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The Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ is a 114mm Newtonian reflector on a manual equatorial mount. I owned one for several seasons and used it next to the StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ and the AstroMaster 130EQ. This review covers how it sets up, what it shows, what annoyed me and which scope I would buy instead.
Availability: as of November 2026 the 114EQ is still listed on Amazon US and in stock, but the seller is Adorama rather than Amazon and stock is thin. The AstroMaster 130EQ has no new units on Amazon right now, only a used one. If the 114EQ listing goes dark, the StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ in the alternatives section has the same aperture and focal length on an easier mount.
My verdict
Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ: 3.5 out of 5
The 114mm mirror shows craters, Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s cloud belts, and the 114EQ tracks the sky once you learn the mount. The mount and the short, folded tube are the weak points. Most beginners will have an easier first year with a scope that needs less setup.
- Buy it if: you want an equatorial mount to learn on, you are patient with setup and the listing is in stock.
- Skip it if: you want to open a box and observe within minutes, or the scope is for a young child.
Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ specs
| Spec | AstroMaster 114EQ |
|---|---|
| Optical design | Newtonian reflector, short folded tube |
| Aperture | 114mm (4.5″) |
| Focal length | 1000mm, f/8.8 |
| Optical tube length | About 18″ (457mm) |
| Mount | CG-2 equatorial, slow-motion knobs on both axes, one counterweight |
| Finder | StarPointer red dot |
| Focuser | 1.25″ |
| Included eyepieces | 20mm (built-in erect image corrector) and 10mm |
| Power with included eyepieces | 50x and 100x |
| Listed maximum power | 269x |
| Extras | Free astronomy software download, 2-year US warranty |
A 114mm mirror collects about 265 times more light than the pupil of your eye. That is plenty for the Moon and bright planets and enough for the brighter deep-sky objects from a suburban yard. The tube is only about 18 inches long for a 1000mm focal length. That only works with a lens in the focuser that stretches the light path, so this is a folded design and not a classic long-tube Newtonian. Celestron does not publish the mirror type, and you will see the effect in the collimation section below.
Assembly, balancing and polar alignment
The box goes together without tools. Legs, accessory tray, mount head, counterweight bar, tube rings, tube. The first assembly took an evening with the manual open, and after that it took a few minutes.
The equatorial mount is where beginners get stuck, and it is the main reason this scope has a learning curve. I set it up the same way every night:
- Level the tripod and point one leg roughly north.
- Set the latitude on the mount’s scale to your latitude. This tilts the polar axis up to the right angle.
- Balance the right ascension axis. Loosen the RA clutch, slide the counterweight until the tube stays put when you let go, and lock it.
- Balance declination. Loosen the Dec clutch and slide the tube forward or back in its rings until it stays level.
- Aim the polar axis at Polaris. There is no polar scope, so you sight along the axis by eye and nudge the tripod until Polaris sits in the middle.
That rough alignment is enough for visual use. Once it is done, the RA knob alone follows an object across the sky and the Dec knob stays put. At 100x, Saturn drifts out of the field in a minute or two without a hand on the RA knob, and one slow turn brings it back.
One trick the manual underplays: loosen the tube rings and rotate the tube so the focuser points somewhere comfortable. On an equatorial mount a Newtonian often leaves the eyepiece pointing at the ground or the tripod, and a quarter turn fixes it. If you are choosing between mount types, the altazimuth vs equatorial mount comparison explains the trade.
Collimation of the 114mm Newtonian
Every Newtonian needs its mirrors lined up now and then. Mine arrived slightly off, and it drifted after a few car trips. The secondary mirror has small adjustment screws and the primary has adjustment screws at the back of the tube.
A laser collimator makes the job quick. Put it in the focuser, see where the beam lands on the primary mirror and turn the screws until it returns to the center. After that, I always did a star test: defocus a bright star at 100x and check that the out-of-focus rings are circular and centered. On this scope the lens in the focuser also shapes the rings, so the laser gets you close and the star test finishes the job.
Plan on a collimation check every few months and after any rough transport. It is a small chore, but it is the other half of the learning curve on this scope.
What the AstroMaster 114EQ shows
Moon
The Moon is the best target. At 50x the terminator, the line between day and night, throws long shadows across craters such as Copernicus and Tycho. At 100x you see terraced crater walls, central peaks and the rays around Tycho near full phase. A flag on the Moon is out of reach for any amateur telescope.
Planets
Jupiter shows two dark equatorial belts and its four bright moons, and the Great Red Spot appears as a pale oval when it faces Earth. Saturn is the showpiece: the rings are obvious at 50x and the gap between the rings and the globe is clear at 100x. On steadier nights I picked out Titan next to it and a hint of the Cassini Division in the rings. Venus shows its phase. Mars is a small orange disk for most of the cycle and only shows dark markings near opposition. Uranus and Neptune are tiny blue-green dots. My guide to telescopes for planets covers what each size of scope can resolve.
