{"title":"Celestron Dobsonian Telescopes","description":"\u003cp\u003eMost Celestron Dobsonians here use StarSense Explorer app-based sky navigation, from the 114mm, 130mm and 150mm tabletop models to the full-size 8-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch Dobsonians. The compact FirstScope Signature Series by Robert Reeves rounds out the range. Part of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/dobsonian\"\u003eDobsonian Telescopes\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"celestron-firstscope-signature-series-by-robert-reeves-telescope","title":"Celestron FirstScope Signature Series by Robert Reeves Telescope","description":"\u003cp style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 62, 72); font-family: \" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size:=\"\"\u003eCelestron has joined forces with master lunar imager \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.celestron.com\/blogs\/team-celestron\/robert-reeves\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(253, 130, 4); transition: color 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.55, 0.085, 0.68, 0.53) 0s;\"\u003eRobert Reeves\u003c\/a\u003e on this addition to the beloved FirstScope family: the FirstScope Signature Series: Moon by Robert Reeves. This quality Dobsonian-style telescope features a spherical glass mirror with a generous 76mm of aperture. The FirstScope’s wide field-of-view provides bright, sharp views of the Moon’s mountains and craters in crisp detail. You’ll also enjoy using the FirstScope to pan the Milky Way, explore open star clusters, marvel at Saturn’s rings, or view favorite deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 62, 72); font-family: \" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size:=\"\"\u003eThis compact, lightweight telescope is an ideal entry-level astronomical telescope. Just remove it from the box, insert an eyepiece, and you’re ready to view. To navigate the sky, simply rotate the azimuth axis in the direction of your desired object. It doesn’t get much simpler or more portable than the FirstScope.\u003cbr style=\"box-sizing: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cbr style=\"box-sizing: inherit;\"\u003eIts compact design makes the FirstScope Signature Series easy to take along on your next camping trip, picnic, or hike. When not in use, the FirstScope Signature Series: Moon by Robert Reeves will be a stylish decorative fixture on your bookshelf or desk.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 62, 72); font-family: \" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size:=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;\"\u003eExplore the Moon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 62, 72); font-family: \" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size:=\"\"\u003eFamiliarize yourself with the Moon, our neighboring world. Robert Reeves’ signature Celestron FirstScope comes with a custom wrap that highlights 10 lunar features to explore including Tycho, Plato, and Copernicus.  Learn more about the Moon with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.celestron.com\/blogs\/celestron-in-the-community\/lunar-landscapes-the-photography-of-robert-reeves\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(253, 130, 4); transition: color 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.55, 0.085, 0.68, 0.53) 0s;\"\u003eRobert Reeves’ Lunar Landscape eBook\u003c\/a\u003e which goes into detail about the sizes of craters, how marias are formed, the natural history of the Moon, and other fascinating tidbits.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 62, 72); font-family: \" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size:=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;\"\u003eAbout Robert Reeves\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 62, 72); font-family: \" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size:=\"\"\u003eRobert Reeves first photographed the Moon in 1959, just as our space program was setting its sights on lunar exploration. Since then, he’s become one of the world’s best lunar imagers and a prolific author on astrophotography. Using Celestron telescopes from his home in Texas, Robert captures more detailed images than professional astronomers could during the heyday of the Apollo missions. To learn more information about Robert Reeves, check out his \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.celestron.com\/blogs\/team-celestron\/robert-reeves\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(253, 130, 4); transition: color 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.55, 0.085, 0.68, 0.53) 0s;\"\u003eTeam Celestron page\u003c\/a\u003e or for Robert’s personal perspective on having his own telescope in the Signature Series, click \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.celestron.com\/blogs\/celestron-in-the-community\/a-personal-perspective-about-the-celestron-firstscope\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(253, 130, 4); transition: color 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.55, 0.085, 0.68, 0.53) 0s;\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e  \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Celestron","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44013695860847,"sku":"22016","price":104.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/first_252520scope__96839.1682640831.1280.1280.jpg?v=1766560007"},{"product_id":"celestron-starsense-explorer-10-smartphone-app-enabled-dobsonian-telescope","title":"Celestron StarSense Explorer 10\" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Celestron StarSense Explorer 10\" is a 254 mm (10\") f\/4.7 Newtonian reflector on a manual Dobsonian altazimuth base, paired with a smartphone dock and Celestron's StarSense Explorer app. The app reads the actual star field through your phone's camera and matches it against its own catalogue to work out where the tube is pointed, then shows on-screen arrows that walk you to a target and turn the bullseye green once it is centred in the eyepiece. At 1200 mm focal length with 1317 times the light-gathering power of the unaided eye and a limiting stellar magnitude of 14.7, this is the aperture step where faint galaxies and globular clusters start showing structure rather than just presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a good match if you want serious deep-sky aperture without a mount to power, align or program, and you would rather spend the evening observing than learning to star-hop first. The 10\" suits an observer who expects to push into fainter territory than an 8\" reaches, and who has somewhere to store a 54.8 lb telescope between sessions. It works equally well for an experienced observer who wants a large visual Dobsonian that sets up in minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e254 mm (10\") parabolic primary at f\/4.7:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1200 mm focal length, with a highest useful magnification of 600x, a lowest useful magnification of 36x and a limiting stellar magnitude of 14.7.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1317x the light-gathering power of the unaided eye:\u003c\/strong\u003e the figure that decides how much detail a faint galaxy or nebula gives up.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eXLT coatings on both mirrors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Celestron's reflective coatings with silicon dioxide and tantalum pentoxide protective overcoatings, applied to the primary and the secondary.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePyrex-equivalent mirror substrates:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 30 mm thick primary (roughly a 1:8 thickness ratio) and an 11.5 mm secondary with a 64 mm minor axis, in a steel tube.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2\" Crayford focuser:\u003c\/strong\u003e supplied with an extension tube and a 1.25\" adapter, so both eyepiece formats drop straight in.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDobsonian base with variable altitude tensioning:\u003c\/strong\u003e large-diameter altitude bearings and braced side panels, with an altitude brake that lets you set tension to suit a slightly unbalanced tube.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStarSense dock and unlock code in the box:\u003c\/strong\u003e the app is unlocked by the supplied code, with no subscription.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCarry handles at the balance point of tube and base:\u003c\/strong\u003e the optical tube is 29.2 lb (13.24 kg) and the base 25.6 lb (11.6 kg), for 54.8 lb (24.86 kg) assembled.