series of entry-level telescopes. The Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ is an easy-to-use and powerful telescope. PowerSeeker Series Celestron telescopes have been designed with a combination of value, quality, power, and user-friendly features to enhance the experience for novice telescope users. This 127EQ telescope is the perfect choice for families in search of a high-quality telescope that is affordable and provides years of enjoyment. Powerful magnification and easy-to-use controls allow astronomers to obtain crisp views of the Moon, the rings of Saturn, and Jupiter’s Galilean moons. The telescope’s sturdy and durable mount features large, easy-to-manipulate slow-motion control knobs, allowing users to track objects smoothly. The 3x Barlow lens is added to triple the magnification power of the included 20mm and 4mm eyepieces. This essentially provides you with four eyepieces, giving you flexibility to view a wide range of outdoor or celestial objects. We’ve included an accessory tray to store accessories conveniently and a free download of our BONUS Starry Night Basic Edition astronomy software with information on 10, 000 celestial objects, printable sky maps, and more. The software can be used on your Mac, PC or laptop. It’s the best way to learn about the night sky and plan your next observing session. Additional accessories include a travel tripod. You can purchase this Celestron telescope with confidence from the world’s #1 telescope brand, based in California since 1960. You’ll also receive a 2-year and unlimited access to technical support from our team of US-based experts. Tom Johnson founded Celestron in 1960 after building a telescope to share the night sky with his sons. Since then, Celestron has established itself as the world’s #1 telescope brand. Celestron telescopes are used by scientists in world-class research observatories and even aboard the International Space Station. To ensure you have a great experience your first night under the stars, please refer to the User Guide in the Technical Specifications section below. The Accidental KZbinr: How I Make A Six-Figure Income On KZbin: geni.us/UZ2bnyd

[@SHUTUPDOOKIE]

I bought one of these at goodwill for 40$ with the tripod and all. Works like a charm with the lenses I have.

[@maxdogz1814]

Hi just finished setting up my C-127EQ the only difference is, my angled mirror inside the front of the scope, was loose with a single threaded bolt with a spring around it attached, and 3 depth adjusting screws. Mine wobbled, and I had to play with it to get a clear circle in the lens. Great job…it’s a 35mm mount on the top…lol

[@BG5850]

Oh shit its panda von I randomly see one of your videos every other year happy to see you again

[@petervonpanda]

Glad to have you swing by every year!

[@blakebrown545]

Thank you for helping

[@petervonpanda]

My pleasure!

[@joshuavaldez9878]

sooooooo helpful

[@GMoney-up8wj]

What is the best zoom lens you can purchase for this telescope?

[@debranelson2640]

LOL! “Brought out the kid in me” , that’s exactly what I’m wanting to do! Thx tons for this info!!!

[@gravyman25]

I got this, but I lost one of the pieces. I believe it was the one that zoomed in more, but still really good

[@ChandrasegaranNarasimhan]

For the aspirant in me, the video looks cool. You should thank newton for the cheapness because he was the first to design a reflection telescope (if the books i read are to be believed). Next time, try it with more magnification. And jupiter please.

[@coolg9535]

I’m getting one

[@fingernailplays5602]

Have you been able to see the other planets, stars, nebula, and galaxies good with it?

[@smittysmith3227]

If you need help removing that Bird/Jones corrector lens at the bottom of the focuser tube so you can properly collimate it I would be glad to tell you the easy procedure to accomplish that.

[@petervonpanda]

I pretty much don’t understand anything you mentioned but it sounds like it’ll make my telescope better.

[@smittysmith3227]

@@petervonpanda If you like go to Facebook and then go to “Telescope Addicts - Astronomy & Astrophotography Community” FB page you will see the newest post on the Celestron Powerseeker 127EQ where I just wrote the whole procedure down. If not I can write it here for you.👍🔭😁

[@petervonpanda]

Nice! I’ll check it out! If it makes it better, I’ll be thrilled because I feel like it’s pretty good already! Thanks!

[@smittysmith3227]

@@petervonpanda Oh you will definitely need to collimate your telescope sooner or later. The first thing you will notice is that stars will not be pinpoint sharp in focus followed by difficulty bringing DSO’s and then planets to a fine focus. But for now that factory collimation might hold for a few observing sessions. That primary mirror is not locked down tight as that would pinch the optics (research pinched telescope optics) and it will eventually move on you from handling and or transporting.

