Celestron - EclipSmart 50mm Solar Refractor Telescope - White/black

This telescope was used to view the total solar eclipse on Aug 21, 2017 during a trip to Nebraska. It was a sunny, clear day with a few small clouds that did not interfere with my viewing. During the eclipse I saw some flares at the edge of the sun and monitored all phases, doing some rough sketches to fill in later. The telescope was easy to level on the terrain with the built in bubble leveler, just adjusted the legs until level, then tweaked the scope when it needed adjustment due to the relative motion of the heavenly bodies. I saw sunspots and have used the scope to view and record any sunspot activity. I also shared the eclipse viewing with some passing farmers that happened by in a battered old truck, and enjoyed giving them a chance to see the eclipse that they would not have had otherwise. It would be great to have a hydrogen alpha capability for this telescope for a different wavelength view of the sun so that flares and corona could be seen better, and a way to use your smartphone for the viewing but for the price, this telescope performs great.

I bought this telescope specifically to view the August 2017 total solar eclipse. It worked quite well, but is limited in overall application. It's not just for eclipse viewing-- before the event, our group used it to view sunspots on the solar surface, which you could use this telescope for at anytime on a sunny day. It's actually quite fascinating. I gave it 4 stars, because the tripod was a bit cheap (ultimately, it was stable enough) and the finderscope (no direct view- uses shadow to line up on a pointer) was poorly mounted, not-least-bit accurate. Had to use several tools to re-align it. The carry backpack included was also quite cheap, not the most reliable thing to use when carrying sensitive optics. However, the 18X mag optics were just fine for general solar/eclipse spotting purposes. Overall, its now cheaper to get than when I bought it in August 2017.

Pretty good solar scope for the price. I was able to mount my Galaxy Note 5 to get some good pictures for the Partial Eclipse we got in Jersey. When I first used it I couldn't find the sun at all but after messing around with it for awhile I was able to see it. One thing I did not like about this scope was the diagonal part, it kept coming loose from the scope even with the screw tighten. I had to put a piece of duct tape halfway around the diagonal part so it would have a nice snug fit inside the scope. After doing that I was able to add a smartphone mount and my Note 5. This is a good beginner solar scope and would recommend it to anyone who wants to check out the sun.

I've been involved with astronomy for nearly a decade and have always wanted a solar scope but can't afford the hefty price tags, that is until I ran across this little gem. This is an ideal grab & go and a very cool little scope for an impromptu public showing of our sustainer of life, the sun. The tripod that comes with it is ok I would recommend a sturdier camera or binocular tripod. Set up is easy and finding the sun is just as easy. Follow the directions the first time and when the sun is centered in the eyepiece take a moment and make a mental note on where the shadow falls on the finder, it may not be "dead center".

I will be traveling to Oregon for the total solar eclipse in August. I wanted something that will magnify the eclipse, but was still portable, This was a perfect option. I tested it out on the sun and was able to see a clear image of the disk and a couple small sunspots. The tripod is pretty lightweight, but at under $100 for a complete solar telescope it is perfectly acceptable. Plus the telescope has the same type of tripod mount as a DSLR, so I can use my sturdy Manfrotto tripod if I want something even more stable. I can't wait until 8/21/17!

Looking forward to using this Telescope for the Total eclipse this year (2017). I have used it to view the Sun and it looks really Cool. Also the optional attachment to hook your digital camera or cell phone up to is what really sold this as I want to photograph the eclipse. The only thing I didn't like is the Outer Lens with the filtering to protect your eyes is not removable, so for images of the Moon at night, they are not as vibrant as one would hope. Nevertheless, neat purchase!

I first looked at getting a binocular, but chose the telescope instead. This is perfect for solar viewing and I am all set for the 2017 Eclipse in August. I have been practicing looking at the sun before the eclipse so I am ready to view when the time comes. Locating the sun in this is very easy with the solar finder. Just point toward the sun and look for the shadow to fall on the target. Very easy!

I bought this the weekend before the eclipse so I could take my Geography class out to see it. It worked very well for that purpose and everyone was able to see the eclipse as it happened. It was only a partial eclipse here, but I was glad that they all had a chance to see almost the whole thing. We also utilized eclipse glasses and pinhole projectors to see the eclipse. The telescope worked out well and I have it packed up waiting for the next one!