The National Geographic NT114CF is a beginner reflector telescope with a carbon-fibre-look tube, sold by Explore Scientific under the National Geographic brand. This page expands an earlier short post into a full guide, using Explore Scientific’s product page, and corrects an error in the original.
Correction: it is a reflector, not a refractor
The original post described this as a “refracting telescope”. That is wrong. Explore Scientific describes the NT114CF as a Newtonian reflector, which uses a curved mirror to gather light, not a lens. The difference matters for care and use, as explained below.
Verified specifications
From Explore Scientific’s product page:
- Optical design: Newtonian reflector
- Aperture: 114 mm
- Focal length: 500 mm (so the focal ratio is about f/4.4, from 500 ÷ 114)
- Eyepieces: two Plössls, 26 mm (19x) and 9.7 mm (51.5x)
- Finder: red-dot finder
- Mount: alt-azimuth with a panhandle control
- Tripod: full-size, height-adjustable
- Smartphone adapter included
- Downloadable astronomy software and star map
How a Newtonian reflector works
Light enters the open front of the tube and travels to a curved primary mirror at the back. The mirror reflects it forward to a small flat mirror near the top, which directs it out through the side of the tube to the eyepiece. Mirrors can be made larger for less money than lenses, which is why a 114 mm reflector is affordable.
Reflectors occasionally need their mirrors realigned, a simple process called collimation. One customer review on Explore Scientific’s page mentions getting good images “after collimation”, so it is worth learning how.
The eyepieces and magnification
Magnification equals the focal length divided by the eyepiece focal length:
- 26 mm Plössl: 19x. A wide, bright view, great for finding objects, viewing the whole Moon and scanning star clusters.
- 9.7 mm Plössl: 51.5x. A closer look at the Moon, Jupiter’s moons and Saturn’s rings.
The original listing said a 2x Barlow was included, but Explore Scientific’s current product page lists only the two Plössl eyepieces, so check before you buy. To reach higher powers, you could add a 2x Barlow (giving 38x and 103x) or a shorter eyepiece. Short focal-length reflectors like this one work best at low to medium power.
The panhandle mount
The alt-azimuth mount moves up-down and left-right, steered with a long handle. It is intuitive: unlock, point and lock. The full-size tripod means you can observe standing up, which children and adults alike find comfortable.
Using the smartphone adapter
The included adapter holds your phone over the eyepiece so you can photograph what you see. Start with the Moon using the 26 mm eyepiece. Lower your phone camera’s exposure so the Moon is not a white blob, and use the self-timer to avoid shake.
What can you see?
With 114 mm of aperture and a short focal length:
- The Moon: craters, mountains and seas
- Jupiter: four bright moons and the main cloud bands at higher power
- Saturn: the rings with the 9.7 mm eyepiece or a Barlow
- Deep-sky objects: Explore Scientific mentions star clusters, nebulae and distant galaxies. The Orion Nebula, the Pleiades and the Andromeda Galaxy are classic first targets.
- Wide star fields: the 19x view makes sweeping the Milky Way rewarding.
Beginner tips
- Align the red-dot finder in daylight on a distant object.
- Let the mirror cool outside before observing.
- Check collimation if stars look like comets or blurry blobs when in focus.
- Never point the telescope at the Sun without a certified solar filter covering the front of the tube.
Who is it for?
The NT114CF suits beginners who want more aperture than small refractors offer, in a light, easy-to-use package. The short focal length favours wide views of star fields and deep-sky objects, while the 9.7 mm eyepiece handles the Moon and planets.
Related guides on this site
- Celestron PowerSeeker 114EQ beginner’s guide
- Orion StarBlast II 4.5 EQ reflector guide
- Phone adapters and photographing through a telescope
- Telescopes 101: how to choose your first telescope
Quick summary
- 114 mm Newtonian reflector with a 500 mm focal length, about f/4.4. It is not a refractor, as the original post stated.
- 26 mm (19x) and 9.7 mm (51.5x) Plössl eyepieces.
- Red-dot finder, alt-azimuth panhandle mount and full-size adjustable tripod.
- Smartphone adapter, downloadable software and a star map are included.
- Explore Scientific’s page does not list a Barlow, so higher powers need an extra Barlow or eyepiece.
Jargon buster
- Newtonian reflector: a telescope that uses a curved main mirror and a small flat mirror to send light out of the side of the tube.
- Collimation: lining up the mirrors so stars focus to sharp points.
- Plössl: a common, sharp, affordable eyepiece design.
Sources: Explore Scientific: National Geographic NT114CF.
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