Celestron StarSense Explorer 130mm Tabletop Telescope with Smartphone App

I never review, but this scope (130 mm) deserves one! Fantastic packaging, crystal clear instructions, easy assembly, very high level build quality, beautifully executed, overall. I had the DX 130AZ - FORGET IT!!! This scope, currently, is considerably cheaper and WAY better, in all key aspects. Like what? Tube connection and mount are rock solid on the 130 mm DOB. TERRIBLE, SHAKY, WOBBLY MOUNT ON THE DX! The DOB has no Bird-Jones lens (that's a good thing) AND has a parabolic primary mirror. Build quality is MUCH better on the DOB. Focuser is superior. Take the money saved on the DX and get the dedicated Celestron tripod AND invest in better optics (check out Celestron's E-lux line; get a 25 mm and a 5 mm, or go telescoping high power like the SBOVNY 6-18 mm). Overall, couldn't be happier. Optics are stunning. Highly portable. Remove tube, put in a padded zipper case, base can stow easily in car, RV, etc., grab the tripod and see the night sky like NEVER before!!

Great telescope for the price. I was a little worried about the app not being reliable but I followed the instructions and with a bit of patience I was able to get my phone properly aligned with the adapter so the app worked perfectly which made viewing things very easy and a lot of fun. Everything looks nice and clear while viewing and I love how easy this thing is to store since it doesn’t have to be attached to a tripod. Assembly was tedious but easy although I do recommend using a better screwdriver than the one that was provided.

Just buy it if you’re on the fence between this one and another brand. Excellent quality beginner telescope. I listened to the Celestron reviews as well as their own product videos and I’m so glad I did. I haven’t utilized the phone mount much but the app is great. Star and moon gazing helps out my mental health so much. My only gripe which isn’t even that big of a deal is the hardware was tricky - had to use a drill, just be gentle with assembly as the base material can split a bit.

I love the app, it's very useful for a novice like myself who doesn't know the sky very well. It is more expensive than it should be as the optics and built are OK but enough to justify the price. I know I will quickly outgrow this, but it is a good beginner telescope.

Scope arrived with the base unassembled, laminated particle board. It is pretty sturdy after it is put together, and an impressive site to see. Not too large for my 12yr old to handle, but large enough to let in sufficient light for star and planet gazing. The lens caddy for the base is meant to take on and off so the screws cannot be over tightened as they only go in so far. The laser pointer/finder slides right on, is easy to adjust, and works pretty well! I was able to align it with the scope within minutes. Do this during the day… Saturn was in view last night and I aligned the scope with Saturn using the laser finder and it appeared right in the lens’s field of view! It was the first time I ever witnessed Saturn and it’s rings through a telescope and it was pretty exciting. I added a 2x Barlow lens adapter and was able to get a zoomed in view that was even more impressive. I was even able to make out one of it’s orbiting moons. It takes a little patience getting used to adjusting the scope while viewing targets as everything you see appears in reverse. To track targets while looking through the lens, you will need to move the scope in the opposite direction (right goes left, left goes right, up goes down, down goes up). It’s easy to do, just takes some practice. The Starsense app works as expected and I was able to get it working without a lot of extra effort. I’m pretty satisfied and makes the setup look professional. I can’t wait to see what else we can spot in the night sky! This is our first telescope so we cannot compare it to anything else, but based on our experience last night, I would have no problems recommending it!

Pretty easy to use once you get familiar with it and the app. Pleased with viewing quality although heavily dependent on ambient conditions as with all telescopes. Might have been slightly off with the Apollo 11 landing site but somewhere in that area i think (photo). I bought some extra lens and a 2x Barlow. I really like the app; it separates "easy targets" from "challenge objects". It gives you viewing tips and tells you whether something is too difficult with ambient city lights etc. it guides you through it.

I bought this after doing as much research as possible and for beginners, this telescope was recommended the most over endless YouTube videos. I was thrilled to have finally have a clear night to take it out and I’m so pleased on my first moon images! They are so clear! The star sense app is easy enough to use but a little tricky getting it aligned. I have to bring it out during the day again today to get it aligned a little better and adjusted to where I can sit vs standing and hunching over it. I would highly recommend this telescope. I just bought a Barlow lens adapter and a moon filter lens cause it was blinding. Will update after I get to use those.

The starsense addition is really a great piece of equipment and software. My children became interested in stargazing and I wanted something to help us tour the sky with. Comparatively, the whole kit is probably a fair bit higher priced than what you could get elsewhere but the guided features are a celestron exclusive so I understand the price. Everything was well made and the only parts I want to change are the eyepieces which is par for the course in this hobby anyhow. Recommended.

Great beginner scope and StarSense makes finding things a breeze , as well the red dot scope is an easy alignment to the OTA

Tolles Einsteigermodell! Ich bereue den Kauf nicht! Die StarSense Technologie macht es wirklich einfach Objekte zu finden. Selbst für Anfänger. Beim einstellen am besten erst mit dem 25mm Okular und erst danach mit dem 10mm arbeiten. Nach dem 3. Versuch konnte ich dann Jupiter und 4 seiner Monde und sogar einige Wolkenbänder sehen. Einfach fantastisch!

The 130mm optics give clear, sharp views of the Moon, planets and brighter deep-sky objects, and the StarSense app makes finding targets incredibly easy for beginners. Setup is quick and the Dobsonian mount is solid, though in hindsight I should have bought a tripod version — that one’s on me, not the scope. Overall, a brilliant bit of kit that’s fun, intuitive and very capable for casual stargazing

Great piece of equipment. Got it for my son who's really developed a passion for the stars and moon. We only used it to see the moon so far as we do have lots of light pollution where we live and it gets dark quite late for the kids to be up. But looking forward to the longer nights in winter. Telescope is easy to set up, and easy to maneuver. Ive not used the app much yet so can't comment on that. The moon on the other hand looks amazing. My son loves to track the apollo landings

This telescope is the BEST I’ve had. Just for people who want to know, you see everything upside down, which is normal as the telescope uses mirrors to reflect light instead of refracting light. This product has really good magnification and I can even see Jupiter with it! Plus , this would be the BEST telescope under £300, and the eyepieces are very good quality! Definitely recommended