[@alchemyofredmercury636]

@@smittysmith3227 hey , I couldn’t find that post , can you just paste here procedure . I am not getting to see anything in eyepiece even I caught it on locating telescope

[@jessicalynn7229]

My friend can I connect my phone to this and see the images or videos on my phone ? Does it connect ? Is there an app ? Thanks

[@joloseking8923]

Is it possible to put the scope on an AZ mount?

[@jesussantosmartin653]

Un telescopiorcito de los bueno buenos echos a mano

[@Goofyn]

No creo q sea hecho a mano jajaj

[@rhettoracle9679]

Hoping you can get some pictures or videos of Saturn Jupiter alignment on December 21, 2020, that coincided with Star of Bethlehem, only happens once every 400 years.

[@petervonpanda]

Fascinating! I didn’t even know about that but have it on my calendar!

[@rhettoracle9679]

@@petervonpanda sent you email on it.

[@ueck1125]

Were you able to see it? Here in California it was very cloudy. I want to say it happens every 800 years to be at the 1° that it came to pass on the 21st

[@mastergene825]

what are the exact measurements of the telescope unit itself? i want to know if it would fit inside my luggage, thanks!

[@nebula9340]

I’m gonna buy this , I don’t know anything about telescopes , I just got my last telescope a month ago

[@jjmcwill1881]

I passed on this after learning that it is the most hated scope in the sky viewing community. How has it been for you lol.

[@WaZaaap6]

This exact "CELESTRON Power Seeker 127EQ" cost almost 499$ right now for me on Amazon(CANADA though.. which means it's around 400$ U.S.). How the heck did you get it for 140$ my friend?? My God..

[@petervonpanda]

Yikes! I think supply constraints are driving up prices!

[@Daboomboomboomboom]

It’s currently $170 in the US

[@vintagesupermarkets5210]

As Canadians, we also get gouged by companies on almost everything.

[@glhmedic]

Got mine at 170.00

[@LittyLuke]

This telescope sucks, do not buy it.

[@MrSharkBait561]

Any updates on this telescope?

[@Soul_Flex]

I just bought this telescope but havent had a chance to use it yet. What are the limitations? How is it worse than more professional telescopes? better glass? better image quality? further zoom? in terms of Nebula or more fainter objects that would benefit from a mirror-less telescope, or w/e, what objects do you find hard to see that u would be able to see with a better telescope?

[@allnamesaretaken]

This is a bird jones telescope, they are not very good because the corrector lenses in these are crap. While i would say that any telescope is better than no telescope, i would also say that depending on budget, you may be able to get a far superior telescope for around the same price. Here in the UK, these are around the same price as a Sky-Watcher 130P One Sky (AWB One Sky 130P in the US), it is more compact and stable and has a parabolic mirror which improves the view considerable (the powerseeker uses a spiracle mirror, hence why it needs a corrector) and doesn't use a crappy corrector lens. My opinion is send it back and buy the One Sky 130P.

[@mustang5132]

You can get other telescopes for the same price that are much better. The mirror in this one is just basically a shaving one, not a parabolic telescope mirror. It also comes unaligned very easily and you will need to collimate it every time you take it out to use it. Collimating it with a laser is also impossible since it’s a bird jones design and has a Barlow lens permanently installed. It’s probably too late but you’re much better off with a skywatcher heritage 100 or 130p! It’s the same price or cheaper in some places but way easier to use and has a very good quality mirror for what you’re paying. Also the eye pieces are much better than the plastic ones that come with the 127eq

[@mustang5132]

@@allnamesaretaken was just replying to this comment and then saw yours. I see you did the same as myself with the 130p 😁👍🏼

[@hasanbaraki3247]

@@allnamesaretaken I just got my powerseeker 127 EQ yesterday and I've got to admit that i'm disappointed. Whats worse is that i was considering the Skywatcher 130 P but the problem is that i didn't know anything about telescopes when i was about to buy them, which was 2 days ago lol. I only cared about the magnification on them, but didn't know the importance of aperture and mostly cared about focal length and magnification. I used the powerseeker 127 EQ today for the first time, and it was all blury. My blury vision could legit see the moon better than my telescope. I already consider returning the powerseeker 127 EQ and buy the Skywatcher 130P:/

[@allnamesaretaken]

