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Deal.ai › Celestron › Toys & Games
Celestron
Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope

Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope

5(9 ratings)

Best price now

$1,199.00at AdoramaChecked 6 h ago

Compared across 4 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when. Store links may earn us a commission. Price via Klarna.

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Price facts

  • Lowest price today: $1,199.00 at Adorama (checked Nov 10, 2026).
  • Checked at 4 stores.

Our take on the Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope

The StarSense Explorer 10" is a manual Dobsonian reflector that uses your smartphone as a push-to finder. You dock the phone, align it once, and the app draws arrows until the target sits in the eyepiece. The 10-inch aperture is the sweet spot for deep-sky work: globular clusters resolve, galaxies show structure, and planets take magnification well. It competes with plain 8- and 10-inch Dobsonians that cost less but leave you star-hopping, and with motorized GoTo scopes that cost more and need power and alignment. Reviewers like the app's guidance and the light-gathering jump over an 8-inch; the trade-offs are bulk, weight and a base that some find heavy to move.

Best forBeginners who want to find objects fast without star chartsBackyard observers chasing galaxies, clusters and nebulaeFamilies upgrading from a small scopeVisual observers who don't want motors or power
Pros
  • 10-inch aperture pulls in faint deep-sky objects
  • StarSense app guides you to targets with on-screen arrows
  • No motors, batteries or complex alignment for the scope itself
  • Solid altazimuth base with smooth motion
  • Audio and text object descriptions built into the app
  • Holds collimation well once set
Cons
  • Heavy and bulky; the tube and base are two awkward loads
  • Needs a fairly dark sky to show its advantage
  • Phone must be docked and aligned each session
  • Manual tracking means objects drift out of view at high power
  • Base is large and takes up storage space

Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope prices at every store

  • Best BuyNew

    In stock

    $1,199.00Free shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit Best Buy
  • AdoramaNew

    In stock

    $1,199.00Free shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit Adorama
  • WalmartNew

    In stockSold by Celestron, LLCReturns: Sold by a Walmart Marketplace seller; returns go to the seller under the seller's returns policy.

    $1,199.00Free shippingChecked Nov 8
    Visit Walmart
  • NeweggNew

    In stock

    $1,249.00Free shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit Newegg

Store links may earn us a commission. Some prices via Klarna.

Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope price history

Lowest price we've seen: $1,199.00 on Nov 10 at Best Buy. Tracked across 3 stores since Nov 10.

What reviewers say

Owners rate the StarSense Explorer 10" highly for how quickly a newcomer can find objects and for the views a 10-inch mirror delivers. Common complaints are weight, the size of the base, and the need to re-dock and realign the phone.

What people mention
  • App guidancePraisedUsers say the on-screen arrows get them to targets in minutes without star charts.
  • WeightCriticisedOwners call the tube and base heavy and awkward to move as separate pieces.
  • AperturePraisedThe 10-inch mirror shows galaxies and globular clusters that smaller scopes miss.
  • Phone alignmentMixedDocking and aligning the phone works but sometimes needs repeating during a session.
  • TrackingCriticisedWith no motor, objects drift out of the eyepiece at high magnification and need nudging.
  • BuildPraisedThe base is described as stable with smooth motion and the optics hold collimation.

