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Celestron StarSense Explorer 8" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope

BH #CESSE203DOBT • MFR #22470
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Celestron StarSense Explorer 8" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope
Key Features
  • Use Smartphone for Tour of Night Sky
  • StarSense Sky Recognition Technology
  • Dobsonian-Style Base
  • 8" Newtonian Reflector Optical Tube
The StarSense Explorer 8" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope from Celestron has reinvented the Dobsonian telescope with StarSense Explorer. This Dobsonian uses your smartphone to analyze the night sky and calculate its position in real-time. This large-aperture Celestron StarSense Explorer is ideal for serious beginners, thanks to the app's user-friendly interface and detailed tutorials. It's like having your own personal tour guide of the night sky. The large aperture will ensure that you won't outgrow the telescope as you continue on in your astronomical adventures.
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Celestron StarSense Explorer Overview

The StarSense Explorer 8" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope from Celestron has reinvented the Dobsonian telescope with StarSense Explorer. This Dobsonian uses your smartphone to analyze the night sky and calculate its position in real-time. This large-aperture Celestron StarSense Explorer is ideal for serious beginners, thanks to the app's user-friendly interface and detailed tutorials. It's like having your own personal tour guide of the night sky. The large aperture will ensure that you won't outgrow the telescope as you continue on in your astronomical adventures.

Celestron StarSense Explorer 8" Dobsonian Optical Tube Assembly

With the StarSense Explorer 8" Dobsonian Optical Tube Assembly, Celestron has reinvented the Dobsonian telescope with the StarSense Explorer–the first Dobsonian that uses your smartphone to analyze the night sky and calculate its position in real time. This large-aperture Celestron StarSense Explorer is ideal for serious beginners, thanks to the app's user-friendly interface and detailed tutorials. It's like having your own personal tour guide of the night sky. The large aperture will ensure that you won't outgrow the telescope as you continue on your astronomical adventures.

Leave complicated star charts, imprecise planetarium apps, and computerized mounts behind. With the StarSense Explorer, locating objects has never been easier, faster, or more accurate. Within minutes of setting up the telescope, you'll be navigating the sky with confidence. Simply place your phone in the unique StarSense dock and launch the StarSense Explorer app.

After aligning your phone to the telescope's optics (a quick and easy procedure), the StarSense Explorer generates a list of celestial objects currently visible. Make your selection and arrows appear on-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, listen to hundreds of audio descriptions and view detailed information about thousands of objects within the app's robust database.

With its 8" Newtonian reflector optical tube, this telescope has enough light-gathering ability to bring out impressive detail in celestial objects while remaining remarkably portable. You can expect sharp, bright views of Jupiter's four Galilean moons, its cloud bands and Great Red Spot, the rings of Saturn, the gaseous glow of the Orion Nebula, dust lanes in the Lagoon Nebula, and our neighbor galaxy, Andromeda. Compared to the StarSense Explorer DX 130 AZ, the 8" Dobsonian has 240% more light gathering area, providing better views of faint objects.

All mirror surfaces are coated with Celestron's XLT optical coatings to visibly increase contrast and light throughput for brighter views. With XLT, you'll be able to discern subtle details while viewing the moon and planets, as well as faint galaxies and nebulae. The mirrors are made of low-expansion optical glass, which helps ensure the best images under changing environmental conditions. This telescope also comes with a high-quality 2" Crayford focuser. The Crayford design provides precise and smooth movements without focus shifting. It also includes a 2" to 1.25" adapter and a 2" extension tube, so you can use virtually any 1.25" or 2" telescope eyepiece with your StarSense Explorer Dobsonian. The focuser also features a thumbscrew so you can lock in the sharpest focus.

