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Celestron NexStar 130SLT reflector telescope

Newtonian · Alt-Az GoTo

Celestron NexStar 130SLT

Fast 130mm reflector with automated finding and grab-and-go setup

Price in India

₹65,000

  • Free shipping across India
  • In stock
  • Setup and first-light guidance over WhatsApp

A beginner-friendly computerized Newtonian that keeps setup light while still showing meaningful lunar, planetary, and bright deep-sky detail.

Ask an astronomer before you buy
Aperture
130mm
Focal length
650mm
Focal ratio
f/5
Mount
Alt-Az GoTo

About the Celestron NexStar 130SLT

The NexStar 130SLT combines a fast 130mm reflector with Celestron’s computerized SLT mount, giving new observers access to automated object location, quick assembly, and versatile visual performance.

Beginner astronomersCasual GoTo usersMoon and planet viewingPortable deep-sky starter kit

Full specifications

Brand
Celestron
Model
NexStar 130SLT
SKU
NS-003
Optical design
Newtonian
Telescope type
Reflector
Aperture
130 mm
Focal length
650 mm
Focal ratio
f/5
Mount type
Alt-Az GoTo
Computerised GoTo
Yes
Recommended level
Beginner
Best suited to
Beginner Deep Sky

Why this telescope

  • 130mm parabolic reflector gathers enough light for bright deep-sky objects and detailed Moon views.
  • Computerized mount with 40,000+ objects helps beginners stay engaged from the first session.
  • Quick-release components and no-tool assembly keep setup approachable.
  • Portable enough for short observing windows, camping trips, and casual weekend use.

In the box

  • 20mm eyepiece
  • 9mm eyepiece
  • StarPointer red-dot finderscope
  • NexStar+ hand control
  • Single fork arm mount and tripod

Optical performance, in plain terms

Every figure below is calculated from this telescope's own specifications using standard optical formulae. None of it is a marketing number.

Light-gathering power

345× the human eye

Compared to a dark-adapted 7mm pupil. This is what determines how faint an object you can detect.

Resolving power

0.89 arcseconds

The Dawes limit for this aperture — the finest detail the optics can theoretically separate.

Limiting magnitude

~13.1

The faintest star reachable under a genuinely dark sky. Expect two to three magnitudes worse from a city.

Maximum useful magnification

260×

Twice the aperture in millimetres. Atmospheric conditions usually impose a lower practical limit.

Magnification with 25mm eyepiece

26×

Your low-power, wide-field view — used for finding objects and framing large clusters.

Magnification with 10mm eyepiece

65×

The workhorse range for planets, lunar detail and globular clusters.

About magnification claims

The optical ceiling for a 130mm aperture is about 260x. On a typical Indian night, atmospheric seeing — not the telescope — limits you to roughly 150x–200x. Most of your observing will happen between 26x and 65x, and the view will be brighter and sharper for it.

Why telescope magnification claims are misleading →

Customer reviews

No reviews for the Celestron NexStar 130SLT yet. We publish reviews only from people who actually bought the telescope from us, so this section stays empty until there is something real to put in it.

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Celestron NexStar 130SLT — common questions

What can I see with the Celestron NexStar 130SLT?
With 130mm of aperture you will see lunar craters and mountain ranges in sharp relief, Saturn's rings clearly separated from the planet, Jupiter's cloud belts and its four Galilean moons, and the phases of Venus. At this aperture the Orion Nebula shows real nebulosity, the Andromeda Galaxy appears as an extended glow, and brighter globular clusters begin resolving into individual stars from a reasonably dark site.
What magnification does the Celestron NexStar 130SLT support?
The optical ceiling for a 130mm aperture is about 260x. With the 650mm focal length, a 25mm eyepiece gives 26x and a 10mm eyepiece gives 65x. In practice, atmospheric conditions over most Indian cities limit useful magnification to roughly 150x–200x, and the majority of your observing will happen between 26x and 65x where the image is brightest and sharpest.
Is the Celestron NexStar 130SLT suitable for beginners?
Yes. It is rated for first-time owners: the mount is steady enough to hold a target while you focus, and the supplied eyepieces give sensible rather than inflated magnifications. The computerised mount removes the object-finding problem, which is the most common beginner frustration.
Does the Celestron NexStar 130SLT need collimation?
Yes, occasionally. Reflector optics use mirrors that need realigning from time to time, particularly after rough transport. It is a ten-minute job with an inexpensive collimation cap. You should also allow the telescope 20–30 minutes outside to reach ambient temperature before serious observing.
Can I do astrophotography with the Celestron NexStar 130SLT?
Lunar and planetary imaging, yes — the tracking mount keeps the target on the sensor, and planetary work uses video capture with frame stacking, which tolerates imperfect tracking. Long-exposure deep-sky imaging is not practical: an alt-azimuth mount introduces field rotation that smears stars over exposures longer than a few tens of seconds.
What is included with the Celestron NexStar 130SLT?
In the box: 20mm eyepiece, 9mm eyepiece, StarPointer red-dot finderscope, NexStar+ hand control, Single fork arm mount and tripod. We recommend budgeting for one good mid-power eyepiece and a red torch, which together improve your observing more than any other purchase at this price.
How much does the Celestron NexStar 130SLT cost in India?
₹65,000 through Nakshatra Scopes, shipped nationwide. We include first-setup and first-light guidance over WhatsApp so the telescope is working before you are left alone with it.

Where these specifications come from

Specifications on this page are taken from Celestron's official product documentation. Derived figures — magnification, resolving power, limiting magnitude — are calculated from those specifications using standard formulae, and observing expectations reflect what this aperture realistically delivers under Indian skies.

View the manufacturer's official listing

Similar telescopes

Considering more aperture? The Celestron NexStar 6SE is the next step up at 150mm, for ₹1,30,000.

Before you decide

The guides and comparisons most relevant to this telescope.

ComparisonCelestron NexStar 130SLT vs AstroMaster 130EQThe 130SLT earns its premium only if light pollution or limited time genuinely prevents you finding objects manually; otherwise the AstroMaster plus good eyepieces is better value.GuideHow to Choose a TelescopeMost telescope advice starts with specifications. That is backwards. Start with where you observe and what you want to see, and the right telescope narrows down fast.GuideTelescope Aperture ExplainedAperture is the single specification that sets the ceiling on what a telescope can show you. Here is what each step up actually buys, in objects rather than millimetres.GuideWhat Can You See Through a Telescope?The single biggest source of disappointment in amateur astronomy is expecting Hubble. Here is what a real telescope shows a real eye, and why that is still extraordinary.CategoryBeginner telescopesEvery beginner telescopes we stock, with the trade-offs of the category explained.