As soon as I saw this on your web site the other day, it ticked off so many points on my ‘want’ list - affordable, solid performance, transportable, suitable for beginners - that I immediately placed an order. Eagerly awaiting delivery scheduled for later today.
Costco I selling the 80az for like $169, considering it to do what you mentioned. If it doesn’t work out I could just screw it back on the original scope, Costco has a great return policy.
I bought the Starsense Explorer LT 70 AZ, removed the Cellphone holder, 3d printed a base for the finderscope shoe and mounted it on my 10inch dobsonian. Gave the LT 70 AZ away for free without Cellholder and Code ;) Works perfectly
Great review. As a 10inch dob owner myself, now refitted with a StarSense Cell-holder - this will be my number one recommendation for beginners from now on
New to all of this, my wife has been gazing at the heaven's using the binoculars I got her last year for Christmas. I could tell she was really into it, so this year I surprised her with the DX 130az - she was blown away with excitement! We have been having a blast absorbing all there is to take in as we learn our away around the sky. I can't imagine the learning curve without the StarSense setup - it's truly amazing, allowing one to spend time watching the sky as apposed to searching. Assuming she continues with the hobby, we'll likely move up to the 8" Dob next year. Anyway, thanks for the great review. Love your vid's!
I’m looking for my first real telescope, after messing with my friend’s 4” refractor and borrowing a 4.5” Newtonian reflector on an EQ mount. I’m torn between the 8” and 10” starsense dob, I’m steering toward the 8 for weight/moving, but 50% more light gathering is super tempting. I plan on taking this thing up the mountain for dark skies with little to no light pollution.
Thanks so much for making this video, it really helps to make me be informed about this telescope and now I know how to use it now I understand everything.
At the 3:57 point of the video about collimation is not hugely important for deep sky is very much incorrect. As a 100% deep sky observer for 51 years, I can say It’s very important optics are aligned along with good quality optics overall. I should add that alignment with the red dot finder must be AFTER the optics (secondary and primary mirrors) are collimated.
Alrighty then, I received my 8 inch Dobsonian Starsense about a week ago but I've only had one night clear enough to do any real viewing with it. However, that one outing gave me enough insight to do some research in what to expect and how to get it (ie. planetary observation vs. dso observation, eyepieces, filters, etc.). I picked up the Celestron accessory kit at a local shop that has the 5 Plossl eyepieces (6mm-32mm), a Barlow 2x, and 6 color filters. The weather is looking favorable for the weekend, so I can't wait to get out and try them. Once I get some practice in, I plan on picking up the adapter for the eyepiece to take photos with my phone camera.
Hey! I have bought the same telescope and have used only the 25mm eyepiece that came with it. Would you recommend which eyepiece should i get for planetary viewing? I am looking at 6mm, 10mm and 13mm. I don't want buy all these at once. Thanks!
I'm thinking of purchasing this telescope, particularly because the StarSense Explorer App. However, on Google Play I noticed the Apps low star rating, and comments. Is anyone else having issues with this App on Android? Also, is it possible to swap the red dot to right-angle finder scope?
I have been using my new 8 in star sense Dob for several weeks now and the app keeps telling me that it is trying to locate and not to move my telescope.Then it says that it cannot identify my sky and to contact celestron. I really like the scope and normally just use it as a regular scope. I have tried to contact celestron and have reloaded the software twice. Not sure I can recomend this but I will update.
Thanks for the video. I just purchased the 10" Star Sense 3 weeks ago with the calibration knobs and the Apertura Ultimate Plossl Eyepiece Kit. I have a remote place to go in West Virginia where the night sky jumps out at you. You can easily see the milky way. I had questions on the set up but your video was great I am glad i found it.
The Telescope sits down low. For older star gazers like myself this presents a problem with back issues as you have to bend over to look in the eyepiece. Is it wise to sit this up on a table or a stand that will raise the elevation of the telescope for easier viewing?
