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Celestron SkyProdigy 130 vs Celestron NexStar 6 SE

Product Comparison: Celestron SkyProdigy 130 vs Celestron NexStar 6 SE

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Celestron SkyProdigy 130 26x345 Telescope

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Celestron NexStar 6 SE Computerised Telescope

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General Specifications

Brand

Celestron

Model

SkyProdigy 130

NexStar 6 SE

Origin

USA

About the Product

A truly revolutionary product with ground breaking technology, SkyProdigy™ is the product of a culmination of decades of telescope advancements. It combines electronic motors, an intelligent on-board computer, a digital camera and StarSense™ technology to create an automatic, instant alignment telescope that requires no input from the user.

Celestron’s signature orange-tube telescope combines advanced features and excellent optics in one easy-to-use system, the NexStar 6SE. It’s the perfect choice for your first serious telescope, offering striking views at an economical price.

Key Specs

Optical Design

Newtonian Reflector

Schmidt-Cassegrain

Aperture

130 mm

150 mm

Focal Length

650 mm

1500 mm

Focal Ratio

f/5

f/10

Highest Useful Magnification

307 x

354 x

Lowest Useful Magnification

19 x

21 x

What customers say about "Key Specs"

Celestron SkyProdigy 130 26x345 Telescope

It sets up very easily, and the computerized alignment and tracking was very simple, and the optics were great.
Brand new to astronomy and this was an excellent choice for a beginner scope.
This scope is a riot! I love it, my kids love it!
And it shows you the sky. You align it so easily (be sure to read the instructions, it needs a niece big chunk of clear sky to the right.
The good... it's a telescope. The 130mm works out to about a 5 inch mirror. I now want an 8 inch mirror (that's what she said!!!)

Celestron NexStar 6 SE Computerised Telescope

It was easy to assemble and the images are fantastic.
The telescope is very good.
It delivers good images.
The telescope works perfectly. The assembly is very simple.
This is a great telescope, it gives you a very nice and clear image.

Size & Weight

Height

39 in.

25.98 in.

Width

10 in.

32.01 in.

Depth

17 in.

12.01 in.

Weight

20 lbs.

21.38 lbs.

Features

Optical Coatings

Aluminum with SiO2 overcoat

StarBright XLT

Finderscope

StarPointer

Optical Tube Length

635mm (25")

406mm (16")

Star Diagonal

None

1.25" Star Diagonal

Accessory Tray Included

Yes

Extras

2 Aux ports (Hand Control can use any of the Aux ports), StarSense Automatic Alignment, Solar System Align, Manual Align

Fully automated GoTo mount, SkyAlign technology, NexStar+ Hand Control, 25mm eyepiece

Software

Celestron's Starry Night Special Edition Software | SkyPortal App

Celestron Starry Night Special Edition Software / SkyPortal App

Accessory Tray Included

What customers say about "Features"

Celestron SkyProdigy 130 26x345 Telescope

The star location finder works well, with periodic calibrating. It gets you in the neighborhood.
The calibration will need to be done every time the optical tube is removed and replaced but should hold if the scope is carried gently as one unit back into the home after use.?
I give 4 stars because of the necessary (but not mentioned in ads) calibration,and the handheld controller can be difficult to read for those like myself with less than perfect vision due to small print and limited brightness.
This thing is well-built and simple to put together in the field.
The Meade systems are a bit tougher to learn, but far more flexible with firmware upgrades being basically open source, and handsets which mix and match between mounts at will given the correct firmware load, which you can do yourself.

Celestron NexStar 6 SE Computerised Telescope

Extremely well made and robust.
Good quality of materials.
Very surprised at the quality for the money.
Terrific build quality. Very precise control.
Good price, good build quality.

Mount Information

Mount Type

Computerized Altitude-Azimuth Single Fork Arm

Tripod Material

Steel

Dovetail

Vixen / CG-5 Dovetail bar

CG-5 Dovetail bar

Maximum Height Adjustment

50 in.

56 in.

Legs

31.75mm (1.25") Aluminum

38.1mm (1.5") Stainless Steel

Maximum Height Adjustment

What customers say about "Mount Information"

Celestron SkyProdigy 130 26x345 Telescope

I primarily use mid grade or higher computer driven equatorial mounts in order to do astro imaging at my small observatory.
The mount is fine. If I knew then what I know now, I would have bought this mount with the 4" refractor or the 5" Newtonian.
I set the level on the mount perfect (yes its crucial). Set the lat/long and your timezone and accurate time and presto the scope points to jupiter on demand.
The issue is with the StarSense mount. We have only tried using it a few times and we could never get it to auto align.
Each time you set up the telescope, you are mounting and then removing the optical tube and the motor/camera assemblies.

Celestron NexStar 6 SE Computerised Telescope