celestron starsense explorer dx 102az vs 130az celestron starsense explorer dx 102az vs 130az

Heres how it works. So, lets get down to the details, shall we? It seems only Celestron telescopes are available in our country. Overall, if you have the budget then it makes sense to get the higher aperture DX6 over the DX5 as it will provide better views. Although it's portable and definitely portable it wouldn't be as easy as moving a 102az. How were you able to loosen the tightness in the altitude axis? 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. The instructions tell you to turn it, but this is easier said than done. A simple slot-and-turn system would be much less aggravating for astronomers, unless you intend to use the instrument solely as a piece of furniture permanently set up in the corner of the room or do without the tray altogether. 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. 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. The pricing of this instrument is not significantly less than that of the Celestron NexStar 102 SLT the same instrument on a fully motorized mount, which has the great advantage of tracking objects for you. The downside is that it is generally more expensive. SKU: CEL-22461. These views will be much brighter and clearer with the larger aperture models. 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. Here lately though, it has not been able to track location. We dont have this model in my country but I saw a Celestron Starsense Explorer LT 127AZ being sold brand new. We are an independent astronomy and astrophotography-focused publication that conducts objective research to make product recommendations. You can see a quick summary below, or read on for further detail: *This website makes money through affiliate commissions. Dx 130 on the other hand weighs about 8.16 kg. 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. 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. So the views become much sharper and clearer. So, the technology in essence uses your phone to take occasional snapshots of the night sky to locate objects however, as phones cant really sustain battery for long periods whilst taking images, the snapshots arent taken all the time. Its focal length is about 650 mm. Robin Scagell is a lifelong astronomer. 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. It has an aperture of 114 mm (4.5 inches). A tabletop telescope is the best choice at this price range. 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. StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Refractor Telescope. Telescope Aperture: 130mm (5.12") Focal Ratio: f/5. It would kill your phone quite fast. For relative beginner (upgrade from binoculars! Celestron dx 130az has a focal ratio of f/5. I'll be observing from my front/backyard, which is in a location with a Bortle scale of 4 (rural/suburban transition). 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. Way better scope but not comparable mount wise. (Explained!). In terms of which one is right for you, there are two key things to look at it price and size: The fact that the price difference is fairly large actually helps narrow it down as, if you know your budget, you just need to pick what matters to you most: Please let us know if you have any questions by leaving a comment below. However, I want to share a great tip with you. 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. Faint objects like planetary nebulae or galaxies are off-limit. This forum and community is a wonderful resource! I'm interested in spending perhaps an hour or so every week or two doing astronomy. Now since the Dobsonian does not have an app how difficult does it become to locate objects ? Starting with the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ. we can explore many things and possible to learn new skills. Yes, the Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes are good. Mostly Astromaster and Powerseekers. I realized that it was very important for me that it the telescope be kid friendly. 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. They take care of employees and no work pressure and fun at work. The only bad thing upon assembly is that I have the same problem as you did, the altitude axis on my mount is also too tight to freely the OTA up and down. I understand because they have the same focal length they give the same views in any given eyepiece, but using the area of a circle (pi x radius squared) 102 = 8171, and 130 = 13273. 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. All of this requires some user input namely the date and time, the location, and choosing the stars. The reflector has coatings that only reflect 90% of the light hitting them. Between Celestron Starsense dx 102az and 130az, Celestron dx 130az is better. At its core, the StarSense Explorer actually uses a relatively old technology known as plate-solving. Before the main discussion, lets see the fundamental difference between both telescopes. I've been following the StarSense Explorer main thread, which has a lot of great information and seems particularly targeted towards adapting the bracket/mirror towards other telescopes. Is LT127 a better choice? So, if you want a telescope that can form clearer images, go for the Celestron Starsense Explorer dx 130az. Thank you in advance! 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. 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. It doesnt suffer from chromatic aberration and delivers a much sharper image of the night sky. The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ is an achromatic refractor, with a 102 mm doublet lens composed of two different types of glass. 