I'm actually thinking of trading in my AVX and 6" SCT with StarSense and some other assessories for either the 10" or 12" Dobsonian with StarSense Phone app. I've found I'm just not using the rig I have because it's just too much to set up and cumbersome. Not sure this is a good idea but after looking at this video and some others on RUclips I'm getting more convinced that it is a good idea!
WOW - your instruction is so thorough - you make the experience of star gazing feel as though anyone can get enjoyable results... you were using the 8" Dob; does the 10" gather much more light to observe the lower mag objects? THANK you so much.
Does anyone know of a good alternate base for this 8" Dob? I never received the base from the seller, and Celestron is making it difficult to buy just the base.
Thank you. I liked this mainly because I am contemplating the celestron dobsonian. But I thought you spoke mainly in praise of the starsense system. I need to know more of the optics of this Dob compared to ,say, the apertura 8" dobsonian. Can you do that comparison please ?
Great video. Really need to start saving my pennies for one. We live just miles from the Greenbank Observatory and they host Star Parties during the summer.
I had An Orion 10” sky quest years ago, but sold it because I found it too difficult to find objects. I like the Star Sense Dobsonians and may get back into the hobby. Being older with a bad back the 8” sounds like a much wiser tool. I have some light pollution in my area if stepping up to the 10” would be a better choice or hurt because of light pollution? Which would you suggest?
We'd recommend an 8" if weight and light pollution are limiting factors. A 10" won't be that dramatic of a step-up if you are struggling with light pollution, especially if you are more likely to bring the 8" outside on a frequent basis.
I see that the 8in Dob is f/5.9, the 10in is f/4.7. So although the 10in gathers more light, it has larger field of view, making objects smaller. Which is better for planetary observation ? Is the 10in still better because it can use a higher power eyepiece and hence give the same or better size of planet images?
Hi! I'm trying to decide between the StarSense Explorer 8 and 2 others. How would this compare to the Zhumell Z8 or the Apertura AD8? Is the extra $100 worth it for this one? I was gearing towards the AD8 for the included accessories, but as I am a beginner, the app with this telescope is also very tempting. Is there a similar app that can be used with the AD8? Which of the 3 that I mentioned would you recommend for a beginner? Thank you!
Hello, unfortunately taking astrophotography through this scope would set unrealistic expectations for the viewers. The reason for this is that long exposures reveal more detail than the human eye can ever see, even in the largest of telescopes. We thank you for the suggestion!
Great review, as always! How does this Dob 8 stack up against the starsense DX 5 - side to side. I am still undecided about which one to purchase. I am a beginner and appreciate clear and sharp views. My point of reference is a starsense 114 LT
If you are referring to the 130dx (5" mirror) - The difference will be substantial. 8" is A LOT greater in area than 5" - over 2.5x the light gathering power!
Interesting! Question about the StarSense. I live in a very humid area, and dew is a huge problem. How does this system hold up in this environment? Also, I have a Google Pixel phone. Will the software work with this phone? Thanks..
thank you for your passionate presentation which is better between Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Dobsonian - and Apertura AD10 Dobsonian 10" Telescope. i am a beginner price is not a concern thank you
Hi There! Both scopes are great but the Apertura Series comes with better/more accessories and the base has a sturdier build for smoother movements and adjustments. The difference here is the StarSense application which is included with the Celestron Dobsonians. Additionally, The ad8 also with the Apertura Absolute Warranty.
I read that the 8" has push-pull primary mirror knobs (as opposed to conventional screws), and that it’s very hard to collimate. Can anyone verify or help me understand this?
Does the app not have a night vision mode? Because in the video it looks like the phone’s is bright and white-not especially conducive to viewing faint deep sky objects.
I'm a zealous dark sky protector and experienced astronomer/photographer. We bought an 8" Starsense dob as an easy to use "grab and go" when we don't want to drag all the other telescopes and gear with us. The first thing on the StarSense app menu is a toggle switch to select "Night Vision" (red) mode if desired. That said, the "brightness" of the phone has not been an issue as there is hardly any light coming off of it when pointed at the dark sky and, even without selecting "Night Vision" it's not enough to affect night adapted vision. We've found that dimming the display on the phone is adequate and, for us, preferable to switching to Night Vision on the app.