Perfect for the City or Dark Sky Sites
Even if you live in a light-polluted city location, the Celestron StarSense Explorer 8" Dobsonian is advanced enough to easily pick out Jupiter, Saturn, open star clusters like the Pleiades, double stars like Alberio, the Orion Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy, and more of the best and brightest celestial objects. But if you can take the telescope to an even slightly darker location, more objects will become visible. With this 8" Dobsonian and relatively dark skies, hundreds of fascinating objects are well within your reach. Transporting your StarSense Explorer Dobsonian is easy thanks to the ergonomic carry handles located at the balance point of the tube. Dust covers are also included for the front of the tube and the focuser.
Smartphone Compatibility
Celestron's StarSense Explorer works with most modern smartphones, including iPhone 6 and up, and most devices running Android 7.1.2 or later manufactured since 2016.
Patented StarSense Sky Recognition Technology
The 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 to its internal database. While other astronomy apps may claim that they can help you find objects, they rely exclusively on the phone's gyros and accelerometers, which aren't as accurate as LISA technology. No other app can accurately tell you when your target is visible in the eyepiece.
UPC: 050234022477
Celestron StarSense Explorer 8" Dobsonian Base

This StarSense Explorer 8" Dobsonian Base from Celestron provides a sturdy foundation for the StarSense Explorer 8" optical tube assembly. It features large diameter altitude bearings with variable tensioning, Teflon azimuth bearings, and braces on the side panels for extra stability (unlike most 8" Dobsonian bases). The altitude bearings provide a smooth up-and-down motion while the integrated altitude brake system allows you to adjust the tension along the altitude axis for the smoothest motion, even with slight imbalances.

UPC: 050234702249
Kit Contains:

Celestron StarSense Explorer 8" Dobsonian Optical Tube Assembly

Key Specs
Optical Design
Dobsonian Reflector
Aperture
203 mm / 8"
Focal Length
1200 mm
Focal Ratio
f/5.9
Focuser
Crayford
Eyepiece Barrel Diameter
2"
Type
Alt-Azimuth
GoTo Capability
Yes
Weight
43.4 lb / 19.7 kg
Optical Tube Assembly
Optical Design
Dobsonian Reflector
Aperture
203 mm / 8"
Focal Length
1200 mm
Focal Ratio
f/5.9
Resolution
0.68 Arcsec (Rayleigh)
0.57 Arcsec (Dawes)
Focuser
Crayford
Eyepiece Barrel Diameter
2"
Finderscope
Yes
Mounting
No
Optical Tube Dimensions
44 x 9.5" / 111.8 x 24.1 cm
Mount
Type
Alt-Azimuth
GoTo Capability
Yes
General
Mobile App Compatible
No
Weight
43.4 lb / 19.7 kg
Packaging Info
Package Weight
32.5 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
49 x 29 x 25"

Celestron StarSense Explorer Reviews

See any errors on this page? Let us know

Is the mirror parabolic? Or spherical?

Is the mirror parabolic? Or spherical?
Asked by: Jerald
The StarSense Explorer 8" Dobsonian Telescope features a parabolic primary mirror that produces sharp, and greater focused images on-axis.
Answered by: Telescope
Date published: 2023-02-21

Can this telescope be used for Astro photography?

Can this telescope be used for Astro photography?
Asked by: Ian
The StarSense Explorer 8 App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope can be used for basic astrophotography, i.e., smartphone camera, where long exposures are not required.
Answered by: Telescope
Date published: 2023-08-26

Does this telescope come with a 1.25" eyepiece ...

Does this telescope come with a 1.25" eyepiece adapter?
Asked by: Ryan
Yes, the StarSense Explorer 8" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope #22470 comes with a 1.25" eyepiece adapter.
Answered by: Telescope
Date published: 2023-02-07

Do you need to mount this on a special tripod?

Do you need to mount this on a special tripod?
Asked by: Peter
The StarSense Explorer 8" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope comes with a Dobsonian Base which the optical tube is mounted. This base allows for smooth up-down-side to side movements. No special tripod is required.
Answered by: Telescope
Date published: 2022-12-13
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