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical \/ Mechanical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe optical tube is a parabolic Newtonian: 254 mm of aperture at f\/4.7, giving 1200 mm of focal length in a steel tube measuring 1117.6 mm long by 292.1 mm in diameter (44\" x 11.5\"). Celestron publishes its resolving power as 0.55 arcseconds by the Rayleigh criterion and 0.46 arcseconds by the Dawes limit. Note that the tube is the same 1117.6 mm length as the 8\" model while carrying 10\" of aperture, which is what the faster f\/4.7 focal ratio buys — the same 1200 mm focal length in a wider tube.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe primary is a 30 mm substrate, thicker than the 8\" model's 25 mm, which is proportional to the larger disc and helps it hold figure as the glass cools toward ambient. Like every Newtonian, it is collimated by the owner rather than sealed at the factory, and a collimation cap is included for that — at f\/4.7 collimation is worth attending to more carefully than on a slower mirror, since faster optics have less tolerance for a misaligned secondary. The 2\" Crayford focuser is a friction-drive design, so it moves without the focus shift a rack-and-pinion can introduce at high power.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eDeep-sky observing of galaxies, globular and open clusters, planetary and emission nebulae, where the 254 mm aperture is doing the work. Lunar and planetary observing at high magnification, with a 600x useful ceiling. Guided touring of the night sky using the app's list of currently visible objects and its audio descriptions. Observing from a dark-sky site, where a 14.7 limiting magnitude opens up a very long target list. Public outreach and star parties, where the app lets someone who has never used a telescope find a target themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces:\u003c\/strong\u003e the focuser accepts both 1.25\" and 2\" eyepieces. The supplied 25mm Plössl gives 48x, which is a low-power finding and wide-field eyepiece — with a 600x ceiling, a shorter focal length for planetary work and a 2\" wide-field are the two usual first additions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSmartphone:\u003c\/strong\u003e the StarSense Explorer app runs on Android 12 and later and on iOS 18 and newer, including iPhone XR and newer. Celestron maintains the full device list at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/starsenseexplorer.simcur.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003estarsenseexplorer.simcur.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCooling:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 254 mm mirror takes longer to reach ambient temperature than a smaller one, and images soften until it does. Celestron's \u003ca href=\"\/products\/usb-cooling-fan-for-dobsonian-telescopes\"\u003eUSB Cooling Fan for Dobsonian Telescopes\u003c\/a\u003e is made for this telescope and shortens that wait.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMoving it:\u003c\/strong\u003e at 54.8 lb assembled the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/jmi-ez-glide-wheeley-kit-universal-dobsonian-telescope-mobility-upgrade\"\u003eJMI Ez-Glide Wheeley Kit\u003c\/a\u003e puts casters on the base itself, so the telescope rolls out fully assembled instead of being carried in two trips.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded software:\u003c\/strong\u003e Celestron Starry Night Basic Edition ships with the telescope alongside the StarSense Explorer unlock code.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you are unsure whether your phone will run the app, send us the model and we will check it against Celestron's list before you order.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe app needs real starlight to work.\u003c\/strong\u003e It cannot orient itself in daylight and wants roughly an hour after sunset before there is enough star detail to match on. Cloud cover, haze, a bright Moon and heavy light pollution all reduce what it can lock onto.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt shows tonight's sky only.\u003c\/strong\u003e There is no date or time control in the app, so it plans the session you are about to have rather than one next month.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracking is manual.\u003c\/strong\u003e Objects drift across the field as the Earth turns, and you nudge the tube to follow them — at 600x that means small, frequent corrections. The altitude brake and the large-diameter bearings are what keep that smooth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt arrives as two carries.\u003c\/strong\u003e A 29.2 lb tube and a 25.6 lb base, each with a handle at its balance point, or one roll on the Wheeley Kit above.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ef\/4.7 asks a little more of collimation.\u003c\/strong\u003e The collimation cap is in the box, and once set it holds — it is a few minutes at the start of a session, not an ongoing job.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSolar observing needs a purpose-made filter.\u003c\/strong\u003e Viewing the Sun through any telescope requires a proper solar filter fitted to the front of the tube — ask us and we will point you at one that fits this aperture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-year Celestron warranty.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. The base assembles once and then the telescope goes together in a couple of minutes — tube into the base, eyepiece in the focuser, phone in the dock. Aligning the phone to the optics is a short procedure at the start of each session and the app's tutorials walk through it. Collimation is the one job that is genuinely yours, and the included collimation cap is what you do it with.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow much more does the 10\" show than the 8\"?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCelestron publishes 1317x light-gathering power against the 8\" model's 841x, and a limiting stellar magnitude of 14.7 against 14.2. In practice that is the difference between seeing a faint galaxy and seeing structure in it. The useful magnification ceiling also rises from 480x to 600x.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the app need a subscription?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. The unlock code is in the box and the app is yours with the telescope.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich phones does it work with?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAndroid 12 and later, and iOS 18 and newer including iPhone XR and newer. Celestron's full compatibility list covers the specific models.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it for astrophotography?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is built as a visual instrument. The base is manual with no tracking drive, so long-exposure deep-sky imaging is outside what it does. Short-exposure lunar and planetary work held up to the eyepiece is practical.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is this different from a GoTo telescope?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA GoTo mount drives motors to the object. StarSense Explorer has no motors — the app works out where the tube is actually aimed and shows you which way to push it. That means nothing to power, nothing to align to two stars first, and no loss of position if you bump it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it fit in a car?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe tube is 44\" long and 11.5\" in diameter and the base is 26.5\" x 21\" x 21\". Both pieces go in a hatchback or estate with the rear seats down; a sedan boot usually takes the base with the tube across the back seat.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 254 mm f\/4.7 visual Dobsonian with app-guided pointing: 1200 mm of focal length in the same tube length as the 8\", a 600x useful ceiling, a 14.7 limiting magnitude, and 54.8 lb split into two carries or rolled out on casters. Your phone does the navigating, and ten inches of aperture does the rest.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Celestron","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44013754318959,"sku":"22471","price":1666.