@@frankmacleod9576Hi Frank, I hope it’s OK if I ask an un-related question a year down the road. Have you had any problems collimating the 8"? I’ve heard it’s a little different than most dobs. TIA.
It doesn't have collimation knobs, but it does have collimation screws so it is fully adjustable. (They provide a cheap Philips screwdriver and allen wrench. I recommend using your own Philips as the cheap one doesn't really fit the screws. I meticulously collimated ours using a Hotech SCA Laser Collimator and the collimation has held through several "set up and take down" sessions. Bob's Knobs makes collimation knobs that will work with it on both the primary and secondary. Only caveat is that they advise against setting the scope down upright resting on the mirror lock knobs. I will probably put Bob's knobs on the secondary for a quick "center dot" but not mess with the primary too often. This scope was bought as a "grab and go", be something my wife could take to astronomy club public outreach events when I am not attending. Not too heavy or bulky but still capable and the StarSense app works great on her iPhone 13.
Thanks for the info. Wasn’t sure if Bob knobs would work with the primary. I have the Hotech laser as well. I’m very big on collimation. I’m pretty confident the whole mirror will have to be taken off the telescope to change the knobs out. If you try to do with the mirror still attach the spring may move and pop out in the tube. It’s not too difficult to do. Some do it to clean the mirror with distilled water
Hey Brotha, thank you so much for the video and for answering our questions. I have a questions for you as well: is there a big difference between the 8” and 10” versions of this scope? Also, do you recommend any multi-range eye pieces? My dad and I currently use a Celestron hunting scope and we like how you can go from 20X - 60X. Is there an eye piece that can do that for these scopes and would you recommend that? Thank you for your help!
There is a nearly 50% increase in light gathering capability between an 8" and a 10" version of this scope. As far as an eyepiece with a variable zoom, something like this might interest you: www.highpointscientific.com/celestron-8-24-mm-1-25-zoom-eyepiece-93230 Clear skies!
@@highpointscientific thank you so much for the quick reply! Do you by any chance have a video on how to calibrate the mirror on the Dobsonian? You shows the device but you didn’t show us how to do that here.
I’m a beginner and debating between a 8se and one of these Starsense dobsonian, one day I’d like to get into astrophotography also. Which would you suggest? Also is the 10in dobsonian worth the extra cost of the 8in?
Hello Charles. Both scopes would be a good choice. A 10" scope represents a fairly decent increase in light gathering capability and increased resolution. However, if you live in a light polluted zone, you may not notice much of an increase in the views through a 10". Clear skies.
To answer your question regarding astrophotography, some astrophotography is possible with an 8" or 10" dob, but you may run into problems with reaching prime focus (check out our article on Astrophotography with a Dobsonian: www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/astro-photography-guides/astrophotography-with-a-dobsonian-telescope). If you're looking to get into astrophotography eventually, we'd recommend an 8SE or Nexstar SE mount, which can also be used in equatorial mode with a wedge.
If I’m not worried about the starsense, but would kind of like to have it, is it worth getting this over the Apatura with the upgrade kit for less dough? The Apatura seems really nice.
If you arent too worried about the StarSense technology that comes with the Celestron then yes, the Apertura would definitely be the way to go. You have superior build quality with the Apertura brand dobsonians - something that may leave you wanting more with the celestron dobsonian. The Apertura upgrades will really allow your Apertura dob to grow with you as your progress
Out of the box the StarSense technology will help find objects faster... but with the Apertura dob, you will need to learn the night sky a bit more using star atlases and maps like stellarium.. But soon enough you will accustomed to the night sky and where these objects are without the need for help from an app. At this point you now have the ability to find objects quickly AND you have a quality build with the Apertura dob.