About the Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope

Celestron has reinvented the Dobsonian telescope with StarSense Explorer—the first Dobsonian that uses your smartphone to analyze the night sky and calculate its position in real-time. This large-aperture Celestron StarSense Explorer is ideal for serious beginners, thanks to the app's user-friendly interface and detailed tutorials. It's like having your own personal tour guide of the night sky. The large aperture will ensure that you won’t outgrow the telescope as you continue on in your astronomical adventures. 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, guiding 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 An ultra-stable Dobsonian base provides a sturdy foundation for StarSense Explorer. It features large diameter altitude bearings with variable tensioning, Teflon azimuth bearings, and braces on the side panels for extra stability (unlike most 10” Dobsonian bases). The altitude bearings provide a smooth up-and-down motion while the integrated altitude "brake" system allows you to adjust the tension along the altitude axis for smoothest motion even with slight imbalances. The panning knob on the telescope tube provides an ergonomic grip so you can precisely point the telescope without introducing heat from your hands into the optical system. As celestial objects appear to drift across the night sky, you'll be able to easily follow them with minor adjustments to the telescope’s position. Dazzling Views with High-Quality Optics With a large 10" Newtonian reflector optical tube, this telescope has enough light-gathering ability to bring out impressive detail in celestial objects while remaining remarkably portable. You can expect sharp, bright views of Jupiter's four Galilean moons, its cloud bands and Great Red Spot, the rings of Saturn, the gaseous glow of the Orion Nebula, dust lanes in the Lagoon Nebula, and our neighbor galaxy, Andromeda. Compared to the StarSense Explorer DX 130 AZ, the 10" Dobsonian has 380+% more light gathering area, providing better views of faint objects. All mirror surfaces are coated with our XLT optical coatings to visibly increase contrast and light throughput for brighter views. With XLT, you'll be able to discern subtle details while viewing the Moon and planets, as well as faint galaxies and nebulae. The mirrors are made of low-expansion optical glass, which helps ensure the best images under changing environmental conditions. This telescope also comes with a high-quality 2” Crayford focuser. The Crayford design provides precise and smooth movements without focus shifting. It also includes a 2” to 1.25” adapter and a 2” extension tube, so you can use virtually any 1.25” or 2” telescope eyepiece with your StarSense Explorer Dobsonian. The focuser also features a thumbscrew so you can lock in the sharpest focus. Perfect for the City or Dark Sky Sites Even if you live in a light-polluted city location, the Celestron StarSense Explorer 10” Dobsonian is advanced enough to easily 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. But if you can take the telescope to an even slightly darker location, more objects will become visible. With this 10" Dobsonian and relatively dark skies, hundreds of fascinating objects are well within your reach. Transporting your StarSense Explorer Dobsonian is easy thanks to the ergonomic carry handles located at the balance point of the tube and base. Dust covers are also included for the front of the tube and the focuser. 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. 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 that 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. Enhance Your Setup Keep your phone charged all night while exploring with your StarSense Explorer by adding the PowerTank Glow 5000 to your must-have accessories (sold separately). This 2-in-1 accessory was made with the StarSense Explorer Dobs in mind, it has a red flashlight PLUS a USB power bank for charging mobile devices in the field. Connect the PowerTank Glow 5000 to the two posts at the front of the StarSense Explorer dock with the included bands so it is held in a convenient location for charging your smartphone while in use. To achieve the sharpest views faster, we recommend pairing the StarSense Explorer 10” Dobsonian with the USB Cooling Fan for Dobsonian Telescopes (sold separately). T

Specifications

color
SilverSource
Width (")
26.5Source
Built-In Camera
NoSource
Waterproofness
NoSource
Anti Reflective Coating

Questions and answers

Is the 10-inch worth it over the 8-inch?
If you can handle the extra weight, yes. The larger mirror gathers noticeably more light, so galaxies and globular clusters show more detail. The 8-inch is easier to carry and set up.
Do I need a phone to use it?
No. The scope works as a plain Dobsonian with the included eyepiece. The StarSense app is what adds guided finding, and it needs a compatible smartphone.
Does it track objects automatically?
No. It is a manual push-to scope. You move it by hand and nudge it to follow objects as they drift, especially at high magnification.
What comes in the box?
The optical tube, the Dobsonian base, a 25mm eyepiece, a finder and the StarSense phone dock. You supply the smartphone and the app.
How hard is it to set up and collimate?
Assembly takes about half an hour. Collimation is a one-time adjustment with the included tools and rarely needs repeating once set.
Can I use it for astrophotography?
It is built for visual use. The manual mount and lack of tracking make long-exposure imaging impractical, though short phone shots of the Moon and planets work.
Where is the Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope cheapest?
At Adorama, for $1,199.00, as of our latest check.
What do buyers say about the Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope?
Rated 5 out of 5 from 9 ratings.
Where can I buy the Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope?
4 stores we checked sell it, including Best Buy, Adorama, Newegg, Walmart.

Stores we've priced the Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Smartphone App-Enabled Dobsonian Telescope at

  • Adorama deals and prices
  • Best Buy deals and prices
  • Newegg deals and prices

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CoatedSource
Battery
Yes (included)Source
Height (")
21.0Source
Motorized
NoSource
Depth (")
21.0Source