Heres how it works. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ review: First light and functionality. See our overview of all the different Celestron NexStar models. So, there are issues of ghosting and internal reflection. This free guidetells youwhat gear you need to get started photographing the Milky Way, Planets, or Deep Sky Objects. 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. However, the system has a few notable limitations that could curtail observing sessions. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. So, lets get down to the details, shall we? 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. One major source of problems is the mirror that is crucial to finding objects. 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. 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. Amazon.com : Celestron - StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope - Works with StarSense App to Help You Find Stars, Planets & More . Although its portable and definitely portable it wouldnt be as easy as moving a 102az. ), Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Review (A Good Beginner Device!? As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The downside is that it is generally in the higher budget range and that it is less portable, heavier, and bulkier. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ: Full review | Space ), Neutron Star vs Nova (How Are They Different? Type of Electronics: Manual - Smartphone with StarSense Explorer App Assisted. 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. Can you explain how they are still about equal in light gathering? Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ 130mm f/5 AZ Reflector Telescope (24) Price View Cart. Celestron dx 130az has a focal ratio of f/5. However, I want to share a great tip with you. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). But they take more time to set on the mount than dx 102az usually takes. 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. Neptune and Uranus will be barely visible. Both are pretty mediocre, a Dob would probably be a better choice. 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. Free shipping. I went ahead and ordered the 102mm. This is probably one of the main reasons why youd consider getting the StarSense Explorer especially considering there are other similarly priced systems that offer a lot more bang for the buck (Ill list a few alternatives later). 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. 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). Saturns rings and the Cassini Division within them look fabulous, while its dimmer moons and cloud belts are a bit harder to spot. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ review: Design. The downside is that it is generally more expensive. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. As for other key specifications, dx 102az has a focal ratio of 6.5. The only shortcoming I guess you could say is its average specs and its Starsense technology being somewhat hit or miss however, from the research Ive done on it, the 102AZ is a device worth checking even if its a little more expensive than an equally powerful reflector system. There's also the Explorer DX 130AZ . My alt adjust is pretty over tight as well. Does the difference between this and the Meade infinity 102 justify the $170 increase? Dx 130 on the other hand weighs about 8.16 kg. Like other achromatic refractors, the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ still has some false color, which reveals itself as colored fringes around the edges of objects, particularly at high magnification, and the short tube results in inherently more false color than with a longer focal-ratio achromatic instrument. The series also includes an 80mm f/11 refractor and a 114mm f/9 reflector, both for $180 on the lighter LT mount. Its a simple, aluminum-legged alt-azimuth mount with slow-motion controls on both axes. Astrophotography with Nikon D3200: Can It Be Better? That leaves 130az with more options for planetary views. The mount's not even ideal. Its focal length is about 650 mm. 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. For $399 you can get a much more capable telescope with a larger aperture, e.g. But thats not possible with dx 102az. Same focal length. For Celestron dx 102az the former type is used and also they are low in quality. 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. The aperture is almost the same, but the eyepiece magnification that comes with LT127 are better (50x, 100x and 2x barlow lense), Ps: I dont have much choice except celestron, since only this brand is available in my country, The 127 is junk and magnification is not what matters most. The eyepieces supplied, although in lightweight plastic barrels, are of good optical quality. Saturns ring or Jupiters clouds can be seen clearly with more colours. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stargazing Help came into existence when some young minds got mesmerized by outer space while camping. With Celestron dx 130az you will get about 200x magnification. Often this makes for more comfortable viewing with less stooping. Is LT127 a better choice? So unless you can be sure it has those or the price is absurdly low, wed recommend you pass. 6mm goldline and/or a 2x Barlow would be my first picks. Thats all from us about Celestron Starsense explorer dx 102az vs 130az. Value $12.60. 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. Which Celestron StarSense telescope is best? StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope - Amazon.com Find out more about how we test and review products. 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. How would you rate the StarSense DX6 version (6 inch SCT) compared to a Skymax 127 on GTi mount? 