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Smithsonian by Celestron StarSense Explorer 130mm Dobsonian Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope

Smithsonian by Celestron StarSense Explorer 130mm Smartphone App-Enabled Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope

Item #: 22212

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Regular price $479.95
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  • Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian, this tabletop telescope combines Celestron's trusted optics and patented sky recognition technology to make exploring the night sky easy and fun.
  • Unleash the power of your smartphone to take a guided tour of the night sky—no prior telescope experience required.
  • Place your smartphone in the dock and launch the app. StarSense Explorer analyzes star patterns overhead and guides you to your target with pinpoint accuracy.
  • A 130mm parabolic primary mirror provides ample light-gathering power to view the Moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and more.
  • StarSense Explorer Powered by SkySafari™ app generates a list of objects currently visible from your location and displays easy-to-follow on-screen arrows to help you find them.
  • The sturdy tabletop Dobsonian base makes it easy to make precise adjustments to follow the arrows. When the bullseye turns green, your target is ready to view in the eyepiece.
  • Includes 25mm and 10mm Kellner eyepieces, the StarSense smartphone dock, a StarPointer™ red-dot finderscope, an eyepiece rack, and a collimation cap.

Specifications

Optical Tube Info:
Optical Design: Newtonian Reflector | Parabolic Primary Mirror
Aperture: 130mm (5.12")
Focal Length: 650mm (25.6")
Focal Ratio: f/5
Focal Length of Eyepiece 1: 25mm (0.98")
Magnification of Eyepiece 1: 26x
Focal Length of Eyepiece 2: 10mm (0.39")
Magnification of Eyepiece 2: 65x
Highest Useful Magnification: 307x
Lowest Useful Magnification: 19x
Limiting Stellar Magnitude: 13.1
Light Gathering Power: 345x as compared to the human eye
Optical Coatings: Aluminum with SiO2 overcoat
Mirror Material: Standard optical glass for primary and secondary mirrors
Minor Axis of Secondary Mirror: 38mm (1.50")
Tube Material: Steel
Focuser: 1.25" rack-and-pinion
Finderscope: StarPointer™ red-dot finderscope
Resolution Rayleigh: 1.06 arcseconds
Resolution Dawes: 0.89 arcseconds
Optical Tube Dimensions: 615.95mm (24.25") long x 165.1mm (6.5") diameter
Optical Tube Weight: 8.2 lbs (3.72 kg)
Mount Info:
Mount Type: Altazimuth Tabletop Dobsonian base
Base Material: Particle board with melamine surfaces and edge trim, CARB compliant
Base Dimensions: 482.6mm x 482.6mm x 419.1mm (19" 19" x 16.5")
Base Weight: 11 lbs (4.99 kg)
Slew Speeds: Manual
Software: Celestron Starry Night Basic Edition Software and StarSense Explorer App
Total Telescope Kit Weight: 19.2 lbs (8.71 kg)
Included Items: Optical tube
Dobsonian Base
25mm and 10mm eyepiece
StarPointer™ red-dot finderscope
StarSense Explorer dock
StarSense Explorer unlock code
Eyepiece rack
Collimation Cap
Celestron Starry Night Basic Edition Software
Additional Information
Solar Warning
  • Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye or with an optic (unless you have the proper solar filter). Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result.
  • Never use your optic to project an image of the Sun onto any surface. Internal heat build-up can damage the optic and any accessories attached to it.
  • Never leave your optic unsupervised. Make sure an adult who is familiar with the correct operating procedures is with your optic at all times, especially when children are present.
California Prop 65 California Prop 65 Warning

WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

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Included Celestron Technologies

  • StarSense Explorer
  • Starry Night

Celestron has reinvented the tabletop Dobsonian telescope with StarSense Explorer—and now it's available as part of the Smithsonian by Celestron collection. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian, this groundbreaking tabletop Dobsonian uses your smartphone to analyze the night sky and calculate its position in real time. This 130mm aperture telescope is ideal for beginners, with enough light-gathering power to show you all the most exciting celestial objects. The app's user-friendly interface and detailed tutorials are like having your own personal tour of the night sky.