Great questions! These Dobsonians generally come well collimated, but they can always be knocked out in transit. Collimating a Newtonian is basic maintenance for these telescopes, and we have several articles and tools available to help with the process! Regarding the Antennae galaxies - they are extremely small and the antennae are faint. We would not expect to be able to see this specific set of galaxies clearly through the 8” Dobsonian, but there are many galaxies that are visible through a telescope like this one! Please feel free to contact us using the following link for more information: www.highpointscientific.com/email-us
Will it track an object so it can be viewed for a few minutes? I want to take it to an event to show young people the night sky. I don't want to have to move the scope every 30 seconds to look at an object in the sky.
I'm debating between the 8" dob and the 130mm as my first telescope. Will the 130mm be enough or will I wish I'd sprung for the 8"? Thank you! I live in bortle class 4 and money is a concern but not a deal breaker.
An 8" dob would represent a considerable upgrade in light gathering capability vs a 130mm (5") scope. However, the 8" dobsonian is also quite a bit more heavy!
I'm confused. Celestron StarSense is a digital camera that replaces the finderscope for auto alignment. This settup doesn't look anything like that. Could you please tell me what the difference between Celestron StarSense and Celestron StarSense is...!!!!!?
The Celestron StarSense uses your smartphone as a digital camera by platesolving with a mirror. The major difference between this StarSense & the one on the DX 130AZ, for example, is that the way they're attached is completely different. This StarSense dock also can be adjusted to align your smartphone's camera over the eyepiece.
The StarSense Explorer....basically uses your smartphone as the digital camera in the StarSense system and is designed for select manual (push to) telescopes. The mount and your phone replace the dedicated camera on the go-to systems using the StarSense Camera and app.
The first thing on the StarSense app menu is a toggle switch to select "Night Vision" (red) mode if desired. That said, the "brightness" of the phone has not been an issue as there is hardly any light coming off of it when pointed at the dark sky and, even without selecting "Night Vision" it's not enough to affect night adapted vision. We've found that dimming the display on the phone is adequate and, for us, preferable to switching to Night Vision on the app.
Shall I sacrifice aperture for automated tracking by which I mean a dob 8 inch or Celestron 6se , I’m a beginner but I want to get into astrophotography
The 6se is a Schmidt- Cass design and is a bit smaller in aperture. The 6se is a fully computerized, goto system where as the StarSense is only a Push To system. The se series are great for planetary viewing as they offer a longer focal length. A given eyepiece will have more magnification on the 6se than on the 8" StarSense. Feel free to reach out to us via our website for more information on these scopes. They are both awesome and serve different purposes!
as far as I'm concerned, the app doesn't work, it always says it can't find the telescope, and the quality is also terrible, a toy that costs 500 dollars, I took it and destroyed it and put some garden flowers in it. The only use
As soon as I saw this on your web site the other day, it ticked off so many points on my ‘want’ list - affordable, solid performance, transportable, suitable for beginners - that I immediately placed an order. Eagerly awaiting delivery scheduled for later today.
Great to hear!
Let us know..please..ticks all my boxes too
Worth it ??
hows it been?
I really wish they would sell that star Sense as a separate attachment. I would love to add it to my 8inch dob in a heartbeat
Costco I selling the 80az for like $169, considering it to do what you mentioned. If it doesn’t work out I could just screw it back on the original scope, Costco has a great return policy.
I bought the Starsense Explorer LT 70 AZ, removed the Cellphone holder, 3d printed a base for the finderscope shoe and mounted it on my 10inch dobsonian. Gave the LT 70 AZ away for free without Cellholder and Code ;) Works perfectly
@@scuba5k I've been thinking the same thing. I'd just need to adapt the mount to fit a 12" truss dob's secondary optical tube.
@@scuba5k I just saw Costco has an Explore Scientific 10inch DOB for 599
@@scuba5kI did exactly that and it worked great.
Great review. As a 10inch dob owner myself, now refitted with a StarSense Cell-holder - this will be my number one recommendation for beginners from now on
Thank you! We're glad you enjoyed the video!
