The Celestron 60LCM is Celestron's most affordable computerized telescope. For a modest price you get a complete telescope system with classic refractor style optics that deliver very good views of the Moon and planets. The package includes high and low power eyepieces, an erect image diagonal, a red-dot finder, and a computerized Alt-Azimuth mount with a database of more than 4000 objects. Celestron's 60LCM package includes everything but the batteries. The fully illustrated quick set-up guide makes it easy to assemble and use the telescope. Two eyepieces are included, a 25mm for 28X magnification and a 9mm eyepiece for 78X. The package even includes the latest version of "The Sky X", astronomy software that turns your home computer into a virtual planetarium.
The 60LCM telescope also features Celestron's patented SkyAlign technology. With SkyAlign I don't need a star chart or a compass to align the telescope, I just enter the date and time then point the telescope at three bright stars. SkyAlign tells me the star names, and allows the telescope to find over 4,000 stars, planets, and galaxies by just pushing a button. The "Two-Star Align" and "Solar System Align" modes are even quicker and easier to use. When I just want a quick look at the Moon or a planet, I like to set the telescope on the deck and use "Solar System Align" to begin viewing.
Students from middle school on up will find the Celestron 60LCM just the right size because it delivers very good views of the Moon and planets and because the whole ten pound system can be carried outside in one trip and be ready to go in minutes. A computerized telescope may take practice to set up; if I don't enter the time correctly the alignment may fail for example. The other drawback of a computerized telescope is the short life of standard AA batteries. An optional AC adapter is a handy way to power the Celestron 60LCM, and I like to observe while seated on a small stool because this gives me a solid and c
