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. The Celestron NexStar telescope range are all full computerized compound / catadioptric telescopes. 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. Its focal length is about 650 mm. StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ vs 102AZ - Cloudy Nights I am sorry but I have zero knowledge on this so please excuse my raw language ! This mount is a little on the small side for either optical tube, but it works just fine. 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. Overall, this is the most entry-level of the four telescopes in this range. Overall, this is a great option if you want high power in a compact package and have the budget to pay a little more for this. especially in a light polluted city environment, Would still recommend a Dobsonian instead but the GTi is a huge upgrade over the StarSense Explorer. But youll find the images quite sharp. Does the difference between this and the Meade infinity 102 justify the $170 increase? We dont have this model in my country but I saw a Celestron Starsense Explorer LT 127AZ being sold brand new. The Moon looks pretty good, while Mercury and Venus show nothing besides their phases. This is fortunate, as the Quick Start manual ends at this point. 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. Same focal length. Yes, you can take astrophotography pictures with the Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes using a smartphone adapter like this basic one or this premium one. Testing out the StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ at our HQ in a brightly lit industrial section of light-polluted Torrance, CA. It's siblings, though, 80AZ , 102AZ, and 130AZ, are much . Should you buy the Celestron StarSense DX 102AZ? The optics are fitted into a closed tube. StarSense dock for your smartphone. ), Celestron Nexstar 4SE Review (Worth The Price Or Too, Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ Review (Worth A Buy Or. 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?! The altitude slow motion is equally stiff to turn, while the azimuth control had an annoying backlash. Read the full Earning Disclosure here. Our Verdict: The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102 AZ telescope is a beginner's ultimate telescope. ), Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Review (A Good Beginner Device!? ), Deimos vs Uranus (How Are They Different? Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Review (Worth Buying!?) We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. It has a memory card but it cant help you to take pictures. This telescope was a huge investment for Someone like myself. Tower - 3, Oxygen Business Park SEZ, Sector 144, Noida Expressway, Noida, Uttar Pradesh - 201304. How does the StarSense Explorer 102 compare with the CELESTRON ASTRO FI 102 MM WI-FI MAKSUTOV CASSEGRAIN? Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Review (Is The, Orion EON 115ED Triplet Review (Photography Device Worth, Celestron Omni XLT 120 Review (Is It Worth The Price?! The StarSense has an Aperture of 102mm, a focal length of 650mm resulting in a focal ratio of just under f/6.5. a 6" or even 8" dobsonian ( Links on what to expect in different telescope aperture sizes ). Bear in mind that not all smartphones will work, so remember to check your model against a list on the Celestron website before taking the plunge. The amount of celestial objects StarSense Explorer picked up under these conditions was truly amazing.Image by @wellreadnaturalist pic.twitter.com/QaPUPss0qM. The accessory tray that sits in the middle of the tripod legs, however, needs to be attached by fiddly little thumb screws that are already in place but the wrong way round in their holes! Its focal length is 660 mm. If youre interested in other refractor systems, maybe due to the slightly inferior light gathering abilities of the 102AZ, this list may be helpful. Optically the telescope is well up to standard for a short-focus achromatic refractor and is well-suited to deep-sky observing. Celestron Starsense Explorer DX 102AZ Vs 130AZ It has a larger aperture than dx 102az. The series also includes an 80mm f/11 refractor and a 114mm f/9 reflector, both for $180 on the lighter LT mount. Free shipping. Finally, there is a standard red-dot finder to help in pointing the telescope at objects. Telescope Aperture: 130mm (5.12") Focal Ratio: f/5. If you compare their size, 130az is quite big and heavy. Any tips would be greatly appreciated, otherwise, I may have to send my scope back. 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. 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. I love the starsense suggestions and how many things you can see in a short session. ), Celestron Omni XLT 102 Review (Worth It Or Overpriced!? 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. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ review: Design. 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. Its also not flexible to eyepieces other than the 1.25 ones. Just about light enough for car travel and capable of really sharp image quality it's nevertheless a poor choice for astrophotographers. You can even watch faint celestial objects with it. But you can certainly have better ones with that budget. Youll need more expensive telescopes from Celestron to take pictures. Confusingly, the instructions then refer to the knob at the bottom of the clamp! 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. 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. For this review I tested the DX 102AZ, a 102mm f/6.5 achromatic refractor. The 5 reflector seems like a solid scope. In this article, we provide an overview of the differences between these telescopes so that you can understand the pros and cons of each. Here we focus on becoming a knowledge hub for astronomy and astrophotography enthusiasts. Im very new to Astromony and have a chance to get a Celestron C102-HD. A 32mm Plossl will provide 20x, with a slightly wider true field than the included 25mm ocular, but is of debatable usefulness. Which is better than the image youll see from normal reflector optics. Any advice would help. The eyepiece for the 102mm will be better positioned for the little one. A tabletop telescope is the best choice at this price range. 