Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Telescope Review: Is It Worth It?
I’ve always been fascinated by the night sky, but I’ve never owned a telescope. I’ve always felt intimidated by the idea of setting one up and finding objects in the vastness of space. I know I’m not alone in this, as many people share the same feeling. I often think that if only there were a telescope that could easily guide me through the process, I could finally enjoy the wonders of the cosmos. And that’s where the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope comes in.
Smartphone app-enabled telescopes are a great option for beginners who want to easily find and view celestial objects. These telescopes are designed to be user-friendly and offer features that make stargazing more accessible. However, there are a few things to consider before you make a purchase.
If you’re a seasoned astronomer who prefers a more traditional approach to stargazing, then a smartphone app-enabled telescope might not be the best choice for you. The app can sometimes be limiting, and you might miss out on the thrill of manually navigating the night sky. You might consider a more traditional telescope that offers more flexibility and control.
Before buying a smartphone app-enabled telescope, consider the following:
- The size and weight of the telescope
- The aperture size (the diameter of the objective lens)
- The type of mount (azimuthal or equatorial)
- The compatibility of the app with your smartphone
- The features and capabilities of the app
- SMARTPHONE-POWERED SKY TOUR: No experience needed! Just dock your phone, launch the StarSense Explorer app, and follow the on-screen arrows to locate...
- PATENTED STARSENSE TECHNOLOGY: Unlike other astronomy apps, StarSense Explorer uses sky recognition technology to turn your phone into a celestial...
- TONIGHT’S BEST TARGETS, INSTANTLY: The app generates a curated list of the top objects to see based on your time and location. See planets, bright...
Introducing the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ
The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ telescope promises to make stargazing accessible to everyone. It’s a 114mm Newtonian reflector telescope that uses a smartphone app to help you find and identify celestial objects. The app works by using your smartphone’s camera and built-in sensors to analyze the night sky and create a star chart. It then guides you to the objects you want to see, using arrows on your screen.
The StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ is a great option for beginners, but it’s not for everyone. It’s a relatively small and lightweight telescope, making it portable and easy to set up. The 114mm aperture is ideal for viewing bright objects like the moon, planets, and brighter deep-sky objects. It also offers an affordable price point, making it a great option for budget-conscious stargazers. However, it’s not as powerful as larger telescopes, and it might not be suitable for viewing faint objects or observing at high magnifications.
- Pros: Easy setup and use, affordable price, smartphone app makes finding objects easy, portability
- Cons: Not as powerful as larger telescopes, might not be suitable for viewing faint objects or observing at high magnifications, app can sometimes be glitchy.
Features & Benefits
The StarSense App
The StarSense app is the core feature of the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ telescope. It’s what sets it apart from other telescopes and makes it so user-friendly. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices and is free to download. Once you’ve downloaded the app, you’ll need to connect it to your telescope. The connection is simple; just point your smartphone’s camera at the sky, and the app will automatically recognize the telescope and establish a connection.
Once connected, you can start exploring the night sky. The app has a comprehensive library of objects, including planets, stars, galaxies, and nebulae. You can search for objects by name or browse through a list of suggested objects. The app also has a feature called “Sky Tour” that will automatically guide you to a variety of interesting objects, depending on your location and the time of night.
The StarSense app’s most valuable feature is its ability to guide you to objects. Once you’ve selected an object, the app will show you arrows on your screen, indicating the direction you need to move the telescope to center the object in your view. The app takes the guesswork out of finding objects in the sky, making it perfect for beginners who are just starting out with stargazing.
The Telescope Itself
The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ telescope features a 114mm aperture Newtonian reflector design. This means the telescope uses a parabolic mirror to gather and focus light. The 114mm aperture is ideal for viewing bright objects like the moon, planets, and brighter deep-sky objects.
The telescope comes with a 2x Barlow lens, which doubles the magnification of any eyepiece you use. It also comes with two eyepieces: a 25mm Plössl eyepiece and a 10mm Plössl eyepiece. The 25mm eyepiece provides a wide field of view, making it perfect for scanning the sky and finding objects. The 10mm eyepiece provides a higher magnification, ideal for closer views of planets and the moon.
The telescope also has an azimuthal mount, which allows you to move the telescope up and down and left and right. The mount is sturdy and easy to use, even for beginners.
Portability
The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ telescope is a relatively small and lightweight telescope. This makes it easy to transport and set up, which is a huge plus for stargazers who want to explore the night sky from different locations. The telescope is also relatively easy to assemble. The instructions are clear and straightforward, and the telescope can be assembled in under 15 minutes.
The portability of the telescope makes it great for stargazing from your backyard, taking it to a local park, or even bringing it on a camping trip.
User Experiences: What Others Say
I’ve spent a lot of time reading user reviews for the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ telescope. And I’ve found many positive reviews from people who are impressed with the telescope’s ease of use and the StarSense app’s ability to guide them to objects. But there are also some negative reviews, mostly from people who had issues with the app or the telescope itself.
For example, one user complained that the app’s unlock code didn’t work, while another said they had to contact Celestron customer service for a code and never received a response.
Conclusion
The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ telescope is a great option for beginners who want to easily find and view celestial objects. The StarSense app makes it incredibly user-friendly, and the telescope itself is portable and easy to set up. If you’re looking for a telescope that can help you navigate the night sky and explore the wonders of the universe, the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ is a great choice.
Click here to check out the product and start your stargazing adventure today!
Last update on 2025-09-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API