Celestron StarSense Explorer 130AZ App-Enabled Telescope – 130mm Tabletop Dobsonian with Smartphone Dock & StarSense App – iPhone & Android Compatible – Easy-to-Use for Beginners

I never review, but this scope (130 mm) deserves one! Fantastic packaging, crystal clear instructions, easy assembly, very high level build quality, beautifully executed, overall. I had the DX 130AZ - FORGET IT!!! This scope, currently, is considerably cheaper and WAY better, in all key aspects. Like what? Tube connection and mount are rock solid on the 130 mm DOB. TERRIBLE, SHAKY, WOBBLY MOUNT ON THE DX! The DOB has no Bird-Jones lens (that's a good thing) AND has a parabolic primary mirror. Build quality is MUCH better on the DOB. Focuser is superior. Take the money saved on the DX and get the dedicated Celestron tripod AND invest in better optics (check out Celestron's E-lux line; get a 25 mm and a 5 mm, or go telescoping high power like the SBOVNY 6-18 mm). Overall, couldn't be happier. Optics are stunning. Highly portable. Remove tube, put in a padded zipper case, base can stow easily in car, RV, etc., grab the tripod and see the night sky like NEVER before!!

I got this telescope as an upgrade to my simpler telescope from the same brand, and I was impressed by its quality. I feel it is quite easy to use. (The app and the computer program are also pretty awesome, and they make everything much easier to see and to make sense of!) The assembly part was fairly easy, but the instruction manual is not very helpful. That would be my one criticism of the product. It is very sturdy, and the base sets easily on a table or the ground. It is stable, and the view angle is adequate and easy to adjust. The lens that came with it and we got some great viewings of the moon and planets. This item was not cheap but I feel it delivers great quality for the money.

Just buy it if you’re on the fence between this one and another brand. Excellent quality beginner telescope. I listened to the Celestron reviews as well as their own product videos and I’m so glad I did. I haven’t utilized the phone mount much but the app is great. Star and moon gazing helps out my mental health so much. My only gripe which isn’t even that big of a deal is the hardware was tricky - had to use a drill, just be gentle with assembly as the base material can split a bit.

I love this thing, it’s a perfect starter for someone who wants to get into astronomy and see some cool stuff the same night it arrives. Agree with other reviews though - the instructions are a nightmare and don’t 100% line up with the kit - but with some logic, you can make it work. BIG advice, the app you use with it has a step to align the phone camera - USE THE CAMERA IN THE TELESCOPE APP, not your normal camera mode. Otherwise it won’t work, and the instructions aren’t clear to do so

FYI, this review covers my 150AZ tabletop DOB. But only through the unpacking and assembly. Usage will be covered at a later date when winter has passed. So, UPS delivered the huge heavy box no problem. I unpacked it and found parts to be in perfect condition, packaging was well designed and very protective. Parts were very good quality. Assembly instructions were easy to follow, plus all needed (sort of, read on) tools were included. You may want to use a better Phillips screwdriver just to make it easier. They furnished the metric allen wrenches needed. However, the screws that mount the scope loops to the mount actually are SAE threads, so the furnished Allen wrench is useless. Not a big deal. One note! Do not use a power screwdriver to assemble the wooden parts. You could strip them out. The only other thing I would note is that when you mount the scope loops be sure they are in the right alignment otherwise you'll have to take it all apart to properly mount the phone holder. Look at the instructions that show how the phone holder is attached, the pin should be up. Don't try to mount the scope alone, it's easier with a helper.

Great telescope for the price. I was a little worried about the app not being reliable but I followed the instructions and with a bit of patience I was able to get my phone properly aligned with the adapter so the app worked perfectly which made viewing things very easy and a lot of fun. Everything looks nice and clear while viewing and I love how easy this thing is to store since it doesn’t have to be attached to a tripod. Assembly was tedious but easy although I do recommend using a better screwdriver than the one that was provided.

The Celestron StarSense Explorer 114AZ is an amazing telescope for beginners and casual stargazers! The setup was quick and straightforward, and the StarSense app makes finding planets, stars, and constellations incredibly easy — no more guessing where to point. The optics are clear and crisp, and the mount feels stable for its size. I was able to see the Moon’s craters and even Saturn’s rings on my first night out! It’s lightweight enough to move around but still feels solid. Great for anyone who wants to explore the night sky without a steep learning curve. Highly recommend!

Value for the price is incredible for what comes out of the box. The first thing my daughter saw was Jupiter and it's moons. The assembly was awful as mine didn't come with instructions or parts list and finding this particular models instructions wasn't the easiest thing to do requiring a slow tedious process of using a third party website riddled with ads to look at the pdf page by page. This also comes with an app that I think comes with code in the provided paperwork so you can make use of the app with all features, but we also can't use that and reaching out to the manufacturers website has produced no response. So if you don't mind detective work and the app not being included, it's still a great telescope.

Fairly easy to assemble and works well. Setup with my phone went pretty easily. With the supplied lenses, I was able to see Saturn. Ordered so accessory lenses to increase the power of the telescope.

really nice little portable dob. Excellent optics. Ships with decent eyepieces. Assembly instructions are clear.

Great beginner scope and StarSense makes finding things a breeze , as well the red dot scope is an easy alignment to the OTA

Excelente producto. Llegó tal y como lo describen en las imágenes. Mi hijo ama su telescopio . Sin duda el mejor regalo que me he hecho. Solo hay que comprar el tripie a parte preferentemente de la marca celestron, es un poco caro el tripié de celestron pero vale la pena, para sostener el peso del telescopio. Es un telescopio medianamente pesado. Pero mi hijo de 15 años delgado sin problema veo que lo mueve de un lado a otro en el jardín de la casa, lo arma y desarma fácilmente. Solo que cuando lo transporta para viaje si se requiere una maleta grande y rígida exclusivamente para el telescopio.

Great purchase and it does what is promises