Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Refractor Telescope
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Unleash the power of your smartphone to take you on a guided tour of the night sky—no telescope experience required. Patent-pending StarSense sky recognition technology uses your smartphone to analyze star patterns overhead and calculate its position in real time. StarSense Explorer app automatically generates a list of objects currently visible. View planets, brighter nebulae and galaxies, star clusters, and double stars from the city or take your telescope to darker skies to view faint, deep sky objects. StarSense Explorer works with most modern smartphones, including iPhone 6 and up and most devices running Android 7.1.2 or later manufactured since 2016.
Manual Telescope Ideal for Beginners
Celestron has reinvented the manual telescope with StarSense Explorer that uses your smartphone to analyze the night sky and calculate its position in real time. StarSense Explorer is ideal for beginners thanks to the app’s user-friendly interface and detailed tutorials. It’s like having your own personal tour guide of the night sky. Manual altazimuth mount with smooth, dual-axis slow-motion controls makes it easy to follow the on-screen arrows to your desired target. When the bullseye turns green, it’s ready to view in the telescope’s eyepiece. The Celestron StarSense Explorer Telescope comes with an 80mm refractor with fully-coated glass optics for bright, sharp views.
Sturdy Altazimuth Mount
StarSense Explorer LT’s simple altazimuth mount makes it easy to move the telescope to find your target. A slow-motion altitude adjustment knob helps you fine tune the telescope’s pointing position and follow targets as they appear to drift across the night sky. It’s all anchored by an adjustable, full-height tripod.
Dazzling Views with High Quality Optics
You can expect sharp, bright views through this 80mm refractor. Fully coated glass optics provide increased light transmission, enhancing details in celestial objects. The telescope also includes a 90-degree erect image diagonal, so you can use it during the day to view birds, wildlife, landscapes, and more. Also included is are 25mm and 10mm eyepieces, 2x Barlow Lens, StarSense smartphone dock, erect image diagonal, a red dot finderscope (in case you want to use the telescope without your phone), and a full-height tripod.
StarSense Sky Recognition Technology
StarSense Explorer uses patent-pending technology and your smartphone to determine exactly where the telescope is pointed in the night sky. Utilizing a Lost in Space Algorithm (LISA), similar to the ones used by in-orbit satellites to correctly reorient themselves, helps the app match star patterns it detects overhead to its internal database.
Dock, Launch, Explore
Leave complicated star charts, imprecise planetarium apps, and computerized mounts behind. With StarSense Explorer, locating objects has never been easier, faster, or more accurate. Within minutes of setting up the telescope, you’ll be navigating the sky with confidence. Simply place your phone in the unique StarSense dock and launch the StarSense Explorer app. After aligning your phone to the telescope’s optics (a quick, 2-minute procedure), StarSense Explorer generates a list of celestial objects currently visible. Make your selection and arrows appear onscreen, guiding you as you to move the telescope. When the object is ready to view, the bullseye turns green.
Perfect for the City or Dark Sky Sites
Even if you live in a light polluted city location, StarSense Explorer is advanced enough to be able to pick out Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, the Orion Nebula, double stars, and a few more of the most famous celestial objects. But if you can take the telescope to an even slightly darker location, more objects will become visible. The entire telescope kit weighs just 9.2 pounds, so it’s perfectly portable and easy to bring on your next camping trip or to a remote observing site.
Main
| Aperture | 3.1-inch/80-81mm |
| Finder Scope | Red Dot |
| Mount Design | Altazimuth (AZ) |
| Mount Operation | Manual |
| Configuration | Core |
| Color | Black/Silver |
- The minimum supported operating system is now Android 12.
- The minimum supported operating system is iOS 18.
- Minimum supported iPhone models: iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max.