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/22471_StarSense_Explorer_10in_Dobsonian_01_570x3803x__74761.jpg?v=1766561918"},{"product_id":"celestron-starsense-explorer-8-smartphone-app-enabled-dobsonian-telescope","title":"Celestron StarSense Explorer 8\" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Celestron StarSense Explorer 8\" is a 203 mm (8\") f\/5.9 Newtonian reflector on a manual Dobsonian altazimuth base, paired with a smartphone dock and Celestron's StarSense Explorer app. The app reads the actual star field through your phone's camera and matches it against its own catalogue to work out where the tube is pointed, then shows on-screen arrows that walk you to a target and turn the bullseye green once it is centred in the eyepiece. At 1200 mm focal length with 841 times the light-gathering power of the unaided eye, this is a full-size visual Dobsonian — the phone replaces the star charts, not the aperture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a good match if you want a large-aperture visual telescope and would rather spend the evening observing than spend it learning to star-hop first. It suits observing from a suburban backyard as well as a dark-sky site, and it works equally well for an experienced observer who wants an 8\" that sets up in a few minutes. Because the app handles the finding rather than the pointing, you keep the direct, mechanical feel of a Dobsonian while skipping the part most people find frustrating early on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e203 mm (8\") parabolic primary at f\/5.9:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1200 mm focal length, with a highest useful magnification of 480x, a lowest useful magnification of 29x and a limiting stellar magnitude of 14.2.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eXLT coatings on both mirrors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Celestron's reflective coatings with silicon dioxide and tantalum pentoxide protective overcoatings, applied to the primary and the secondary.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePyrex-equivalent mirror substrates:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 25 mm thick primary (roughly a 1:8 thickness ratio) and an 8.5 mm secondary with a 47 mm minor axis, in a steel tube.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2\" Crayford focuser:\u003c\/strong\u003e supplied with a 2\" extension tube and a 2\"-to-1.25\" adapter, so both eyepiece formats drop straight in, plus a thumbscrew to lock focus.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDobsonian base with variable altitude tensioning:\u003c\/strong\u003e large-diameter altitude bearings, Teflon azimuth bearings and braced side panels, with an altitude brake that lets you set tension to suit a slightly unbalanced tube.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStarSense dock and unlock code in the box:\u003c\/strong\u003e the app is unlocked by the supplied code, with no subscription.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCarry handles at the balance point of tube and base:\u003c\/strong\u003e the optical tube is 20.6 lb (9.34 kg) and the base 22.8 lb (10.3 kg), for 43.4 lb (19.68 kg) assembled.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical \/ Mechanical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe optical tube is a straightforward parabolic Newtonian: 203 mm of aperture at f\/5.9, giving 1200 mm of focal length in a steel tube measuring 1117.6 mm long by 241.3 mm in diameter (44\" x 9.5\"). Celestron publishes its resolving power as 0.68 arcseconds by the Rayleigh criterion and 0.57 arcseconds by the Dawes limit, which is the range where close double stars and fine lunar detail start to separate on a steady night. The primary is a thick 25 mm substrate rather than a thin one, which helps it hold figure as the glass cools toward ambient.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLike every Newtonian, it is collimated by the owner rather than sealed at the factory, and a collimation cap is included for that. The 2\" Crayford focuser is a friction-drive design, so it moves without the focus shift a rack-and-pinion can introduce at high power.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLunar and planetary observing at high magnification — Jupiter's cloud bands and Galilean moons, the Great Red Spot, the rings of Saturn. Deep-sky observing of brighter nebulae and galaxies, globular and open clusters, and double stars. Guided touring of the night sky using the app's list of currently visible objects and its audio descriptions. Suburban and city observing on the brighter targets, with more within reach at a darker site. Public outreach and star parties, where the app lets someone who has never used a telescope find a target themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces:\u003c\/strong\u003e the focuser accepts both 1.25\" and 2\" eyepieces. The supplied 25mm Plössl gives 48x, which is a low-power finding and wide-field eyepiece — a shorter focal length for planetary work is the usual first addition, and the 480x ceiling leaves plenty of room above 48x.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSmartphone:\u003c\/strong\u003e the StarSense Explorer app runs on Android 12 and later and on iOS 18 and newer, including iPhone XR and newer. Celestron notes that owners of older phones can still use the app but will not be able to reinstall it once removed. Celestron maintains the full device list at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/starsenseexplorer.simcur.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003estarsenseexplorer.simcur.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded software:\u003c\/strong\u003e Celestron Starry Night Basic Edition ships with the telescope alongside the StarSense Explorer unlock code.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePower for your phone:\u003c\/strong\u003e Celestron's PowerTank Glow 5000 (sold separately) was designed around the StarSense Explorer Dobsonians — it combines a red flashlight with a USB power bank and straps to the two posts at the front of the dock with the bands supplied with it, keeping the phone charged through a long session.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you are unsure whether your phone will run the app, send us the model and we will check it against Celestron's list before you order.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe app needs real starlight to work.\u003c\/strong\u003e It cannot orient itself in daylight and wants roughly an hour after sunset before there is enough star detail to match on. Cloud cover, haze, a bright Moon and heavy light pollution all reduce what it can lock onto.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt shows tonight's sky only.\u003c\/strong\u003e There is no date or time control in the app, so it plans the session you are about to have rather than one next month.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracking is manual.\u003c\/strong\u003e Objects drift across the field as the Earth turns, and you nudge the tube to follow them. The altitude brake and Teflon azimuth bearings are what make that a smooth, one-finger motion rather than a chore.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSome app targets are marked \"dark sky viewable.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e Those need genuinely darker skies than a city backyard, and the app tells you which they are rather than sending you hunting for something invisible.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt arrives as two carries.\u003c\/strong\u003e A 20.6 lb tube and a 22.8 lb base, each with a handle at its balance point, which is what makes an 8\" Dobsonian practical to move on your own.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSolar observing needs a purpose-made filter.\u003c\/strong\u003e Viewing the Sun through any telescope requires a proper solar filter fitted to the front of the tube — ask us and we will point you at one that fits this aperture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-year Celestron warranty.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. The base assembles once and then the telescope goes together in a couple of minutes — tube into the base, eyepiece in the focuser, phone in the dock. Aligning the phone to the optics is a short one-time procedure per session, and the app's tutorials walk through it. The one job that is genuinely yours is collimation, and the included collimation cap is what you do it with.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the app need a subscription?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. The unlock code is in the box and the app is yours with the telescope.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich phones does it work with?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAndroid 12 and later, and iOS 18 and newer including iPhone XR and newer. Celestron's full compatibility list covers the specific models.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat can I expect to see?