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). The Celestron dx 102 uses about 240x magnification power. The only major complaint was to do with the inaccuracy of the apps tracking ability, especially when users decided to look further out. It has all the same pros and cons as the 8-inch model above, except that they are even more extreme even higher power and viewing capacity, but also even heavier and bigger. However, refractors are traditionally more robust than reflectors, so there is no ideal instrument to suit everyone. This means they have the advantages of GOTO technology and are smaller telescopes in terms of physical size. I have two young kids (between 5-10 years old) and would like to try and get them interested. I am sorry but I have zero knowledge on this so please excuse my raw language ! 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. 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). You Pay: $559.00. ), but techy enough to use either. Modified vs Unmodified DSLR Astrophotography: The Ultimate Showdown! 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. 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. The 8-inch aperture is huge and will provide few limitations to what you can see. You can zoom in for better precision. Similar cost. This mount is a little on the small side for either optical tube, but it works just fine. Thanks for the great review! Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. 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. Optically the telescope is well up to standard for a short-focus achromatic refractor and is well-suited to deep-sky observing. The 114 is a flawed bird-jones telescope with bad optics. Hence Celestron dx 130 wins again this round. To completely overcome false color you need a considerably more expensive apochromatic refractor or a reflector. ), Deimos vs Titania (How Are They Different? I love the starsense suggestions and how many things you can see in a short session. Your smartphone's camera must be sensitive enough to image the brighter stars on a night setting. All Rights Reserved. Once you undergo a super-simple alignment procedure, the StarSense Explorer app has thousands of objects it can find for youthe Moon, planets, most of the Messier catalog, and many more. Which makes it better for planetary views. Read the full Earning Disclosure here. Overall, this is the best option if you value a higher aperture for better views. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Would a barlow lens be a good addition to this setup? The advantage with these models is that the Schmidt-Cassegrain design allows high aperture in a much more compact body. Value $12.60. Boasting a whopping 10-inch aperture, the Celestron Starsense Explorer 10 Dobsonian is a beast of a telescope. Youll be able to see Andromeda and other galaxies. Can you describe how you were able to loosen? See our overview of all the different Celestron NexStar models. 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. I'd ideally want it to not be too hard for them to reach the eyepiece. https://www.NexStarSite.com. You can find the Celestron dx 130az on Amazon which costs around $450. Celestron dx 130az has a focal ratio of f/5. Whereas Celestron dx 130az has an aperture of a whopping 130 mm. This StarSense Explorer DX 102 review was written in January 2020, when the scope was first released for $399. You cant also take pictures of the sky with the help of the telescope. But theyre easily carryable and kid-friendly. But they take more time to set on the mount than dx 102az usually takes. Alignment procedure depends on a mirror, which collects dew, Instrument is stiff to move without slow motions. $599.95. In order of aperture, the Celestron Starsense Explorer DX 102AZ is the second most powerful in the range. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. We're pleased to report that loading and using the software on our Moto G8 phone was easy and quite intuitive. But thats not possible with dx 102az. 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. Get the 130. So, what is so special about the Celestron dx eyepieces? Thanks Zane; Ill take a look at Dob reviews. I consider myself handy and am not too worried about collimating a reflector (but would prefer to not have to do frequently). So, that really shortens out your options. 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. if youre not butchering it for the StarSense hardware, thats what Id buy. . Also note, that the same telescope is also being sold as the Popular Science StarSense Explorer DX 5. 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. Youll need more expensive telescopes from Celestron to take pictures. 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. 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). 