View planets, brighter nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters from the city PLUS fainter, deep sky objects from darker sites. Dx 102azs optical design also has chromatic aberration issues. This free guidetells youwhat gear you need to get started photographing the Milky Way, Planets, or Deep Sky Objects. . Robin is the Vice President of the Society for Popular Astronomy, and even has an asteroid named after him (24728 Scagell), but neither the asteroid nor Robin poses a threat to civilization as we know it. I recently purchased the 130mm version for a great price. Every slow-motion control I've ever seen attaches to the mount using visible small thumb screws. Jupiters cloud belts and the Great Red Spot are relatively easy to see, and you can just make out the disks of its four moons when they transit the planet. The body of the eyepieces is fully built on plastic. Google Maps All you need to do is install the app, enter the unlock code that came with your telescope, and dock the phone to your telescope. Stargazing Help is a participant in Amazon Associates program. StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope - Amazon.com He has made numerous TV appearances explaining astronomy news stories, and lectures aboard cruise ships. Mainly interested in the mount and optical tube. Mostly Astromaster and Powerseekers. ), Celestron Nexstar 4SE Review (Worth The Price Or Too, Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ Review (Worth A Buy Or. Free shipping. Celestron Starsense explorer dx 130az uses Newtonian reflector type optics. Within seconds, you are on target and the cross wires turn green. The 5 reflector seems like a solid scope. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ review: First light and functionality. There is a great deal on a Celestron 102 DX at Amazon for $359, only 50 dollars more than the Popular . I realized that it was very important for me that it the telescope be kid friendly. There is no reason at all to get the StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ. The model I tested is the Explorer DX 102AZ refractor telescope ($400). Would one model be a better purchase vs the other? So, there are issues of ghosting and internal reflection. Once chosen, you see a set of arrows on the screen that tells you which way to move the telescope to get to that object. Open star clusters look great and benefit from the 102AZs wide field of view, but globular star clusters are little more than fuzzy balls. You can unsubscribe at any time. (Explained!). The Celestron StarSense DX 102AZ features a doublet lens composed of two different types of glass, offering bright views of targets. Your smartphone's camera must be sensitive enough to image the brighter stars on a night setting. There are four instruments in the Celestron StarSense Explorer range: an 80 mm refractor, a 114 mm reflector, the 102 mm refractor under test, and a 130 mm reflector. Out of the three types it is identified as having refractor-type optics. At its core, the StarSense Explorer actually uses a relatively old technology known as plate-solving. Testing out the StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ at our HQ in a brightly lit industrial section of light-polluted Torrance, CA. 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. (Image credit: Celestron) The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ is a 130-mm (5.1-inch) Newtonian reflector. 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. Zane thoughts on StarSense Explorer DX130 vs Astro-Fi 130? The extra ingredient over a standard manual mounting is the attachment for a smartphone, directly fixed to the central assembly. On your phones screen, youll see the current position of your telescope. ), Deimos vs Titania (How Are They Different? Should you buy the Celestron StarSense DX 102AZ? (Assume eyepieces are upgrade on either scope of course). The Celestron dx 102az telescope is not good for viewing faint objects. Senior Software Developer (Former Employee) - Bangalore, Karnataka - April 23, 2023. I have two young kids (between 5-10 years old) and would like to try and get them interested. What Are Users Of The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Saying, Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope Works with StarSense App to Help You Find Stars, Planets & More 102mm Refractor iPhone/Android Compatible, Orion Spaceprobe 130ST Review (A Good Budget Astronomy Setup?! Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ 102mm f/6.5 AZ 22460 B&H Im very new to Astromony and have a chance to get a Celestron C102-HD. Thanks Zane; Ill take a look at Dob reviews. There are some other manuals as well as computerized scopes in the DX 102 AZs price range that you might want to take a look at: A new star diagonal is probably the #1 thing you can do to improve the StarSense Explorer DX 102s performance. Before the purchase, be sure to install the StarSense Explorer app on your phone. The bracket fits most phones and will work just fine even if you have a relatively thick case (or even a PopSocket). By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Skies &Scopes. ), Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Review (Is The StarSense Software Worth The Price? Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ: Full review | Space One is achromatic and another is apochromatic. The Starsense app will work with most of the telescopes that have computerised mounts. The StarSense Explorer utilises the oldest telescopic optics out of the 3 main categories currently around called refractor optics. The plate-solving is only done when you first mount your phone or when you move the telescope a significant amount. 