Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! 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 StarSense Explorer vs Celestron AstroMaster Telescopes: How do they compare? 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. 4mm Eyepiece vs 20mm Eyepiece! ), Deimos vs Titan (How Are They Different? 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. No, your phone cant take pictures while using the Starsense app. Winner: Between the two telescopes, Celestron Starsense Explorer dx 130az has superior image formation quality. With the tripod attached the length would be 1.24 metres too. 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. This StarSense Explorer DX 102 review was written in January 2020, when the scope was first released for $399. The downside is that it is generally in the higher budget range and that it is less portable, heavier, and bulkier. Just trying to decide between a 102 refractor vs a 130 reflector. A large 10" parabolic primary mirror with XLT coatings helps you make the most of StarSense technology. There are six different models to suit different budgets and priorities. This is the best measurement of a telescope's capacity to provide good views. 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. NY 10036. Disclosure - If you buy something via our link, we may earn a commission with no additional expense to you. Which eyepieces would you suggest to replace those less-than-ideal ones that come with the Stars Sense 130? After much debate, we finally know everything that there is to know regarding the two telescopes. Zane, thanks for the great review, it helped convince me to buy a StarSense 102! The Celestron StarSense DX 102AZ features a doublet lens composed of two different types of glass, offering bright views of targets. Here lately though, it has not been able to track location. The amount of celestial objects StarSense Explorer picked up under these conditions was truly amazing.Image by @wellreadnaturalist pic.twitter.com/QaPUPss0qM. Find out more about how we test and review products. Nevertheless, the purpose for this software is to provide convenience for beginner level astronomers so, Ill explain how it works here. Ultimately, due to the somewhat inferior nature of the phones used (at least when compared to a GoTo Computerised Mount) the field of view will only be limited to a max of 0.25 degrees (half the width of the moon). The coating inside is of low quality. . A 6mm gold-line eyepiece will provide 108x with the StarSense Explorer DX 102, which is near the upper bounds of what the optics of this telescope can handle. Celestron dx 102az on the other hand is not really worth the price. 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. The 130 mm (5-inch) aperture is fairly large and will enable great views of planets and deep-sky objects when the night sky conditions are right. The alternative equatorial mounting, which has one of its axes tilted at the same angle as your latitude, not only confuses the wits out of many beginners but has a drawback in that it involves an overhanging load usually balanced with a counterweight, reducing the portability. 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. However, its enough to get you started. 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. 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. Free shipping. 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. Also can you recommend some good telescopes which are available for $400 price range or less.I really dont want to spend more as I dont know if my son will want to pursue this in the future. StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Refractor Telescope. Celestron is one of the most reliable telescope manufacturers in the world. we can explore many things and possible to learn new skills. Add to Wish List Item in Wish List . There is a great deal on a Celestron 102 DX at Amazon for $359, only 50 dollars more than the Popular . Senior Software Developer (Former Employee) - Bangalore, Karnataka - April 23, 2023. The StarSense Explorer utilises the oldest telescopic optics out of the 3 main categories currently around called refractor optics. There are eight different Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes which we cover in more detail below. You therefore get all the same advantages of a great compact Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope tube but with even higher power. In instructions intended for raw beginners, points such as this are vital. But its only limited to brighter objects in the night sky. Its not a bad telescope to have. Optically the telescope is well up to standard for a short-focus achromatic refractor and is well-suited to deep-sky observing. Users of the Explorer have found it to be a very capable device and quite easy to set up. Out of the three types it is identified as having refractor-type optics. There's also the Explorer DX 130AZ . Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, So undoubtedly, Celestron dx 130az is the winner. (14) notify when in stock. Before the purchase, be sure to install the StarSense Explorer app on your phone. 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. 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. 10.7 Arcsec-(Rayleigh)0.89 Arcsec-(Dawes), 1.37 Arcsec-(Rayleigh)1.14 Arcsec-(Dawes), Has more magnification power and forms better views, Less expensive but doesnt provide enough features considering the price. Uranus and Neptune might barely be viewable at the max magnification that the Infinity 102AZ can handle. But theyre easily carryable and kid-friendly. The downside is that it is heavier and bulkier, so you should think about where you will use it and whether you value power over portability. StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian. This model and the 102 AZ are refractors. For relative beginner (upgrade from binoculars! 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. 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. How this StarSense technology works is actually very similar to what can be referred to as plate-solving. At its core, the StarSense Explorer actually uses a relatively old technology known as plate-solving. ), Deimos vs Europa (How Are They Different? The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ offers access to the myriad targets that grace our night sky, but can be tricky to locate if the astronomer is just starting out in skywatching. A used StarSense Explorer scope will likely be missing the code for the app and many of the scopes floating around have had their phone brackets yanked off as well for use on other instruments. Celestron dx 130az has a focal ratio of f/5. 