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCelestron cites Jupiter's four Galilean moons with its cloud bands and Great Red Spot, the rings of Saturn, the Orion Nebula, dust lanes in the Lagoon Nebula, and the Andromeda Galaxy. From a city location the planets, open clusters like the Pleiades, double stars and the brighter nebulae are all within reach; a darker site opens up a great deal more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it for astrophotography?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is built as a visual instrument. The base is manual with no tracking drive, so long-exposure deep-sky imaging is outside what it does. Short-exposure lunar and planetary work held up to the eyepiece is practical.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is this different from a GoTo telescope?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA GoTo mount drives motors to the object. StarSense Explorer has no motors — the app works out where the tube is actually aimed and shows you which way to push it. That means nothing to power, nothing to align to two stars first, and no loss of position if you bump it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does the 8\" give me over the smaller StarSense Explorer models?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLight-gathering area, which is what faint objects respond to: 841x the unaided eye, a limiting stellar magnitude of 14.2, and a 480x useful magnification ceiling for planetary and double-star work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA full-size 203 mm f\/5.9 visual Dobsonian with app-guided pointing: 1200 mm of focal length, a 2\" Crayford focuser taking both eyepiece sizes, a manual altazimuth base you follow objects with by hand, and 43.4 lb split into two comfortable carries. Your phone does the navigating, and the aperture does the rest.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Celestron","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44013754450031,"sku":"22470","price":1221.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/22470_StarSense_Explorer_8in_Dobsonian_01_570x3803x__70343.jpg?v=1766561926"},{"product_id":"starsense-explorer-12-smartphone-app-enabled-dobsonian-telescope","title":"Celestron StarSense Explorer 12\" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Celestron StarSense Explorer 12\" is a 305 mm (12\") f\/4.9 Newtonian reflector on a manual Dobsonian altazimuth base, paired with a smartphone dock and Celestron's StarSense Explorer app. The app reads the actual star field through your phone's camera and matches it against its own catalogue to work out where the tube is pointed, then shows on-screen arrows that walk you to a target and turn the bullseye green once it is centred in the eyepiece. At 1500 mm focal length with 1895 times the light-gathering power of the unaided eye and a limiting stellar magnitude of 14.9, this is the largest aperture in the StarSense Explorer line and the one that reaches deepest.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a good match if you want the most aperture the StarSense Explorer system comes in, and you have the space to store an 83.6 lb telescope and a way to move it to where you observe. The 12\" suits an observer working through a deep-sky list where 14.9 magnitude and 1895x light-gathering matter, and it also suits an outreach or club setting where the app lets any visitor find a target themselves. A permanent or semi-permanent observing spot — a deck, a pad, a shed you roll it out of — is what this aperture rewards.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e305 mm (12\") parabolic primary at f\/4.9:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1500 mm focal length, with a highest useful magnification of 720x, a lowest useful magnification of 43x and a limiting stellar magnitude of 14.9.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1895x the light-gathering power of the unaided eye:\u003c\/strong\u003e more than double the 8\" model, and the reason faint targets show structure rather than presence.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eXLT coatings on both mirrors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Celestron's reflective coatings with silicon dioxide and tantalum pentoxide protective overcoatings, applied to the primary and the secondary.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePyrex-equivalent mirror substrates:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 37 mm thick primary (roughly a 1:8 thickness ratio) and an 11 mm secondary with a 70 mm minor axis, in a steel tube.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e32mm Plössl supplied:\u003c\/strong\u003e 47x, chosen to give a usable wide field at 1500 mm rather than the 25mm used on the smaller models.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2\" Crayford focuser:\u003c\/strong\u003e supplied with a 2\" extension tube and a 2\"-to-1.25\" adapter, so both eyepiece formats drop straight in.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBraced Dobsonian base:\u003c\/strong\u003e large-diameter altitude bearings with variable tensioning and braces on the side panels, which is not standard on every 12\" base.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStarSense dock and unlock code in the box:\u003c\/strong\u003e the app is unlocked by the supplied code, with no subscription.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical \/ Mechanical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe optical tube is a parabolic Newtonian: 305 mm of aperture at f\/4.9, giving 1500 mm of focal length in a steel tube measuring 1422.4 mm long by 355.6 mm in diameter (56\" x 14\"). Celestron publishes its resolving power as 0.45 arcseconds by the Rayleigh criterion and 0.38 arcseconds by the Dawes limit — the finest of any telescope in this line, and fine enough that atmospheric seeing, rather than the optics, sets the limit on most nights.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe primary is a 37 mm substrate, scaled to the larger disc at roughly the same 1:8 thickness ratio Celestron uses across the range, which helps it hold figure as the glass cools toward ambient. Like every Newtonian, it is collimated by the owner rather than sealed at the factory, and a collimation cap is included. The 2\" Crayford focuser is a friction-drive design, so it moves without the focus shift a rack-and-pinion can introduce at the high magnifications this aperture supports.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eDeep-sky observing where aperture is the limiting factor — faint galaxies, galaxy groups, globular clusters resolved to the core, planetary nebulae. Lunar and planetary observing at high magnification, with a 720x useful ceiling and 0.38 arcsecond Dawes resolution. Dark-sky observing sessions, where the 14.9 limiting magnitude opens up a very long target list. Club and outreach use, where the app lets a queue of visitors each find something themselves. Double-star work at the resolution limit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces:\u003c\/strong\u003e the focuser accepts both 1.25\" and 2\" eyepieces. The supplied 32mm Plössl gives 47x; with a 720x ceiling there is a great deal of headroom above it, and a short planetary eyepiece is the usual first addition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSmartphone:\u003c\/strong\u003e the StarSense Explorer app runs on Android 12 and later and on iOS 18 and newer, including iPhone XR and newer. Celestron maintains the full device list at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/starsenseexplorer.simcur.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003estarsenseexplorer.simcur.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMoving it:\u003c\/strong\u003e at 83.6 lb assembled, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/jmi-ez-glide-wheeley-kit-universal-dobsonian-telescope-mobility-upgrade\"\u003eJMI Ez-Glide Wheeley Kit\u003c\/a\u003e puts casters on the base itself so the telescope rolls out in one piece rather than being carried. On a 12\" this is the difference between observing on a weeknight and not bothering.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCooling:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 305 mm mirror takes a while to reach ambient temperature, and images soften until it does. Getting it outside early is the simplest answer; ask us about fan options if you want to shorten the wait.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded software:\u003c\/strong\u003e Celestron Starry Night Basic Edition ships with the telescope alongside the StarSense Explorer unlock code.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe optical tube is 49.8 lb on its own.