@@hasanbaraki3247 The 130P would wipe the floor with the 127 EQ. Celestron make some good telescope but they also make some doozeys too and they have a habit of exaggerating the magnification of a telescopes capabilities. Telescopes can technically go twice their aperture (254X with a 127mm aperture) or 0.5mm exit pupil or maybe higher on doubles but that is all depending on aperture quality, atmosphere (the weather), local light pollution and where the object is in the sky. A bird jones telescope breaks down quite fast the higher you move up in magnification and that's before the other factors come into play. With the 130P in my UK north of England Skies, i can usually do 200X, sometimes a little more max depending on the object, the moon is forgiving because its huge and bright in a telescope and takes more magnification than say Jupiter under my skies. However, those new to the hobby always fall for magnification, i obsessed over it until i learnt that it was only one part of the equation. Some objects look better at low power, some objects are too big, even for widefield eyepieces to frame at high powers and some objects need low power/high exit pupil to make them bright enough since the higher you go in magnification, the dimmer some objects become and some objects may not be visible because of the above reasons i.e light pollution. One thing i never expected when i got into this hobby was how much i had to learn to see objects but if the telescope isn't of good quality, no matter how perfect the local atmospheric conditions are, the view is always going to be poor. The 127 powerseeker is also difficult to collimate, they don't tell you that in the product description and it sounds like yours may need collimating. The 130P would also need collimating as do all Newtionian telescopes but would be much easier.

[@jjmcwill1881]

Almost bought this and then found out its the most hated telescope in the telescope community. I'll pass. I am a noob but I am sure they know what they are talking about.

[@teachmetruth3539]

So have you tried looking at the sun with that?

[@ms.animefreak1799]

Looking at the sun with a telescope is extremely dangerous without the proper equipment! Never attempt that unless you know your telescope can handle that! It could seriously damage your eyes!

[@jcrevollo1574]

@@ms.animefreak1799 it's not really that dangerous. you just have to look at it at nigh time dummy.

[@Tom-ij1un]

@@jcrevollo1574 , I'm standing here right now with my telescope in the middle of the night. I can not find the sun. What do i do?

[@kolsonmaddox777]

@@Tom-ij1un you can’t see the sun at night, it’s on the other side of the world. If you could see the sun at night then it wouldn’t even be night at all. You have to look at it during the day but with a film over it that won’t damage your eyes like people use to look at solar eclipse’s

[@Tom-ij1un]

@@kolsonmaddox777 No shit Sherlock! Haha 😂. I was just fooling around.

[@jxms7207]

Does it come with the stand or not

[@petervonpanda]

Yes, it came with the stand!

[@gigicontra2447]

can you connect a digital camera ex i have a digital camera with 52x zoom to have a better vieuw of the moon,thanks 😁

[@atmosphere1962]

Yeah theres a bolt on top i saw someone just screw their camera right on that in another video. Me personally i am going to buy the phone mount and use that

[@Ben-tw1nq]

i was wondering if you could easily see other objects/ planets in space with this telescope?

[@mrhatedsqueaker1154]

Yes but wouldn’t be as good as a good one but recommend

[@philliprollman7421]

What eye pieces do you use

[@bill5982]

You can. To simulate the view you will get out of this thing. Remove your glasses (if you wear them). Borrow a pair of glasses from someone whose prescription doesn't in any way match yours and then try to watch TV through those glasses.

[@adkm6982]

Could this telescope perhaps watch Nebula and Galaxies?

[@heisenberg1898]

Yes

[@realistic_n96]

@GamerRoute with the same lenses that comes with the telescope itself ! or should I buy the set of professional lenses ! 🥲🥲🥲

[@user-xr4xn2xc9j]

@@realistic_n96 Did you find the answer?

[@jakeb9723]

Can you see Saturn and it’s rings with all the stock parts. I have never bought a telescope before and want to see Saturn and it’s rings without spending over $225.

[@ulisessolis3182]

Yes you can. The 4mm eyepiece is not that bad. You can also see Jupiter's cloud bands. The telescope should be well collimated to achieve that

[@ngc-fo5te]

@@ulisessolis3182 The 4mm eyepiece might be the worst eyepiece available. It's a 1960s era piece of junk. Anyway - you should never use a 4mm eyepiece with almost any telescope (even a quality eyepiece) never mind this piece of junk.

[@hanalincayas7564]

5:57 woww

[@W1NGXER0]

Spying on your neighbors! 🤣

[@technicaltreats2704]

Can Neptune be viewed?

