Using mirrors instead of lenses, the Powerseeker's Newtonian reflector design produces images that are noticeably sharper and brighter than 60mm refractors. With the SR4 eyepiece (175x), I can make out all four stars of the famous double-double star E-Lyrae, but a 60mm refractor only shows me two tiny figure-eights. When I look a the Double Cluster in Perseus with the K20 eyepiece on a moonless night, the image is bright enough to show me dozens of individual stars. The reflector design shows pure colors, without the false color or blue fringing I see in low cost refractors. Looking at the double star Gamma Andromeda, for instance, the primary star shines yellow-gold while the secondary is pale blue.

The Powerseeker 76 arrived neatly packaged in a compact box. When I assembled the telescope, though, I got the impression it needed another washer here and there: the tripod legs seemed a little too wide to fit the tripod head, the slow motion control rod seemed a little too tight. The assembled telescope turns out to be quite stable; I like to use it with the legs kept short. Since the eyepiece is near the top of the tube, the eyepiece height is very comfortable for a seated adult. Even at 175x magnification with the SR4 eyepiece, the view is steady enough that I have no trouble focusing.

There's no doubt this is a bargain priced telescope with good optical performance. I'd like it even better if it came with a K10 eyepiece instead of the 3x barlow, and it would be nice to have a better finder scope and a more rugged mount. Orion's Spaceprobe 3 Altaz is a similar telescope with more accessories included. ?Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Low cost
• Good optics

• Small aperture
• Some parts don't fit well
• Plastic barlow and finder