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. Any additional thoughts you have to sesparate the two? The eyepieces provided with the 102az arent so good. The 8-inch aperture is huge and will provide few limitations to what you can see. Celestron dx 130az has a focal ratio of f/5. The StarSense Explorer DX 102 includes two 1.25" eyepieces: a 25mm "Super" Konig providing 26x and a 10mm Konig providing 65x. The eyepieces supplied, although in lightweight plastic barrels, are of good optical quality. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ review: Design. The 80 mm model is the smallest with the weakest viewing capacity, and the 254 mm model is the largest with the best. 4mm Eyepiece vs 20mm Eyepiece! 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. Mike Swanson Though you won't have the activation code, it will open and test your phone for compatibility. The accessories provided are decent with the eyepieces being functional although of lower quality than Plossl eyepieces that a fair few telescopes in this price range tend to offer. a 6" or even 8" dobsonian ( Links on what to expect in different telescope aperture sizes ). Unlike other reflectors, it uses a parabolic-style mirror inside. 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. The 5 reflector seems like a solid scope. 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 final step is to remove the cap from the mirror on the StarSense dock again, courageously pulling off with some effort and fitting your smartphone into the spring-loaded slider. In terms of magnification that's a significant step-up from the 'toy' telescopes that dominate . The eyepiece for the 102mm will be better positioned for the little one. Any tips would be greatly appreciated, otherwise, I may have to send my scope back. Learn more about our story and the team behind the scene. Which is better than the image youll see from normal reflector optics. However, the mount does have a couple minor issues. (Assume eyepieces are upgrade on either scope of course). The coating inside is of low quality. StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Refractor. 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. There are eight different Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes which we cover in more detail below. A large 10" parabolic primary mirror with XLT coatings helps you make the most of StarSense technology. The Celestron Starsense explorer dx 102az telescope uses one of the oldest types of telescope optics. 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. 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. Get to know more about us here. So, that really shortens out your options. COAST HX4 Dual-Color Utility Beam LED Clip Light. 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. A tabletop telescope is the best choice at this price range. The Celestron NexStar telescope range are all full computerized compound / catadioptric telescopes. I would recommend it though. All Rights Reserved. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. They are generally more expensive though. 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. Now since the Dobsonian does not have an app how difficult does it become to locate objects ? Thank you in advance! The length of the tube is around 63.5 cm. One 10mm Kellner and one 25mm Kellner eyepiece. Add to Wish List Item in Wish List . It doesnt have issues like chromatic aberration like the dx 102az. There is no reason at all to get the StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ. Every slow-motion control I've ever seen attaches to the mount using visible small thumb screws. Uranus and Neptune might barely be viewable at the max magnification that the Infinity 102AZ can handle. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In instructions intended for raw beginners, points such as this are vital. I love the starsense suggestions and how many things you can see in a short session. Celestrons specs say 11% obstruction by area, so the 130 loses 1460 of area = 11813, still bigger than the 102. 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). $479.95. One major source of problems is the mirror that is crucial to finding objects. Although it's portable and definitely portable it wouldn't be as easy as moving a 102az. In short, this is a brilliant telescope for viewing the night sky. 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. Zane thoughts on StarSense Explorer DX130 vs Astro-Fi 130? Which Celestron StarSense telescope is best? For further details on these telescopes, you can also check outCelestrons website. But Celestron dx 130az does since they are exposed to dirt. Its focal length is about 650 mm. 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. Youve seen the sneak peek we assume. Way better scope but not comparable mount wise. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Not portable. This is the best measurement of a telescope's capacity to provide good views. 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. Get the 130. It focuses the image on a single point. collimating. That leaves 130az with more options for planetary views. Now, when talking about accessories its important to discuss the eyepieces. 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. 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. HIGH-QUALITY 102MM REFRACTOR: Fully coated glass optics provide bright, sharp, clear views of craters on the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy, and Pleiades Open Star Cluster. 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. Add to Wish List. 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. Same focal length. . This means we may be compensated if you click links on this page at no extra cost to you. 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. 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 mount is a little on the small side for either optical tube, but it works just fine. Space is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Therefore this makes for a real (relative) bargain and a great option. 