Celestron
Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Dobsonian Telescope
SKU: 22471
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See It In Person - On Display In Our Showroom!
$99 Economy shipping for Dobsonian Telescopes
Due to their size and bulk, we are not able to offer free shipping on Dobsonian Telescopes, but offer a steep discount off the actual cost.
A 10" Dobsonian that uses your phone to find faint galaxies
Why we like the StarSense Explorer 10":
- Big mirror, easy finding: a 10" mirror shows galaxies and nebulae that smaller telescopes can't, and the StarSense app shows arrows on your phone that lead you to each one. No star charts and no batteries in the telescope.
- A telescope you won't outgrow: it gathers about 1.5 times the light of the 8" model, enough to see spiral arms in the Whirlpool Galaxy from a dark site and the Cassini Division in Saturn's rings on a steady night.
- A steadier base: Celestron braced the side panels and added adjustable altitude tension, so the tube stays where you point it even after you swap to a heavier eyepiece.
- Worth knowing: the tube is 44" long and weighs 29.2lb, and the base weighs 25.6lb. Both pieces have carry handles, so it moves outside in two trips.
The Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Dobsonian is a 254mm (10") Newtonian reflector on a manual Dobsonian base, with Celestron's StarSense smartphone dock. Put your phone in the dock, open the StarSense Explorer app, and it lists what's visible tonight and guides you there by matching the stars it sees to its database. It's a good choice for a serious beginner or a family that wants to see more than the Moon and planets, and the complete telescope weighs 54.8lb (24.9kg) in two pieces.
Key specs: 254mm (10") parabolic mirror · 1200mm focal length, f/4.7 · 25mm eyepiece (48x) · highest useful magnification 600x · 2" Crayford focuser · StarSense smartphone dock · Dobsonian base with altitude tension control · 54.8lb total
The StarSense Explorer 10" is on display in our Denver store, so you can see it in person before you buy.
What you'll see
- Planets: Jupiter's cloud belts, Great Red Spot and four largest moons; Saturn's rings and the Cassini Division; the phases of Venus; dark markings on Mars when it's close.
- Galaxies: the Andromeda Galaxy and its two companions, the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), Bode's Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy (M81 and M82) side by side, and the Sombrero Galaxy.
- Nebulae: the Orion Nebula, the Ring Nebula, the Dumbbell Nebula, and the dust lane in the Lagoon Nebula.
- Star clusters: the Hercules Cluster (M13) resolved into hundreds of stars, the Double Cluster, and the Pleiades.
- The Moon: craters, rilles and mountain shadows in sharp detail.
How StarSense works
Clip your phone into the StarSense dock and do a one-time alignment so the phone's camera matches the telescope's view. The app then reads the star patterns overhead, works out where the telescope is pointing, and shows arrows to your target. Move the tube until the bullseye turns green, and your object is in the eyepiece. The app includes audio descriptions and information on thousands of objects.
Celestron lists the current app as compatible with iPhone XR or newer (iOS 18+) and Android 12 or newer. Check your phone on Celestron's compatibility page before you buy.
What to add for the best results
- Celestron X-Cel LX 9mm eyepiece: 133x, a good power for planets and the Ring Nebula.
- Celestron X-Cel LX 5mm eyepiece: 240x for Saturn and Jupiter on nights with steady air.
- Celestron 2x X-Cel LX Barlow: doubles every eyepiece, so the included 25mm becomes 96x.
- Celestron neutral density Moon filter: cuts the glare of a bright Moon in a 10" mirror.
