The Celestron NexStar SE series of telescopes in an excellent novice to intermediate level telescope for both stargazing and astrophotography. The portable 6-inch, 30-pound Schimidt-Cassegrain telescope comes with everything you need to begin recording the sky. It features precision optics with a focal length of 1500 mm and offers 44% more light-gathering power than most 5-inch telescopes.
The Nexstar SE comes with all the features you expect from a Celestron telescope including the revolutionary SkyAlign database of over 40,000 celestial objects. The telescope features an orange-colored tube with state-of-the-art features such as a fully computerized operating system and mount, flash-upgradable hard drive, StarBright XLT coatings, a tripod, and an optional GPS system.
The SE is an excellent buy if you have grown past entry-level scopes and looking for something that will last for few years. For example, a properly installed Celestron Nexstar 6 SE will show you exactly what you are looking for right the middle of field of view. It also has a number of accessories you can use to enhance your experience including a variety of eyepiece filters, solar filter for the main aperture, diagonals and eyepieces that range from 4 mm to 32 mm.
However, nothing is perfect, and the SE does have its flaws. The batteries don’t last long (thought it will last an entire night) and you have to reset your location and time zone each time you turn on the mount, but none of it matters if you keep the AC adapter plugged in.
If you have a relatively secure viewing platform and don’t mind having to reset the scope each time you bring it out of storage, the Celestron Nexstar SE offers breathtaking experiences every time you look through it.