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There are a whole bunch of telescopes on sale for Black Friday . However , if we were to choose one that will be the best selection for most hoi polloi , it ’s the Celestron AstroFi 102 . While it is n’t the gimcrack or most feature - packed telescope you ’ll see , it combines performance with cost extremely well , and you could presently lay aside $ 92 if you buy it either atAmazon for $ 437.56orB&H Photo for , er , $ 437.56 .
We place the Celestron Astro Fi102 among our list of thebest telescopes , and it sits as our number two overall pick , because it ’s with child for anyone on a budget who still wants the smart features of modern telescopes .
It ’s completely controllable via your smart phone ( which makes it great for younger astronomers ) , and it ’s lightweight and easy to put - up , so you may delight it between locations . The objective lens of the eye is coated Maksutov - Cassegrain glass , with a 102 millimetre diameter and f/13 focal ratio , which makes it ideal for zeroing - in on specific objects like the lunar month .
Check out more info below , or catch all our top picks in our one shot - up of thebest Black Friday scope and binoculars deals .
Celestron Astro Fi 102 mm f/13 Maksutov - Cassegrain Telescope : Was $ 529.95 , now $ 437.56 on BHPhotoVideoSave 17%on this enthusiast - level scope with a 102 millimetre nonsubjective lens and f/13 focal ratio . While we have view this telescope cheaper a few years ago , this is the lowest price we ’ve seen it since October 2021 .
In ourreview of the Celestron Astro Fi 102we praised the portability we experienced during testing , with our resident astronomer Jase stating : " The first thing we noticed when setting up the Celestron Astro Fi 102 is just how little it is . At just 6 lbs ( 2.7 kilo ) this could well be packed up into a knapsack and taken out on a long hike to a dark sky slur . "
For the cost , the optics perform well , although they obviously are n’t corresponding to some of the premium scopes out there , like theUnistellar eVscope . In our review we said : " The scope provides good , clear views of planets but of course there is a small blurriness around the edges of the image rotary which we ’d expect at this Leontyne Price — only much more expensive Maksutov - Cassegrains provide a truly flat flying field with bound - to - edge sharpness . With a wide aperture of 102 mm and a focal distance of 1325 mm the Astro Fi 102 has an telling f/13 focal proportion offering bright view with minimal chromatic aberration . "
Overall , if you ’re looking for a good , sub-$500 scope with excellent impudent feature of speech , which allow you to control via a impudent earphone , then we ’d heartily recommend this great deal . However , you could spend far more on telescopes and get better quality , if you budget permit .
