Celestron unveils sky-mapping telescope

StarSense Explorer DX 130mm Reflector

Celestron announced the StarSense Explorer, a consumer telescope offering sophisticated sky recognition technology used by professional observatories, in collaboration with existing smartphone camera hardware, to quickly determine telescope positioning, facilitate sky mapping and seamlessly guide users to thousands of celestial objects. In addition, the StarSense Explorer features a comprehensive interactive database that provides informative details on celestial objects, making the product also a valuable celestial reference guide and STEM-focused learning tool.

The StarSense Explorer offers unprecedented ease-of-use. Users simply position either an Android or iOS smartphone in the telescope-mounted dock and launch the included StarSense Explorer phone app. The app features a unique guidance system allowing users to simply follow on-screen arrows to precisely and to easily locate the desired object, without requiring a Wi-Fi or cellular signal. The StarSense Explorer is now available for immediate shipment and offered in four variations, including the StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ, a 130mm reflector-type telescope ($399.95). Refractor-type versions are also available.

“The industry’s first smartphone-driven auto-locating telescope, StarSense Explorer, finally offers thousands of consumers who were previously overwhelmed or daunted by telescopes a seamless and accessible path to sky exploration that is easy, affordable and visually breathtaking,” says Corey Lee, CEO, Celestron. “The StarSense Explorer provides sophisticated sky mapping technology and our latest telescope innovations at a tremendous value.”