\u003c\/strong\u003e The base is a further 33.8 lb, for 83.6 lb (37.92 kg) all up. Lifting the tube into the base is a two-handed job and many owners find it easier with a second person the first few times. The Wheeley Kit above is what removes the carrying from the equation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt is a large object to store.\u003c\/strong\u003e The tube is 56\" long by 14\" in diameter and the base is 25\" x 25\" x 29\". Worth measuring the space it will live in before ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe app needs real starlight to work.\u003c\/strong\u003e It cannot orient itself in daylight and wants roughly an hour after sunset before there is enough star detail to match on. Cloud cover, haze, a bright Moon and heavy light pollution all reduce what it can lock onto.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt shows tonight's sky only.\u003c\/strong\u003e There is no date or time control in the app, so it plans the session you are about to have rather than one next month.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracking is manual.\u003c\/strong\u003e Objects drift across the field as the Earth turns, and at 720x that means small, frequent nudges. The variable altitude tensioning is what makes those controllable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSolar observing needs a purpose-made filter.\u003c\/strong\u003e Viewing the Sun through any telescope requires a proper solar filter fitted to the front of the tube — ask us and we will point you at one that fits this aperture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-year Celestron warranty.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe telescope itself is simple — tube into the base, eyepiece in the focuser, phone in the dock — and the app alignment is a short procedure at the start of each session. The part that takes real effort is physical: a 49.8 lb tube lifted into the base. Once it is together and on casters, a session starts in a couple of minutes. Collimation is the one technical job, and the included collimation cap is what you do it with.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need help to move it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCarried in two pieces, most people manage the 33.8 lb base alone and find the 49.8 lb tube easier with a hand. On the Wheeley Kit it rolls out assembled and needs no lifting at all.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow much more does the 12\" show than the 10\"?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCelestron publishes 1895x light-gathering power against the 10\" model's 1317x, a limiting magnitude of 14.9 against 14.7, and Dawes resolution of 0.38 against 0.46 arcseconds. The 12\" also runs 1500 mm of focal length against 1200 mm, so it reaches higher magnification with the same eyepiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the app need a subscription?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. The unlock code is in the box and the app is yours with the telescope.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich phones does it work with?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAndroid 12 and later, and iOS 18 and newer including iPhone XR and newer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it for astrophotography?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is built as a visual instrument. The base is manual with no tracking drive, so long-exposure deep-sky imaging is outside what it does. Short-exposure lunar and planetary work held up to the eyepiece is practical, and this aperture is well suited to it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is this different from a GoTo telescope?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA GoTo mount drives motors to the object. StarSense Explorer has no motors — the app works out where the tube is actually aimed and shows you which way to push it. Nothing to power, nothing to align to two stars first, and no loss of position if you bump it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe largest aperture in the StarSense Explorer line: 305 mm at f\/4.9, 1500 mm of focal length, a 720x useful ceiling, 0.38 arcsecond Dawes resolution and a 14.9 limiting magnitude, on a braced Dobsonian base with app-guided pointing. It is 83.6 lb of telescope, and a set of casters turns that from a consideration into a non-issue.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Celestron","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44014024818799,"sku":"22472","price":2222.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/22472_StarSense-Explorer-12inch-Dobsonian_01_570x3803x__94525.jpg?v=1766567760"},{"product_id":"starsense-explorer-114mm-smartphone-app-enabled-tabletop-dobsonian-telescope","title":"Celestron StarSense Explorer 114mm Smartphone App-Enabled Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Celestron StarSense Explorer 114mm is a 114 mm f\/4 Newtonian reflector with a parabolic primary, mounted on a tabletop Dobsonian base and paired with a smartphone dock and Celestron's StarSense Explorer app. The app reads the actual star field through your phone's camera and matches it against its own catalogue to work out where the tube is pointed, then shows on-screen arrows that walk you to a target and turn the bullseye green once it is centred in the eyepiece. At 450 mm focal length the whole telescope weighs 12.6 lb and sits on a table, a bench or a car bonnet — it is the most portable way into the StarSense Explorer system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a good match if you want a real telescope that lives in a cupboard and goes outside in one hand, and you would rather spend the evening observing than learning to star-hop first. The short 450 mm focal length gives wide, forgiving views of clusters, the Moon and the brighter nebulae, and the app finds them for you. It also suits a travelling observer, a cottage or a balcony, and it works as a second telescope for quick looks when setting up something larger is not worth it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e114 mm parabolic primary at f\/4:\u003c\/strong\u003e 450 mm focal length, with a highest useful magnification of 269x, a lowest useful magnification of 16x and a limiting stellar magnitude of 12.8.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eParabolic rather than spherical primary:\u003c\/strong\u003e at f\/4 that matters — a spherical mirror at this focal ratio would not hold a sharp focus across the field.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo eyepieces supplied:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 17mm Kellner at 26x and a 10mm Kellner at 45x, so there is a low-power finding view and a closer look in the box.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e265x the light-gathering power of the unaided eye:\u003c\/strong\u003e enough for the Moon in detail, the brighter planets, open clusters and the brightest nebulae.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1.25\" rack-and-pinion focuser\u003c\/strong\u003e and a StarPointer red-dot finderscope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAluminium mirror coatings with an SiO2 overcoat\u003c\/strong\u003e on standard optical glass.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTabletop Dobsonian base:\u003c\/strong\u003e 381 x 381 x 393.7 mm (15\" x 15\" x 15.5\"), 8.4 lb, in CARB-compliant melamine-faced particle board.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e12.6 lb (5.71 kg) complete:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 4.2 lb tube and an 8.4 lb base, with the StarSense dock and unlock code included.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical \/ Mechanical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe tube is a 114 mm parabolic Newtonian at f\/4 — a short, fast instrument measuring 469.9 mm long by 139.7 mm in diameter (18.5\" x 5.5\"). Celestron publishes its resolving power as 1.21 arcseconds by the Rayleigh criterion and 1.02 arcseconds by the Dawes limit, and a 34.5 mm secondary minor axis keeps the central obstruction modest for the aperture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt f\/4 the focal ratio is doing two jobs: it keeps the tube short enough to be genuinely portable, and it delivers a wide true field with the supplied 17mm eyepiece. The trade is that fast Newtonians are more sensitive to collimation than slow ones, and a collimation cap is supplied for that. The 1.25\" rack-and-pinion focuser is simple and takes any 1.25\" eyepiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWide-field observing of open clusters, the Milky Way star fields, the Pleiades and the brighter nebulae, where 450 mm of focal length is an advantage rather than a limitation. Lunar observing in detail, and the brighter planets at up to 269x. Guided touring with the app's list of currently visible objects and its audio descriptions. Travel, camping, cottages and balconies, where 12.6 lb and a 18.5\" tube fit in luggage. Outreach and family observing, where the app lets anyone find something themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces:\u003c\/strong\u003e the focuser takes 1.25\" eyepieces. The supplied 17mm and 10mm Kellners cover 26x and 45x; a 6mm or a zoom is the usual next addition for planetary work, with a 269x ceiling above.