Review on Discover the Celestron 31036 AstroMaster LT 76AZ: Awe-Inspiring Views and Stellar Gazing with this Blue Astronomical Telescope by Lonnie Batch

Unreal. I have never used a telescope and this one was given to me for my birthday. I looked around and saw all the "I" and "at" in such telescopes. "Don't buy cheap, the mount sucks, the tripod sucks, the way you move it sucks (ALT/AZ) etc." But I've also seen some really good reviews saying how easy it is to use, how good the optics are and that you don't need to collimate it. So I pulled the trigger and CAN NOT BE SATISFIED with this telescope. Seriously, I assembled it in 5 minutes. I've had two stomach surgeries this year so I don't have to do a lot of lifting or physical labor and it was easy for me to pack up and carry around. It's incredibly light and portable, and not difficult to assemble. then I took it outside and started using it. All I can say is this. WOW. The optics are fantastic and I started looking at the mountain a few kilometers away and then the horizon after sunset. I could see people miles away and all sorts of things clearly with minimal focus. But then the sky darkened. That's when it got really cool. I have never seen stars through a telescope and it amazed me. I looked at some stars that you couldn't see with the naked eye and thought it was great. I saw planes flying overhead and having fun, and then I saw Saturn. It just amazed me. I've never seen the ring in real life. They were so clear that the moment I saw that beginning in my field of vision, I knew exactly what it was. It was such a cool thing for an aspiring astronomer. For me, this telescope is perfectly suitable for my purposes. It was the right price and I'm enjoying opening the sky above my head. I don't see anything to complain about unless you are a professional astronomer. I found a great mount, a great tripod and the mechanism is very simple and easy to use. I mean, you can always find flaws in things if you look for them. But for the price, this telescope is worth every penny. Well done Celestron! PS: I wasn't sure I would like astronomy before I got this and debated back and forth if it was even worth trying and all I can say is that it's a total blast . I'm a hunter/fisherman/sportsman so wasn't sure I would like this. It takes me out of the house and depicts a world I've never seen before. I will take him camping and hunting. 2 thumbs up!