Can you use this as a tabletop without the tripod?

I guess you could do that but it wouldn't be very stable. It depends what you are trying to do. if you want to point it to the moon or bright objects then I guess it would work. Deep space and astrophotography would require you to put it on the tripod. The tripod that it comes with is very good quality and very stable.

What is the difference between the Celestron Nexstar 127slt and the Nexstar 5se? Which one is better?

Check this link out http://www.astronomyforum.net/celestron-nexstar-telescope-forum/134708-nexstar-slt-127-vs-5se-6se.html

Is this a good telescope for a new astronomer / astrophotographer to use to start out? How much extra gear would I need to get?

I am a newcomer to telescopes & I am very pleased to have purchased a 5" Celestron. The bigger ones are heavier & too big to lug around all of the time. If you want a bigger Celestron, they actually work the same as the 5". With it, I got a pretty neat CD with star positions for every day of the year. I have researched the extras you need or might want & came up with the following: Celestron case...It seems expensive, but my Celestron 5" fits perfectly in there plus a lot of extras...very well built. Celestron tripod case...fits my tripod very well...good quality. Celestron GPS...not needed, but is very convenient, especially if you view from different locations...saves you the trouble of re-entering latitude & longitude. Celestron case of assorted lenses & filters...good idea because you will want them sooner or later anyway. Celestron battery pack...used when you are away from electric hookup...I bought the cheaper one...It includes a adapter to plug into your car if you want to use power from there. I didn't need a radio like the more expensive one & seems to be of good quality. I bought a $125.00 solar lens for looking at the sun. You must have a solar lens for sun viewing. You can get cheaper ones. I hope this helps...

What is the exact weight of the package in pounds? The amazon description says it weighs 39 pounds! this telescope is very small! I need to know.

Leonardo O - I think that the weight is correct. The reason is not the telescope...but Celestron includes also a sturdy tripod... and the tripod does weigh at least fifteen pounds or so ( my guess ). Also because this is a telescope , Celestron uses quiet a bit of cardboard and packing materials to protect it.

Brand	Celestron
Manufacturer	Celestron, Celestron Acquisition, LLC 2835 Columbia St Torrance, CA 90503
Model	11036
Product Dimensions	81.28 x 86.36 x 132.08 cm; 7.98 kg
Batteries	8 Lithium Metal batteries required. (included)
Item model number	11036
Mounting Hardware	NexStar SE OTA \| Single Fork Arm Mount \| Tripod \| Accessory Tray \| Star Pointer Finderscope \| Built-In Wedge \| NexStar+ Hand Control \| 25mm eyepiece \| Star Diagonal
Number of items	1
Standing screen display size	0.01 Inches
Maximum magnification	295 x
Minimum magnification	18
Minimum diaphragm opening	81
Min Focal Length	1250 Millimeters
Batteries Included	Yes
Batteries Required	Yes
Does it contain liquid?	No
Includes Rechargeable Battery	No
Manufacturer	Celestron
Country of Origin	United Kingdom
Item Weight	7 kg 980 g

Celestron NEXSTAR 5SE Computerized Telescope

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