StarSense Explorer 10" vs. 8" and 12"
| StarSense Explorer 8" | StarSense Explorer 10" | StarSense Explorer 12" | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aperture | 203mm (8") | 254mm (10") | 305mm (12") |
| Focal length | 1200mm, f/5.9 | 1200mm, f/4.7 | 1500mm, f/4.9 |
| Light gathering vs. the eye | 841x | 1317x | 1895x |
| Included eyepiece | 25mm (48x) | 25mm (48x) | 32mm (47x) |
| Tube weight | 20.6lb (9.3kg) | 29.2lb (13.2kg) | 49.8lb (22.6kg) |
| Total weight | 43.4lb (19.7kg) | 54.8lb (24.9kg) | 83.6lb (37.9kg) |
| Best for | The easiest to carry outside and store | The most aperture you can still move in two easy trips | Dark-site observers with room to store it |
See all Celestron StarSense Explorer telescopes and Dobsonian telescopes.
What's in the box
- 254mm (10") Newtonian optical tube with front and focuser dust covers
- Dobsonian base
- 25mm Plössl eyepiece (1.25")
- 2" Crayford focuser with 2" extension tube and 2" to 1.25" adapter
- StarSense Explorer smartphone dock and app unlock code
- StarPointer red-dot finderscope
- Eyepiece rack
- Collimation cap
- Celestron Starry Night Basic Edition software
Your smartphone is not included. Extra eyepieces, a Barlow lens and filters are sold separately.
StarSense Explorer 10" FAQ
Is it good for beginners?
Yes. There are no motors or alignment steps to learn, and the app tells you where to point. The main thing to plan for is the size, so make sure you have a place to store it and a way to carry the two pieces outside.
Can I see Saturn and Jupiter?
Yes. With the included 25mm eyepiece Saturn's rings are clear at 48x, and adding a 9mm eyepiece (133x) shows Jupiter's cloud belts and the Great Red Spot when it's facing us.
10" or 8"?
The 10" gathers about 56% more light, which makes the biggest difference on galaxies and faint nebulae. The 8" is 11.4lb lighter and easier for one person to move. If you observe from a dark site, the 10" is worth the extra weight.
Does it need power?
No. The telescope is fully manual. Only your phone uses power, so bring a charged phone or a small USB power bank.
Will it need collimation?
Occasionally. Like any Newtonian reflector, the mirrors can shift slightly when the tube is moved. The included collimation cap lets you check and adjust them in a few minutes.
Can I use it for astrophotography?
It's built for visual observing. You can take phone photos of the Moon and planets through the eyepiece, but for deep-sky imaging you'll want a tracking mount.
Can I see one before I buy?
Yes. The StarSense Explorer 10" is on display in our Denver store.
Specifications
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Optical design | Newtonian reflector, parabolic primary mirror |
| Aperture | 254mm (10") |
| Focal length | 1200mm (47.24") |
| Focal ratio | f/4.7 |
| Included eyepiece | 25mm Plössl (48x) |
| Highest / lowest useful magnification | 600x / 36x |
| Limiting stellar magnitude | 14.7 |
| Light gathering power | 1317x the human eye |
| Resolution (Rayleigh / Dawes) | 0.55 / 0.46 arcseconds |
| Coatings | XLT reflective coatings with silicon dioxide and tantalum pentoxide overcoats |
| Mirror material | Pyrex-equivalent low-expansion glass |
| Primary mirror thickness | 30mm (1.18") |
| Secondary mirror minor axis | 64mm (2.52") |
| Focuser | 2" Crayford with 2" extension tube and 2" to 1.25" adapter |
| Finderscope | StarPointer red-dot finder |
| Base and app | |
| Mount | Manual altazimuth Dobsonian base with variable altitude tension |
| Base material | Particle board with melamine surfaces, CARB compliant |
| Smartphone app | StarSense Explorer (unlock code included) |
| Phone compatibility | iPhone XR or newer (iOS 18+); Android 12 or newer |
| Physical | |
| Optical tube | 1117.6 x 292.1mm (44" x 11.5"), 13.24kg (29.2lb) |
| Base | 673.1 x 533.4 x 533.4mm (26.5" x 21" x 21"), 11.6kg (25.6lb) |
| Total kit weight | 24.86kg (54.8lb) |
| Warranty | 2 years (Celestron) |
| Model / SKU | Celestron 22471 |