8-inch dobsonians are often highly recommended as the best telescopes and have been hard to get hold of in recent years due to shortages and supply chain disruptions around the world. Welcome to my Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Review! What this does is take a snapshot of the sky and from the image taken attempts to locate where you are by comparing the shot to star maps using specifically set algorithms. Our Verdict: The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102 AZ telescope is a beginner's ultimate telescope. Even heavier and larger. Thats because of their aperture. Which is Stronger? To completely overcome false color you need a considerably more expensive apochromatic refractor or a reflector. The new Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes use your smartphone to make it much easier to find planets, galaxies, and other objects to look at. Overall, this is a great option if you prefer a smaller and less cumbersome refractor telescope, but want something more powerful than the 80mm option above. For a summary of the entire discussion take a look at this table: Between these two Newtonian and refractor telescopes Celestron dx 130az is a better option. The erect-image diagonal (which is necessary to allow the instrument to focus) introduces very little distortion, only marginally noticeable on a star image using a magnification of 130x. I consider myself handy and am not too worried about collimating a reflector (but would prefer to not have to do frequently). The instrument comes in just two main parts the tripod and the tube assembly so it seems straightforward to assemble. The software constantly checks the alignment of the instrument and complains if it cant see the sky, so snapping on the cover in between observations is not easy or ideal. We make money through affiliate commissions and this means we may be compensated if you click links on this page at no extra cost to you. The eyepieces supplied, although in lightweight plastic barrels, are of good optical quality. Add to Wish List. Avoid! The good news is you can at least upgrade your Celestron finderscope later. Value $12.60. Read our full affiliate disclosure here. Can you explain how they are still about equal in light gathering? With the StarSense Explorer line of instruments, Celestrons magic solution has been to link these to a telescope, getting rid of the need for the costly handset, the user input, and the encoders. New tabletop game 'Death in Space' lets you mine for precious gems in the ravaged Tenebris system. Celestron Starsense Explorer DX 102AZ Vs 130AZ The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ makes use of slow-motion controls for fine-tuned tracking. The tube itself is around 81 cm long. Optically the telescope is well up to standard for a short-focus achromatic refractor and is well-suited to deep-sky observing. But it needs collimation from time to time since the alignment gets messed up often. Thanks so much in advance. He has written for Amateur Astrophotography and Dark Sky Travels magazines and has been featured or quoted in Forbes, Yahoo!Life, Digital Camera World, Peta Pixel, and many other publications. 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. $479.95. 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. 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. Winner: Even for this round the clear winner is Celestron Starsense Explorer dx 130az. But thats not possible with dx 102az. 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. A star diagonal is standard with astronomical refractors and reflects the beam from the focuser through 90 degrees to allow a much easier observing position than crouching on the ground looking up through the tube, but usually, it has the drawback of reversing the image as in an ordinary mirror. I am sorry but I have zero knowledge on this so please excuse my raw language ! I had what seemed to be a related question, which has come up somewhat in that main thread: whether to purchase the DX . To connect the Starsense app with your telescope put your smartphone in the Starsense dock. Because all these mountings use a standard Vixen-type or CG-5 dovetail attachment, you can attach any other instrument that uses the same dovetail, taking into account the load capacity of the mounting. I find it exciting to hear that the StarSense explorer seems to make it quite easy and fast to explore the sky. Its not a bad telescope to have. All the telescopes from Celestron Edge HD and Schmidt-Cassegrain are compatible with the Starsense app. With all models, if the conditions are right you should be able to view the planets of the solar system and deep-sky objects like other galaxies. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Although the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ didn't make into our list of the best telescopes (opens in new tab) for 2021, it's still an excellent piece of kit for those just starting out in skywatching, especially those who are hunting for an all-inclusive package that's easy to use and makes navigating the night sky a breeze. Four are reflector telescope types and two are refractor telescopes. EASY TO SET UP AND USE: Manual altazimuth mount with smooth, dual-axis slow-motion controls makes it easy to follow the on-screen arrows to your desired target. StarSense Explorer 10" Dobsonian Telescope | Celestron Any tips would be greatly appreciated, otherwise, I may have to send my scope back. A pair of flexible slow-motion cables are included for making fine adjustments, though the backlash from them can be annoying when using high magnifications, and its not as intuitive as a simple Dobsonian mount, for instance. The StarSense has an Aperture of 102mm, a focal length of 650mm resulting in a focal ratio of just under f/6.5. It has an aperture of 114 mm (4.5 inches). It has a memory card but it cant help you to take pictures. The tripod allows it to extend up to 1.24 metres. Celestron StarSense Explorer Also note, that the same telescope is also being sold as the Popular Science StarSense Explorer DX 5. My alt adjust is pretty over tight as well. Celestron Astro Fi 130mm f/5 Reflector Telescope. collimating. But with dx 130az you can. For $399 you can get a much more capable telescope with a larger aperture, e.g. Its also portable and has a better optical design. Between Celestron Starsense dx 102az and 130az, Celestron dx 130az is better. