Celestron Unveils New Lineup Of User-Friendly Telescopes Designed For Today's Backyard Astronomer

Celestron's new AstroMaster and Omni XLT telescopes combine state-of-the-art technology with a no-hassle setup to give both beginning astronomers and serious star buffs the tools to expand their universe.

Torrance, CA (March 1, 2007) – Celestron, one of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of telescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, microscopes and related accessories, is turning ordinary backyards into suburban observatories with the introduction of its new line of AstroMaster and Omni XLT series non-computerized telescopes. Designed to satisfy the unique demands of both beginning astronomers and serious star buffs, the AstroMaster and Omni XLT series telescopes are easy to set-up, nearly maintenance free and utilize Celestron’s superior optics to deliver stunning views of a wide array of celestial objects, from the rings around Saturn and Jupiter's moons, to deep-space objects like the Whirlpool Galaxy.

"There is so much to learn and see in the night sky and the AstroMaster series telescopes are the perfect tool for anyone who yearns to find out what is beyond the visible universe and begin a lifetime of exploration,” said Joseph A. Lupica Jr., president and CEO of Celestron. “Built on the premise that each expansion of human knowledge brings about even more questions, the Omni XLT is designed to satisfy the demands of the more experienced amateur astronomer, while still incorporating the easy-to-use qualities that provide the foundation for all of Celestron’s products."

CELESTRON'S ASTROMASTER SERIES
An excellent choice for the more serious beginning astronomer, the AstroMaster series non-computerized telescopes are powerful optical instruments that offer mechanical simplicity, rugged reliability and ease of use, delivering bright, clear images of a wide array of objects in the night sky and making astronomy easy and interesting for all.

Available in 8 different model types including the 70AZ Refractor (165x magnification), 70EQ Refractor (165x magnification), 76EQ Reflector (180x magnification), 90AZ Refractor (213x magnification), 90 EQ Refractor (213x magnification), 114EQ Reflector (269x magnification), 114AZ Reflector (269x magnification) and the 130 EQ Reflector (306x magnification), each has a permanently mounted StarPointer for locating celestial objects, and is available with either the traditional Altazimuth (AZ) for easy targeting and firm control or slightly more advanced German Equatorial (EQ) mount.

An ideal paring of simple operation and versatility, each AstroMaster model is easy to set up and use without tools, requires little or no maintenance, excellent for both celestial and terrestrial viewing and delivers color corrected, high contrast/good definition, brilliant images of thousands of celestial objects in the night sky.

Loaded with an array of user-friendly features, The AstroMaster series of telescopes come fully equipped with a deluxe tray for convenient storage of accessories, a quick release dovetail attachment for easy tripod mounting, and a lightweight, pre-assembled steel tripod with manual motion controls that allow for quick and easy pointing and tracking of celestial objects. Celestron’s AstroMaster series telescopes make it easy for stargazers of all experience levels to explore and learn about deep space without ever leaving their backyard.

Celestron’s AstroMaster series of telescopes weighs between 16-24 lbs, and have a suggested manufacturers retail price ranging from $195-$395, depending on model types.

Omni XLT
The Omni XLT family of non-computerized telescopes combines state-of-the-art technology, easy-to-use features and ready-to-use components to produce a family of viewing instruments of unparalleled quality and utility. Packed with great features and exquisite optics on a heavy-duty mount, the Omni XLT series is an excellent choice for the more advanced amateur astronomer with a desire to engage in astrophotography or just take their passion for exploration to the next level.

The Omni XLT’s CG-4 platform and heavy-duty German Equatorial mount, incorporates advanced ergonomics, precision worm gears on both axes for smooth tracking and stability, and a heavy-duty tripod with damping characteristics that make the Omni XLT a most “stable” choice for producing star images that resemble textbook photos.

Utilizing the refractor, reflector and complex-curved Schmidt-Cassegrain corrector plate and Celestron’s patented StarBright XLT coatings, the Omni XLT Series telescopes consistently yield breathtaking views of the moon, Saturn with its ring structure, Jupiter and its belts, and hundreds of deep-sky objects, including: galaxies, nebulae and star clusters over a wide field range.

The Omni XLT family of telescopes includes the Omni XLT 102 (241x magnification), Omni XLT 120 (284x magnification), Omni XLT 127 (300x magnification), and the Omni XLT 150 (354x magnification), weigh between 43-46 lbs and have a suggested manufacturers retail price ranging from $399.00 - $599.00.

Each AstroMaster and Omni XLT telescope comes with a version of the user friendly - The Sky® Level 1 Planetarium software for exploring up to 10,000-objects in the Universe on any PC, allowing users to simply print out custom star charts of the sky.

The AstroMaster and Omni XLT Series of telescopes are widely available online at and at Celestron dealer locations nationwide.