Budget telescope deal offers great views of lunar eclipse and Saturn
A partial lunar eclipse on Aug. 27-28 can be observed with the Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ telescope, now discounted by $49 at Walmart. The package includes eyepieces, a Barlow lens, and a mount, making it suitable for beginners. It also provides views of Saturn at opposition in October.
The Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ pairs an 80mm refractor objective with a manual German equatorial mount, offering magnifications of 45x and 225x through its two included eyepieces. Its refractor design keeps images upright, making it equally suited for terrestrial viewing. The package also includes a 3x Barlow lens, finderscope, and Starry Night software cataloging over 36,000 celestial objects. Weighing roughly 14 pounds, the setup remains portable for backyard use.
This deal marks the telescope's lowest price in nearly two years, undercutting Amazon's current listing by $40. The timing aligns with two notable skywatching events: the partial lunar eclipse late this month and Saturn's opposition on October 4, when the ringed planet appears at its brightest. For newcomers, the kit provides sufficient capability to observe lunar craters and bright planets without requiring additional purchases.
This discount could lower the barrier to entry for casual skywatchers and families considering astronomy as a hobby. By aligning the promotion with two prominent celestial events, the deal may encourage more people to observe the night sky firsthand, potentially fostering sustained interest in science education. Affordable equipment like this also enables schools, community groups, and budget-conscious individuals to participate in shared cultural moments such as eclipses, though its limited aperture means users may eventually outgrow it for deeper space observation.