New to all of this, my wife has been gazing at the heaven's using the binoculars I got her last year for Christmas. I could tell she was really into it, so this year I surprised her with the DX 130az - she was blown away with excitement! We have been having a blast absorbing all there is to take in as we learn our away around the sky. I can't imagine the learning curve without the StarSense setup - it's truly amazing, allowing one to spend time watching the sky as apposed to searching. Assuming she continues with the hobby, we'll likely move up to the 8" Dob next year.
Anyway, thanks for the great review. Love your vid's!
Just ordered my starsense 8 inch Dobsonian. Inspired by your video. 👍
I’m looking for my first real telescope, after messing with my friend’s 4” refractor and borrowing a 4.5” Newtonian reflector on an EQ mount. I’m torn between the 8” and 10” starsense dob, I’m steering toward the 8 for weight/moving, but 50% more light gathering is super tempting. I plan on taking this thing up the mountain for dark skies with little to no light pollution.
If you feel comfortable taking it all the way up a mountain, a 10" would be great!
Thanks so much for making this video, it really helps to make me be informed about this telescope and now I know how to use it now I understand everything.
Glad it was helpful!
At the 3:57 point of the video about collimation is not hugely important for deep sky is very much incorrect. As a 100% deep sky observer for 51 years, I can say It’s very important optics are aligned along with good quality optics overall.
I should add that alignment with the red dot finder must be AFTER the optics (secondary and primary mirrors) are collimated.
This is a good point. Thanks for bringing it up.
Alrighty then, I received my 8 inch Dobsonian Starsense about a week ago but I've only had one night clear enough to do any real viewing with it. However, that one outing gave me enough insight to do some research in what to expect and how to get it (ie. planetary observation vs. dso observation, eyepieces, filters, etc.). I picked up the Celestron accessory kit at a local shop that has the 5 Plossl eyepieces (6mm-32mm), a Barlow 2x, and 6 color filters. The weather is looking favorable for the weekend, so I can't wait to get out and try them. Once I get some practice in, I plan on picking up the adapter for the eyepiece to take photos with my phone camera.
looking forward to hearing your feedback. I'm thinking of getting this too, and wondering if the app really does work.
Hey! I have bought the same telescope and have used only the 25mm eyepiece that came with it. Would you recommend which eyepiece should i get for planetary viewing? I am looking at 6mm, 10mm and 13mm. I don't want buy all these at once. Thanks!
I'm thinking of purchasing this telescope, particularly because the StarSense Explorer App. However, on Google Play I noticed the Apps low star rating, and comments. Is anyone else having issues with this App on Android?
Also, is it possible to swap the red dot to right-angle finder scope?
I have been using my new 8 in star sense Dob for several weeks now and the app keeps telling me that it is trying to locate and not to move my telescope.Then it says that it cannot identify my sky and to contact celestron. I really like the scope and normally just use it as a regular scope. I have tried to contact celestron and have reloaded the software twice. Not sure I can recomend this but I will update.
I think you should have problem with your phone. I had the same problem which was solved when I replaced my Xiaomi phone to a Samsung.
Thanks for the video. I just purchased the 10" Star Sense 3 weeks ago with the calibration knobs and the Apertura Ultimate Plossl Eyepiece Kit. I have a remote place to go in West Virginia where the night sky jumps out at you. You can easily see the milky way. I had questions on the set up but your video was great I am glad i found it.
Glad we could help! Clear skies!
I'm in the exact same situation! Although it might be cloudy when I go in September:( how did you install the collimation knobs?
I just wish they shipped this with dual ratio focus. In my experience that is the most important feature on a scope.
The Telescope sits down low. For older star gazers like myself this presents a problem with back issues as you have to bend over to look in the eyepiece. Is it wise to sit this up on a table or a stand that will raise the elevation of the telescope for easier viewing?
You can sit on a chair
Great video. I would have liked to see you finding an object in realtime vs the sped up video you provided.
I'm actually thinking of trading in my AVX and 6" SCT with StarSense and some other assessories for either the 10" or 12" Dobsonian with StarSense Phone app. I've found I'm just not using the rig I have because it's just too much to set up and cumbersome. Not sure this is a good idea but after looking at this video and some others on RUclips I'm getting more convinced that it is a good idea!
