Celestron StarSense Explorer 12" f/4.9 Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope

The StarSense Explorer 12" f/ 4.9 Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope is a revolutionary product from Celestron that combines innovative technology with high-quality optics for an unparalleled stargazing experience. This Dobsonian telescope is the first of its kind to utilize your smartphone for real-time analysis and positioning of the night sky, making it an ideal choice for both serious beginners and advanced observers. The StarSense Explorer's user-friendly interface and detailed tutorials transform your smartphone into a personal tour guide of the cosmos. Its large 12" aperture ensures a long-term, immersive astronomical journey, providing spectacular views that even seasoned observers will appreciate.

Setting up the StarSense Explorer is a breeze. Forget about complicated star charts and imprecise planetarium apps. With this telescope, locating celestial objects has never been easier, faster, or more accurate. Simply dock your phone, launch the StarSense Explorer app, and within minutes, you'll be confidently navigating the night sky. The telescope's high-quality altazimuth base provides a sturdy foundation, featuring large diameter altitude bearings with variable tensioning, Teflon azimuth bearings, and side panel braces for extra stability. The integrated altitude "brake" system and ergonomic panning knob ensure smooth, precise movements, allowing you to easily follow celestial objects as they drift across the sky.

The StarSense Explorer's 12" Newtonian reflector optical tube, coupled with XLT optical coatings, provides dazzling views of celestial objects. From Jupiter's Galilean moons and Saturn's rings to the Orion Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy, this telescope's superior light-gathering ability brings out impressive detail. The telescope comes with a high-quality 2" Crayford focuser, providing precise and smooth movements without focus shifting. It also includes a 2" to 1.25" adapter and a 2" extension tube, making it compatible with virtually any 1.25" or 2" telescope eyepiece. Whether you're in a city or a dark sky site, the StarSense Explorer 12" Dobsonian is advanced enough to easily pick out the best and brightest celestial objects.

Its portability is enhanced by ergonomic carry handles located at the balance point of the tube and base, and dust covers are included for the front of the tube and the focuser. The StarSense Explorer works with most modern smartphones, utilizing patented StarSense Sky Recognition Technology and a Lost in Space Algorithm (LISA) to accurately determine where the telescope is pointed in the night sky. This technology surpasses other astronomy apps that rely solely on the phone's gyros and accelerometers, ensuring that no other app can accurately tell you when your target is visible in the eyepiece.

Enhance your setup with the PowerTank Glow 5000 (sold separately), a 2-in-1 accessory that includes a red flashlight and a USB power bank for charging mobile devices in the field. For the sharpest views faster, pair the StarSense Explorer 12" Dobsonian with the USB Cooling Fan for Dobsonian Telescopes (sold separately), which cools the primary mirror to the ambient outdoor temperature faster. Please remember, never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye or with an optic without the proper solar filter. Always ensure an adult familiar with the correct operating procedures is present when children are using the telescope.

StarSense Explorer works with most modern smartphones; it is compatible with Android 12 and later, as well as iOS 18 and newer, including iPhone XR and newer models. Users with older phones can still use this app, but will not be able to reinstall the app if they uninstall it.