Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ

Product Description

The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ telescope is a refractor telescope that uses a smartphone app to analyze the night sky and calculate celestial object positions in real-time. StarSense Explorer technology has reinvented the manual telescope experience, making it easier for beginners to navigate the cosmos. The LT 80AZ model features an 80 mm aperture, providing decent optics and performance for its price point. Celestron’s smartphone app automatically generates a list of visible objects in the night sky, including stars, planets, galaxies, and nebulae. The telescope offers a maximum magnification of 100x and comes with a sturdy altazimuth mount for smooth and easy movement.

Smartphone integration reinvents the manual telescope experience. Users can easily aim the telescope at celestial objects with the app’s guidance. The user-friendly interface includes detailed tutorials to help users get started. A red LED flashlight is included to preserve night vision and navigate controls in the dark.

The StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ excels at viewing the moon, planets, and constellations. Objects appear bright and clear through the telescope due to its aperture size. The 80mm aperture is sufficient for observing bright celestial bodies. The limited aperture size restricts viewing of very faint objects compared to larger telescopes.

Should you buy Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ as your first telescope?

The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ is a good choice for your first telescope. Its 80mm aperture provides decent light-gathering capacity for observing the Moon, planets, and brighter deep-sky objects. The telescope offers a balance of affordability, with a price range of $200-$300, and quality optics made of glass. The altazimuth mount and single-fork arm structure make setup and use relatively easy for beginners. The telescope’s portability, weighing 4.5 kg and measuring 97 x 23 x 23 cm, suits casual observers. User reviews praise its ease of use, good image quality, and portability. Buyers should consider alternatives like the Orion 8945 SkyQuest or Meade Instruments Infinity 102mm AZ Refractor Telescope before making a final decision. The lack of advanced features such as a dedicated app or WiFi connectivity may disappoint some users. Those seeking more advanced capabilities or better performance should explore other options, especially if willing to spend more.

Is Celestron StarSense Explorer Refractor Telescope LT 80AZ easy to use?

The Celestron StarSense Explorer Refractor Telescope LT 80AZ is exceptionally easy to use for both beginners and experienced astronomers. Setup is simple and straightforward, requiring no alignment. The telescope utilizes a user-friendly app with an intuitive interface and detailed tutorials. Users can quickly start stargazing by following the app’s guided tour of the night sky. The smartphone-based system analyzes the sky, calculates the user’s position, and helps locate stars, nebulae, and other celestial objects. Assembly follows simple instructions, while the mount allows easy movement for precise adjustments. The altitude adjustment ensures smooth and accurate positioning. These features eliminate technical hurdles, making the telescope accessible to novice stargazers and providing a seamless, enjoyable experience.

Should you buy Celestron StarSense Explorer LT80AZ Refractor Telescope for kids?

Yes, the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT80AZ Refractor Telescope is an excellent choice for kids interested in astronomy. The telescope offers user-friendly features ideal for beginners, including a smartphone app for easy navigation and object identification. Its 80mm aperture provides decent optics for observing the moon, planets, and brighter deep-sky objects. Kids love seeing lunar craters and phases up close with this telescope. The short refractor design allows easy handling and transport, while the sturdy steel tripod ensures stability. The telescope’s value for its price makes it a great beginner scope, highly recommended by experts for young astronomers exploring the night sky.

What can you see with Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80 AZ Refractor Telescope?

The celestial wonders you can see with Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80 AZ Refractor Telescope are detailed below.

• The Moon
• Venus
• Mercury
• Jupiter
• Ganymede
• Callisto
• Io
• Europa
• Saturn
• Orion Nebula (M42)
• Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
• Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)
• Pleiades (M45)
• Double Cluster
• Albireo
• Mizar

Should you buy Celestron LT 80AZ Refractor Telescope with StarSense Explorer to observe planets?

Yes, you should buy the Celestron LT 80AZ Refractor Telescope with StarSense Explorer to observe planets. The telescope enables clear viewing of Jupiter’s cloud bands and Great Red Spot, Saturn’s rings, Venus’ phases, and Mars’ polar ice caps. Users set up the telescope quickly with its straightforward assembly and adjustable steel tripod. The StarSense app uses your smartphone to align the telescope and locate celestial objects in the night sky. The telescope’s 80mm aperture and 900mm focal length provide good image quality for planetary observation. The rack-and-pinion focuser allows smooth focusing, while the altazimuth mount enables tracking of moving celestial objects. The StarSense Explorer technology simplifies locating planets, nebulae, star clusters, and double stars through its comprehensive database. The telescope’s f/11.25 focal ratio contributes to resolving fine planetary details, making it ideal for beginners interested in observing the night sky.

Should you buy Celestron 80AZ StarSense Explorer LT Refractor Telescope to observe galaxies?

Celestron 80AZ StarSense Explorer LT Refractor Telescope is not recommended for observing galaxies. 80mm aperture limits light-gathering ability for faint galaxies. Optical quality is average with simple lens design. Altazimuth mount restricts effective galaxy observation. Telescope is better suited for viewing bright objects like planets and stars. Larger aperture telescopes offer superior galaxy viewing capabilities.

Should you buy Celestron StarSense Explorer 80AZ LT Refractor Telescope for astrophotography?

The Celestron StarSense Explorer 80AZ LT Refractor Telescope is not recommended for astrophotography. Its limited 80 mm aperture restricts light-gathering capabilities, making it challenging to capture high-quality images of faint objects. The telescope’s f/11.25 focal ratio is unsuitable for astrophotography, which requires faster ratios. Altazimuth mount wobbliness causes focusing and tracking difficulties. Astrophotography demands more advanced equipment with larger apertures, sturdy equatorial mounts, and high-quality cameras. The telescope is designed for visual observations, providing decent optics and sharp views of the moon and some Messier objects. Serious astrophotographers need to invest in more expensive, high-quality equipment with enhanced light transmission and imaging capabilities.

Is Celestron 80AZ LT StarSense Explorer Refractor Telescope portable?

The Celestron 80AZ LT StarSense Explorer Refractor Telescope is highly portable. The telescope weighs only 4.5 kg, making it easy to transport to camping trips and remote observing sites. Its compact dimensions of 97 x 23 x 23 cm allow for convenient storage in cars or backpacks. Users set up the telescope anywhere due to its portable design, from backyards to secluded spots under the stars. The lightweight and compact nature of this telescope makes it ideal for perfect camping trips and spontaneous stargazing sessions in various locations.