How long does it take for the starsense mirror to dew up? Does it come with a cover?
They should see the Starsense explorer adapter thing by itself so you can basically make any telescope a push to go to telescope
WOW - your instruction is so thorough - you make the experience of star gazing feel as though anyone can get enjoyable results... you were using the 8" Dob; does the 10" gather much more light to observe the lower mag objects? THANK you so much.
The 10" does gather about 45% more light than the 8" when it comes to lower mag. objects. Thanks!
Does anyone know of a good alternate base for this 8" Dob? I never received the base from the seller, and Celestron is making it difficult to buy just the base.
what a cool toy!!! that app is amazing, looks like it makes things so easy, and much less frustrating for a beginner, or anyone....
Thank you. I liked this mainly because I am contemplating the celestron dobsonian.
But I thought you spoke mainly in praise of the starsense system.
I need to know more of the optics of this Dob compared to ,say, the apertura 8" dobsonian.
Can you do that comparison please ?
Great video. Really need to start saving my pennies for one. We live just miles from the Greenbank Observatory and they host Star Parties during the summer.
You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed them
I had An Orion 10” sky quest years ago, but sold it because I found it too difficult to find objects. I like the Star Sense Dobsonians and may get back into the hobby. Being older with a bad back the 8” sounds like a much wiser tool. I have some light pollution in my area if stepping up to the 10” would be a better choice or hurt because of light pollution? Which would you suggest?
We'd recommend an 8" if weight and light pollution are limiting factors. A 10" won't be that dramatic of a step-up if you are struggling with light pollution, especially if you are more likely to bring the 8" outside on a frequent basis.
I'm about to get this 8" DOB. Are there any additional eyepieces I should get?
I see that the 8in Dob is f/5.9, the 10in is f/4.7. So although the 10in gathers more light, it has larger field of view, making objects smaller. Which is better for planetary observation ? Is the 10in still better because it can use a higher power eyepiece and hence give the same or better size of planet images?
Hi! I'm trying to decide between the StarSense Explorer 8 and 2 others. How would this compare to the Zhumell Z8 or the Apertura AD8? Is the extra $100 worth it for this one?
I was gearing towards the AD8 for the included accessories, but as I am a beginner, the app with this telescope is also very tempting. Is there a similar app that can be used with the AD8? Which of the 3 that I mentioned would you recommend for a beginner?
Thank you!
How much better is the 10" over the 8? Also how detailed is the lunar surface.
Wow! This is the Perfect Dob!
Should I go with 8" dobsonian or the dx 130 az model? Considering I am most probably not going to be looking for an upgrade like ever.
How i wish you took photos of them so we can have idea how they look like in this scope tho
Hello, unfortunately taking astrophotography through this scope would set unrealistic expectations for the viewers. The reason for this is that long exposures reveal more detail than the human eye can ever see, even in the largest of telescopes. We thank you for the suggestion!
Is the 10 inch worth the benefit and is it that much heavier to deal with?
Great review, as always! How does this Dob 8 stack up against the starsense DX 5 - side to side. I am still undecided about which one to purchase. I am a beginner and appreciate clear and sharp views. My point of reference is a starsense 114 LT
If you are referring to the 130dx (5" mirror) - The difference will be substantial. 8" is A LOT greater in area than 5" - over 2.5x the light gathering power!
@@highpointscientific Thanks!!!
which is the best between Apertura AD8 and Celestron Starsense Explorer 10
Inch Dobsonian?
Interesting! Question about the StarSense. I live in a very humid area, and dew is a huge problem. How does this system hold up in this environment? Also, I have a Google Pixel phone. Will the software work with this phone? Thanks..
For me a binocular astronamer, what will you recommend a starsense 130 or starsense 8 inch dobsonian ?
I need it for veiwing deep space objects
Any pictures to share? All we saw is the app.
I want one.
Does the starsense use only the camera of the phone ?
Or the gyroscope and accelerometer too ?