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSomething to stand it on:\u003c\/strong\u003e the base is a tabletop design, so it needs a table, bench, wall or car bonnet at a comfortable height. Celestron's \u003ca href=\"\/products\/tripod-for-starsense-explorer-tabletop-dobsonian-telescopes\"\u003eTripod for StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian Telescopes\u003c\/a\u003e is the purpose-made answer if you would rather not hunt for a surface each time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSmartphone:\u003c\/strong\u003e the StarSense Explorer app runs on Android 12 and later and on iOS 18 and newer, including iPhone XR and newer. Celestron maintains the full device list at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/starsenseexplorer.simcur.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003estarsenseexplorer.simcur.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded software:\u003c\/strong\u003e Celestron Starry Night Basic Edition ships with the telescope alongside the StarSense Explorer unlock code.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you are unsure whether your phone will run the app, send us the model and we will check it against Celestron's list before you order.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo tripod is included.\u003c\/strong\u003e The base is built to sit on a surface. A patio table or bench works; the matching tripod above is there if you want a dedicated one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe app needs real starlight to work.\u003c\/strong\u003e It cannot orient itself in daylight and wants roughly an hour after sunset before there is enough star detail to match on. Cloud cover, haze, a bright Moon and heavy light pollution all reduce what it can lock onto.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt shows tonight's sky only.\u003c\/strong\u003e There is no date or time control in the app, so it plans the session you are about to have rather than one next month.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracking is manual.\u003c\/strong\u003e Objects drift across the field as the Earth turns and you nudge the tube to follow. At the low powers this telescope is happiest at, that is an occasional touch rather than constant attention.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e114 mm is 114 mm.\u003c\/strong\u003e Galaxies and faint nebulae are within reach as smudges rather than structures at a 12.8 limiting magnitude — this aperture rewards clusters, the Moon, the planets and the brighter showpieces. If the faint end of the sky is your main interest, the 130mm or 150mm in this range gather noticeably more light and we are happy to talk through the difference.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSolar observing needs a purpose-made filter.\u003c\/strong\u003e Viewing the Sun through any telescope requires a proper solar filter fitted to the front of the tube — ask us and we will point you at one that fits this aperture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-year Celestron warranty.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo — this is the simplest telescope in the range to get going. The tube sits in the base, an eyepiece goes in the focuser and the phone goes in the dock. Aligning the phone to the optics takes a moment at the start of each session and the app's tutorials walk through it. Collimation is worth checking occasionally at f\/4, and the included collimation cap is what you do it with.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the app need a subscription?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. The unlock code is in the box and the app is yours with the telescope.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need to buy anything else to use it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot to observe — two eyepieces, the finder and the dock are all supplied. You do need a surface to stand it on, and many owners add the matching tripod for that.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich phones does it work with?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAndroid 12 and later, and iOS 18 and newer including iPhone XR and newer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is it best used for?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWide-field deep-sky views, the Moon, the brighter planets and open clusters — and travel, because the whole telescope is 12.6 lb.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does it compare with the 130mm and 150mm tabletops?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAperture and reach. The 114mm gathers 265x the unaided eye against 345x for the 130mm and 459x for the 150mm, with limiting magnitudes of 12.8, 13.1 and 13.4. The 114mm is the lightest and the widest-field of the three; the 150mm shows the most.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 114 mm f\/4 parabolic Newtonian on a tabletop Dobsonian base with app-guided pointing: 450 mm of focal length, two eyepieces, 12.6 lb complete, and a phone that finds the targets. It needs a surface to sit on and rewards wide-field observing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Celestron","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44014026850415,"sku":"22480","price":528.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/22480_Starsense_Explorer_114mm_Tabletop_Dobsonian_01_570x380_402x__22509.jpg?v=1766567842"},{"product_id":"starsense-explorer-150mm-smartphone-app-enabled-tabletop-dobsonian-telescope","title":"Celestron StarSense Explorer 150mm Smartphone App-Enabled Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Celestron StarSense Explorer 150mm is a 150 mm f\/5 Newtonian reflector with a parabolic primary, mounted on a tabletop Dobsonian base and paired with a smartphone dock and Celestron's StarSense Explorer app. The app reads the actual star field through your phone's camera and matches it against its own catalogue to work out where the tube is pointed, then shows on-screen arrows that walk you to a target and turn the bullseye green once it is centred in the eyepiece. At 750 mm focal length with 459 times the light-gathering power of the unaided eye, this is the largest of the tabletop models and the most capable telescope in the range that still packs into a 25 lb pair of pieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a good match if you want six inches of aperture in something that stores in a cupboard and travels in a car boot, and you would rather spend the evening observing than learning to star-hop first. A 13.4 limiting magnitude and 0.77 arcsecond Dawes resolution put a long deep-sky list and real planetary detail within reach. It suits an observer choosing between a tabletop and a floor-standing Dobsonian who would rather keep the smaller footprint, and it travels well to dark-sky sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e150 mm parabolic primary at f\/5:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750 mm focal length, with a highest useful magnification of 354x, a lowest useful magnification of 21x and a limiting stellar magnitude of 13.4.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e459x the light-gathering power of the unaided eye:\u003c\/strong\u003e the most of any tabletop in the range, and around 75% more than the 114mm model.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo Kellner eyepieces supplied:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 25mm at 30x and a 10mm at 75x, giving a wide finding field and a closer look in the box.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e0.77 arcsecond Dawes resolution:\u003c\/strong\u003e fine enough for close double stars and for detail on Jupiter and Saturn.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1.25\" rack-and-pinion focuser\u003c\/strong\u003e and a StarPointer red-dot finderscope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAluminium mirror coatings with an SiO2 overcoat\u003c\/strong\u003e on standard optical glass, with a 47 mm secondary minor axis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTabletop Dobsonian base:\u003c\/strong\u003e 482.6 x 482.6 x 469.9 mm (19\" x 19\" x 18.5\"), 16 lb, in CARB-compliant melamine-faced particle board.