Celestron AC 50/360 Travel Scope 50 - travel telescope
If you love astronomy and also enjoy traveling, you know how hard it is to find a telescope that can do both - fit into a backpack, survive the journey in one piece, and still deliver genuinely good optical performance. That is exactly the purpose of the Celestron Travel Scope range of travel telescopes. The AC 50/360 model is an ideal choice for hikers, adventurers, and casual astronomers who refuse to compromise even in the field.
Optics and optical performance
The refractor objective lens with a diameter of 50 mm and a focal length of 360 mm offers an aperture ratio of f/7.2 - adequate for observing the Moon, planets, and brighter deep-sky objects, but equally suited for daytime nature watching, landscape viewing, or spotting distant subjects. The glass optics are fully coated with anti-reflection layers, which ensures maximum light transmission, resulting in images that are bright, contrasty, and virtually free of glare.
Included accessories
The package includes two 1.25″ eyepieces - a 20 mm eyepiece providing 18x magnification and an 8 mm eyepiece providing 45x magnification. Also included is a 3x Barlow lens (1.25″), which combined with both eyepieces gives magnifications of 54x and 135x. The kit also features a 45° erecting prism, which makes it more comfortable to observe objects at varying heights - you will especially appreciate it when viewing terrestrial scenes or locating objects near the zenith.
Eyepiece and magnification overview
| Eyepiece |
Without Barlow |
With 3x Barlow |
| 20 mm |
18x |
54x |
| 8 mm |
45x |
135x |
Mount, tripod, and build
The telescope is equipped with an altazimuth mount featuring slow-motion controls on both axes and an ergonomic handle, allowing precise and smooth pointing at the target object. The aluminium tripod is rigid enough to ensure a stable image while adding minimal weight to the overall setup. The tripod features a standard 1/4″ thread, which means it can also be used with another telescope, a camera, or a camcorder - practical for photographers who appreciate a multi-purpose tripod in the field. Assembly of the entire setup is intuitive and requires no tools.
Finder scope and portability
For initial sky orientation, a 2x20 finder scope is included, helping you quickly locate the target object before looking through the main eyepiece. The entire system then fits comfortably into the included carry backpack, which protects both the optics and the accessories during transport and makes it easy to carry everything in one go.
Who is this telescope for?
This compact travel telescope is ideal for beginner astronomers, families with children, and travelers who always want a reliable optical instrument at hand. Thanks to its versatility, it handles nighttime astronomical observation of the Moon and planets just as well as daytime watching of nature, birds, or panoramic landscapes. Its lightweight construction and robust build make it a constant companion on day trips, holidays, and expeditions.
The Celestron Travel Scope 50 is an excellent choice wherever every gram and every centimeter of backpack space matters - and yet you do not want to settle for a mere opera glass. It is a real telescope, just in a travel-friendly format.
Key features at a glance
- Refractor telescope with 50 mm aperture and 360 mm focal length (f/7.2)
- Fully coated glass optics for bright, high-contrast images
- Two 1.25″ eyepieces: 20 mm (18x) and 8 mm (45x)
- 3x Barlow lens (1.25″) - magnifications up to 135x
- 45° erecting prism for comfortable viewing at various angles
- 2x20 finder scope for quick target acquisition
- Altazimuth mount with slow-motion controls on both axes
- Aluminium tripod with standard 1/4″ thread
- No tools required for assembly
- Carry backpack included for easy and safe transport
Technical specifications
| Parameter |
Value |
| Optical design |
Refractor (achromatic lens) |
| Objective diameter |
50 mm |
| Focal length |
360 mm |
| Aperture ratio |
f/7.2 |
| Eyepieces |
20 mm (18x), 8 mm (45x) - 1.25″ format |
| Barlow lens |
3x, 1.25″ |
| Maximum magnification |
135x (8 mm + 3x Barlow) |
| Diagonal / prism |
45° erecting prism |
| Finder scope |
2x20 |
| Mount type |
Altazimuth |
| Tripod material |
Aluminium |
| Tripod thread |
1/4″ standard |
| Transport case |
Carry backpack included |
