NexStar 102SLT MAK Computerized Telescope

Celestron’s innovative NexStar Star Location Telescope (SLT) has been a customer favorite for years thanks to its unique combination of high-quality optics, a user-friendly computerized interface, and a sturdy single fork arm mount.

This telescope comes with a pre-assembled, adjustable stainless-steel tripod, quick release fork arm, NexStar+ computerized hand control, 102mm Maksutov-Cassegrain optical tube, and lots of bonus accessories.

The entire telescope kit weighs in at just 16 pounds. The simple, no-tool assembly and fast SkyAlign alignment procedure will have you ready to observe in minutes. This makes NexStar 102SLT your perfect companion for impromptu observing sessions and all-night stargazing marathons alike.

Your NexStar 102SLT will reveal details of the lunar surface, Venus and its phases, the polar caps on Mars, Jupiter and its four moons, and Saturn with its rings plainly visible. It can also be used as a land-based spotting telescope for daytime and wildlife observations.

Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical Design

The MAK is a catadioptric telescope, which means the optical design includes both a lens and a mirror. The light coming through a MAK passes through the corrector lens to the primary mirror and back to a spherical secondary mirror before it hits the eyepiece. Images are bright, sharp, and virtually free of chromatic aberration. 

The Maksutov-Cassegrain’s optical design offers several unique benefits. Instead of a secondary mirror, the MAK features a “secondary spot” of reflective coating applied directly to the inside of the corrector plate. Because of this, the telescope does not require frequent collimation like a Schmidt-Cassegrain. Also, the secondary spot is significantly smaller than a traditional Schmidt-Cassegrain secondary mirror, giving the MAK its signature high-contrast views.

One important thing to note about Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes is that the larger, heavier Maksutov corrector plate takes longer to cool down and adjust to ambient air temperature compared to a Schmidt-Cassegrain of the same aperture.

Mount & Technologies

Computerized AltAzimuth Mount – The NexStar SLT telescope features a single fork arm altazimuth mount, which allows the telescope to track the desired objects as they appear to move across the night sky. The mount sits on a pre-assembled, adjustable steel tripod.

NexStar+ Hand Control – This computerized hand control enables you to automatically slew to any of 40,000 celestial objects with the push of a button. The NexStar+ database includes more than 600 galaxies, 300 clusters and dozens of beautiful binary stars. Not sure what to observe? Choose the Sky Tour feature and the NexStar+ hand control will automatically generate a list of all the best celestial objects currently visible based on your exact time and location.

SkyAlign Technology – Our proprietary SkyAlign alignment procedure makes setting up and using a computerized telescope faster and easier than ever before. Point the telescope at three bright objects in the sky, and the telescope can triangulate its position and locate any other object in the sky automatically. You don’t need to know the names of the stars—you can even pick the Moon or bright planets! For more information about our SkyAlign technology, visit here.

Power – Go anywhere! Feel free to enjoy your NexStar SLT in remote dark sky locations—it’s powered by 8 AA batteries (not included) or a PowerTank portable battery (sold separately). The internal battery compartment provides power to the high precision servo motors for rigid low-vibration performance while eliminating cord wrap issues associated with external battery packs. You may also power your telescope with a 12V AC adapter (sold separately).

Accessories Included

Your telescope includes a StarPointer™ red dot finderscope, a star diagonal, and two eyepieces (25mm and 9mm). The two eyepieces offer different magnifications for low- or high-powered observing. The star diagonal provides a right-side-up view and a more comfortable viewing angle when looking up at the sky. The StarPointer™ red dot finderscope will help you quickly center an object in your eyepiece for easier observing.

NexStar 102SLT is ready to grow with you as you become a more experienced amateur astronomer. It’s compatible with all Celestron’s latest accessories, including StarSense AutoAlign, SkyPortal WiFi module, and PowerTank Lithium.

Starry Night Software

Your purchase includes a FREE download of Celestron’s Starry Night. This powerful software will help you learn about the night sky, celestial objects, and how to plan your next observing session. Celestron Starry Night is the premier astronomy software package on the market, providing resources and knowledge to view our solar system and beyond.