Thanks
Paul
thank you for your passionate presentation
which is better between Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Dobsonian - and
Apertura AD10 Dobsonian 10" Telescope.
i am a beginner
price is not a concern
thank you
Hi There! Both scopes are great but the Apertura Series comes with better/more accessories and the base has a sturdier build for smoother movements and adjustments. The difference here is the StarSense application which is included with the Celestron Dobsonians. Additionally, The ad8 also with the Apertura Absolute Warranty.
Great video. Hey can you tell me that apertura AD8 bag is fitting StarSense dob 8 ??
I read that the 8" has push-pull primary mirror knobs (as opposed to conventional screws), and that it’s very hard to collimate. Can anyone verify or help me understand this?
How long does the cell phone battery last when using this app?
Does the app not have a night vision mode? Because in the video it looks like the phone’s is bright and white-not especially conducive to viewing faint deep sky objects.
I'm a zealous dark sky protector and experienced astronomer/photographer. We bought an 8" Starsense dob as an easy to use "grab and go" when we don't want to drag all the other telescopes and gear with us. The first thing on the StarSense app menu is a toggle switch to select "Night Vision" (red) mode if desired. That said, the "brightness" of the phone has not been an issue as there is hardly any light coming off of it when pointed at the dark sky and, even without selecting "Night Vision" it's not enough to affect night adapted vision.
We've found that dimming the display on the phone is adequate and, for us, preferable to switching to Night Vision on the app.
@@frankmacleod9576Hi Frank, I hope it’s OK if I ask an un-related question a year down the road. Have you had any problems collimating the 8"? I’ve heard it’s a little different than most dobs. TIA.
Does the finder scope come in another color? I am color blind and cannot see the red dot.
I just noticed the 8” doesn’t have collimation knobs for the primary. This is disappointing. Noticed the 10” has primary collimation knobs.
It doesn't have collimation knobs, but it does have collimation screws so it is fully adjustable. (They provide a cheap Philips screwdriver and allen wrench. I recommend using your own Philips as the cheap one doesn't really fit the screws. I meticulously collimated ours using a Hotech SCA Laser Collimator and the collimation has held through several "set up and take down" sessions.
Bob's Knobs makes collimation knobs that will work with it on both the primary and secondary. Only caveat is that they advise against setting the scope down upright resting on the mirror lock knobs. I will probably put Bob's knobs on the secondary for a quick "center dot" but not mess with the primary too often.
This scope was bought as a "grab and go", be something my wife could take to astronomy club public outreach events when I am not attending. Not too heavy or bulky but still capable and the StarSense app works great on her iPhone 13.
Thanks for the info. Wasn’t sure if Bob knobs would work with the primary. I have the Hotech laser as well. I’m very big on collimation. I’m pretty confident the whole mirror will have to be taken off the telescope to change the knobs out. If you try to do with the mirror still attach the spring may move and pop out in the tube. It’s not too difficult to do. Some do it to clean the mirror with distilled water
Hey Brotha, thank you so much for the video and for answering our questions. I have a questions for you as well: is there a big difference between the 8” and 10” versions of this scope? Also, do you recommend any multi-range eye pieces?
My dad and I currently use a Celestron hunting scope and we like how you can go from 20X - 60X. Is there an eye piece that can do that for these scopes and would you recommend that?
Thank you for your help!
There is a nearly 50% increase in light gathering capability between an 8" and a 10" version of this scope.
As far as an eyepiece with a variable zoom, something like this might interest you: www.highpointscientific.com/celestron-8-24-mm-1-25-zoom-eyepiece-93230
Clear skies!
@@highpointscientific thank you so much for the quick reply! Do you by any chance have a video on how to calibrate the mirror on the Dobsonian? You shows the device but you didn’t show us how to do that here.
@@highpointscientific Far better getting the Baader 8-24mm zoom. It's far superior.
can the phone mount be bought seperately? it would be a great addition to my 8" dob I already own
Unfortunately, the phone mount cannot be purchased separately.
Great video
Thank you! We're glad you enjoyed it!
