Telescope-Reflecting Telescopes-Celestron StarSense Explorer 12″ Dobsonian

Large 12″ Optical Tube
The classic Dobsonian OTA design is a much-loved staple of the astronomy community. This 12″ Newtonian OTA has enough light-gathering ability to bring out impressive detail in celestial objects. 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 other StarSense Explorer Dobsonian telescopes, the 12” Dobsonian has 2.25 more light gathering ability than the 8” and 2.25x more light gathering ability than the 10”, providing better views of faint objects. Equipped with XLT reflective coatings, there is good light throughput and the primary mirror’s low-expansion material provides more optical path stability during fluctuating temperatures. The thin veins for the secondary mirror holder ensure there are minimal diffraction effects. The OTA body is silver in color, matching the other StarSense Explorer series telescopes, and on the side of the optical tube, you will find a convenient carry handle for easy transport to star parties or your favorite observation spot. Celestron has included a panning knob for an ergonomic grip when pointing the telescope, preventing the introduction of heat from your hands into the optical system.

Observatory Grade Software in the Palm of Your Hand!
By taking the concept of plate solving, a technique used by professional astronomers to determine their precise location when pointed at the sky, Celestron uses the camera of your smartphone to take photos of the sky and the StarSense Explorer App can accurately determine where the telescope is pointing. By knowing exactly where the telescope is pointed to in the night sky, it can then give you precise instructions on where to move your telescope to find your desired target. This unique method gives your manual telescope the capabilities of an observatory class system! After following a quick and simple two-step process to align your smartphone’s camera with the telescope’s field of view, the Celestron StarSense Explorer App shows you the current night sky based on your location and a bulls eye to show you where your telescope is currently pointing. The next step is to observe! Find a good selection of targets from the Tonight’s Best observing list, which shows the most popular objects that are currently visible from your location. Depending on the time of year, your location, and the time of night, the list might include planets like Jupiter or Saturn, galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and more. Follow the arrows displayed on your phone and be impressed by the views within your eyepiece! The StarSense Explorer telescopes work with a wide range of smartphones, including the iPhone 6 or higher and Android 7.1.2 smartphones that were manufactured in 2016 onward and have a camera, gyro and accelerometer sensor. For a complete list of compatible smartphones, take a look in the “Product Attachments” section below and download the PDF.

Dobsonian-style Base
The alt-azimuth StarSense Explorer base includes many top-notch features that will make your viewing sessions a breeze! Both sturdy and aesthetically pleasing, the Dobsonian base is made from CARB compliant particle board with melamine surfaces and edge trim. For smooth up-and-down motion, this base has large-diameter altitude bearings. Integrated into the base is an altitude “brake” system. This system gives variable tensioning of altitude axis motion, meaning you get ultra-smooth motions, even with slight imbalances! Unique to this base are the braces for the side panels that provide extra stability and rigidity. These types of braces are usually reserved for larger Dobsonians but do great to ensure the stability of this StarSense 12″ Dobsonian setup. Much like the OTA, the StarSense Explorer 12″ Dobsonian base includes an easy-to-grip carry handle to make travel easier! You can also remove the eyepiece rack during times of travel and then put it back once you need a handy place to put extra eyepieces during your observation sessions.