Here we focus on becoming a knowledge hub for astronomy and astrophotography enthusiasts. Alignment procedure depends on a mirror, which collects dew, Instrument is stiff to move without slow motions. Smartphones can be fitted into a spring-loaded slider on the StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ, allowing for basic astrophotography. The device comes with 2 1.25 kellner eyepieces at 25mm and 10mm, a StarPointe red dot finderscope, a 90 degree erect image starpointer, a Manual Alt-Azimuth mount, a StarSense Explorer phone dock, a tripod and a bunch of other miscellaneous documents. Stargazing Help is a participant in Amazon Associates program. However, due to how simple and easy it is to use as result of the app, its not a bad comprise despite being less accurate. The body of the eyepieces is fully built on plastic. The reason why this is a problem is because simply adjusting the axis to allow for a more smooth motion may take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to do. Rather, the mount uses an adapter and the computing power of your smartphone to help you find your way around the sky, which well get to after covering the basics of the telescope(s) itself. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. See our overview of all the different Celestron NexStar models. Its focal length is 660 mm. Avoid! The Celestron StarSense Explorer comes in six different models. This is necessary when aligning the telescope, as you need to point it at a recognizable object at the start of observing. View planets, brighter nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters from the city PLUS fainter, deep sky objects from darker sites. Add to Wish List Item in Wish List . In this review Ill cover the pros, cons and the 102AZs features to ultimately help you decide on whether the system is worth investing in or a beginner level device that you should skip out on. The downside is that it is generally more expensive. And the Celestron Starsense Explorer dx 130az has a 10mm Kellner eyepiece with 65x magnification power. All of this requires some user input namely the date and time, the location, and choosing the stars. The telescope attaches to the mount using a standard dovetail, but as it came out of the box the clamp assembly was twisted through 180 degrees, with the locking screw at the bottom. Its also portable and has a better optical design. Free shipping. The red dot finderscope is decent as are all of the other accessories too. Uranus and Neptune might barely be viewable at the max magnification that the Infinity 102AZ can handle. a 6" or even 8" dobsonian ( Links on what to expect in different telescope aperture sizes ). Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Newtonian Reflector Telescope. There is a great deal on a Celestron 102 DX at Amazon for $359, only 50 dollars more than the Popular . The final step is to remove the cap from the mirror on the StarSense dock again, courageously pulling off with some effort and fitting your smartphone into the spring-loaded slider. To completely overcome false color you need a considerably more expensive apochromatic refractor or a reflector. In all my research the 8 Dobsonian seems to be a good beginner telescope. A poor design, as these screws will quickly get lost. For use as a grab and go/ compliment for my 8in dob. This DX5 is Celestrons classic 5-inch SCT telescope tube with a hand-operable mount and the Starsense Explorer functionality that allows you to connect your smartphone and allow it to guide you, like the models above. StarPointer red dot finderscope, perfect for using the telescope during the day or without the StarSense Explorer app. Before the purchase, be sure to install the StarSense Explorer app on your phone. We recommend High Point Scientific (#1 US retailer) for finding thecurrent retail price and purchasing/backordering. The Starsense app will work with most of the telescopes that have computerised mounts. Includes Free. The tube itself is around 81 cm long. Can you take pictures with the Celestron StarSense? The initial advent of computerized star catalogs, which were loaded into telescope handsets, made it possible to align a telescope on the sky by pointing it at just three bright stars. As for the weight, when fully assembled it comes in at a very portable 6.44kg so you or anyone thats even younger shouldnt have too much of a problem moving it around or even storing it, whether it be at the home or for whenever you decide to take it to an area with minimal light pollution. Read our full affiliate disclosure here. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our team of experts has reviewed and ranked 180+ telescopes based on price and quality. There are some issues with glare and ghosting, and they are slightly inferior in sharpness to a true Plossl design, but both eyepieces are comfortable to use and work well, though they are a bit below what you should be expecting in quality at this price point. