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

Out of the three types it is identified as having refractor-type optics. ), Deimos vs Saturn (How Are They Different? The Celestron dx 102 uses about 240x magnification power. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ review: Design. That leaves 130az with more options for planetary views. Which is Stronger? This mount is a little on the small side for either optical tube, but it works just fine. Winner: Between the two telescopes, Celestron Starsense Explorer dx 130az has superior image formation quality. Especially the Starsense explorer dx 120az and 130az. The 102 refractor will have CA on bright objects, while the 130 reflector will need (regular?) Pentax K-70 Astrophotography: The Ultimate Camera on a Budget! I went ahead and ordered the 102mm. They take care of employees and no work pressure and fun at work. 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. Overall, this is a good option if you only have the budget for one of the cheaper telescopes and want more power. What Do The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZs Specifications Mean? The instrument is computerized, making use of the observer's smartphone and free-to-download StarSense Explorer app to make navigating the night sky and exploring solar system (opens in new tab) and bright deep-sky objects such as nebulas, star clusters and galaxies (opens in new tab) fun and, above all, a breeze to find. Dx 102azs optical design also has chromatic aberration issues. You can upgrade your telescope set up later with some Barlow and Plossl eyepieces. 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. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ 130mm f/5 AZ Reflector Telescope (24) Price View Cart. 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. 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. Why you can trust Space.com StarSense Explorer Smartphone App-Enabled Telescopes | Celestron 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. 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. What Do The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ's Specifications Mean? I would recommend it though. Every slow-motion control I've ever seen attaches to the mount using visible small thumb screws. COAST HX4 Dual-Color Utility Beam LED Clip Light. StarSense Explorer 10" Dobsonian Telescope | Celestron Finally, the Celestron Starsense Explorer DX 130AZ model is bigger in terms of both physical bulk and aperture. Just trying to decide between a 102 refractor vs a 130 reflector. Can you describe how you were able to loosen? 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). How does the StarSense Explorer 102 compare with the CELESTRON ASTRO FI 102 MM WI-FI MAKSUTOV CASSEGRAIN? The diagonal provided by Celestron uses a roof prism rather than a simple mirror, giving a non-reversed image so you can use the instrument by day as well as by night. Does the difference between this and the Meade infinity 102 justify the $170 increase? The StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ is a Newtonian reflector telescope with a 5.1-inch aperture. Just recently purchased DX130. 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. On your phones screen, youll see the current position of your telescope. The tripod allows it to extend up to 1.24 metres. Youre at the right place. The bracket fits most phones and will work just fine even if you have a relatively thick case (or even a PopSocket). Avoid! Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. However, its enough to get you started. Within seconds, you are on target and the cross wires turn green. I consider myself handy and am not too worried about collimating a reflector (but would prefer to not have to do frequently). Its focal length is 660 mm. 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. 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. There is no reason at all to get the StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ. When the bullseye turns green, its ready to view in the telescopes eyepiece. will also probably upgrade in 5 years or so. 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). The 5 reflector seems like a solid scope. The reflector has coatings that only reflect 90% of the light hitting them. Instead, it occasionally uses plate-solving technology when you first set up the telescope or move it across a significant portion of the sky, then tries its best to extrapolate finer movements using your phones relatively inaccurate gyroscope and accelerometer. Often this makes for more comfortable viewing with less stooping. 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. What can you see with Celestron StarSense Explorer? He has made numerous TV appearances explaining astronomy news stories, and lectures aboard cruise ships. *This post may contain affiliate links. If you compare their size, 130az is quite big and heavy. See our overview of all the different Celestron NexStar models. 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. How about Starsense Explorer DX130 compared to Astromaster 130EQ? Interestingly, it seems the 130mm is also now out of stock. 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. Neptune and Uranus will be barely visible. Type of Electronics: Manual - Smartphone with StarSense Explorer App Assisted. So, that really shortens out your options. 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. View planets, brighter nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters from the city PLUS fainter, deep sky objects from darker sites. The StarSense Explorer app is ridiculously easy to set up. ), Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Review (A Good Beginner Device!? This means that it is larger and heavier. I find it exciting to hear that the StarSense explorer seems to make it quite easy and fast to explore the sky. The 114AZ and 130AZ are reflectors (as well as the two dobsonians). There is a great deal on a Celestron 102 DX at Amazon for $359, only 50 dollars more than the Popular . 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. ), Deimos vs Uranus (How Are They Different? Welcome to my Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Review! Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes are manual, not computerized, but their design gives you many of the advantages of this technology. Boasting a whopping 10-inch aperture, the Celestron Starsense Explorer 10 Dobsonian is a beast of a telescope. Is it because of the 4 vanes as well? The Celestron NexStar telescope range are all full computerized compound / catadioptric telescopes. Once youre accustomed to the instrument, finding objects is extremely quick and fun. The accessory tray is a nice, sturdy affair and an actual tray rather than the silly eyepiece rack supplied with many scopes. ), Deimos vs Titan (How Are They Different? A large 10" parabolic primary mirror with XLT coatings helps you make the most of StarSense technology. It has a focal ratio of f/6.5, which means that it has a . The Celestron StarSense Explorer comes in six different models. Thanks. Also note, that the same telescope is also being sold as the Popular Science StarSense Explorer DX 5. Refractor devices can also double as a spotting scope of sort and the 102AZ is no exception. UNLEASH THE POWER OF YOUR SMARTPHONE: Let your iPhone or Android phone take you on a guided tour of the night skyno telescope experience required. 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How this StarSense technology works is actually very similar to what can be referred to as plate-solving. Compare Celestron StarSense Explorer vs Celestron DX 102AZ vs Celestron 130 The eyepiece for the 102mm will be better positioned for the little one. $469.95. StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope - Amazon.com Get the StarSense Explorer; it has better accessories and is easier to use, Ive had my 130 for so long. You wont be able to see many details but large planets will be visible. Best regards, 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. Therefore these models will suit those where space is at a premium at home and would prefer something smaller, easier to store, and more portable. But it can suffer from spherical aberration. The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ is an achromatic refractor, with a 102 mm doublet lens composed of two different types of glass. The extra aperture is the main draw of the 130mm. What about the Skywatcher skymax 102, 127 AZ GTI WIFI telescope? Normally, this is done for astrophotography to avoid performing a time-consuming GoTo alignment and is only used to find one target. 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. 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. Read the full Earning Disclosure here. 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 . 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. Would one model be a better purchase vs the other? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. +91-120-406-2000. Thanks for the great review! Not portable. 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. And the Celestron Starsense Explorer dx 130az has a 10mm Kellner eyepiece with 65x magnification power. The prowess of the instrument is more suited to beginners than to dedicated observers. 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. Celestron dx 102az weighs around 6.4 kg. Get the 130. 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. 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! 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. Winner: The specifications of Celestron dx 130az are more impressive. Review: Celestron StarSense Explorer Telescope How Do The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZsOptics Work? Im still figuring out, between Starsense Explorer DX130 and LT127. Celestron - StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Socket wrench + normal wrench should do the trick if I recall correctly. Im very interested in the cosmos but being a chemistry student, I dont have much time to learn the precise location of Messier objects, how to find planets, and looking at the moon over and over gets boring (when you dont know what youre doing) comparing this to a Dob 8 in my opinion is like comparing a truck to sports car. 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. Celestrons specs say 11% obstruction by area, so the 130 loses 1460 of area = 11813, still bigger than the 102. Are Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes computerized / GOTO? For $399 you can get a much more capable telescope with a larger aperture, e.g. The downside is that it is generally in the higher budget range and that it is less portable, heavier, and bulkier. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. 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 Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ is an achromatic refractor, with a 102 mm doublet lens composed of two different types of glass. The new Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes use your smartphone to make it much easier to find planets, galaxies, and other objects to look at. (Assume eyepieces are upgrade on either scope of course). In this range, the 80 mm refractor and 114 mm reflector are supplied on lighter-weight mountings, while the 102 mm refractor and 130 mm reflector have the same heavier mounting. For further details on these telescopes, you can also check outCelestrons website. One 10mm Kellner and one 25mm Kellner eyepiece. Although it's portable and definitely portable it wouldn't be as easy as moving a 102az. 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). Faint objects like planetary nebulae or galaxies are off-limit. A star diagonal is standard with astronomical refractors and reflects the beam from the focuser through 90 degrees to allow a much easier observing position than crouching on the ground looking up through the tube, but usually, it has the drawback of reversing the image as in an ordinary mirror. 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. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. So the views become much sharper and clearer. You cant also take pictures of the sky with the help of the telescope. Thank you for the advice Mike and Tfer. This means we may make a commission if you purchase an item using one of our links*. Unfortunately, the adjustment range on the device supplied did not allow it to be aligned accurately, and for the test, we used another one that we already had. No, a dedicated short focal length eyepiece is better. The coating inside is of low quality. 