Celestron 80ED Telescope and CG-5 Go to Mount Review

The Celestron 80ED and CG-5 go to mount make a great package for the intermediate star gazer. Although at roughly $1200 for the complete setup it is a bit expensive for a new astronomer, when compared to the tens of thousands of dollars that the expensive setups cost it is a nice step up from a cheap department store special. The planets and the moon are crystal clear, and the setup is a piece of cake. Aligning the scope and using the built in "Go To" feature is a difficult process, so if looking at a star chart is a new experience for you, finding the desired target could prove to be frustrating. Overall this is a great scope for the money, and a perfect next step for a budding astronomer.

The scope and mount shipped together in a large box with plenty of padding to prevent damage during shipping. Without paying any attention to the directions, the scope and 6x30 finder scope were quickly mounted on the CG-5 mount. The mount is very heavy and sturdy with legs roughly 2 inches in diameter. The 80ED scope takes both 1.25" and 2" eyepieces, and it ships with 1 1.25" 25mm eyepiece and 45 degree diagonal. The scope all assembled is light enough for one person to move around, however the spread of the legs is about 3 feet which makes maneuvering doorways a little bit challenging.