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Refractor Telescope
Optical Tube
| Optical design | Refractor |
| Aperture | 80mm (3.1 inches) |
| Focal length | 900mm (35.43 inches) |
| Focal ratio | f/11 |
| Focal length of eyepiece 1 | 25mm (0.98 inch) |
| Magnification of eyepiece 1 | 36x |
| Focal length of eyepiece 2 | 10mm (0.39 inch) |
| Magnification of eyepiece 2 | 90x |
| Barlow lens | 2x (1.25 inch) |
| Finderscope | StarPointer red dot finderscope |
| Star diagonal | Erect image 90 degrees (1.25 inch) |
| Optical tube | Aluminum |
| Highest useful magnification | 189x |
| Lowest useful magnification | 11x |
| Limiting stellar magnitude | 12 |
| Resolution (Rayleigh) | 1.74 arc seconds |
| Resolution (Dawes) | 1.45 arc seconds |
| Light gathering power (compared to human eye) | 131x |
| Optical coatings | Fully-Coated glass optics |
| Optical tube length | 965mm (38 inches) |
| Optical tube diameter | 90mm (3.54 inches) |
| Optical tube weight | 5.4 lb (2.45 kg) |
| Dovetail | None |
Mount
| Mount type | Manual Alt-Azimuth |
| Height adjustment range (includes mount and tripod) | Aluminum, 1320.8mm (52 inches) max height |
| Tripod leg diameter | 31.75mm (1.25 inches) steel |
| Accessory tray | Yes |
| Tripod weight | 3.8 lb (1.72 kg) |
| Slew speeds | Manual |
| GPS | Uses phone's GPS |
| Dovetail compatibility | CG-5 Dovetail bar |
| Power requirements | None (Recommend PowerTank Glow to keep phone charged while using app) |
| Alignment procedures | Use StarSense Explorer app |
| Software | StarSense Explorer app | SkyPortal app | Celestron Starry Night Basic Edition Software |
| Total kit weight | 9.2 lb (4.17 kg) |
StarSense Explorer and SkyPortal Mobile App Requirments
| Android | |
| iOS |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I return an item?
How do I return an item?
Returns are incredibly simple. Please log into your account, find your item you wish to return and follow the prompts to make a return. If you do not have an account, click here to find your order and make a return.
Will I receive a full refund when I return an item?
Will I receive a full refund when I return an item?
You will receive a full refund when you return an item in its original manufacturer’s packaging, undamaged and unmarked. If the item you are returning is priced at less than $35, you will be charged a 15% restocking fee. Please note you will not be refunded any shipping charges.
How many days do I have to make a return?
How many days do I have to make a return?
You have 30 days to make a return. During the holiday season, from November 1 to December 31, we extend the return window to 60 days.
My item was damaged in transit. How do I place a return?
My item was damaged in transit. How do I place a return?
If your order has been noticeably damaged in transit, we strongly recommend that you refuse delivery and notify us immediately. Claims for missing items or items damaged in transit must be made within 48 hours of delivery. If there is carrier damage, please contact support@focuscamera.com with your order number and a description of the damage.
There’s an issue with my order, what should I do?
There’s an issue with my order, what should I do?
Oh no! Please contact our customer service team so we can resolve the issue immediately. You can call us on 1.800.221.0828, email us at support@focuscamera.com, or send us a message here.
Can I exchange an item?
Can I exchange an item?
We do not currently offer exchanges. Please return the item you purchased within 30 days and order what you’d like instead.
If I ordered a kit, do I have to return all the items?
If I ordered a kit, do I have to return all the items?
If you ordered a kit, you must return all components and accessories to receive a full refund.
I ordered a product that included a free item. I’d like to return it, do I need to return the free item as well?
I ordered a product that included a free item. I’d like to return it, do I need to return the free item as well?
If you ordered a product that included a free item, you must include the free item with your return. If not, your return will not be accepted and you will not receive a full refund.
Do you offer repairs?
Do you offer repairs?
We currently only offer camera repairs at our Brooklyn store. The item must be dropped off and collected in person as we do not accept shipped items for repair. For more information, please call our Brooklyn store on 1.718.431.7900.
What is your return policy?
What is your return policy?
Most items can be returned within 30 days for a full refund. Click here to read our full return policy.




