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. He has written for Amateur Astrophotography and Dark Sky Travels magazines and has been featured or quoted in Forbes, Yahoo!Life, Digital Camera World, Peta Pixel, and many other publications. Celestron Starsense Explorer DX 102AZ Vs 130AZ Astrophotography with Nikon D3200: Can It Be Better? 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. It doesnt have issues like chromatic aberration like the dx 102az. Finally, there is a standard red-dot finder to help in pointing the telescope at objects. It has more magnification power than dx 102az. So, if you want a telescope that can form clearer images, go for the Celestron Starsense Explorer dx 130az. Since both are beginner-level telescopes, comparison comes to mind. Google Maps As noted above, the 102 in the name refers to the telescopes aperture of 102mm (4-inch). The Astro-Fi cant be used manually but is more capable overall. However, we have some reservations on telescope vendors and recommend that you go with HPS. You need to consider where you will use it and store it. But its only limited to brighter objects in the night sky. Have you tried this model and would you recommend it? Celestron is one of the most reliable telescope manufacturers in the world. Thats because of their aperture. The Celestron Starsense explorer dx 102az telescope uses one of the oldest types of telescope optics. Mike Swanson 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. 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 . DXC Technology | India Join us in this discussion to learn more. 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. Way better scope but not comparable mount wise. It takes just 15 minutes to set up the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ. 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 DX 130AZ telescope review | T3 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. Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and Mars should look pretty great through the scope and fairly easy to locate. My alt adjust is pretty over tight as well. 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. Starting with the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ. The 80 mm model is the smallest with the weakest viewing capacity, and the 254 mm model is the largest with the best. I realized that it was very important for me that it the telescope be kid friendly. 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. 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. The camera views the sky through a mirror, enabling you to view the phones screen at a convenient angle. Any advice would help. 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. What eyepiece should I upgrade for this telescope? Its also portable and has a better optical design. SKU: CEL-22461. Celestrons StarSense Explorer line of telescopes are some of the newest, and arguably most innovative telescopes on the market, and the newest effort of Celestron to make using a telescope as easy as possible. Can you take pictures with the Celestron StarSense? However, I want to share a great tip with you. Robin Scagell is a lifelong astronomer. StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ | Celestron The only major complaint was to do with the inaccuracy of the apps tracking ability, especially when users decided to look further out. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, As for other key specifications, dx 102az has a focal ratio of 6.5. Refractor optics can be further broken down into achromatic and apochromatic, where the former and lesser quality of the 2 is used within the StarSense Explorer. The StarSense has an Aperture of 102mm, a focal length of 650mm resulting in a focal ratio of just under f/6.5. Thanks Zane; Ill take a look at Dob reviews. Celestron StarSense Explorer Guide For Beginners 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. 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. 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. 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. NY 10036. So unless you can be sure it has those or the price is absurdly low, wed recommend you pass. Thats why with cx 102az you wont be able to see faint objects. Free shipping. So, ultraviolet rays or certain types of light wont be visible on it. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Unwary users are likely to try polishing it with glass cleaner or even abrasive solutions. 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. 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. 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? Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Review (Worth Buying!?) So, lets get down to the details, shall we? This model and the 102 AZ are refractors. 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. Unlike other reflectors, it uses a parabolic-style mirror inside. This refers to the telescopes build and shape. 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. In fact, you do need to apply a lot of force to twist it. 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. Optically the telescope is well up to standard for a short-focus achromatic refractor and is well-suited to deep-sky observing. The refractive nature of the optics means collimation wasnt necessary a problem and the starsense app allowed users to get stuck in quite quickly. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Celestron StarSense DX 102AZ features a doublet lens composed of two different types of glass, offering bright views of targets. ), Deimos vs Titania (How Are They Different? But you can certainly have better ones with that budget. Sony A7III vs A7RIII Astrophotography: Which One to Shoot Infinity! Winner: Even for this round the clear winner is Celestron Starsense Explorer dx 130az. Overall, this is a brilliant option if you want near-perfect viewing of planets and galaxies and have the space to use it. Need more information regarding both telescopes? StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ vs 102AZ - posted in Celestron Computerized Telescopes: Hi all, Ive 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. Zane, thanks for the great review, it helped convince me to buy a StarSense 102! 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.