The Celestron Travel Scope 80 is an entry-level telescope perfect for astronomy enthusiasts looking to view star constellations, the planets, the moon, and other bright sky objects at night.
My Very First Telescope and I’m How Old?
You may say that I am a late starter of an astronomy hobby. I am that person who sporadically drags the family outside to look up at the beautiful night sky. Despite their moans and groans, it is such a joy to see them agree with me that the star filled sky looks like a planetarium visit but even better because it’s real!
Well, I finally splurged on purchasing my first telescope. I’m a beginner. I searched for an inexpensive telescope that was portable, one that I could easily take outside or wherever we travel. The Celestron Travel Scope 80 with Backpack seemed like the ideal model. The price of $129.99 from Kohls.com fit the budget and the 80mm travel scope seemed strong enough for my beginner planetary viewing.
Unboxing the Travel Scope 80 Portable Telescope
The Celestron Travel Scope 80 is lightweight and portable. I describe it as a fun, easy-to-use, portable telescope. This is not the telescope for a seasoned astronomer looking to discover a new constellation. This is an affordable telescope ideal for families that simply want to share in exploring the night sky while backyarding, camping, or vacationing.
Here’s what you get in the box:
:: Optical tube (the actual telescope)
:: Backpack for storage or travel
:: Mount and tripod (preassembled)
:: 20mm and 10mm eyepieces
:: Erect image diagonal
:: 5 x 24 Finderscope
:: Smartphone adapter
:: Celestron’s Starry Night Basic Edition Software
:: SkyPortal app download code
:: Instruction manual
Features of the Travel Scope 80 Portable Telescope
If you’re a beginner telescope user like me, you’ll get a kick out of seeing the moon in bright detail thanks to telescope’s amazing features.
Features:
:: 80mm refractor telescope with fully coated glass optics and a lightweight frame
:: Quick and easy, no-tool setup
:: Pan handle Alt-Az control with clutch for smooth and accurate pointing
:: Adjustable height tripod
:: Backpack for storage and portability
Easy Set Up and Assembly of the Travel Scope 80
The Celestron Travel Scope 80 telescope and accessories can be assembled in minutes. The tripod legs adjust based on the height of observers. You can also retract the tripod legs if you prefer to place the telescope on a flat surface like a table. There is an accessory tray that holds the included eyepieces and other small accessories while you’re in the process of observing.
Telescope Eyepieces, Finderscope, and More
The Celestron Travel Scope 80 comes with a 20mm eyepiece, a 10mm eyepiece, a finderscope, and an erect image diagonal. The two eyepieces offer different focal length magnifications to view objects. The 5 x 24 finderscope (permanently mounted) allows users to quickly and easily center/align an object in the eyepiece. The erect image diagonal allows for right-side-up viewing ideal for terrestrial and celestial objects.
Lightweight Tripod and Backpack Provide Convenient Portability
The adjustable tripod features 1.25″ lightweight aluminum legs that are height-adjustable and includes an accessory tray to hold the lenses. The total Celestron Travel Scope 80 kit weighs around 4.2 pounds, so you can easily carry it anywhere you go. The custom backpack allows you to easily store and transport your telescope, tripod, eyepieces, and accessories.
All parts are pre-assembled. In fact, the ease of being able to quickly assemble and disassemble the telescope is a great feature. The tripod height can be adjusted from 22″ to 52″ by simply extending the legs and center column. Clamps lock on each leg when you reach the desired height.
Note: The tripod was designed for portability more than stability, so may be a bit too lightweight at time. The telescope can bounce, thereby impacting the viewing experience. The construction of the plastic mount requires finding just the right tension level. However, once you make the right adjustments, it works fine.
Smartphone Adapter For Basic Photography
Also included with the Celestron Travel Scope 80 is a smartphone adaptor that allows you to photograph what you see, like the moon and planets. The smartphone adapter allows you to attach a smartphone to the telescope and capture images and video of what you see through the eyepiece. The adapter installs easily by clamping over the top of an eyepiece. The smartphone is held in position by knobs that tighten to securely hold the phone in place. If you have a bulky phone case, you may need to remove it for the phone to fit the adapter.
Celestron Starry Night Basic Edition Software and SkyPortal App
Download Celestron’s Starry Night Software and SkyPortal App to gain knowledge about the night sky, solar system, and other celestial objects, in addition to planning what bright objects to look out for. You can use the provided download code for the free “basic” version of the app.
How to Use the Celestron Travel Scope 80
Since the Celestron Travel Scope 80 gets mounted to the included tripod, the telescope has been very easy to use. It takes a bit of trial and error but moving the pan handle in a horizontal or vertical motion while looking through the eyepiece, I eventually find something cool to look at. The pan handle Alt-Az control with clutch is designed for smooth and accurate pointing. Move the clutch up, down, right, and left. After centering the intended target location, the telescope also known as the “optical tube,” gets locked in place to keep it from moving.
Remember, this telescope model offers decent optical performance for folks new to astronomy. The magnifications are low, but ideal for the brightest and easy to locate night sky objects. This includes special detailed views of the Moon’s most obvious features. In doing some research, I learned to look out for Venus and Mercury, the recognizable moons and bands of Jupiter, and Saturn’s rings. This model will not provide viewing of deep space but that has been completely okay with me. I’m enjoying everything I can see through the eyepiece.
Remember, because the Celestron Travel Scope 80 was built for portability, so the tripod can feel a bit flimsy. Not a dealbreaker, but just an “observation,” pun intended.
Specifications of the Celestron Travel Scope 80
:: Optical tube made of aluminum
:: Optical Coatings: Coated glass
:: Optical Tube Length: 18″
:: Optical Tube Diameter: 3.87″
:: Optical Tube Weight: 2.4 lbs.
:: Highest useful magnification: 189x
:: Lowest useful magnification: 11x
:: Limiting stellar magnitude: 12
:: Resolution (Rayleigh): 1.74 arc seconds
:: Resolution (Dawes): 1.45 arc seconds
:: Light Gathering Power (Compared to human eye): 131x
:: Dovetail: Vixen/CG-5 Dovetail bar
:: Mount Type: Manual Alt-Azimuth
:: Height adjustment range: 22″ to 52″
:: Tripod Weight: 1.8 lbs.
:: Total Telescope Kit Weight: 4.2 lbs.
:: Phone Compatibility: Any smartphone
The Celestron Travel Scope 80 – A Good Starter Telescope
If you enjoy looking up at the stars, then the Celestron Travel Scope 80 may be a good choice, especially if you’re a beginner. As with all products, there are pros and cons that you must consider before you make a purchase.
Pros:
:: Ideal for beginner use
:: Includes handy accessories
:: Lightweight and portable
:: Easy assembly
:: Easy to use
:: Impressive image quality
:: App is user-friendly
:: Fun to take photos and videos
Cons:
:: Contents inside backpack are loose
:: Smartphone adapter takes practice
:: Tripod is unsteady, can tip over
:: Mounting plate is not sturdy
:: Finder not applicable for deep astronomy
Let’s evaluate my pros and cons. The Celestron Travel Scope 80 is very easy to use and the set up was quick. I do suggest that you carefully follow the provided detailed instructions. I must point out that the photos of the moon taken from my iPhone are extraordinary but photos of the stars are not so clear. The ability to see actual craters of the moon is spectacular.
Although this is my first telescope, I have a feeling that this won’t be my last. I’m already looking into higher tech (and way more expensive) telescope models. But this entry-level model has been a great way for me to practice my astronomy skills and gain more knowledge the night sky.