Deep sky
The Orion Nebula is the standout, with the four Trapezium stars and the gray-green wings of the nebula. The Pleiades, the Double Cluster in Perseus and the Beehive Cluster look best at low power. The Andromeda Galaxy shows as an oval glow with a bright core. Globular clusters such as M13 appear as fuzzy balls with a grainy edge. Faint galaxies, the Eagle Nebula and the Triangulum Galaxy are hard from a lit suburb and need a dark site. The Pillars of Creation are a Hubble image. You will not see them in a backyard telescope.
Stars stay sharp across most of the field at f/8.8. The field itself is narrow compared with a fast f/5 scope like the 130EQ, so big clusters and nebulae fill the view sooner.
What annoyed me
The red dot finder
The StarPointer shows a red dot where the scope points and has no magnification. It needs aligning in daylight on a distant object and re-aligning after a bump. It is fine for the Moon and bright planets and weak for faint objects, because you cannot see the faint star patterns it needs to star-hop. I leaned on a printed star chart and the 20mm eyepiece to confirm each target.
The stock eyepieces
The 20mm and 10mm eyepieces work, and they are the weakest part of the kit. The 20mm has a built-in erect image corrector for daytime viewing, which adds glass and costs a little contrast on astronomical targets. The 10mm has short eye relief and soft edges. Replacing them is the first upgrade I would make. The same advice appears in my Celestron eyepiece guide and budget eyepiece guide.
The mount and tripod
The tripod and mount are the weakest hardware. At 100x a tap on the tube makes the image bounce for a few seconds before it settles. On mine, some bolts were loose and the axes were packed with thick factory grease. I tightened every bolt and replaced the grease on the RA and Dec axes with a light grease. The mount moved more smoothly afterward and the bounce shortened, though it never became a rigid mount. Keep the tripod legs at a lower height, hang nothing from them and use a hard, level surface.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 114mm of aperture shows the Moon, Saturn and Jupiter well
- Equatorial mount follows objects with one knob
- Good option for learning how the sky moves
- Includes a red dot finder and two eyepieces
- Upgrades are easy: any 1.25″ eyepiece fits
Cons
- Mount and tripod are shaky at higher power
- Needs collimation and polar alignment
- Red dot finder is weak for faint objects
- Stock eyepieces limit sharpness
- Folded tube and a narrow field compared with faster scopes
Who the AstroMaster 114EQ is for
It suits you if you are an adult or teenager who wants to learn the sky, you are willing to spend an evening on alignment and you want to see Saturn, the Moon and Jupiter at 100x. It also suits someone upgrading from a 70mm or 90mm refractor who wants a bigger mirror and a mount that tracks. If you are comparing it with its cheaper sibling, my AstroMaster vs PowerSeeker comparison shows what the extra money buys.
It does not suit you if you want a point-and-look telescope, you are buying for a young child or you will be carrying it up stairs every night. I do not recommend any equatorial Newtonian for a child unless an adult will do the alignment and the collimation. A beginner refractor needs neither. If you want the most aperture for your money and no tracking, a Dobsonian beats this scope, and the Dobsonian vs Newtonian comparison explains why.
Upgrades I would add
These are in the order I would buy them. Magnification is the focal length of the scope divided by the eyepiece focal length, so on this 1000mm scope a 10mm eyepiece gives 100x. The magnification calculator does the math for any combination.
| Eyepiece | Power | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 32mm Omni | 31x | Widest field, star clusters, finding objects |
| 20mm (included) | 50x | Moon, large clusters |
| 10mm (included) | 100x | Saturn, Jupiter, craters |
| 7mm X-Cel LX | 143x | Planets on steady nights |
| 10mm with 2x Barlow | 200x | Occasional, steadiest nights only |
First upgrade
Astromania 1.25″ Laser Collimator
The cheapest accessory that improves what you see. It turns collimation from guesswork into a five-minute job, and it fits the 114EQ’s 1.25″ focuser. Treat it as the first step and finish with a star test.
Low power
Celestron Omni 32mm Plössl
The 32mm gives 31x and the widest view this scope can show. The Pleiades and the sword of Orion fit comfortably, and finding objects gets easier because the field is large. It is the first eyepiece I would add to the two in the box.
Planets
Celestron X-Cel LX 7mm
At 143x the 7mm is about as much power as this scope uses well on a typical night. The 60° field and generous eye relief make it more comfortable than the stock 10mm, and Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s belts show more contrast. For other focal lengths see the best Celestron eyepieces. If you would rather have one eyepiece that covers a range, read the zoom eyepiece guide.