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e25 lb (11.33 kg) complete:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 9 lb tube and a 16 lb base, with the StarSense dock and unlock code included.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical \/ Mechanical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe tube is a 150 mm parabolic Newtonian at f\/5, measuring 723.9 mm long by 190.5 mm in diameter (28.5\" x 7.5\"). Celestron publishes its resolving power as 0.92 arcseconds by the Rayleigh criterion and 0.77 arcseconds by the Dawes limit, and the secondary has a 47 mm minor axis.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ef\/5 across a 150 mm mirror is the combination that makes this telescope work as a tabletop: 750 mm of focal length in a tube under 30 inches, which is short enough that the base does not need to be tall to clear the ground. The parabolic primary is what keeps stars tight across the field at this focal ratio — a spherical mirror would soften off-axis. A collimation cap is supplied, and the 1.25\" rack-and-pinion focuser takes any 1.25\" eyepiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eDeep-sky observing of globular and open clusters, emission and planetary nebulae, and galaxies at a 13.4 limiting magnitude. Lunar observing in fine detail and planetary observing at up to 354x, where the 0.77 arcsecond resolution is the useful figure. Double-star work near the resolution limit. Guided touring with the app's list of currently visible objects and its audio descriptions. Dark-sky trips, where 25 lb in two pieces fits a car boot alongside everything else. Outreach and family observing, where the app lets anyone find something themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces:\u003c\/strong\u003e the focuser takes 1.25\" eyepieces. The supplied 25mm and 10mm Kellners cover 30x and 75x; a 6mm or a zoom is the usual next addition for planetary work, with a 354x ceiling above.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSomething to stand it on:\u003c\/strong\u003e the base is a tabletop design and needs a table, bench or wall at a comfortable height — and at 18.5\" tall with a 28.5\" tube, a reasonably sturdy one. Celestron's \u003ca href=\"\/products\/tripod-for-starsense-explorer-tabletop-dobsonian-telescopes\"\u003eTripod for StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian Telescopes\u003c\/a\u003e is the purpose-made answer, and it is the accessory most 150mm owners end up adding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSmartphone:\u003c\/strong\u003e the StarSense Explorer app runs on Android 12 and later and on iOS 18 and newer, including iPhone XR and newer. Celestron maintains the full device list at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/starsenseexplorer.simcur.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003estarsenseexplorer.simcur.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded software:\u003c\/strong\u003e Celestron Starry Night Basic Edition ships with the telescope alongside the StarSense Explorer unlock code.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you are unsure whether your phone will run the app, send us the model and we will check it against Celestron's list before you order.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo tripod is included.\u003c\/strong\u003e The base is built to sit on a surface, and this is the heaviest and tallest of the tabletops at 16 lb and 18.5\" — a solid table or the matching tripod above rather than a folding side table.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe app needs real starlight to work.\u003c\/strong\u003e It cannot orient itself in daylight and wants roughly an hour after sunset before there is enough star detail to match on. Cloud cover, haze, a bright Moon and heavy light pollution all reduce what it can lock onto.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt shows tonight's sky only.\u003c\/strong\u003e There is no date or time control in the app, so it plans the session you are about to have rather than one next month.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracking is manual.\u003c\/strong\u003e Objects drift across the field as the Earth turns and you nudge the tube to follow. At 354x that means small, frequent corrections.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt is a 1.25\"-only focuser.\u003c\/strong\u003e Two-inch wide-field eyepieces do not fit, which sets the widest true field this telescope can reach even though the aperture would support more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSolar observing needs a purpose-made filter.\u003c\/strong\u003e Viewing the Sun through any telescope requires a proper solar filter fitted to the front of the tube — ask us and we will point you at one that fits this aperture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-year Celestron warranty.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. The tube sits in the base, an eyepiece goes in the focuser and the phone goes in the dock. Aligning the phone to the optics is a short procedure at the start of each session and the app's tutorials walk through it. Collimation is the one technical job and the included collimation cap is what you do it with.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the app need a subscription?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. The unlock code is in the box and the app is yours with the telescope.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need to buy anything else to use it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot to observe — two eyepieces, the finder and the dock are all supplied. You do need a solid surface to stand it on, and the matching tripod is the accessory most owners of this model add.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich phones does it work with?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAndroid 12 and later, and iOS 18 and newer including iPhone XR and newer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShould I get this or the 8\" floor-standing Dobsonian?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 8\" gathers 841x the unaided eye against this telescope's 459x and reaches a 14.2 limiting magnitude against 13.4, with a 2\" focuser that opens up wide-field eyepieces. This one is 25 lb against 43.4 lb, stores in a cupboard, and needs no floor space. It comes down to whether storage and portability or reach matters more to you — tell us your situation and we will give you a straight answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it for astrophotography?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is built as a visual instrument. The base is manual with no tracking drive, so long-exposure imaging is outside what it does. Short-exposure lunar and planetary work held up to the eyepiece is practical.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 150 mm f\/5 parabolic Newtonian on a tabletop Dobsonian base with app-guided pointing: 750 mm of focal length, a 354x useful ceiling, 0.77 arcsecond Dawes resolution, two eyepieces and 25 lb complete. The most aperture in the range that still lives in a cupboard, and it wants a solid surface or the matching tripod to sit on.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Celestron","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44014027112559,"sku":"22482","price":833.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/22482_Starsense_Explorer_150mm_Tabletop_Dobsonian_01_570x380_402x__98024.jpg?v=1766567855"},{"product_id":"starsense-explorer-130mm-smartphone-app-enabled-tabletop-dobsonian-telescope","title":"Celestron StarSense Explorer 130mm Smartphone App-Enabled Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Celestron StarSense Explorer 130mm is a 130 mm f\/5 Newtonian reflector with a parabolic primary, mounted on a tabletop Dobsonian base and paired with a smartphone dock and Celestron's StarSense Explorer app. The app reads the actual star field through your phone's camera and matches it against its own catalogue to work out where the tube is pointed, then shows on-screen arrows that walk you to a target and turn the bullseye green once it is centred in the eyepiece. At 650 mm focal length and 19.2 lb complete, it sits in the middle of the tabletop range — noticeably more aperture than the 114mm while still carrying out in one trip.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a good match if you want more light-gathering than a small tabletop gives without moving to a floor-standing Dobsonian, and you would rather spend the evening observing than learning to star-hop first. The 130 mm aperture and 650 mm focal length are a balanced combination — wide enough for clusters and nebulae, long enough to put usable magnification on the Moon and planets. It suits a backyard observer with limited storage, and travels well enough for a cottage or a dark-sky trip.