StarSense Explore 114mm Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope

About this product

The StarSense Explorer is the first telescope which can utilise your smartphone to calculate a real-time position and analyse the night sky. Place your compatible phone into the unique star sense phone dock, align it to the telescope optics, and launch the StarSense Explorer app. Using A Lost in Space Algorithm (LISA) in conjunction with your phone’s gyros and accelerometers, the app can determine exactly where the telescope is pointed in the night sky. Once aligned Star Sense Explorer generates a list of celestial objects currently visible through the eyepiece of your telescope. The 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.  

This telescope is built with a lightweight tabletop Dobsonian base to keep the scope stable. The low-profile allows the eyepiece to be accessed by children or placed on a stable platform to raise it to a comfortable viewing height.  The built-in altitude "brake" system allows for adjusting tension along the altitude axis, ensuring smooth, precise manoeuvrability even with slight imbalances. This along with the Teflon bearings facilitates smooth motion allowing you to follow your desired targets as they drift through the night sky. The optical tube is adjustable so the focuser can be easily positioned for a comfortable viewing experience.  This telescope features a 31.75 mm rack-and-pinion focuser that accepts 31.75 mm eyepieces and dust covers for the front of the tube and the focuser. The base features an eyepiece rack to keep your extra eyepiece(s) close at hand.

With its 114mm parabolic primary mirror, this telescope has enough light-gathering ability to provide bright views of celestial objects. Even in light-polluted locations the StarSense Explorer is advanced enough to 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.

Warnings

• 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.

Contents

• Optical tube
• Dobsonian Base
• 17mm and 10mm eyepiece
• StarPointer™ red-dot finderscope
• StarSense Explorer dock
• StarSense Explorer unlock code
• Eyepiece rack
• Collimation Cap
• Celestron Starry Night Basic Edition Software

Specification

Optic Tube

• Aperture: 114 mm
• Focal Length: 450 mm 
• Focal Ratio: f/4
• Focal Length of Eyepiece 1: 17 mm 
• Magnification of Eyepiece 1: 26x
• Focal Length of Eyepiece 2: 10 mm 
• Magnification of Eyepiece 2: 45x
• Highest Useful Magnification: 269x
• Lowest Useful Magnification: 16x
• Limiting Stellar Magnitude: 12.8
• Light Gathering Power: 265x 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: 34.5 mm 
• Tube Material: Steel
• Focuser: 1.25" rack-and-pinion
• Finderscope: StarPointer™ red-dot finderscope
• Resolution Rayleigh: 1.21 arcseconds
• Resolution Dawes: 1.02 arcseconds
• Optical Tube Dimensions: 469.9 mm long x 139.7mm diameter
• Optical Tube Weight: 1.9 kg

Mount

• Mount Type: Altazimuth Tabletop Dobsonian base
• Base Material: Particle board with melamine surfaces and edge trim, CARB compliant
• Base Dimensions: 381mm x 381mm x 393.7mm 
• Base Weight: 3.81 kg
• Slew Speeds: Manual
• Software: Celestron Starry Night Basic Edition Software and StarSense Explorer App
• Total Telescope Kit Weight: 5.71 kg

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