[@jameswilkinson259]

I viewed Neptune a couple weeks ago with this telescope. There isn't much to see because it's so distant. Basically it appears as a blue colored dot. Even top shelf telescopes don't show much more than that. It wasn't until after I bought this telescope that I found out what a bad reputation it has. It's an okay telescope if you toss the included eyepieces and buy a decent Plossl eyepiece with a focal length somewhere between 15mm and 25mm. Also take the time to learn how to collimate this telescope. There are a few videos here on YT that explain how to do this. It isn't a great telescope, but doing these things will help make it useful for basic observation. Hope that helps...

[@astrobreda]

Hello friend, you have made a mistake with some things and this is one: the moon is better to observe it when it is in a waxing or waning phase, because there is more contrast between craters and seas, and remember to see deep sky objects when the moon isn't in the sky . See you

[@jadejamanoharsinhi6335]

Celestron powerseeker 127eq is good ?

[@bdatanu]

Not so good for beginners

[@jadejamanoharsinhi6335]

@@bdatanu but why ?

[@bdatanu]

@@jadejamanoharsinhi6335 The telescope is completely manual. The build quality is not good. I spent 2 nights to point it to moon but was not successful.

[@jadejamanoharsinhi6335]

@@bdatanu so celestron astromaster 130eq is best than powerseeker 127eq?

[@Johnarchiebald]

It’s too hard to move the damn thing, I couldn’t focus in on anything more than the moon Ill see how it goes after a week

[@themanunleashed]

Spying on your neighbors lol 😂

[@vaibhavahuja4001]

or spying on your neighbours 😂😂

[@mohammadballouk5933]

U wanna take us to the stars but we ended up with just a moon

[@jimpoop]

This is basically considered one of the worst telescopes you can possibly buy for sooo many reasons...

[@user-xr4xn2xc9j]

Can you mention the reasons? Because I want to buy it soon

[@jimpoop]

@@user-xr4xn2xc9j Don't... Buy something like a 6" dobsonian instead, or an astronomers without borders "one sky" or it's Skywatcher equivalent... The 127 EQ is a horrible telescope and will just frustrate you more than anything. Here's a list of why... 1. Shaky, hard to use mount, already poor, is hopelessly too small for the tube. 2. Inherently very bad optics... It's what's known as a "bird-jones" reflector, poorly figured spherical mirror that uses a "corrector" in the focuser to minimize the abberations of the mirror.... Not only will it produce a dim, low quality image, it will be nearly impossible to collimate. 3. The included eyepieces are a cruel joke.. none are even remotely useful. The 20mm is a plastic piece of junk with an extremely narrow field of view and a compromised design in an attempt to make the image right side up, which makes no sense with the rest of the scope. Then they also give you a 4mm... It's beyond bad... It will make 250x.. not only will the atmosphere rarely allow conditions for viewing at that power, the telescope itself is completely incapable of it that kind of power, then they have the audacity to add a laughably useless single element 3x Barlow. The eyepieces are already unusable, tripling the magnification, (750x with the 4mm! Are they for real?!) Will only make the already bad image worse... 4. All the accessories are garbage, including the finder scope. There are other issues which all come into play together the make the worst scope ever. Celestron has been Heavily criticized for trying to pass this off to beginners and it's literally the butt of jokes, memes and discussion of bad scopes among the astronomy community. If you don't believe me, watch Ed Ting's video going over it. There isn't very many good scopes in that price point, there will be compromise in nearly all of them, though there are far superior options for the money. Dobsonian telescopes are an excellent beginner scope, offering best bang for your buck. A 6-8" dob would be 350-600 new or around 200-400 used and may very well be a lifetime telescope, they are great for planets, deep sky, moon etc. If that is too much, they make smaller table top dobsonians that are not bad, as in the ones I listed beginning this comment. You can also join an astronomy club local to you, most have club loaner scopes, quality used scopes, or other ways to help new comers get started. Good luck! Do a little research, join a club or Facebook group and check local classifieds, you will find a nice little scope that will not frustrate you into quitting, like the 127EQ.. good luck!

[@hasanbaraki3247]

@@jimpoop Damn….i just bought the 127 eq and cant even see the moon with it. It’s my first ever real telescope and honestly your comment makes up facts about it, it’s blurry and I can’t even see the moon rn with it…kinda disappointing. considering returning it.

