Celestron packs a punch with the 22065 AstroMaster 102AZ. It strikes the balance of being well-suited to first-time telescope owners and fully delivering to stargazers interested in deep sky viewing. The refractor telescope is easily assembled, requiring no tools to set up and get viewing.  It delivers sharp images of the Moon and planets, clusters, and bright galaxies and nebulae. Thanks to the AstroMaster’s erect image optics, you get a dual-purpose telescope which is perfect for viewing terrestrial landscapes and wildlife, in addition to observing the heavens.

The Celestron 22065 AstroMaster 102AZ may by all means be an entry level telescope, but it is has a really professional performance. The telescope does offer a greater aperture than many of the standard beginner telescopes on the market. These devices often have apertures of only 70mm to 90mm. Small aperture telescopes are a solid choice for terrestrial viewing and observing within the Solar System, but they are not suitable for deep space objects. The AstroMaster remedies this simply by being bigger than other entry level telescopes.

Of course this does mean that the telescope is also heavier than smaller aperture scopes, but thankfully it still remains portable and easy to assemble alone. The optical tube is about 36 inches long when it is fully extended and the telescope weighs in at only 6.4 kg (14.1 lbs.).

The AstroMaster features an Image Erect Star Diagonal so that the views produced are upright rather than inverted. Using the finderscope and searching for targets while you navigate the sky is a lot easier with these corrected views. This also makes the telescope perfect for daytime/ terrestrial observation. Focusing the AstroMaster 102A is also very simple and precise.

While the telescope is by no means designed for deep sky viewing (apertures of 6 inches and upward are better for deep space) you can easily observe brighter galaxies, nebulae and clusters with the Celestron AstroMaster 102 AZ.

The telescope’s alt-azimuth mount features a panning handle/ altitude cutch so that you can tilt the telescope to any angle you need. Unfortunately, despite the fact that the clutch should make the mount easier to use, positioning the telescope with the mount can be a trial and error.

Overall, the performance of the Celestron 22065 Astro Master is one of a quality telescope that offers a good amount of power, reliable optics, easy assembly and great views of targets both near and far.