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. Nevertheless, the purpose for this software is to provide convenience for beginner level astronomers so, Ill explain how it works here. What Do The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ's Specifications Mean? The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ is an achromatic refractor, with a 102 mm doublet lens composed of two different types of glass. The optical design is dreadful, the mount and the focuser is plastic, and the accessories that come with it are useless. Theres a hex nut inside the dovetail clamp; a socket wrench will do the job. As for what the app provides, they have database of a few hundred celestial objects so not bad for a beginner getting involved with this hobby. 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. 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. Both are pretty mediocre, a Dob would probably be a better choice. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. 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. Youll be able to see Andromeda and other galaxies. This forum and community is a wonderful resource! Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Newtonian Reflector Telescope. Youd have to either detach the phone and try not to move the telescope or use two separate phones. If you prefer a smaller refractor, then the 102AZ below could work but will almost certainly cost more. StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ ; Optical Design : Newtonian Reflector : Refractor : Aperture : 130mm (5.12") 102mm (4") Focal Length : 650mm (25.6") 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. Locate faint, deep-sky objects in seconds and see them in more detail . I would avoid both. Now, launch the Starsense app on your phone. Quantitative measurements of how the telescope performs in various performance categories: An amateur astronomer and telescope maker from Connecticut who has been featured on TIME Magazine, National Geographic, Sky & Telescope, La Vanguardia, and The Guardian. Today's best Celestron StarSense DX 102AZ deals, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, Today's best Celestron 31145 NexStar 130 SLT Series Newtonian Reflector Telescope deals, Today's best Celestron NexStar 102SLT Computerized Telescope deals. However, there are some key differences between them. There are six different models to suit different budgets and priorities. The altitude slow motion is equally stiff to turn, while the azimuth control had an annoying backlash. These are very average specs and maybe even subpar when you consider reflector telescopes tend to offer a lot more bang for the buck nevertheless, the specs should be competent for beginners. Patented, award-winning StarSense sky recognition technology uses your smartphone to analyze star patterns overhead and calculate the telescope's position in real-time. So undoubtedly, Celestron dx 130az is the winner. This is the simplest form of mounting and is particularly suitable for a beginners instrument. Trying to decide between these 2 scopes Im finding it difficult. Unlike Celestrons other computer-assisted offerings, the StarSense Explorer telescopes have no motors. PATENTED STARSENSE SKY RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY: This one-of-a-kind telescope uses patented, award-winning StarSense sky recognition technology and your smartphone to analyze star patterns overhead and calculate its position in real time. Sony A7III vs A7RIII Astrophotography: Which One to Shoot Infinity! The other telescope offered on the same DX mount is a $400 130mm f/5 Newtonian reflector. What about the Skywatcher skymax 102, 127 AZ GTI WIFI telescope? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Read why we prefer High Point Scientific to Amazon. Again, just think about where you will use and store your telescope, as these DX models make great sense if you are short on space, whereas the other models are more inexpensive but bulkier. No, a dedicated short focal length eyepiece is better. It has a focal ratio of f/6.5, which means that it has a . I'll be observing from my front/backyard, which is in a location with a Bortle scale of 4 (rural/suburban transition). 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. Includes Free. 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. It has more magnification power than dx 102az. He has made numerous TV appearances explaining astronomy news stories, and lectures aboard cruise ships. So, lets get down to the details, shall we? The accessory tray is a nice, sturdy affair and an actual tray rather than the silly eyepiece rack supplied with many scopes. Apparently, they both go with dx 102az and 130 az. Low powered (25mm) and high powered (10mm) eyepiece. Celestron is one of the most renowned brands making telescopes. 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. Thats all from us about Celestron Starsense explorer dx 102az vs 130az. Some of the Celestron Astromaster telescopes use similar OTAs (telescope tubes) and similar AZ mounts. The StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ and 130AZ telescopes have slow motion controls for moving the telescope left and right as well as up and down. Smartphones can be fitted into a spring-loaded slider on the StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ, allowing for basic astrophotography. . Just trying to decide between a 102 refractor vs a 130 reflector. The StarSense Explorer app is ridiculously easy to set up. ), Neutron Star vs Nova (How Are They Different? (14) notify when in stock. The 114AZ and 130AZ are reflectors (as well as the two dobsonians). It has one 25mm Kellner eyepiece with 26x magnification power. Astrophotography with Nikon D3200: Can It Be Better? 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. It shares many of the characteristics of the other refractor in the range above in that it is smaller, lighter, and less cumbersome to operate, but it is more powerful with the larger aperture and you will be able to see more through it. You can find the Celestron dx 130az on Aliexpress for a relatively cheaper price. 