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Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130 AZ: Easy astronomy with your smartphone
In this article, I will introduce the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130 AZ telescope . It is a 130mm reflector designed for visual observation, accompanied by a mobile application that makes it easy to locate celestial objects. This telescope offers enough power to explore in detail the planets of the solar system, as well as some bright deep-sky objects such as the Orion Nebula, star clusters, and the Andromeda Galaxy.
In this article, I'll show you how the StarSense Explorer DX 130 works and explain why it's a great option for beginners who need a little help figuring out what to observe and, more importantly, where to look .
An affordable and high-performance 130 mm telescope
With a 130mm aperture and a 650mm focal length (f/5), the DX 130 offers a good balance between wide field and visible details . It captures much more light than a 70mm or 90mm telescope, allowing you to see not only the Moon , Jupiter , Saturn , but also more diffuse objects, such as nebulae , galaxies and globular clusters , especially in unpolluted skies.
It's not a powerhouse, but for its class, it delivers crisp, bright, and sharp images , ideal for getting started without getting discouraged.
A simple and practical design
The 130mm tube sits on a robust, easy-to-use azimuthal mount : simply point left, right, up, or down. It is equipped with fine-tuning levers to precisely adjust your target.
The whole thing weighs about 8-9 kg , making it portable , even for a teenager.
The set includes:
Two eyepieces (25 mm and 10 mm), for magnification ranging from 26x to 65x .
A red dot finder for classic spotting if needed.
The StarSense smartphone holder .
A free application (StarSense Explorer) with activation code included .
Simple assembly, intuitive use
The DX 130 AZ telescope is mounted on a alt-azimuth mount with slow-motion controls on both axes, allowing you to point accurately and smoothly. Assembly is quick and easy: the base arrives almost fully assembled, and it will only take about 20 to 30 minutes to set everything up.
The StarSense Explorer , available on Android and iOS, requires a unique activation code included in the box. Once downloaded, it guides you step-by-step through the initial calibration process. I recommend doing this at dusk while it's still light—it's much easier to properly align your phone.
Please note: the phone does not look through the telescope , it simply looks at the sky to analyze the position. Therefore, it is not a support for taking photos, but only an astronomical navigation tool .
The Magic of the StarSense Explorer
This telescope is manual, but it's not "old-school." With StarSense Explorer , you get one of the most intuitive guiding systems ever. It's called a "push-to" telescope: you point manually , but with real-time guided assistance from your smartphone.
What really sets this model apart is the StarSense Explorer . Rather than wasting time searching for a random star, this system uses your smartphone to scan the sky , recognize stars using plate solving (field resolution), and guide you to celestial objects visible from your location.
Here's how it works:
You mount your phone on the support provided for this purpose, on the optical tube.
StarSense Explorer app , available on Android and iOS, connects to the telescope.
It automatically detects your exact position in the sky , taking short images of the sky above the telescope and comparing them to a database of stars.
Then, it tells you in real time , using direction arrows , how to manually orient the telescope towards the chosen object.
When the object is centered, the reticle turns green , and all you have to do is observe!
This system requires no motors or expensive GoTo systems . And you don't need any prior astronomy knowledge: everything is guided step by step, from installation to observation.
What you can observe with the DX 130
Once everything is set up, the experience is truly enjoyable. The app offers you a list of objects visible from your location, based on the time of night. For example, you can point to:
The Moon and all its craters in detail.
Jupiter and its Galilean moons.
Saturn and its rings.
March , with a little patience.
The Orion Nebula , impressive even with a telescope of this size.
The Pleiades or M13 , a globular cluster visible in summer.
Astrophotography? Yes, but simple.
This telescope is not motorized , so it is not suitable for the long exposures required for deep-sky photography. On the other hand, it is perfect for taking eyepiece photos with a smartphone, especially for the Moon , Saturn , or Jupiter . You just need to use a smartphone adapter and adjust your shot.
Don't expect to compete with professional astrophotographers, but for beginners and capturing your first images , it's ideal.
These positive and negative points
What I liked
- ✔ The StarSense system, very efficient and fluid.
- ✔ A good diameter (130 mm) for varied observations.
- ✔ Very easy to assemble and use.
- ✔ Transportable, even by car or on foot.
- ✔ An excellent choice for serious beginners in astronomy.
Things to keep in mind
- ✖ The application consumes a lot of battery → use an external battery.
- ✖ Requires a compatible smartphone with a working camera.
- ✖ No motorized tracking → only visual observation or photo with the eyepiece.
Our conclusion: an ideal first telescope for observing the sky
The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130 AZ is probably one of the best telescopes to start with without getting discouraged . It makes discovering the sky simple, clear, and above all fun . By combining classic optics and modern technology , it allows you to easily explore dozens of objects in a single evening, even if you have never used a telescope in your life.
For sky enthusiasts who want to start off on the right foot, without breaking the bank or getting lost, this is a remarkable choice.
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