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. It seems immovable, and many beginners will wonder if they are meant to be forcing this round at all. COAST HX4 Dual-Color Utility Beam LED Clip Light. Read why we prefer High Point Scientific to Amazon. This would be my first telescope and looking for Push To feature to help my 9 year old and me get into exploring the skies. As noted above, the 102 in the name refers to the telescopes aperture of 102mm (4-inch). Is LT127 a better choice? Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ review: First light and functionality. 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 model I tested is the Explorer DX 102AZ refractor telescope ($400). The optical design is dreadful, the mount and the focuser is plastic, and the accessories that come with it are useless. The StarSense has an Aperture of 102mm, a focal length of 650mm resulting in a focal ratio of just under f/6.5. if youre not butchering it for the StarSense hardware, thats what Id buy. ), but techy enough to use either. Celestron has been attempting to use various methods of technological assistance for the past two decades first with the NexStar series of telescopes and SkyAlign (to mixed results), then with their StarSense technology (a flop), their AstroFi and NexStar Evolution telescopes, and now the StarSense Explorer. 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. The DX 102s optical tube is a 102mm f/6.5 refractor with a focal length of 650mm, the same as used on many other Celestron telescope/mount packages like the Omni 102 AZ and NexStar 102SLT. 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. That leaves 130az with more options for planetary views. Its focal length is 660 mm. The new Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes use your smartphone to make it much easier to find planets, galaxies, and other objects to look at. 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. But youll find the images quite sharp. The package comes with two eyepieces, giving two useful magnifications of 26x and 66x, and what is termed an erect-image diagonal. The camera views the sky through a mirror, enabling you to view the phones screen at a convenient angle. Rating: 9/10. Refractor optics are also categorised into two types. Thank you in advance! However, it has the lowest aperture, which will limit your viewing capacity. 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. ), Deimos vs Titania (How Are They Different? Brand new in 2022 are the two new Dobsonians in the range this Starsense Explorer 8-inch Dobsonian, and the 10-inch version covered below. Can you take pictures with the Celestron StarSense? I would avoid both. Here's the full lineup of StarSense Explorer telescopes in order of price (low to high): StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ Refractor. Its StarSense technology links a smartphone to a telescope in a simple, yet robust fashion. I dont intend on using the phone attatchment, but will probably upgrade the diagonal and finder scope on either. It seems only Celestron telescopes are available in our country. If you disregard factors like size and portability, then the Celestron Starsense Explorer 10 Dobsonian is the best as it has the highest aperture and will provide the best views. You wont be able to see many details but large planets will be visible. Im still figuring out, between Starsense Explorer DX130 and LT127. The red dot finderscope is decent as are all of the other accessories too. $599.95. But it needs collimation from time to time since the alignment gets messed up often. They are completely manual though and do not have the StarSense technology and smartphone interactivity (although you may be able to replicate this with other adapters and apps. For further details on these telescopes, you can also check outCelestrons website. 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. 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). This is generally only used to locate a singular celestial object. Thanks Zane; Ill take a look at Dob reviews. I went ahead and ordered the 102mm. The good news is you can at least upgrade your Celestron finderscope later. You may even see Marss red spot, Saturns rings, or even Jupiters spiral patterns. To completely overcome false color you need a considerably more expensive apochromatic refractor or a reflector. 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. As a result, it sometimes shows chromatic aberration. But thats not possible with dx 102az. 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). . Compare Celestron StarSense Explorer vs Celestron NexStar 130 SLT vs Celestron 130 vs Celestron DX 102AZ . 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 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. The mount's not even ideal. Firstly its height might be a bit of a problem and secondly, the adjustment of the mount being quite stiff will make it a bit of pain to smoothly turn the Explorer. 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. How were you able to loosen the tightness in the altitude axis? Socket wrench + normal wrench should do the trick if I recall correctly. $469.95. 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 Celestron dx 102 uses about 240x magnification power. 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. Thats why with cx 102az you wont be able to see faint objects. In that regard you cant completely be reliant on the app, which may or may not be reasonably accurate considering the quality of your phones camera nevertheless, this shouldnt be a deal breaker if you were to decide on this telescope. They are generally more expensive though. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. This means we may make a commission if you purchase an item using one of our links*. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX100AZ vs. DX 102AZ - posted in Refractors : There is about a $100 difference in these two packages, but there is only 2 mm difference in the aperture. This means they have the advantages of GOTO technology and are smaller telescopes in terms of physical size. As a result, youll get quite an exhilarating image. +91-120-406-2000. 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?! 