This special Smithsonian edition telescope also includes access to bonus educational content by the Smithsonian and Celestron to help you continue exploring.


Dock, Launch, Explore

Leave complicated star charts, imprecise planetarium apps, and computerized mounts behind. With 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), StarSense Explorer generates a list of celestial objects currently visible. Make your selection and arrows appear on-screen to guide 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.


High-Quality Altazimuth Base

The stable tabletop Dobsonian base provides a sturdy foundation for StarSense Explorer. The tabletop base is compact, lightweight, and easy to transport, making it perfect for travel. The base's low profile makes it easier for some observers (especially children) to access the eyepiece. You can also place the base on a stable platform, like a table or a truck tailgate, to raise it to a comfortable viewing height. Consider adding the optional StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian Tripod for even more viewing possibilities.

Teflon bearings provide smooth motion in both the altitude (up-and-down) and azimuth (side-to-side) axes. The integrated altitude "brake" system allows you to adjust the tension along the altitude axis to ensure the smoothest motion, even with slight imbalances. As celestial objects appear to drift across the night sky, you'll be able to follow them easily.

The optical tube connects to the base via tube rings and a dovetail bar. It's easy to adjust the tube's position within the rings to put the focuser in the most ergonomic viewing position. The base features an eyepiece rack to keep your extra eyepiece(s) close at hand.


Dazzling Views with Excellent Optics

With a 130mm (5.1") parabolic primary mirror, this telescope has enough light-gathering ability to bring out detail in celestial objects. You can expect sharp, bright views of Jupiter's four Galilean moons, its cloud bands and Great Red Spot, the rings of Saturn, the Trapezium in the Orion Nebula, and the beautiful Pleiades Open Star Cluster. You'll be able to discern subtle details while viewing the Moon and planets, as well as faint galaxies and nebulae.

This telescope features a 1.25" rack-and-pinion focuser that accepts 1.25" eyepieces and includes dust covers for the front of the tube and the focuser.

 

Perfect for the City or Dark Sky Sites

Even if you live in a light-polluted city location, the Smithsonian by Celestron StarSense Explorer 130mm Tabletop Dobsonian is advanced enough to easily pick out Jupiter, Saturn, open star clusters like the Pleiades, double stars like Albireo, the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, and more of the best and brightest celestial objects.

But if you can take the telescope to an even slightly darker location, even more objects will become visible. With this 130mm Dobsonian and relatively dark skies, hundreds of fascinating objects are well within your reach.

The Smithsonian by Celestron StarSense Explorer Tabletop Dobsonian is lightweight and equipped with carry handles, making it easy to transport to your observing site.


Continue Your Exploration with Smithsonian by Celestron

For nearly 180 years, the Smithsonian has inspired curiosity through scientific discovery, research, education, and exploration. Celestron is proud to collaborate with the Smithsonian to create products that encourage a lifelong passion for astronomy and make the wonders of the night sky more accessible to everyone.

Your journey doesn't end after your first observing session. Your purchase includes access to the Smithsonian x Celestron Explorer Hub, where you’ll find astronomy guides, observing tips, educational articles, and additional resources designed to help you continue exploring the universe.


Smartphone Compatibility

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. For a complete compatibility list, click here.


Patented StarSense Sky Recognition Technology

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 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.


Observe Longer with the PowerTank Glow 5000

Keep your phone charged all night while exploring with your StarSense Explorer by adding the PowerTank Glow 5000 (sold separately). Engineered with StarSense Explorer tabletop Dobsonians in mind, this 2-in-1 accessory combines a red flashlight and a USB power bank to charge your mobile device in the field. Two included bands attach the PowerTank Glow 5000 to the tabletop Dob base handle, an ideal location for charging your smartphone while you observe.

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