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. Conclusion: Which Celestron StarSense Explorer is best for you? 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). 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. collimating. However, there are some key differences between them. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. at Amazon. A large 10" parabolic primary mirror with XLT coatings helps you make the most of StarSense technology. 4mm Eyepiece vs 20mm Eyepiece! The 114 is a flawed bird-jones telescope with bad optics. Finally, the Celestron Starsense Explorer DX 130AZ model is bigger in terms of both physical bulk and aperture. The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ makes use of slow-motion controls for fine-tuned tracking. I guess at the end of the day, I'm curious if either the refractor or reflector is known to be a lot easier with kids; and whether the refractor tends to be a better fit for beginners. Although it's portable and definitely portable it wouldn't be as easy as moving a 102az. Here lately though, it has not been able to track location. Its focal length is 660 mm. Add to Wish List Item in Wish List . But it can suffer from spherical aberration. Though you won't have the activation code, it will open and test your phone for compatibility. My alt adjust is pretty over tight as well. Now, when talking about accessories its important to discuss the eyepieces. This forum and community is a wonderful resource! The extra aperture is the main draw of the 130mm. I have two young kids (between 5-10 years old) and would like to try and get them interested. So, which one is better between Celestron Starsense explorer dx 102az vs 130az? Celestron is one of the most reliable telescope manufacturers in the world. You may even see Marss red spot, Saturns rings, or even Jupiters spiral patterns. Celestron StarSense Explorer 8" Dobsonian, Celestron Starsense Explorer 10" Dobsonian, The lightest, most portable, and easiest to operate in the range, Generally the cheapest (although check prices). Includes Free. Theres a hex nut inside the dovetail clamp; a socket wrench will do the job. In fact, you do need to apply a lot of force to twist it. All of this requires some user input namely the date and time, the location, and choosing the stars. As a result, youll get quite an exhilarating image. Required fields are marked *. What's more, the instrument comes with everything you need for a night under the stars: two eyepieces a 25 mm and 10 mm, which offer magnifications of 26x and 66x a StarPointer red-dot finderscope, star diagonal and tripod. Are Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes computerized / GOTO? The StarSense Explorer DX 102 includes two 1.25" eyepieces: a 25mm "Super" Konig providing 26x and a 10mm Konig providing 65x. Compare Celestron StarSense Explorer vs Celestron NexStar 130 SLT vs 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. Dx 102azs optical design also has chromatic aberration issues. The 80mm/3-inch aperture is the smallest of the range and will limit the brightness and clarity with which you can view night sky objects. The scope is alsoavailable on Amazon, which is unquestionably the most popular e-retailer in the United States, even when telescopes aloneare taken into account. how do they compare? 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. This StarSense Explorer DX 102 review was written in January 2020, when the scope was first released for $399. A poor design, as these screws will quickly get lost. This model and the 102 AZ are refractors. I am trying to get my 9 Year old interested in this and the only reason why I was considering the 130 was because of the Star sense app which makes it super easy to find deep space objects and galaxies. 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. Thanks! The red dot finderscope is decent as are all of the other accessories too. The clunky movement and delicate optics could limit the usefulness of the instrument for more detailed observations, but the system certainly does get you observing within just a few minutes, unlike more advanced telescopes, thus overcoming one of the greatest hurdles that beginners face. As for other key specifications, dx 102az has a focal ratio of 6.5. 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. 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. Particularly under dark skies, bright nebulae like Orion and the Lagoon look great, but planetary nebulae such as the Cats Eye are really too small and dim to be interesting in the 102. 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. In practice, this system is limited to an accuracy of a bit better 0.25 degrees, or half the width of a full moon. How this StarSense technology works is actually very similar to what can be referred to as plate-solving. RECOMMENDED BUY FOR THE STARSENSE TECHNOLOGY. One 10mm Kellner and one 25mm Kellner eyepiece. Not portable. ), Deimos vs Saturn (How Are They Different? It doesnt suffer from chromatic aberration and delivers a much sharper image of the night sky. Saturns rings and the Cassini Division within them look fabulous, while its dimmer moons and cloud belts are a bit harder to spot. SKU: CEL-22461. You can see a quick summary below, or read on for further detail: *This website makes money through affiliate commissions. Mainly interested in the mount and optical tube. The optical design is dreadful, the mount and the focuser is plastic, and the accessories that come with it are useless. . For $399 you can get a much more capable telescope with a larger aperture, e.g. So all that is