This Celestron telescope has:

• 120mm f/8.3 achromatic refractor optics • StarBright XLT multicoatings for the highest possible light transmission • CG-4 German equatorial mount with ball bearings and stainless steel tripod • 6 x 30mm finderscope • 25mm 1.25" eyepiece (40x) • 2-year warranty

The Celestron Omni XLT 120 refractor combines quality 4.7" refractor optics with a solid German equatorial mount - at a very sensible price for a scope of its aperture and quality. It provides an excellent mix of performance, portability, stability, and features that any serious backyard astronomer can appreciate.

For the observer whose interests are the brighter solar system and deep space objects, the Omni XLT 120 has a lot to offer. It is exceptional for observing within the solar system. Its views of subtle lunar and planetary details are sharp and contrasty, bringing the planets to vivid life in the eyepiece.

It has a sensibly large aperture and diffraction-free images that make it surprisingly good for much deep space observing, as well. Binary stars and globular star clusters are particularly well-resolved and vivid, with the contrasting colors of many binary systems showing nicely. The brighter nebulas and galaxies stand out against a darker sky background than is possible in a comparably-priced reflector with its light-scattering diagonal mirror.

Refractor optics: 4.7" (120mm) aperture, 1000mm focal length, f/8.3 achromatic doublet lens using aspheric shaping technology for images that have virtually no spherical aberration. Chromatic aberration (spurious color) is present, but well controlled for a scope of this aperture. The lens cell is fully collimatable for optimum sharpness. The optical tube length is a very manageable 40".

Starbright XLT multicoated optics: Fully coated on all air-to-glass surfaces with multiple layers of magnesium fluoride and hafnium dioxide antireflection coatings for the highest possible light transmission and contrast. They are the same coatings used on Celestron's largest most expensive optical systems.

CG-4 German equatorial mount: The mount has setting circles in both right ascension and declination, worm gear drives and manual slow motion controls in both axes, a latitude scale and fine adjustment controls in both altitude and azimuth, two counterweights totaling 11 pounds so you can easily balance virtually any accessory load, and more. An optional dual axis DC drive/drive corrector is available for no-hands tracking of celestial objects and photography. It is not possible to upgrade to a computerized go-to drive system. For more details, click on the link in the support tab above.

Adjustable height tripod: The tripod has 1.75" diameter steel legs with a center leg brace for rigidity. It adjusts over a height range from 33" to 47". Vibration damping characteristics are excellent. The center leg brace is drilled to form a convenient accessory tray that holds 1.25" and 2" eyepiece to keep them up out of the dew-soaked grass.

With a relatively short 1000mm focal length and a light grasp 294 times that of the sharpest dark-adapted eye, the scope is capable of producing surprisingly bright wide-field images of the faint fuzzies outside the solar system - nebulas, galaxies, open star clusters, and more.

Optically and mechanically refined, and very reasonable in cost for a big 4.7" aperture refractor, this Celestron Omni XLT 120 has enough optical performance to keep you busy for the rest of your life.