Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 5-inch SCT Telescope

A 5" Schmidt-Cassegrain that uses your phone to find what to look at

The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 5" SCT is a 125mm Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope on a manual alt-azimuth mount, with Celestron's StarSense smartphone dock. Clip your phone into the dock, open the free StarSense Explorer app, and it tells you what's up tonight and points you to it. It's a strong first telescope for planets and the Moon, and a good grab-and-go scope for experienced observers who want something small with real aperture.

Key specs: 125mm (5") Schmidt-Cassegrain · 1250mm focal length, f/10 · StarBright XLT coatings · 25mm (50x) and 10mm (125x) eyepieces · highest useful magnification 295x · StarSense smartphone dock · manual alt-az mount with slow-motion controls · steel tripod · 14.2lb total

What you can see

• The Moon: craters, mountain ranges and rilles along the terminator, in sharp detail at 125x.
• Planets: Saturn's rings and Cassini Division on steady nights, Jupiter's cloud belts and four moons, the phases of Venus, and Mars near opposition.
• Bright deep-sky objects: the Orion Nebula, the Ring Nebula, globular clusters like M13, and double stars such as Albireo.
• Brighter galaxies such as M81 and M82 from darker skies, as faint smudges that the app helps you find.

How it works

Put your phone in the StarSense dock and align the dock to the telescope once, using a bright star or a distant object in daytime. After that, the app recognizes star patterns through your phone's camera, works out where the telescope is pointed, and shows arrows that lead you to your target. When the bullseye turns green, it's in the eyepiece. The app also suggests the best objects for tonight and describes what you're seeing.

The telescope needs no power. Celestron lists the current app as compatible with iPhone XR or newer (iOS 18+) and Android 12 or newer, so check your phone on Celestron's compatibility page before you buy.

Using it in Colorado

• City skies: the Moon, planets and double stars look great even from a Denver backyard, so you don't need a dark site to enjoy this scope.
• Altitude and cold: Colorado's thin, dry air often gives crisp planetary views. In cold weather, your phone battery drains faster, so bring a USB power bank.
• Dark-sky trips: at about 14lb, it fits in a car with room to spare for a drive to a dark site.

What to add for the best results

• Celestron Omni 9mm eyepiece: about 139x, a good step up for planets.
• Celestron X-Cel LX 9mm eyepiece: wider field and more eye relief, easier for eyeglass wearers.
• Celestron variable polarizing filter: dims the bright Moon to a comfortable level.
• A USB power bank to keep your phone charged through a long night.

StarSense Explorer DX 5" SCT vs. similar telescopes

Want more aperture with the same app? See the StarSense Explorer 8" Dobsonian.

What's in the box

• 125mm Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube with dovetail
• Manual alt-azimuth mount with slow-motion controls
• Steel tripod
• 25mm and 10mm 1.25" eyepieces
• Erect-image star diagonal
• StarSense smartphone dock
• StarPointer red-dot finder

Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 5" SCT FAQ

Is it good for beginners?

Yes. The app removes the hardest part of starting out, which is finding things. The SCT design also needs almost no maintenance.

Does it track objects automatically?

No. The mount is manual. You aim it by following the app's arrows, then use the slow-motion knobs to keep objects in view. For motorized tracking with the same optics, see the NexStar 5SE.

Does it need batteries or power?

No. Only your phone uses power.

Can I use it for astrophotography?

You can take phone photos of the Moon through the eyepiece. For deep-sky imaging you'd need a tracking mount, so we'd point you to a smart telescope like the Seestar or a computerized mount instead.

Will it work in the city?

Yes. The Moon, planets and bright double stars look great from the city. Faint galaxies and nebulae need darker skies.

Can I use the telescope without my phone?

Yes. The StarPointer red-dot finder works like a regular finder, so you can aim by hand.

Specifications