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There are a few differences between each of the models, so lets look at each of them in turn to help decide whats right for you. Uranus and Neptune might barely be viewable at the max magnification that the Infinity 102AZ can handle. So, it doesnt require collimation or cleaning. The eyepieces provided with the 102az arent so good. In order of aperture, the Celestron Starsense Explorer DX 102AZ is the second most powerful in the range. The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ is an achromatic refractor, with a 102 mm doublet lens composed of two different types of glass. In instructions intended for raw beginners, points such as this are vital. The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ is different from the models above in that it is a reflector telescope. The only major complaint was to do with the inaccuracy of the apps tracking ability, especially when users decided to look further out. Saturns rings and the Cassini Division within them look fabulous, while its dimmer moons and cloud belts are a bit harder to spot. 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. The larger the aperture is, the brighter you can see in the telescope. The only shortcoming I guess you could say is its average specs and its Starsense technology being somewhat hit or miss however, from the research Ive done on it, the 102AZ is a device worth checking even if its a little more expensive than an equally powerful reflector system. Generally, refractors are less bulky and easier to operate. Their knowledge of the subject, combined with features like a price match promise, free lifetime tech support, a 30-day return policy, and financing choices, makes them a great pick. StarSense Explorer Smartphone App-Enabled Telescopes | Celestron Just about light enough for car travel and capable of really sharp image quality it's nevertheless a poor choice for astrophotographers. The Celestron dx 102 uses about 240x magnification power. The coating inside is of low quality. Now since the Dobsonian does not have an app how difficult does it become to locate objects ? Also I dont speak for Celestron and to prove so I will say the eye pieces are complete trash and it should come with a collimating tool. It would kill your phone quite fast. Youd have to either detach the phone and try not to move the telescope or use two separate phones. The altitude slow motion is equally stiff to turn, while the azimuth control had an annoying backlash. StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ vs 102AZ - Cloudy Nights Thanks to your phones limited battery life and computing power, the StarSense Explorer technology obviously cant take a new picture of the sky every time you move the telescope. If you prefer a smaller refractor, then the 102AZ below could work but will almost certainly cost more. StarPointer red dot finderscope, perfect for using the telescope during the day or without the StarSense Explorer app. Its also not flexible to eyepieces other than the 1.25 ones. The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ telescope is all about the smartphone app used to align it, though it's a more manual affair than you might expect. With Celestron dx 130az you will get about 200x magnification. DXC Technology helps global companies run their mission-critical systems and operations while modernizing IT, optimizing data architectures, and ensuring security and scalability across public, private and hybrid clouds. Celestron StarSense Explorer vs Celestron NexStar Telescopes: How do they compare? He began his working career with Kodak, back in the days of film, and then spent time observing from the Pic du Midi Observatory in the French Pyrenees. You cant also take pictures of the sky with the help of the telescope. Here's the full lineup of StarSense Explorer telescopes in order of price (low to high): StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ Refractor. will also probably upgrade in 5 years or so. Their Starsense explorer has been quite popular among stargazing beginners. Celestron dx 130az has a focal ratio of f/5. 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. Normally, this is done for astrophotography to avoid performing a time-consuming GoTo alignment and is only used to find one target. The mounting of the Celestron StarSense DX 102AZ is completely manual, with flexible rods to allow what are called slow motions, to provide finer control over the movement than simply pulling and pushing the instrument. There are eight different Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes which we cover in more detail below. However, it has the lowest aperture, which will limit your viewing capacity. All Rights Reserved. The optical quality is good for a telescope of this type, but for planetary observing a different instrument would be preferable, such as the 130 mm reflector in the same range. The mirror can become dewed up within minutes on some nights often the clearest. 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. Celestron is one of the most renowned brands making telescopes. Zane, thanks for the great review, it helped convince me to buy a StarSense 102! Modified vs Unmodified DSLR Astrophotography: The Ultimate Showdown! Type of Electronics: Manual - Smartphone with StarSense Explorer App Assisted. Skies & Scopes 2023. I'm new to astronomy and have previously only spent a couple of hours playing around with a 60mm refractor from a thrift store (have been able to find planets, and haven't looked for much else). 