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. Stargazing Help is a participant in Amazon Associates program. The red dot finderscope is decent as are all of the other accessories too. How does the StarSense Explorer 102 compare with the CELESTRON ASTRO FI 102 MM WI-FI MAKSUTOV CASSEGRAIN? Users of the Explorer have found it to be a very capable device and quite easy to set up. What these StarSense Explorer telescopes do is attach your smartphone then, using the app, scan the night sky above you, tell you what you can see on that particular night, and then guide you to it. You need to consider where you will use it and store it. Type of Electronics: Manual - Smartphone with StarSense Explorer App Assisted. This is fortunate, as the Quick Start manual ends at this point. This is necessary when aligning the telescope, as you need to point it at a recognizable object at the start of observing. What can you see with Celestron StarSense Explorer? will also probably upgrade in 5 years or so. Its not as good at viewing faint objects in outer space unlike a reflector or a compound device. So unless you can be sure it has those or the price is absurdly low, wed recommend you pass. Includes Free. The images will generally be sharper because misalignment isnt very common, Refractor based devices tend to be more expensive than their similarly powered reflector counterparts (A 4 inch reflector may only set you back $100 one example being the. 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. The Celestron NexStar telescope range are all full computerized compound / catadioptric telescopes. 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. 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 . So, there are issues of ghosting and internal reflection. I recently purchased the 130mm version for a great price. Uranus and Neptune are barely more than star-like dots, with blue disks barely bigger than the resolving limit of the telescope itself. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. There's also the Explorer DX 130AZ . The accessory tray is a nice, sturdy affair and an actual tray rather than the silly eyepiece rack supplied with many scopes. What eyepiece should I upgrade for this telescope? At this aperture and focal ratio, there is a fair amount of chromatic aberration, but sharp views of the Moon and planets are still possible. Should you buy the Celestron StarSense DX 102AZ? . We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Find out more about how we test and review products. 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. Are Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes computerized / GOTO? 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. Its not a bad telescope to have. STARSENSE EXPLORER APP: The app generates a list of the best objects to view based on your exact time & location. Its focal length is 660 mm. 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. 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. -cam, Zane great review as always thanks. 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?! You wont be taking this on trips. Thank you for the advice Mike and Tfer. So undoubtedly, Celestron dx 130az is the winner. For purchasing this telescope, we highly recommend HighPointScientific, the largest telescope retailer in the United States. Its also portable and has a better optical design. NY 10036. All the telescopes from Celestron Edge HD and Schmidt-Cassegrain are compatible with the Starsense app. Uranus and Neptune might barely be viewable at the max magnification that the Infinity 102AZ can handle. 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 bracket fits most phones and will work just fine even if you have a relatively thick case (or even a PopSocket). Since both are beginner-level telescopes, comparison comes to mind. The mirror can become dewed up within minutes on some nights often the clearest. Overall, this is the most entry-level of the four telescopes in this range. Just recently purchased DX130. 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Hope this post was helpful to make your choice. 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. Are the Celestron StarSense Explorer good telescopes? The optics are fitted into a closed tube. 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. For $399 you can get a much more capable telescope with a larger aperture, e.g. Thankfully, even with 1.25 eyepieces, you can squeeze out a field of view of about 2.5 degrees with a 32mm Plossl or similar, so this should not be of huge concern to a beginner. The 130 is better but still pretty small for that price. 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. This means we may be compensated if you click links on this page at no extra cost to you. What you can see will improve according to the size of the aperture. Unlike other reflectors, it uses a parabolic-style mirror inside. Even heavier and larger. Deep-sky objects are a little less exciting. The extra aperture is the main draw of the 130mm. Especially the Starsense explorer dx 120az and 130az. Its a simple, aluminum-legged alt-azimuth mount with slow-motion controls on both axes. Any tips would be greatly appreciated, otherwise, I may have to send my scope back. The model I tested is the Explorer DX 102AZ refractor telescope ($400). Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Newtonian Reflector Telescope. The new Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes use your smartphone to make it much easier to find planets, galaxies, and other objects to look at. 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. Often this makes for more comfortable viewing with less stooping. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Celestron StarSense Explorer Review & Comparison. That leaves 130az with more options for planetary views. My alt adjust is pretty over tight as well. Is that telescope comparable to this model? Mars dark spots can be seen, although barely, when the planet is close to Earth, while its polar ice caps are a little more obvious. Thanks! You therefore get all the same advantages of a great compact Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope tube but with even higher 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. 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).