Brand: Celestron

Celestron NexStar Evolution 6 Telescope

12090

Brand: Celestron

Celestron NexStar Evolution 6 Telescope

12090

The NexStar Evolution Series builds on the immensely popular SE by adding a built in rechargeable battery, wifi, and a heavy duty mount. These are our favourite scopes for visual astronomy.
  • Explore the Universe and control your NexStar Evolution telescope with the free Celestron SkyPortal app for iOS and Android!
  • Compact, portable 6-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube with StarBright XLT optical coatings
  • Computerized GoTo mount with high-performance worm gears and motors for improved tracking accuracy, along with reduced gear backlash
  • Rechargeable lithium-iron phosphate battery with enough power for 10 hours of continuous observing
  • Improved industrial design with manual clutches and integrated carry handles, plus the added convenience of two accessory trays and a USB charge port for your smart device

Includes a Free StarSense AutoAlign - Offer Ends September 30, 2024

$1,679.00 USD

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$1,679.00 USD

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Why We Love It Full Details What Can I See? What's in the Box? Specifications Reviews and Questions Articles, Videos, Software, Links

Why we love the Celestron NexStar Evolution 6 Telescope

The Celestron NexStar Evolution 6 (12090) builds on the SE series by adding a built in lithium-iron battery pack, and an integrated Wi-Fi adapter.  This means you can leave the hand controller behind and navigate to more than 40,000 celestial objects with a tap of your phone.  The Evolution series come with computerized mounts, two good quality eyepieces, and great quality optics.  These scopes will stand up well to quality eyepieces and high magnification.  They’re ideal for viewing the moon and will show great detail on the planets (Cassini division in the rings of Saturn, bands on Jupiter).  The 6” of aperture will also introduce you to deep sky objects like open clusters, globular clusters, and some galaxies.

We like to joke that the best telescope you can buy is the one that you'll actually use.  The NexStar is an easy-to-use computerized telescope.  There is an incredible ecosystem of accessories built around the NexStar series of telescopes that can make it even easier to use.  The Evolution 6 strikes a balance between ease of use, portability, and aperture for exploring the solar system and deep sky objects.  It’s the perfect choice for your first serious telescope, offering impressive views at an economical price.  

Celestron makes 13 different versions of the NexStar.  For more information on the collection or to see why we think that the NexStar is often the best telescope you can buy, read our article here.  

Product Description

Use the planetarium interface to view the night sky in real time or display a list of celestial objects currently visible based on your time and location. Our proprietary SkyAlign alignment procedure is built right into the Celestron mobile app, so you're ready to observe within minutes.

The most user-friendly telescope ever

Celestron engineers designed NexStar Evolution based on years of customer feedback. It offers many thoughtful design features that combine to provide you the best possible experience out under the stars.

Forget about batteries or an external power supply. For the first time ever on a consumer telescope, NexStar Evolution includes its own built-in battery. With this ultra-long life lithium-iron phosphate battery, you'll be able to enjoy stargazing marathons up to 10 hours on a single charge. You can even use NexStar Evolution's USB charge port to top off the other devices in your life that need to stay powered on during an observing session. An intelligent power management system senses when battery levels are low and goes into power-saving mode to keep your telescope running for as long as possible.

Setting up your NexStar Evolution is quick and painless with large, ergonomic handles. The all-metal tripod features a metal accessory tray with indentations for storing and carrying the tripod. During setup, leg etchings help you achieve a level, uniform height for your telescope. Manual clutches in both altitude and azimuth offer greater flexibility to manually point the telescope when powered off. Store up to 7 eyepieces in 2 accessory trays, one with an adjustable red LED illuminator.

Superior tracking fit for astroimaging

If you're interested in astroimaging, the 6-inch NexStar Evolution is an excellent, affordable way to get started. It's the only fork-mounted telescope in its price range that offers brass worm gears, along with improved motors. NexStar Evolution's tracking accuracy is so impressive, you can capture images of deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula by simply attaching your DSLR camera. As you progress in the hobby of astroimaging, you can add our HD Pro Wedge to achieve longer exposures for more detailed astrophotos. NexStar Evolution compatible with the wedge when used with the CPC tripod (sold separately).

Of course, the Schmidt-Cassegrain optical system offers bright, sharp views with StarBright XLT optical coatings-a great choice for visual observers and budding astroimagers alike.

NexStar Evolution is equipped with 4 auxiliary ports--2 on top of the fork and 2 on the bottom. A classic NexStar+ hand control is included, but is not necessary when using NexStar Evolution with the mobile app. The telescope also includes a StarPointer finderscope, two 1.25" Plossl eyepieces, a 1.25" star diagonal, and an AC adapter.

Celestron NexStar Telescope - Set-Up, Unboxing, and Assembly

From opening the box to complete set-up of the Celestron NexStar SE, SLT and Evolution, this video walks you through the process of getting your new NexStar telescope assembled and ready for a star alignment (covered in Parts 2 & 3).

Sometimes we all need a hand getting things setup. Celestron's NexStar series (SE, SLT, and Evolution) offer an unparalleled user experience and amazing views so we wanted to make sure that you had everything you need to get going, fast!

From opening the box to complete set-up of the Celestron NexStar SE, SLT and Evolution, this video walks you through the process of getting your new NexStar telescope assembled and ready for a star alignment (covered in Parts 2 & 3).

What can I see with a Celestron NexStar Evolution 6 Telescope?

Here are some simulated views of common objects. Results with your telescope will vary with viewing conditions, obrits, equipment and more.