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. Stargazinghelp.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com. -cam, Zane great review as always thanks. 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. You can see a quick summary below, or read on for further detail: *This website makes money through affiliate commissions. There's also the Explorer DX 130AZ . Learn how your comment data is processed. Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Review: Don't Fall Into The Trap. The extra aperture is the main draw of the 130mm. 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). Watch this video from Celestron for a quick overview of these two models and also to give you a good perspective of the size of them standing next to a grown man: Overall, this is a brilliant option if you have the space to use it. If on the other hand youre willing to spend a bit more for telescope that are more powerful but will require a bit more tinkering, the SkyWatcher Dobsonian 6-inch or the skyquest XT6 is most certainly worth looking into too. For the 102 Ill need to likely buy a star diagonal, while for the 130 Ill need to buy a Cheshire or laser collimator so still a tie. Instead, it occasionally uses plate-solving technology when you first set up the telescope or move it across a significant portion of the sky, then tries its best to extrapolate finer movements using your phones relatively inaccurate gyroscope and accelerometer. Though most other popular telescopes are on months-long backorders, the DX 102 and its cousin, the DX 130AZ, appear to be in stock most of the time, and even when they areon backorder, there have been reports that deliveries are quicker than usual. Alignment procedure depends on a mirror, which collects dew, Instrument is stiff to move without slow motions. After a career that included making telescopes and editing a photography magazine, he became an author of popular astronomy books including Complete Guide to Stargazing, 101 Things to Spot in the Night Sky and Night Sky Atlas. 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. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. This is not to be confused with smartphone attachments that simply enable you to take photos of bright objects through the eyepiece, as found on some other beginners instruments. $599.95. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. ==>Click Here To Check TheCelestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZsPricing On Amazon! Celestron StarSense Explorer vs Celestron AstroMaster Telescopes: How do they compare? Yes, you can take astrophotography pictures with the Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes using a smartphone adapter like this basic one or this premium one. Its focal length is 660 mm. 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. This is the best measurement of a telescopes capacity to provide good views. They wont find things automatically for you, but they will search for what you can see and guide you to look at whatever planet or object you want to look at. Its not as good at viewing faint objects in outer space unlike a reflector or a compound device. Especially the Starsense explorer dx 120az and 130az. New York, How about Starsense Explorer DX130 compared to Astromaster 130EQ? This is exactly the same model from Celestron just being sold with different marketing and so is worth comparing the prices to find the best deal. Celestron Starsense Explorer 8 Dobsonian, Celestron Starsense Explorer 10 Dobsonian. The alt-azimuth mounting means that you can move the instrument around two axes up and down (altitude) and from side to side (azimuth). Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! at Amazon. What you can see will improve according to the size of the aperture. Socket wrench + normal wrench should do the trick if I recall correctly. Celestrons 1.25 prism is pretty good; a dielectric unit like Aperturas improves performance and wont scratch your eyepieces thanks to the equipped compression ring adapter. Your 5 year old will not be able to reach the eyepiece of the 130mm without assistance or something to stand on (which usually leads to grabbing for something and the only something in the area is the telescope which you just centered in on the object you want to show). Can you take pictures with the Celestron StarSense? Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. The camera views the sky through a mirror, enabling you to view the phones screen at a convenient angle. Telescope Mount Type: Alt-Azimuth. Stargazinghelp.com is a knowledge hub for professional and amateur astronomy and astrophotography enthusiasts. The StarSense app displays the cameras view of the night sky, using a time exposure if necessary so it may take some seconds to appear or refresh. As a result, youll get quite an exhilarating image. A tabletop telescope is the best choice at this price range. Youll be able to see Andromeda and other galaxies. You wont be taking this on trips. Just recently purchased DX130. It doesnt suffer from chromatic aberration and delivers a much sharper image of the night sky. Compare Celestron StarSense Explorer vs Celestron NexStar 130 SLT vs 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). The eyepiece for the 102mm will be better positioned for the little one. How would you rate the StarSense DX6 version (6 inch SCT) compared to a Skymax 127 on GTi mount? These views will be much brighter and clearer with the larger aperture models. Refractor optics can be further broken down into achromatic and apochromatic, where the former and lesser quality of the 2 is used within the StarSense Explorer. If you compare their size, 130az is quite big and heavy. See our overview of all the different Celestron NexStar models. 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. SKU: CEL-22461.