CelestronStarSense Explorer 8-inch App-Enabled Telescope – 203mm Dobsonian with Smartphone Dock & StarSense App – iPhone & Android Compatible – Easy-to-Use for Beginners

This is a FANTASTIC DOB telescope! I recommend this wholeheartedly and without reservation.This is a great DOB telescope. I would like to tell you about it here.First things first - the StarSense application is tremendously fun and educational for exploring the sky (as is SkySafari - consider this app if you have a non-StarSense scope). I bought one the smaller StarSense reflector scopes to test the app. After using it, I was sold on the platform and looked forward to getting the DOB. The StarSense app is amazing. It will not only point out MANY celestial objects, but it will provide written facts and oral descriptions on the more commonly observed objects. It is highly educational and entertaining. It also provides an interactive map of the sky as you gaze. Think of it this way - you have a mini planetarium on your scope. How great is that? It helps you aim the scope while also providing information about the object you are viewing and the surrounding objects. You can pick from a star map or enter the celestial object you want to view in a search bar. The app has an option to go red to preserve the acclimated eye. It was easy to align and work. The StarSense app is an utterly fantastic way to enhance the stargazing experience!! (Note: I had one phone work PERFECTLY with the app, and another phone did not work on the first night out. Later, I turned location services on and that fixed my problem - both phones worked well. Celestron keeps a list of StarSense confirmed compatible devices on their website if you want more info. It looks like the StarSense app is widely compatible. Frankly, I would buy a phone just to use this app).The DOB is sturdy. It is super solid and I am sure it will last for years to come. I had no problems with assembly. If you go for the 12 inch (you Viking!), be sure to wear gloves or otherwise be very carefully when installing the primary mirror (from what I have read, the 8 and 10 inch come with the primary installed). But overall, it comes together easily. And, if you do go for this - a laser collimator is super handy. And this thing was a breeze to collimate. Images were crisp and clear!The base is surprisingly smooth. I was concerned, given the weight of the 12, that it would be difficult to control and move. That was an unfounded concern. It moves smoothly, and with the nicely placed front handle, you can keep objects centered easily. Slewing is a pleasure on this DOB.The scope is well balanced. But keep in mind, as you swap eyepieces and change accessories (starfinders, lasers, et al) the balance can change and become front heavy. This is no problem. There is a very well done tensioning knob that will keep you level and still. You can also purchase dobsonian weight magnets if you prefer to manually balance the scope. I do not think that is necessary right now - the tension system gets a chef's kiss from me.Image quality is fantastic if you have the right eyepieces (or filters if you are in to that). Physics dictates this result, given the light gathering power of the primary. It is amazing to use a 12 inch aperture. To me, it is worth lugging the weight around. If you are unsure you can handle the bulk of the 12, there is nothing wrong with an 8 or 10! The app is still outstanding and there are plenty dark sky objects to see with the 8 and the 10. You cannot go wrong with any size, in my opinion. I would invite you to treat yourself to some 2 inch eyepieces. These DOBS all accommodate 2 inch eyepieces, and I would recommend the extra money for a nice set.In sum, I highly recommend this DOB if you are in the market for such a telescope. And by using the phrase "in the market", I trust you are familiar with the size and weight of these scopes. But the size and weight are worth the price of admission. And please know, once they are set up they slew with ease. I could move the scope with a pinky and the scope rests firm when left to stand. These DOBs It is by far the best telescope I have ever owned.I would recommend some accessories to enhance your stargazing. I recommend some 2 inch eyepieces (40-23mm), a DOB fan (which Celestron sells for cheap and easily inserts) which will help with great temperature differentials, a laser collimator, a mount to raise the red dot finder up off the scope for ease of use (so you do not have to crane your neck to use it), and a 90 degree starfinder (handy extra - one person can look through the DOB, and another can view the larger sky simultaneously). Just as a sprinter needs quality shoes, your DOB can use some quality accessories, but that is not to suggest this thing is incomplete or lacking in quality.This is a tremendous scope worth every penny. Happy stargazing!

This is my first dobsonian and bought a 10”. I love the StarSense app to learn where objects are located. I don’t think I’d be able to locate many of the objects without it (use a iPhone 13). I bought a Red Laser Collimator and check for good alignment prior to each use. I’m a newbie to the hobby and I find Collimation very easy to perform on this telescope. Happy I bought it.

First of all, it is a large piece of equipment. However, its strong ability to search the sky makes up for its size. I love it and would buy it again. I put it on a moving dolly that I had, and this allows me to roll it around the house and outside. It was a great buy.

There are two significant issues with this scope.First, the Starsense app doesn't work on two recent Android phones that I tried. Celestron tech. support was unable to fix this problem. It does, however, work perfectly with the iPhone X that I bought to use with it. The app is really a joy to use, even allowing one to point to comets when they become visible, for example. I've been using small telescopes (as well as large ones) for over 60 years, and this app brings a whole new ease and excitement to observing.The second issue is that the holes in the telescope tube didn't line up with the holes in the mirror cell when I tried to install the mirror, so I had to drill and tap 6 threads for the screws in the mirror cell. (This would not be a problem in the 10-inch and 8-inch versions of the scope, which come with the mirror already installed.)The eyepieces that come with the scope aren't particularly good. I mostly use an Explore Scientific 11mm eyepiece, but a Celestron zoom eyepiece also works surprisingly well.The directions for collimating the scope are clear, and it comes with an adequate collimation tool. The optics are superb; clouds in the atmosphere of Saturn are particularly impressive, as one example.The assembly of the mount is straightforward, and the mount is heavy but fairly easily carried by a reasonably healthy adult. The optical tube assembly is quite heavy. Although it comes with a handle installed for carrying, I've found that a Dobsonian strap (such as the one sold by High Point Scientific) helps a lot. I also purchased a cart for transporting the scope over significant distances.Overall, I'm happy with the scope, except for the two issues mentioned at the top of this review. If you're just starting out in astronomy, however, I'd recommend purchasing a smaller Starsense scope, with the warning that the app might not work with an Android phone.

Works well high quality unit

This telescope is awesome! It has extremely sharp and clear images of planets and star clusters. I live in a heavily light polluted area and I can still see galaxies and nebula. The star sense app is also incredible and easy to use. It’s hard to believe how accurate it is. It does lose its location when clouds pass by and if I get close to the horizon where the glow from the streetlights is pretty bright. The eyepiece that came with it is crystal clear with minimal aberrations around the edge but because of the wide range of view it has not been a problem. Overall I’m really impressed and would suggest this scope to anyone that is interested

My most favorite telescope.. can't beat the price and clarity

So i was putting this together recently and realized that the entire telescope piece is missing from the box? What do i do now?