The Lunar Surface looks mesmerizingly sharp, detailed, and contrasty. Due to the lack of diffraction spikes(a reflector problem), NexStar 5SE would be one of the go-to’s(pun intended) for Lunar observations.
Mars and Venus are not easy to observe with NexStar 5SE. Some surface detail on Mars is visible as black and white stains, and phases of Venus are observable. You can get the unique colors of the planets, but that is about it. The 5″ aperture starts to reach its limit with these planets.
Neptune, Uranus, Mercury, and Pluto are difficult to observe with any telescope. With NexStar 5SE, it is almost impossible. You can see a colorful dot, but nothing more. With these planets, the GoTo feature helps a lot. Locating these objects are challenging.
Overall planetary performance is what NexStar 5SE is built for, and it achieves its objective. Pleasing Solar System observations are within reach.