6mm goldline and/or a 2x Barlow would be my first picks. However, its enough to get you started. And the Celestron Starsense Explorer dx 130az has a 10mm Kellner eyepiece with 65x magnification power. They take care of employees and no work pressure and fun at work. The mid level focal ratio is good as itll decrease the amount of chromatic aberration that can be seen, and the aperture means the max theoretical magnification of the device will be around 200x although real world usage will be around 10 20% lower. 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. ), Celestron Nexstar 4SE Review (Worth The Price Or Too, Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ Review (Worth A Buy Or. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ 130mm f/5 AZ Reflector Telescope (24) Price View Cart. 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. 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. 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. You wont be taking this on trips. It doesnt suffer from chromatic aberration and delivers a much sharper image of the night sky. Before the purchase, be sure to install the StarSense Explorer app on your phone. Dx 130 on the other hand weighs about 8.16 kg. Stargazinghelp.com is a knowledge hub for professional and amateur astronomy and astrophotography enthusiasts. ), Deimos vs Titania (How Are They Different? StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian. With the tripod attached the length would be 1.24 metres too. How were you able to loosen the tightness in the altitude axis? 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. Once youre accustomed to the instrument, finding objects is extremely quick and fun. The body of the eyepieces is fully built on plastic. Welcome to my Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Review! Its not as good at viewing faint objects in outer space unlike a reflector or a compound device. As for other key specifications, dx 102az has a focal ratio of 6.5. 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. Mostly Astromaster and Powerseekers. STARSENSE EXPLORER APP: The app generates a list of the best objects to view based on your exact time & location. Thats because of their aperture. What you can see will improve according to the size of the aperture. Like dx 102az, dx 130az also comes with two 1.25 eyepieces. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Best regards, Neptune and Uranus will be barely visible. So, ultraviolet rays or certain types of light wont be visible on it. But youll find the images quite sharp. The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ makes use of slow-motion controls for fine-tuned tracking. 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. With Celestron dx 130az you will get about 200x magnification. 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 . When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. 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. -cam, Zane great review as always thanks. 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? 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. 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. 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. The downside is that it is generally more expensive. I dont intend on using the phone attatchment, but will probably upgrade the diagonal and finder scope on either. Robin Scagell is a lifelong astronomer. It also avoids the confusion of viewing the moons features or star fields back to front. However, it has the lowest aperture, which will limit your viewing capacity. How does the StarSense Explorer 102 compare with the CELESTRON ASTRO FI 102 MM WI-FI MAKSUTOV CASSEGRAIN? Normally, this is done for astrophotography to avoid performing a time-consuming GoTo alignment and is only used to find one target. 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. 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. 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. Each is different but they all feature the StarSense Explorer technology that provides a great halfway point between computerized (GOTO) telescopes and manual ones (see FAQs below if you want more information on GOTO telescopes). But it needs collimation from time to time since the alignment gets messed up often. Avoid! . I recently purchased the 130mm version for a great price. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Can you describe how you were able to loosen? Testing out the StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ at our HQ in a brightly lit industrial section of light-polluted Torrance, CA. Here we focus on becoming a knowledge hub for astronomy and astrophotography enthusiasts. StarPointer red dot finderscope, perfect for using the telescope during the day or without the StarSense Explorer app. Hence Celestron dx 130 wins again this round. The StarSense has an Aperture of 102mm, a focal length of 650mm resulting in a focal ratio of just under f/6.5. Should I buy a used StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ? Dx 102azs optical design also has chromatic aberration issues. Celestron is one of the most reliable telescope manufacturers in the world. 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. 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. NY 10036. Now you are in business and you can choose from a list of objects observable with this instrument at the time, graded according to whether they can be seen from the city or from a dark sky. The 130 is better but still pretty small for that price. Get the StarSense Explorer; it has better accessories and is easier to use, Ive had my 130 for so long. Type of Electronics: Manual - Smartphone with StarSense Explorer App Assisted. The other advantage is that no power source is needed. 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. Our Verdict: The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102 AZ telescope is a beginner's ultimate telescope. If youre interested in other refractor systems, maybe due to the slightly inferior light gathering abilities of the 102AZ, this list may be helpful. You need to consider where you will use and store it. 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.
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