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I would recommend this product with six stars if the app had half the functionality of Celestron’s SkyPortal freeware, and ten stars if it lived up to the SkySafari engine that runs them both. XLT reflective coatings with silicon dioxide and tantalum pentoxide protective overcoatings for primary and secondary mirrors
A sturdy, Dobsonian-style base with large diameter bearings and variable altitude tensioning makes it easy to follow the on-screen arrows to your desired target. When the bullseye turns green, it's ready to view in the telescope's eyepiece. Once you select an object, the app displays pointing arrows onscreen. These indicate the direction in which you should move the telescope to find the object. Move the telescope as directed until the bullseye appears centered on the selected object onscreen. When the bullseye changes its color to green, the object is visible in the telescope’s lower powered eyepiece. It is possible to access these images by selecting “Save Images & Logs” from the Menu icon at the bottom left of the main screen before using StarSense Explorer. The app will then save the images it captures and they can be accessed later. We have provided access to the images so that they can be used for troubleshooting purposes. If you are having problems finding astronomical objects in the night sky using StarSense Explorer, these image and log files can help the Celestron Tech Support Team diagnose the issue. We recommend turning on “Save Images & Logs” only if you are having problems with StarSense Explorer and need to troubleshoot. Otherwise, the images will fill up the memory storage on your smartphone. To retrieve the image and log files, follow the steps below.
After a simple 2-step procedure to align the smartphone’s camera with the telescope, the app displays a view of the night sky and shows a bullseye on the screen to represent the telescope’s current pointing position. From here, you can select an object to view by tapping it in the planetarium view or selecting it from the Tonight’s Best observing list. Objects will vary from night to night; you may see planets like Jupiter or Saturn, nebulae like Orion, the Andromeda Galaxy, or other object types.
If you are unsure how to align the camera, tap the Menu icon button and turn on the Camera Setup Assistant. Now, when you go through the camera alignment screens, there will be information and videos to walk you through the process. There may be something in the camera’s field of view that is affecting the phone’s ability to “sense” stars, such as power lines, trees, or the edge of a building. Try moving to an area with a clearer view of the night sky, without interference from anything on land. We moved to a variety of different objects from galaxies to nebulas, all of which were located without a problem with the StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ and always within the low power field of view. Submit a valuation request and we'll provide guide prices with no delay. Plus, we'll collect your gear from your home or work for FREE. Not compatible with #93648 Off-Axis Guider, not compatible with #93519 2" Mirror Diagonal (discontinued)Transporting your StarSense Explorer Dobsonian is easy thanks to the ergonomic carry handles located at the balance point of the tube and base. Dust covers are also included for the front of the tube and the focuser. The sky may be too cloudy or hazy. Unfortunately, there’s not much that can be done about this beyond waiting for a clearer night to observe. As general rule, if you can’t see many stars with your eyes, then conditions will likely not permit the camera to “see” enough stars, either. When the bullseye does not change from color red, the smartphone camera is not successfully “sensing” the sky and is not able to determine its pointing position. There are several possible reasons for this: It may not be dark enough out. You’ll need to wait at least an hour after sunset for StarSense Explorer to be able to “see” enough stars to find its position. If you can’t see many stars with your eyes, it is not dark enough yet.
Another point worth mentioning is that the telescope must be collimated to perform properly: this isn’t the simplest of tasks for the beginner, especially with a Newtonian. That said, the small size of this instrument makes the process simpler than on larger telescopes where you are constantly moving between collimation screws and an eyepiece. The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ is a 130-mm (5.1-inch) Newtonian reflector. Given its focal ratio of F/5 and focal length of 650 mm, it's a fast telescope that's suited to low-power viewing of celestial objects. The telescope tube itself attaches to an alt-azimuth mount with dual-axis slow-motion controls.Computerized telescopes typically require an alignment process with the night sky. Although Celestron has simplified the alignment procedure over the years, it still requires the user to center the telescope on several stars before it can accurately find objects. What’s more, re-alignment may be needed if the mount is bumped or otherwise moved. The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ is supplied with two eyepieces, but would benefit from accessories — such as a Barlow lens — to achieve high-powered, detailed views of the planets. (Image credit: Celestron) The typical low-power field of view for a telescope is about 1 ° , and the pointing accuracy of a smartphone using only its internal sensors is a few degrees at best. So, even when the smartphone thinks it is pointed at the object, it will be pointed a several degrees away, and won’t appear in the telescope’s eyepiece. This prevents all other astronomy apps from using the smartphone for accurate telescope pointing. In the box are 1-inch/25 mm and 0.4-inch/10 mm Kellner eyepieces, the latter of which will help achieve a 100x magnification when moon-gazing and planet-spotting. However, also in the box is a Barlow lens, which doubles that magnification to 200x. That ultimately proves unrealistic. A Newtonian reflector Dobsonian telescope with an 8-inch aperture and a smartphone mount attached to its side, the Celestron StarSense Explorer 8-inch Dobsonian comes in two parts – telescope tube and base. Both weigh about 10kg and have carry handles to make them easy to move separately. Once they’re fastened together the entire unit isn’t super-easy to move, but it is very easy to manipulate for pointing at celestial targets.
A great value all-rounder with the added convenience of alignment by smartphone, this large yet affordable Dobsonian telescope offers sharp and immersive views of galaxies, nebulae but also planets and the Moon. The word “achromatic” implies a freedom from the false color that bedevilled refractors in the very early days of telescopes, but this is a comparative term. 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. To completely overcome false color you need a considerably more expensive apochromatic refractor or a reflector. However, refractors are traditionally more robust than reflectors, so there is no ideal instrument to suit everyone. But if you can take the telescope to an even slightly darker location, more objects will become visible. With this 10" Dobsonian and relatively dark skies, hundreds of fascinating objects are well within your reach.Place the new CR-2032 battery, positive (+) side up, under the two copper battery clips at the front of the battery compartment. The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ is an achromatic refractor, with a 102 mm doublet lens composed of two different types of glass. It has a focal ratio of f/6.5, which means that it has a comparatively short tube for its diameter — a situation that provides a wide field of view and bright image with a fairly compact instrument. While you observe, you can access detailed information, images, and audio descriptions for the most popular objects. It’s a great way for the entire family to learn scientific facts, history, mythology, and more, deepening your understanding of the night sky.
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