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. Which eyepieces would you suggest to replace those less-than-ideal ones that come with the Stars Sense 130? 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. We're pleased to report that loading and using the software on our Moto G8 phone was easy and quite intuitive. Unwary users are likely to try polishing it with glass cleaner or even abrasive solutions. 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. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Reviewed: Partially Recommended I already have eye pieces. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Stargazing Help is a participant in Amazon Associates program. Celestron - StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope - Works with StarSense App to Help You Find Stars, Planets & More - 102mm Refractor - iPhone/Android Compatible 4.3 out of 5 stars 274 Conclusion: Which Celestron StarSense Explorer is best for you? 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. 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. But you can certainly have better ones with that budget. 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. StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ | Celestron Especially the Starsense explorer dx 120az and 130az. Celestron StarSense Explorer vs Celestron AstroMaster Telescopes: How do they compare? We dont have this model in my country but I saw a Celestron Starsense Explorer LT 127AZ being sold brand new. Faint objects like planetary nebulae or galaxies are off-limit. 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. 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. For example, if Saturn or the Andromeda galaxy are above you that night, you can select them on the app and then follow the arrows on the app to point the telescope at them. 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 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. Now since the Dobsonian does not have an app how difficult does it become to locate objects ? The StarSense Explorer app is ridiculously easy to set up. 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. Way better scope but not comparable mount wise. 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. 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. ), Celestron Nexstar 4SE Review (Worth The Price Or Too, Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ Review (Worth A Buy Or. 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. Unlike other reflectors, it uses a parabolic-style mirror inside. The only major complaint was to do with the inaccuracy of the apps tracking ability, especially when users decided to look further out. Tower - 3, Oxygen Business Park SEZ, Sector 144, Noida Expressway, Noida, Uttar Pradesh - 201304. To connect the Starsense app with your telescope put your smartphone in the Starsense dock. In short, this is a brilliant telescope for viewing the night sky. The body of the eyepieces is fully built on plastic. StarSense Explorer 10" Dobsonian Telescope | Celestron 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. Celestron dx 102az comes with two 1.25 eyepieces. Although the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ didn't make into our list of the best telescopes (opens in new tab) for 2021, it's still an excellent piece of kit for those just starting out in skywatching, especially those who are hunting for an all-inclusive package that's easy to use and makes navigating the night sky a breeze. The StarSense has an Aperture of 102mm, a focal length of 650mm resulting in a focal ratio of just under f/6.5. Since both are beginner-level telescopes, comparison comes to mind. No, your phone cant take pictures while using the Starsense app. We previously complained about the lack of targets in the apps database, but Celestron has updated the app and drastically expanded its number of objects, greatly increasing its overall utility. 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. Boosting the magnification using a Celestron 2x Barlow lens revealed false color in lunar and planetary images, so this is not an ideal high-power or planetary instrument. STARSENSE EXPLORER APP: The app generates a list of the best objects to view based on your exact time & location. However, we have some reservations on telescope vendors and recommend that you go with HPS. Your email address will not be published. Hence Celestron dx 130 wins again this round. 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. The extra aperture is the main draw of the 130mm. Would a barlow lens be a good addition to this setup? To completely overcome false color you need a considerably more expensive apochromatic refractor or a reflector. The eyepieces provided with the 102az arent so good. The length of the tube is around 63.5 cm. ), Deimos vs Uranus (How Are They Different? In this article, we provide an overview of the differences between these telescopes so that you can understand the pros and cons of each. The optics are fitted into a closed tube. Robin Scagell is a lifelong astronomer. 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. However, refractors are traditionally more robust than reflectors, so there is no ideal instrument to suit everyone. It takes just 15 minutes to set up the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ. The bracket fits most phones and will work just fine even if you have a relatively thick case (or even a PopSocket). They are generally more expensive though. Skies & Scopes 2023. The accessory tray is a nice, sturdy affair and an actual tray rather than the silly eyepiece rack supplied with many scopes. Galaxies, nebulaes, star clusters and large parts of the messier should be viewable although there may be issues showing accurate colours with some stars. 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.
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