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. This telescope is full of design flaws. He has made numerous TV appearances explaining astronomy news stories, and lectures aboard cruise ships. Celestrons StarSense Explorer line of telescopes are some of the newest, and arguably most innovative telescopes on the market, and the newest effort of Celestron to make using a telescope as easy as possible. Youd have to either detach the phone and try not to move the telescope or use two separate phones. The aperture is almost the same, but the eyepiece magnification that comes with LT127 are better (50x, 100x and 2x barlow lense), Ps: I dont have much choice except celestron, since only this brand is available in my country, The 127 is junk and magnification is not what matters most. You can even watch faint celestial objects with it. The bracket fits most phones and will work just fine even if you have a relatively thick case (or even a PopSocket). Are Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes computerized / GOTO? ), Deimos vs Europa (How Are They Different? We're pleased to report that loading and using the software on our Moto G8 phone was easy and quite intuitive. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Sony A7III vs A7RIII Astrophotography: Which One to Shoot Infinity! Newly added to the range in 2022 are this two Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT) models the DX5 and the DX6 (below). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Reading through the specs, I cant see the difference. I realized that it was very important for me that it the telescope be kid friendly. $449.95. Out of the three types it is identified as having refractor-type optics. You can take a number of its key characteristics from its name: Not in the name, but worthy of note, is that it is a refractor telescope (as opposed to a reflector). By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Skies &Scopes. The StarSense has an Aperture of 102mm, a focal length of 650mm resulting in a focal ratio of just under f/6.5. Need more information regarding both telescopes? Four are reflector telescope types and two are refractor telescopes. When the bullseye turns green, its ready to view in the telescopes eyepiece. The accessory tray that sits in the middle of the tripod legs needs to be attached by fiddly thumb screws that are already in place. After much debate, we finally know everything that there is to know regarding the two telescopes. Thats why with cx 102az you wont be able to see faint objects. If you compare their size, 130az is quite big and heavy. Not only does it have great focal specs for exploring the night sky and perhaps getting in an astro image or two, it has StarSense tech that helps a learner locate and view objects that would otherwise be difficult for a beginner to find. 4mm Eyepiece vs 20mm Eyepiece! Celestron StarSense Explorer Review & Comparison. It's siblings, though, 80AZ , 102AZ, and 130AZ, are much . $479.95. The camera views the sky through a mirror, enabling you to view the phones screen at a convenient angle. Then along came plate solving the software to identify a field of view of stars in a photograph and the great computing power, position sensing, and imaging capabilities of a modern smartphone. In this article, we provide an overview of the differences between these telescopes so that you can understand the pros and cons of each. Celestron is one of the most reliable telescope manufacturers in the world. In this range, the 80 mm refractor and 114 mm reflector are supplied on lighter-weight mountings, while the 102 mm refractor and 130 mm reflector have the same heavier mounting. ), Neutron Star vs Nova (How Are They Different? Since both are beginner-level telescopes, comparison comes to mind. So, lets get down to the details, shall we? Within seconds, you are on target and the cross wires turn green. Once done, the handset was able to direct the telescope to any other object in its database, but it needed position encoders on its axes. The prowess of the instrument is more suited to beginners than to dedicated observers. The extra aperture is the main draw of the 130mm. A 32mm Plossl will provide 20x, with a slightly wider true field than the included 25mm ocular, but is of debatable usefulness. Boasting a whopping 10-inch aperture, the Celestron Starsense Explorer 10 Dobsonian is a beast of a telescope. You Pay: $559.00. Which is Stronger? It shares many of the characteristics of the other refractor in the range above in that it is smaller, lighter, and less cumbersome to operate, but it is more powerful with the larger aperture and you will be able to see more through it. There is no reason at all to get the StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ. Saturns ring or Jupiters clouds can be seen clearly with more colours. Celestron StarSense Explorer vs Celestron NexStar Telescopes: How do they compare? The StarSense Explorer DX 102 is a nice telescope, but a fully computerized instrument or a manual scope with more aperture might be a better pick. Starting with the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ. Celestron dx 102az on the other hand is not really worth the price. I had what seemed to be a related question, which has come up somewhat in that main thread: whether to purchase the DX 130AZ vs 102AZ? Like dx 102az, dx 130az also comes with two 1.25 eyepieces. On Aliexpress it costs around $418. With the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ, which links the telescope to modern mobile phone technology and computing power, Celestron has made locating objects in the sky not just easy, but fun especially for those just starting out in a skywatching hobby. *This post may contain affiliate links. These are still decent entry level specs and will allow beginner level astronomers to see the following celestial objects provided enough of the StarSenses power is used : The tube isnt too big coming in at around 81 cm whilst the tripod will allow the device to extend to 1.24 meters, which honestly isnt that great. One is achromatic and another is apochromatic. This means that it is larger