left is light gathering. Would a barlow lens be a good addition to this setup? All the telescopes from Celestron Edge HD and Schmidt-Cassegrain are compatible with the Starsense app. Compare Celestron StarSense Explorer vs Celestron NexStar 130 SLT vs Celestron 130 vs Celestron DX 102AZ . Overall, this is the best option if you value a higher aperture for better views. In essence, what it does is take a snapshot of the sky and use computer algorithms and star maps to figure out where it is pointing. Thats why with cx 102az you wont be able to see faint objects. The DX 102 includes a 1.25 Amici prism star diagonal, which is mostly plastic and has some issues with glare and a diffraction spike on bright targets. Small planets will be visible so are faint objects like clusters and nebulae. For Celestron dx 102az the former type is used and also they are low in quality. In all my research the 8 Dobsonian seems to be a good beginner telescope. I recently purchased the 130mm version for a great price. Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! In order of aperture, the Celestron Starsense Explorer DX 102AZ is the second most powerful in the range. 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. The model I tested is the Explorer DX 102AZ refractor telescope ($400). we can explore many things and possible to learn new skills. Celestron StarSense Explorer Guide For Beginners Mike Swanson The 102 refractor will have CA on bright objects, while the 130 reflector will need (regular?) However, reflectors tend to give you more aperture (power) for the same price, with the downside being the bigger size and more cumbersome operation. StarSense Explorer Smartphone App-Enabled Telescopes | Celestron 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? To connect the Starsense app with your telescope put your smartphone in the Starsense dock. Patented, award-winning StarSense sky recognition technology uses your smartphone to analyze star patterns overhead and calculate the telescope's position in real-time. This is probably one of the main reasons why youd consider getting the StarSense Explorer especially considering there are other similarly priced systems that offer a lot more bang for the buck (Ill list a few alternatives later). In principle, the StarSense Explorer tech is basically a bracket to point your phone at a small mirror that has been aligned to the telescope mount, and then uses the phones onboard camera and processing power to plate-solve. Robin Scagell is a lifelong astronomer. This is the best measurement of a telescopes capacity to provide good views. I'm aware the reflector has a larger aperture (though the secondary mirror erodes this advantage a little?) Whereas Celestron dx 130az has an aperture of a whopping 130 mm. This means they have the advantages of GOTO technology and are smaller telescopes in terms of physical size. So, if you want a telescope that can form clearer images, go for the Celestron Starsense Explorer dx 130az. The downside is that it is generally more expensive. The finding system is not always spot-on, so you need to be prepared to search for objects around the edge of the field of view. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Now that we know a little bit about the two telescopes lets take a look at this graph for a more comprehensive view: Both the Celestron telescopes are good choices in their respective categories. StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Newtonian Reflector Telescope. The body of the eyepieces is fully built on plastic. We're pleased to report that loading and using the software on our Moto G8 phone was easy and quite intuitive. Your email address will not be published. Its a simple, aluminum-legged alt-azimuth mount with slow-motion controls on both axes. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ review: First light and functionality. Trying to decide between these 2 scopes Im finding it difficult. Its a good magnification for viewing the Moon, planets, smaller deep-sky objects like globular clusters, and splitting double stars. Celestrons main explanation is that many beginners would buy the bracket and attempt to fit it onto substandard telescopes (or simply do it improperly) and become frustrated. Therefore this makes for a real (relative) bargain and a great option. Which is Stronger? But its only limited to brighter objects in the night sky. Is that telescope comparable to this model? Here's the full lineup of StarSense Explorer telescopes in order of price (low to high): StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ Refractor. In terms of magnification that's a significant step-up from the 'toy' telescopes that dominate . 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. 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. Celestron StarSense Explorer Review & Comparison. Before the main discussion, lets see the fundamental difference between both telescopes. You therefore get all the same advantages of a great compact Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope tube but with even higher power. The 8-inch aperture is huge and will provide few limitations to what you can see. You cant also take pictures of the sky with the help of the telescope. Out of the three types it is identified as having refractor-type optics. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ 102mm f/6.5 AZ 22460 B&H So whether you buy this model or opt for the full Go To version, or indeed the NexStar 130 mm SLT reflector, is a decision that you will have to make depending on your observing interests. I find it exciting to hear that the StarSense explorer seems to make it quite easy and fast to explore the sky. This is generally only used to locate a singular celestial object. 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. The Celestron dx 102 uses about 240x magnification power. 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.
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