The Celestron StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian lineup offers a unique, easy to use and functional telescope that uses your smartphone to analyze the night sky and calculate its position in real-time. Celestron StarSense Explorer Dobsonian telescopes are offered in 114mm, 130mm, and 150mm configurations.
The Celestron StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian offerings are ideal for beginners, thanks to the iOS and Android app’s user-friendly interface and detailed tutorials. It’s like having your own personal tour guide of the night sky. Those new to amateur astronomy can learn the night skies without the typical beginner challenges of learning star charts, planetarium apps or figuring out computerized mounts. With the StarSense Explorer platform, locating objects is easy, fast and accurate. Simply place your smartphone in the unique StarSense dock and launch the Celestron StarSense Explorer app.
The Celestron StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian telescopes work with most modern smartphones, including iPhone 6 and up, and most devices running Android 7.1.2 or later manufactured since 2016. StarSense Explorer uses patented technology and your smartphone to determine exactly where the telescope is pointed in the night sky. A Lost in Space Algorithm (LISA), like the ones satellites use in orbit to correctly orient themselves, helps the app match star patterns it detects overhead.
After aligning your phone to the telescope’s optics (a quick and easy procedure), StarSense Explorer generates a list of celestial objects currently visible. Make your selection and arrows appear on your phone’s screen, guiding you as you move the telescope. When the object is ready to view in the eyepiece, the bullseye turns green. As you observe, you can listen to hundreds of audio descriptions and view detailed information about thousands of objects within the app’s database.
The stable tabletop Dobsonian base provides a sturdy foundation. The tabletop base is compact, lightweight, and easy to transport, making it perfect for travel. The base’s low profile makes accessing the eyepiece easier for some observers (especially children). You can also place the base on a stable platform, like a table or hood of a car, to raise it to a comfortable viewing height.
Teflon bearings provide smooth motion in both altitude and azimuth. The integrated altitude “brake” system allows you to adjust the tension along the altitude axis to ensure the smoothest motion, even with slight imbalances. As celestial objects appear to drift across the night sky, you’ll be able to follow them easily.
The optical tube connects to the base via a tube cradle. It’s easy to adjust the tube’s position in the cradle so the focuser is in the most ergonomic viewing position. The base features an eyepiece rack to keep your extra eyepieces close at hand.
These telescopes have enough light gathering ability in light-polluted urban locations to bring out enjoyable details in celestial objects. There are opportunities to see sharp, bright views of Jupiter’s four Galilean moons, its cloud bands and Great Red Spot, the rings of Saturn, the trapezium in the Orion Nebula, and the Pleiades Open Star Cluster. You’ll also be able to discern subtle details while viewing the Moon.
And if you can take the telescope to an even slightly darker location, more objects will become visible as with relatively dark skies, more fascinating objects are within reach.
Each of the Celestron StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian telescopes comes with two Celestron eyepieces and features a 1.25” rack-and-pinion focuser that accepts the 1.25” eyepieces. There are also dust covers for the front of the tube and the focuser. The StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian is lightweight and equipped with carry handles, making it easy to transport to your observing site.
Specifications for the 114mm Celestron StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian include:
– Aperture: 114mm (4.48″)
– Focal Length: 450mm (17.71″)
– Focal Ratio: f/4
– Highest Useful Magnification: 269x
– Lowest Useful Magnification: 16x
– Limiting Stellar Magnitude: 12.8
– Light Gathering Power: 265x as compared to the human eye
– Resolution Rayleigh: 1.21 arcseconds
– Resolution Dawes: 1.02 arcseconds
– Optical Tube Dimensions: 469.9mm (18.5″) long x 139.7mm (5.5″) diameter
– Total Telescope Kit Weight: 12.6 lbs (5.71 kg)
– Eyepieces: 10mm and 17mm
Specifications for the 130mm Celestron StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian include:
– Aperture: 130mm (5.12″)
– Focal Length: 650mm (25.6″)
– Focal Ratio: f/5
– Focal Length of Eyepiece 1: 25mm (0.98″)
– Highest Useful Magnification: 307x
– Lowest Useful Magnification: 19x
– Limiting Stellar Magnitude: 13.1
– Light Gathering Power: 345x as compared to the human eye
– Resolution Rayleigh: 1.06 arcseconds
– Resolution Dawes: 0.89 arcseconds
– Optical Tube Dimensions: 615.95mm (24.25″) long x 165.1mm (6.5″) diameter
– Total Telescope Kit Weight: 19.2 lbs (8.71 kg)
– Eyepieces: 10mm and 25mm
Specifications for the 150mm Celestron StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian include:
– Aperture: 150mm (5.9″)
– Focal Length: 750mm (29.5″)
– Focal Ratio: f/5
– Highest Useful Magnification: 354x
– Lowest Useful Magnification: 21x
– Limiting Stellar Magnitude: 13.4
– Light Gathering Power: 459x as compared to the human eye
– Optical Coatings: Aluminum with SiO2 overcoat
– Mirror Material: Standard optical glass for primary and secondary mirrors
– Minor Axis of Secondary Mirror: 47mm (1.85″)
– Resolution Rayleigh: 0.92 arcseconds
– Resolution Dawes: 0.77 arcseconds
– Optical Tube Dimensions: 723.9mm (28.5″) long x 190.5mm (7.5″) diameter
– Total Telescope Kit Weight: 25 lbs (11.33 kg)
– Eyepieces: 10mm and 25mm
Celestron has also made available an adjustable-height tripod for the StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonians. It securely locks to the Dobsonian base using three captured screws on the underside of the mounting plate. The integrated accessory tray functions as a center support to make the entire structure stiff and rigid and can also hold up to five additional 1.25” eyepieces. The all-metal tripod is constructed from high-quality materials and offers three adjustable, stainless steel 1.5″ diameter legs. When its time to pack up for the evening, the legs fold inward and stow neatly under the mounting plate.
You can learn more about the Celestron StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian lineup here.
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