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. So all that is left is light gathering. With Celestron dx 130az you will get about 200x magnification. The Celestron Omni XLT 150 is available here but is priced way above my budget. Youd have to either detach the phone and try not to move the telescope or use two separate phones. The Celestron Starsense DX 6 is exactly the same as the DX5 above but has a larger 6-inch aperture instead. Looking for something portable at the moment, with plan to add a 10 dob in the future. The clutch that holds the telescope in altitude, on the test model anyway, is fierce, so to move it you need to grasp the tripod firmly with one hand and wrench the tube up or down with the other as per the instructions. However, I want to share a great tip with you. All of this requires some user input namely the date and time, the location, and choosing the stars. The Celestron Starsense explorer dx 102az telescope uses one of the oldest types of telescope optics. The details will be a lot better than dx 102az. There is an issue though in that if you are using your smartphone attached to the telescope to use the StarSense technology then you wont be able to attach it to the eyepiece to take a photo at the same time. Overall, while it would not always be our first choice, the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102 is definitely one of my favorite beginner scopes in its price range. New tabletop game 'Death in Space' lets you mine for precious gems in the ravaged Tenebris system. The extra aperture is the main draw of the 130mm. Unlike household mirrors, its reflective coating is on the front surface rather than the back, so regularly wiping it clear could result in damage to the coating. Overall, this is the most entry-level of the four telescopes in this range. Here is a quick video that shows how this works: This is a great, innovative feature that takes advantage of the smartphone that you probably already own, and gives you something simpler and cheaper than a fully computerized telescope. The prowess of the instrument is more suited to beginners than to dedicated observers. If you compare their size, 130az is quite big and heavy. The extra ingredient over a standard manual mounting is the attachment for a smartphone, directly fixed to the central assembly. 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. What you can see will improve according to the size of the aperture. The Starsense app will work with most of the telescopes that have computerised mounts. Which makes it better for planetary views. The other 2 are known as reflector optics (it utilises mirrors as opposed to the glass lens used in refractor telescopes) and compound optics (they utilise a combination of the other 2 optics). 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. However, the system has a few notable limitations that could curtail observing sessions. Mostly Astromaster and Powerseekers. Thats all from us about Celestron Starsense explorer dx 102az vs 130az. How Do The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZsOptics Work? Mike Swanson Join us in this discussion to learn more. Finally, the Celestron Starsense Explorer DX 130AZ model is bigger in terms of both physical bulk and aperture. 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. Can you describe how you were able to loosen? Have you tried this model and would you recommend it? Its also not flexible to eyepieces other than the 1.25 ones. 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. 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. The eyepiece for the 102mm will be better positioned for the little one. Popular Science by Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 5" Smartphone App-Enabled Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope. Now since the Dobsonian does not have an app how difficult does it become to locate objects ? Celestron Starsense Explorer 8 Dobsonian, Celestron Starsense Explorer 10 Dobsonian. how do they compare? In addition, the faster focal ratio of F/6.5 will also make it better at taking astrophotography images. *This post may contain affiliate links. Like dx 102az, dx 130az also comes with two 1.25 eyepieces. The altitude slow motion is equally stiff to turn, while the azimuth control had an annoying backlash. 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. Which is Stronger? Buy Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ 102mm f/6.5 AZ Refractor Telescope featuring Use Smartphone App for Star Navigation, Follow Directions to Find Great Objects, Advanced Precise Alignment Algorithm, 102mm f/6.5 Refractor Optical Tube, Single Fork-Arm Manual Alt-Azimuth Mount, Dual Axis Slow-Motion Control Arms, Includes 26x & 66x 1.25" Eyepieces, 90 Erect-Image Diagonal, Adjustable . It has a larger aperture than dx 102az. StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Refractor. All Rights Reserved. Finally, there is a standard red-dot finder to help in pointing the telescope at objects. And the Celestron Starsense Explorer dx 130az has a 10mm Kellner eyepiece with 65x magnification power. If you prefer a smaller refractor, then the 102AZ below could work but will almost certainly cost more. 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. Modified vs Unmodified DSLR Astrophotography: The Ultimate Showdown! 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. I'd ideally want it to not be too hard for them to reach the eyepiece. The tube itself is around 81 cm long. at Amazon. 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. 6mm goldline and/or a 2x Barlow would be my first picks. The StarSense has an Aperture of 102mm, a focal length of 650mm resulting in a focal ratio of just under f/6.5. For purchasing this telescope, we highly recommend HighPointScientific, the largest telescope retailer in the United States. In all my research the 8 Dobsonian seems to be a good beginner telescope. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Skies &Scopes. Open star clusters look great and benefit from the 102AZs wide field of view, but globular star clusters are little more than fuzzy balls. Hope this post was helpful to make your choice. Galaxies, nebulaes, star clusters and large parts of the messier should be viewable although there may be issues showing accurate colours with some stars. So, it doesnt require collimation or cleaning. 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. The eyepieces supplied, although in lightweight plastic barrels, are of good optical quality. 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. Once set up, you need to align the red-dot finder with the main instrument by day. Its also portable and has a better optical design. Required fields are marked *. 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. Would one model be a better purchase vs the other?