and heavier. The coating inside is of low quality. Welcome to my Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Review! The diagonal provided by Celestron uses a roof prism rather than a simple mirror, giving a non-reversed image so you can use the instrument by day as well as by night. The Astro-Fi cant be used manually but is more capable overall. Way better scope but not comparable mount wise. Telescope Mount Type: Alt-Azimuth. The mirror can become dewed up within minutes on some nights often the clearest. This mount is a little on the small side for either optical tube, but it works just fine. I am sorry but I have zero knowledge on this so please excuse my raw language ! Should I buy a used StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ? We previously complained about the lack of targets in the apps database, but Celestron has updated the app and drastically expanded its number of objects, greatly increasing its overall utility. The DX 102 has a 2 rack-and-pinion focuser, but it cannot actually balance on its mount with a 2 diagonal and eyepiece, so in practice, the scope is limited to 1.25 eyepieces and accessories only. How were you able to loosen the tightness in the altitude axis? You can unsubscribe at any time. Now, launch the Starsense app on your phone. Dx 130 on the other hand weighs about 8.16 kg. That leaves 130az with more options for planetary views. Therefore these models will suit those where space is at a premium at home and would prefer something smaller, easier to store, and more portable. Many people have asked on astronomy forums and contacted Celestron themselves, asking why the bracket and code cannot be sold as a stand-alone item. Boosting the magnification using a Celestron 2x Barlow lens revealed false color in lunar and planetary images, so this is not an ideal high-power or planetary instrument. Celestron Starsense explorer dx 130az uses Newtonian reflector type optics. The 5 reflector seems like a solid scope. However, its enough to get you started. StarSense dock for your smartphone. For $399 you can get a much more capable telescope with a larger aperture, e.g. ), Why Is Jupiter Denser Than Saturn? This free guidetells youwhat gear you need to get started photographing the Milky Way, Planets, or Deep Sky Objects. The eyepieces supplied, although in lightweight plastic barrels, are of good optical quality. The 8-inch aperture is huge and will provide few limitations to what you can see. Galaxies are almost certain to disappoint, as few will show detail under dark skies, and a beginner will struggle to see them all in light-polluted conditions. Overall The StarSense Explorer 102AZ is very competent refractor telescope, thats potable, easy to set up, has solid optics and decent enough in box accessories for the price. Celestron StarSense Explorer vs Celestron AstroMaster Telescopes: How do they compare? But it needs collimation from time to time since the alignment gets messed up often. That being said the main difference is only that the Apochromatic is better at focusing wavelengths of light resulting in fewer visual discrepancies occurring when viewing through it. Just recently purchased DX130. The StarSense Explorer DX mount is nothing more than a repainted Omni XLT AZ or AZ3 mount with a bracket for the StarSense Explorer device. Its not a bad telescope to have. It has one 25mm Kellner eyepiece with 26x magnification power. Confusingly, the instructions then refer to the knob at the bottom of the clamp! So undoubtedly, Celestron dx 130az is the winner. Some of the Celestron Astromaster telescopes use similar OTAs (telescope tubes) and similar AZ mounts. All the following stages are accomplished using the StarSense app that you need to unlock using a code supplied with your instrument, which will work with up to five devices. As noted above, the 102 in the name refers to the telescopes aperture of 102mm (4-inch). Though you won't have the activation code, it will open and test your phone for compatibility. View Map. Its a great budget option, but if you have the space and intend to use it mostly at home then the 114AZ will give you more power for a similar price. COAST HX4 Dual-Color Utility Beam LED Clip Light. Trusted Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain design, Small and compact for the power it provides, More expensive than other models like the Dobsonians that provide a better price-to-aperture ratio, but are also significantly larger, Smaller size and greater portability for the, If you have the space and plan to mostly use at home then the, If you have the budget but value something lighter and more portable, then the, If you want the cheaper option and have the space then the, If you want the cheaper option but prefer something lighter and more portable, then the, If you have the budget and space (and dont care about portability) then the. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102. Like other achromatic refractors, the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ still has some false color, which reveals itself as colored fringes around the edges of objects, particularly at high magnification, and the short tube results in inherently more false color than with a longer focal-ratio achromatic instrument. Overall, this is a good option if you only have the budget for one of the cheaper telescopes and want more power. These eyepieces have a lot of plastic in their build, but use glass optics and are fairly sharp, with more eye relief than a typical Plossl ocular (particularly beneficial with the 10mm).