[@rosaevelynsalas11]

My Celestron Powerseeker 127eq seems frustrating too. I can't even see any object...maybe considering buying another new eyepieces

[@jimpoop]

@@rosaevelynsalas11 better eyepieces would help, as the stock ones are basically useless, by honestly, if you really want to enjoy the hobby without messing with a scope, consider buying a new one, theres always some decent deals on marketplace.

[@galrumaithi3872]

Why do you have 2 earlobes?

[@RayTracingRevolution]

If you are new to astronomy, look at literally any other scope. The Powerseeker 127eq is pretty much universally disliked by experienced hobbiests It‘s bad optics which are hard to collimate. Bad accessories that don’t work with the aperture of the scope (maximum useful magnification on a 5 inch scope is 260x, the 3x barlow lens is literally only included to lure beginners into a purchase with a ridiculously high advertised magnification, even if the image ends up dim and blurry) The mount is too small for the scopes weight, it will shake even under slight wind. It’s an equatorial mount, which is not easy to use for beginners, in a pricepoint that only targets beginners. Please save your money, look for dobsonian telescopes with 6 to 8 inches of aperture in the 300 to 500 dollar pricerange. These will give you great views.

[@vintagesupermarkets5210]

Ray Tracing Revolution, as someone who is a complete beginner and is looking for something for my daughter, what would you recommend as an alternative at a reasonable price point (say under $400 USD / $500 CAD)?

[@Roope00]

@@vintagesupermarkets5210 A tabletop Dobsonian such as the SkyWatcher Heritage 150P should fit your needs well while also being bang for the buck.

[@wezwez4924]

Dude you are right , i got one as beginner and i absolutely not liking it and dont think i wanna get anything else just waste of money

[@glhmedic]

Sorry not a beginner scope.

[@ed1278]

It’s a bit complicated with the equatorial mount :/ but there are dobsonian base telescopes that are much easier to work with :)

[@STho205]

It is a beginner scope in that it is a poor scope (generic Chinese branded with a big name) and gets your money. The tube is OK The corrector lens added in the drawtube is a big pain (hybrid Newtonian), making it very hard to calibrate and still giving degraded views. The powerseeker 114 true Newtonian gives sharper views for less money and weight. The spotter scope is so cheap and fragile it reminds me of Cracker Jack prizes. Replace it with a sturdy red dot finder ($50) The tripod is far too flimsy to hold the EQ movement, counterbalance and tube. It shakes when you breathe on it. It only works well when in squat position, then it feels like it is about to topple over. Build or buy a better tripod ($50 to $400) The eyepieces and Barlow provided are really cheap. Upgrade those: $150+ So after upgrading the package your $250 scope ends up being about $600 to $800. Add a motor drive and that takes it to $1000. Buy a Celestron StarSense SE6 for $1000 and you get it all. Great scope, camera mount, drive with integrated object database, great optics, sturdy tripod, EQ-polaralign or smart AZ mount. Automatic object tracking. True Celestron design. A joy to use. If you only have $200 then buy the Powerseeker 114 AZ and operate it manually.

[@bill5982]

Or anyone's scope.

[@bryanbatton01]

"Spying on your neighbors" wtf

[@pablopolanka]

These 5 inch "Bird-Jones" from Celestron, Meade (Polaris), and a few other Chinese generic makes are not what you want to spend your money on. There are better options out there for the same budget. I compared my Sky-Watcher Explorer 130P on a proper EQ2 mount which cost me less than a Powerseeker 127EQ1, to a few of these Bird Jones, and the difference was astonishing. These Bird Jones perform like a cheap 1990s 4.5 inch Tasco reflector, at best.

[@LP-ju2fi]

This is a terrible beginners telescope. I have a 114eq and I like it better. The EQ mount is too light and shaky. I hang a 20lb weight from mine. The gears are about as smooth as a gravel road. Collimation is a pain in the but. Pulling the focuser apart is ridiculous for something that needs frequent adjustment.

[@ajcutler3472]

Wow so many crying about how hard it is to use. You all must be the most lazy people. It's called , learn how to use the eq mount.. very easy and works fine

[@thevanishingsaxon663]

Don't spy on your neighbors, that's a felony. A big one.

[@joseandresmontalvanochoa4783]

no entendi un pingo

[@arcolumnar9843]

Leni Robredo 💩💩💩

[@persimmon3458]

Shame on Peter. It is recognized as one of the worst telescopes ever sold. Check Ting. Shame.