Optional
Celestron Omni 2x Barlow
A Barlow doubles the power of any eyepiece. With the 20mm it makes 100x and with the 10mm it makes 200x, which is the ceiling for a 114mm scope and only usable on the steadiest nights. This scope already has a lens in the focuser, so I would buy eyepieces first and a Barlow last. How a Barlow works is covered in the Barlow lens guide.
Tracking
Celestron Motor Drive for AstroMaster and PowerSeeker EQ
A single-axis motor on the right ascension axis follows the sky for you. At 100x the planet stays in the eyepiece while you talk to guests, and it removes the nightly knob-turning. It works for visual observing only and needs reasonable polar alignment, because it corrects one axis. If you plan to track by hand anyway, skip it.
Alternatives to the AstroMaster 114EQ
I would look at these first. The AstroMaster 130EQ is the usual step up, with a 130mm mirror at f/5 for wider fields, but at the last check Amazon had no new units, so it is not linked here. These three are in stock.
Easiest to use
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ
The same 114mm aperture and 1000mm focal length, with an altazimuth mount that moves up, down, left and right. A smartphone dock and the StarSense app read the star pattern and show you where to push the tube. Beginners find their first targets without any polar alignment. You give up tracking, and the mount is light, so it needs a gentle hand. My LT 114AZ review has the full details.
- Aperture and focal length: 114mm, 1000mm (f/8.8)
- Mount: altazimuth, no tracking
- Eyepieces: 25mm and 10mm
- Best for: first-time owners who want help finding objects
Best value Dobsonian
Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P
A tabletop Dobsonian with a 130mm parabolic mirror at f/5. It has no mount to align and a collapsible tube that packs small, and you point it by hand. The view is wider and brighter than the 114EQ at the same cost level, and it is a better planet and deep-sky scope for a beginner. It needs a table or sturdy stool and an occasional collimation. For more options read the best reflector telescopes for beginners.
- Aperture and focal length: 130mm, 650mm (f/5)
- Mount: tabletop Dobsonian, no tracking
- Eyepieces: 25mm and 10mm
- Best for: people who want light and simple
More aperture
Sky-Watcher Heritage 150
The bigger sibling of the 130P, with a 150mm borosilicate parabolic mirror. It collects more light than the 114EQ and shows more of the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy. It is heavier and needs a table. At the last check the Amazon seller was Adorama, so stock can change. For more choices by budget see my mid-range telescope picks and budget telescope picks.
- Aperture and focal length: 150mm, 750mm (f/5)
- Mount: tabletop Dobsonian, no tracking
- Eyepieces: 25mm and 10mm
- Best for: deep-sky fans who can handle a larger scope
FAQ
Is the Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ good for beginners?
It is good for beginners who are willing to learn an equatorial mount and collimate a Newtonian. The optics show Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s belts and lunar craters. For beginners who want less setup, the StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ or a tabletop Dobsonian is easier.
Can you see Saturn with the AstroMaster 114EQ?
Yes. At 50x the rings are visible, and at 100x the gap between the rings and the planet is clear. Titan shows as a nearby star-like dot. See can you see Saturn with a telescope for what to expect.
Does the AstroMaster 114EQ come with a Barlow lens?
No. The kit includes a 20mm eyepiece with an erect image corrector, a 10mm eyepiece and a StarPointer red dot finder. A 2x Barlow is sold separately.
What is the maximum useful magnification?
Celestron lists 269x. In practice, 100x to 150x is where the views are best on most nights, and 200x only works when the air is steady. The magnification calculator on this site works out any eyepiece combination.
How do I polar align the AstroMaster 114EQ?
Level the tripod and set the mount’s latitude scale to your latitude. Point the tripod’s north leg north and sight along the polar axis until Polaris is centered. That rough alignment is enough for visual observing.
Does the AstroMaster 114EQ need collimation?
Yes. Check it when you first set it up and every few months afterward. A laser collimator gets the mirrors aligned, and a star test at 100x confirms it.
Is the AstroMaster 114EQ better than the 130EQ?
The 130EQ has a larger 130mm mirror and a faster f/5 focal ratio, so it shows brighter, wider views of deep-sky objects. The 114EQ has a longer focal length and higher power with the same eyepieces. The 130EQ is the better scope when you can find it new.
Can kids use the AstroMaster 114EQ?
Older kids can, with an adult handling alignment and collimation. For younger children I recommend a refractor or a tabletop Dobsonian, which need no alignment at all.
Is the AstroMaster 114EQ still available?
As of November 2026 it is listed on Amazon US and in stock, sold by Adorama. Stock is limited, so check the listing before you plan around it.