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e130 mm parabolic primary at f\/5:\u003c\/strong\u003e 650 mm focal length, with a useful magnification range of 19x to 307x and a limiting stellar magnitude of 13.1.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e345x the light-gathering power of the unaided eye:\u003c\/strong\u003e around 30% more than the 114mm model, which shows on the fainter targets.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo eyepieces supplied:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 25mm at 26x and a 10mm at 65x, giving both a wide finding field and a closer look in the box.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eParabolic primary mirror\u003c\/strong\u003e in standard optical glass, with aluminium coatings and an SiO2 overcoat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1.25\" rack-and-pinion focuser\u003c\/strong\u003e and a StarPointer red-dot finderscope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTabletop Dobsonian base:\u003c\/strong\u003e 482.6 x 482.6 x 419.1 mm (19\" x 19\" x 16.5\"), 11 lb, in CARB-compliant melamine-faced particle board.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e19.2 lb complete:\u003c\/strong\u003e an 8.2 lb tube and an 11 lb base, with the StarSense dock and unlock code included.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical \/ Mechanical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe tube is a 130 mm parabolic Newtonian at f\/5, measuring 615.95 mm long by 165.1 mm in diameter. Celestron publishes its resolving power as 1.06 arcseconds by the Rayleigh criterion and 0.89 arcseconds by the Dawes limit — fine enough to split a good many double stars and to show the Cassini division on a steady night.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ef\/5 is a sensible middle ground for a Newtonian of this size: short enough to keep the tube at 24 inches and the whole telescope under 20 lb, slow enough to be more forgiving of collimation and of inexpensive eyepieces than the f\/4 114mm. The parabolic primary is the important part of that specification — it is what keeps stars tight to the edge of the field rather than softening off-axis. A collimation cap is supplied, and the 1.25\" rack-and-pinion focuser takes any 1.25\" eyepiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eDeep-sky observing of open and globular clusters, the brighter nebulae and the nearer galaxies at a 13.1 limiting magnitude. Lunar observing in detail and planetary observing at up to 307x. Double-star work near the 0.89 arcsecond Dawes limit. Guided touring with the app's list of currently visible objects and its audio descriptions. Travel and dark-sky trips, where 19.2 lb in two pieces is easy to pack. Outreach and family observing, where the app lets anyone find something themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces:\u003c\/strong\u003e the focuser takes 1.25\" eyepieces. The supplied 25mm and 10mm cover 26x and 65x; a 6mm or a zoom is the usual next addition, with a 307x ceiling above.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSomething to stand it on:\u003c\/strong\u003e the base is a tabletop design and needs a table, bench or wall at a comfortable height. Celestron's \u003ca href=\"\/products\/tripod-for-starsense-explorer-tabletop-dobsonian-telescopes\"\u003eTripod for StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian Telescopes\u003c\/a\u003e is the purpose-made answer if you would rather not hunt for a surface each time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSmartphone:\u003c\/strong\u003e the StarSense Explorer app runs on Android 12 and later and on iOS 18 and newer, including iPhone XR and newer. Celestron maintains the full device list at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/starsenseexplorer.simcur.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003estarsenseexplorer.simcur.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded software:\u003c\/strong\u003e Celestron Starry Night Basic Edition ships with the telescope alongside the StarSense Explorer unlock code.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you are unsure whether your phone will run the app, send us the model and we will check it against Celestron's list before you order.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo tripod is included.\u003c\/strong\u003e The base is built to sit on a surface. A patio table or bench works; the matching tripod above is there if you want a dedicated one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe app needs real starlight to work.\u003c\/strong\u003e It cannot orient itself in daylight and wants roughly an hour after sunset before there is enough star detail to match on. Cloud cover, haze, a bright Moon and heavy light pollution all reduce what it can lock onto.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt shows tonight's sky only.\u003c\/strong\u003e There is no date or time control in the app, so it plans the session you are about to have rather than one next month.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracking is manual.\u003c\/strong\u003e Objects drift across the field as the Earth turns and you nudge the tube to follow. At 307x that is a frequent small touch; at the powers most of the sky is best viewed at here, it is occasional.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt is a 1.25\"-only focuser.\u003c\/strong\u003e Two-inch wide-field eyepieces do not fit, which keeps the eyepiece budget sensible but sets the widest true field you can reach.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSolar observing needs a purpose-made filter.\u003c\/strong\u003e Viewing the Sun through any telescope requires a proper solar filter fitted to the front of the tube — ask us and we will point you at one that fits this aperture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-year Celestron warranty.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. The tube sits in the base, an eyepiece goes in the focuser and the phone goes in the dock — a couple of minutes from cupboard to observing. Aligning the phone to the optics is a short procedure at the start of each session and the app's tutorials walk through it. Collimation is the one technical job and the included collimation cap is what you do it with.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the app need a subscription?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. The unlock code is in the box and the app is yours with the telescope.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need to buy anything else to use it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot to observe — two eyepieces, the finder and the dock are all supplied. You do need a surface to stand it on, and many owners add the matching tripod for that.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich phones does it work with?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAndroid 12 and later, and iOS 18 and newer including iPhone XR and newer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does it compare with the 114mm and 150mm tabletops?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 130mm gathers 345x the unaided eye against the 114mm's 265x and the 150mm's 459x, with limiting magnitudes of 13.1, 12.8 and 13.4 respectively. It is the middle choice on both weight and reach: 19.2 lb against 12.6 lb and 25 lb.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it for astrophotography?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is built as a visual instrument. The base is manual with no tracking drive, so long-exposure imaging is outside what it does. Short-exposure lunar and planetary work held up to the eyepiece is practical.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 130 mm f\/5 parabolic Newtonian on a tabletop Dobsonian base with app-guided pointing: 650 mm of focal length, a 307x useful ceiling, two eyepieces and 19.2 lb complete. The middle of the tabletop range, and the one that balances reach against portability most evenly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Celestron","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44014027243631,"sku":"22481","price":667.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/22481_Starsense_Explorer_130mm_Tabletop_Dobsonian_01_570x380_402x__34309.jpg?v=1766567869"}],"url":"https:\/\/ontariotelescope.com\/collections\/dobsonian-celestron.oembed","provider":"Ontario Telescope and Accessories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}