Jupiter with

40mm Eyepiece - 38x Magnification

(Included with This Telescope)

Jupiter with

13mm Eyepiece - 115x Magnification

(Included with This Telescope)

Jupiter with

5mm Eyepiece - 300x Magnification

Sold Separately

Moon with 40mm Eyepiece

38x Magnification

(Included with This Telescope)

Moon with 13mm Eyepiece

115x Magnification

(Included with This Telescope)

Moon with 5mm Eyepiece

300x Magnification

Sold Separately

Andromeda with 36mm Eyepiece

42x Magnification

Sold Separately

Andromeda with 40mm Eyepiece

38x Magnification

(Included with This Telescope)

Andromeda with 13mm Eyepiece

115x Magnification

(Included with This Telescope)

What's in the Box

  • Optical tube
  • Single Fork Arm Mount and Tripod
  • Accessory Tray
  • Built-in Wifi
  • Integrated Lithium-iron battery
  • NexStar+ Hand Control
  • 40mm and 13mm eyepiece
  • Red dot finderscope
  • Visual Back
  • Star Diagonal
  • 4 plug AC adapter

Specifications

OPTICAL TUBE INFO:
Optical Design: Schmidt-Cassegrain
Aperture: 150mm (6")
Focal Length: 1500mm (59")
Focal Ratio: f/10
Focal Length of Eyepiece 1: 40mm (1.57")
Magnification of Eyepiece 1: 38x
Focal Length of Eyepiece 2: 13mm (0.51")
Magnification of Eyepiece 2: 115x
Finderscope: Red Dot Finderscope
Star Diagonal: 1.25" Star Diagonal
Optical Tube: Aluminum
Highest Useful Magnification: 354x
Lowest Useful Magnification: 21x
Limiting Stellar Magnitude: 13.4
Resolution (Rayleigh): 0.93 arc seconds
Resolution (Dawes): 0.77 arc seconds
Light Gathering Power (Compared to human eye): 459x
Secondary Mirror Obstruction: 56mm (2.2")
Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Diameter: 37%
Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Area: 14%
Optical Coatings: StarBright XLT
Optical Tube Length: 406mm (16")
Optical Tube Diameter: 184.15mm (7.25")
Optical Tube Weight: 10 lbs (4.54 kg)
Dovetail: CG-5 Dovetail bar
MOUNT INFO:
Mount Type: Computerized Altitude-Azimuth Single Fork Arm
Instrument load capacity: 25 lbs (11 kg)
Height adjustment range (includes mount and tripod): 1193.8mm - 1752.6mm (47" - 69")
Tripod Leg Diameter: 38.1mm (1.5") Stainless Steel
Mount Head Weight: 16 lbs (7 kg)
Accessory Tray: Yes
Tripod Weight: 12 lbs (5.44 kg)
Slew Speeds: 9 slew speeds - max speed 4°/second
Tracking Rates: Sidereal, Solar and Lunar
Tracking Modes: Alt-Az, EQ North and EQ South
GPS: N/A
Dovetail Compatibility: CG-5 saddle plate
Number of Auxiliary Ports: 4 AUX Ports (Hand Control can use any of the AUX Ports)
Autoguide Port: No
USB Port: Yes, Hand Control input and Mount output
Power Requirements: Internal 9 6V, 4 5Ah lithium iron phosphate battery (LiFePO4), charge battery with 12VDC, 5 0Amps
Motor Drive: DC servo motors
Alignment Procedures: SkyAlign, 1-Star Align, 2-Star Align, Auto 2-Star Align, Solar System Align, Quick-Align, Last Alignment, EQ North / EQ South Alignment (EQ align requires an equatorial wedge)
Periodic Error Correction: No
Computerized Hand Control: 2 line x 18 character backlit Liquid Crystal Display, 19 LED backlit buttons, USB 2.0 Port for PC connection
NexStar+ Database: Over 40,000 including 220 of the best deep sky and solar system objects
Software: Celestron Starry Night Special Edition Software and SkyPortal App
Total Kit Weight: 38 lbs (17.23 kg)

Customer Reviews

Based on 3 reviews
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M
M.E.
Hoping to still be using this 20 years from how

FINALLY had first light after 3 weeks of waiting for smoke and clouds to clear. Really happy with my purchase so far. The Evo definitely has a more stout mount and tripod than the SE, but it still takes just a few minutes to get set up. What really surprised me was how easy it was to connect, align and operate with a tablet using SkyPortal. I'm enjoying that aspect of it but still find the hand controller more tactile when making small adjustments. I've not tried to use it using both the controller for fine adjustment and the tablet for GoTo/target selection but hoping this works out. Supplied 40mm and 13mm eye pieces seem pretty good but I'll probably stick with my sVbony RedLine 15mm for higher-mag views. Only complaint (and I've read this is not just me) is that the red dot finder is difficult to align - it seems to bottom out on the up-down axis before it gets perfectly aligned. i've read some people shim the finder mount up at the back to correct, but in time I might just try to find a proper vixen-style shoe (not sure why for the money they don't install one instead of the plastic one they have). Only other possible complaint is that it's a bit noisy when it slews, but will take that for the metal gears over the SE any day of the week. The handles and eyepiece cut outs on the mount are a real plus too

Lastly, my experience is that if you get the Celestron Nexstar SCT case, unlike the SE the Evo will not fit inside connected to the mount. I had to purchase a bin from Home Depot for the mount...otherwise, top shelf all around

H
H.H.
Amazing service!

Excellent customer service. Can’t wait to see the stars!

D
D.G.-.M.
Nexstar evolution 6 - wow

Recently upgraded from a small newtonian to the celestron nexstar evolution 6, and am amazed by the optic quality, the portability, the functionality and the ease of use. Looking forward to many clear nights ahead !

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