This is the ideal telescope for the backyard astronomy enthusiast, especially if you have astrophotography in mind. Simply power up the telescope, choose the object you want to see on the handheld controller and the GPS computerized mount does the rest. Standard computer controlled mounts without GPS require you to align the telescope with the North Star and manually enter in your coordinates and the time. The GPS locator in this telescope mount means the telescope already knows it's location and the current time anywhere in the world. You'll be soaring to the stars in seconds. With a large 150mm (6 inch) primary mirror and an astounding 1400mm focal length, this powerful telescope is the perfect high magnification scope for planetary and deep space astronomy. This telescope is ideal for backyard astronomy and is a great introductory telescope if you are serious about learning all about astronomy but want to avoid the hassle of combing the night sky for something cool to see. With its "short tube" design, this 6 inch scope packs a built-in corrector lens, that provides a longer focal length -- and that means huge magnifications. So, from your own backyard, you'll see tremendous heart pounding detail when viewing even the moon. With planets you can see the rings of Saturn, the polar caps on Mars and the Moons of Jupiter. In dark skies you can see distant nebulae and galaxies as well. See all these objects and more with just the push of a button. The patented design of the iOptron SmartStar-A Dual Mount Alt-Azimuth & German Equatorial GPS Mount is the most unique mount on the market today. Keep in mind that the stars "rise" and "set" over the course of the night, just like the sun does. With the Equatorial mount option included with the SmartStar-A mount, this telescope can be aligned in a way so that it rotates through the night sky in a single sweeping arc (as opposed to a stair-step approach). This is a key feature for ultra-smooth celestial tracking, critical for long-exposure astrophotography. In addition, there are no "dead spots" -- so you can point your telescope anywhere above the horizon, whereas, other mounts block the telescope tube at certain points of rotation. This mount also comes standard with AC connection. An optional DC adapter is available so you can plug your telescope motor into your car if you're camping or at any remote location. The mount also accepts 8 AA cell batteries for use at home or in the field. (Batteries sold separately.) The revolutionary GoToNova computerized control system is by far the most technologically advanced automated tracking system available on the market today. With a database of 80,000 celestial objects, including all of the most famous galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, not to mention the planets, you'll be able to enjoy star gazing with the simple push of a button. The GoToNova Controller is much easier to use than other similar products. The hand controller is more intuitive with menu categories better organized. It also has a larger LCD screen with more lines of content compared with the competition. Using the easy-to-use hand controller and its large LCD screen, you can easily set up your telescope and select where you want to go. The 32-channel GPS module is built-in for fully automated operation and alignment. Simply turn on the GoToNova Controller and the GPS module will automatically synchronize your telescope location and time with the GoToNova computerized control system.