Why wait for Black Friday? The Celestron 114LCM computerized telescope is $115 off right now

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This powerful Newtonian reflector telescope has hundreds of 5-star Amazon reviews and is at one of its best-ever prices.

Celestron 114LCM computerized telescope
The Celestron 114LCM telescope is carrying a big stargazing friendly discount (Image credit: Celestron)

Black Friday is on the horizon, but you don't have to wait a month to grab a sweet deal. If you're thinking of picking up stargazing for the first time, or on the hunt for an early Christmas gift for a junior astronomer, then this Celestron 114LCM telescope deal is well worth jumping on.

The 114LCM is already an affordable, beginner-friendly telescope, and right now you can save 26% of the MSRP (that's $439.95) at Amazon, bringing it down to just $324.65 — a better price than last year's Black Friday discount of $387.

Celestron, a renowned telescope brand based in California, has been making telescopes since the 1960s, and although we haven't reviewed this particular model, they regularly dominate our guide to the best telescopes, including the best telescope overall — the Celestron NexStar 8SE.

Celestron 114LCM
Celestron 114LCM : was $439.95 now $324.65 at Amazon

Save $115. The Celestron 114LCM is a powerful telescope that comes with everything you need for stargazing, including a full-height tripod, 2 high-quality eyepieces (25mm & 9mm), and a StarPointer red dot finderscope.

Price check: Walmart $388.98 | Adorama $389.95

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For those new to telescopes, the Celestron 114LCM is a Newtonian reflecting telescope. Invented by the English scientist Sir Isaac Newton, this type of telescope uses a concave primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror. It's a fairly simple design that has made Newtonian models popular with amateur telescope enthusiasts.

The simplicity of design is paired with high-tech features that make the 114LCM extremely user-friendly for those starting their astronomy journey. Highlights include the computerized GoTo mount, which automatically locates celestial objects, while Sky Tour software generates a list of the best visible objects based on your location.

The Celestron 114LCM also includes a free download of the Celestron SkyPortal app — one of the top-rated astronomy software programs. SkyPortal simulates the night sky from any location on Earth and provides audio descriptions of popular celestial objects on your iOS or Android device.

Celestron 114LCM computerized telescope on its tripod

The Celestron 114LCM is now $324.65 at Amazon (Image credit: Celestron)

Key features: Looks great, fairly-portable, impressive auto-tracking.

Price history: This is the cheapest we've seen, and beats last year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday price of $387.

Price comparison: The Celestron 114LCM is currently selling for $388.98 at Walmart so this Amazon deal is a significant saving.

Buy it if: You want a telescope that does lots of the work for you, with clever 'smart' features. It's easy to set up which means more time enjoying the night skies.

Don't buy it if: You have previous experience and are looking for a more advanced model.

Paul Brett
Paul Brett
Deals writer

Paul is a deals writer for Live Science and writes across the stable of Sports and Knowledge brands at Future. He has previously worked in cycling media and authored numerous articles on Bike Perfect, Cycling News and Cycling Weekly. Paul is an award-winning photographer having won Mountain Photographer of the Year with Trail Magazine and has a passionate interest in all things photography. A keen hiker and mountaineer he has written and published his own book – Mountaineering in the Scottish Highlands and founded Proper Adventure magazine. Paul will be found most weekends with his camera in hand either at cycling events or on a mountain summit.