Celestron Starsense Explorer DX 130AZ (22461)

Really nice Telescope

Although I haven’t got to use it yet and plan to maybe this weekend (review date 03 Apr 24) I have used a smaller telescope from the same brand before so this will be a little bit more interesting, assembly was clear and intuitive, and All-Star were excellent for keeping me informed throughout the shipping process, it also arrived a few days earlier than expected.

Wonderful Telescope That Will Get You Touring The Night Sky

The Starsense Explorer 130 DX will have you star hopping faster than you would imagine. Starsense technology and the app are easy to use and work excellent with iPhones . The key to this technology is to minimize light pollution so Starsense has a clear view of the stars that it must map. I drive 3 km out of the city and it works every time. Spend a few extra seconds working on the alignment set up; if you do this accurately then locating targets is virtually bang on. I generally do this as the sun sets, however my last two nights got off to a late start so I used the red dot sight to align with a red flashing light on a tower. I used an Orion 20 mm illuminated crosshair eyepiece to align with the top red light on the tower then align the red flashing light with the red crosshairs on the Starsense app. After this, select a target in the Starsense app, it gives you a trail of arrows to follow to your target : it’s amazingly accurate . The slow motion controls are nice, allowing you to make subtle movements of the optical tube. This telescope is easy to transport as three pieces: the optical tube assembly , collapsible tripod and eyepiece tray. Setup and takedown is easy and rapid. I have upgraded the eyepieces to Baader Planetarium Hyperion, using 24 mm and 10 mm most frequently , the staff at All Star Telescope can help you find the eyepieces , filters and accessories that best meet your goals. Click on the “What can I see?” box under each telescope on All Star Telescopes to gain perspective on what targets will look like. Also check out their videos and articles. Overall this is a great beginner telescope , that thanks to Starsense, will get you star hopping far faster than the traditional way of star hopping . Practice using your telescope in daylight to make you more efficient switching eyepieces and filters before using it in the dark ( get a red LED headlamp ). Organize your accessories so they are easy to transport and access in the dark. The more efficient you can be, the more time you will spend in the eyepiece which is where the wonder of the universe can be enjoyed . The staff at All Star Telescope have been very helpful , knowledgeable and can help you choose the right telescope for you.

Celestron Dx

It is not as powerful as I assumed from the description. But I have yet to take it outside as the weather and clouds have not aligned. Also I do not have any crosshairs or red dot with which to align the telescope. So that is proving difficult.