I’m a beginner and debating between a 8se and one of these Starsense dobsonian, one day I’d like to get into astrophotography also. Which would you suggest?
Also is the 10in dobsonian worth the extra cost of the 8in?
Hello Charles. Both scopes would be a good choice. A 10" scope represents a fairly decent increase in light gathering capability and increased resolution. However, if you live in a light polluted zone, you may not notice much of an increase in the views through a 10". Clear skies.
To answer your question regarding astrophotography, some astrophotography is possible with an 8" or 10" dob, but you may run into problems with reaching prime focus (check out our article on Astrophotography with a Dobsonian: www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/astro-photography-guides/astrophotography-with-a-dobsonian-telescope). If you're looking to get into astrophotography eventually, we'd recommend an 8SE or Nexstar SE mount, which can also be used in equatorial mode with a wedge.
If I’m not worried about the starsense, but would kind of like to have it, is it worth getting this over the Apatura with the upgrade kit for less dough? The Apatura seems really nice.
If you arent too worried about the StarSense technology that comes with the Celestron then yes, the Apertura would definitely be the way to go. You have superior build quality with the Apertura brand dobsonians - something that may leave you wanting more with the celestron dobsonian. The Apertura upgrades will really allow your Apertura dob to grow with you as your progress
Out of the box the StarSense technology will help find objects faster... but with the Apertura dob, you will need to learn the night sky a bit more using star atlases and maps like stellarium.. But soon enough you will accustomed to the night sky and where these objects are without the need for help from an app. At this point you now have the ability to find objects quickly AND you have a quality build with the Apertura dob.
Does it come culimated and can you see the antennae galaxies through it?
Great questions! These Dobsonians generally come well collimated, but they can always be knocked out in transit. Collimating a Newtonian is basic maintenance for these telescopes, and we have several articles and tools available to help with the process!
Regarding the Antennae galaxies - they are extremely small and the antennae are faint. We would not expect to be able to see this specific set of galaxies clearly through the 8” Dobsonian, but there are many galaxies that are visible through a telescope like this one! Please feel free to contact us using the following link for more information: www.highpointscientific.com/email-us
Will it track an object so it can be viewed for a few minutes? I want to take it to an event to show young people the night sky. I don't want to have to move the scope every 30 seconds to look at an object in the sky.
No tracking - it is just an object locator.
I'm debating between the 8" dob and the 130mm as my first telescope. Will the 130mm be enough or will I wish I'd sprung for the 8"? Thank you! I live in bortle class 4 and money is a concern but not a deal breaker.
An 8" dob would represent a considerable upgrade in light gathering capability vs a 130mm (5") scope. However, the 8" dobsonian is also quite a bit more heavy!
I'd really like to know how this dob, compares to others of the same size from other brands
Hello Phillip. The 8" and 10" StarSense should optically be similar to any other 8 or 10" dobsonian.
Is the center mark on the primary mirror something you added, or does Celestron supply it pre-marked? I hope they add it, so I don't have to.
Its added at the factory!
I'm confused. Celestron StarSense is a digital camera that replaces the finderscope for auto alignment. This settup doesn't look anything like that. Could you please tell me what the difference between Celestron StarSense and Celestron StarSense is...!!!!!?
The Celestron StarSense uses your smartphone as a digital camera by platesolving with a mirror. The major difference between this StarSense & the one on the DX 130AZ, for example, is that the way they're attached is completely different. This StarSense dock also can be adjusted to align your smartphone's camera over the eyepiece.
The StarSense Explorer....basically uses your smartphone as the digital camera in the StarSense system and is designed for select manual (push to) telescopes. The mount and your phone replace the dedicated camera on the go-to systems using the StarSense Camera and app.
Now what they need to do is add the phone feature to a nice portable Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope like the 8SE.
Not a bad idea in the future!
I'm not sure that a bright phone next to your eyepiece is a good idea?
The first thing on the StarSense app menu is a toggle switch to select "Night Vision" (red) mode if desired. That said, the "brightness" of the phone has not been an issue as there is hardly any light coming off of it when pointed at the dark sky and, even without selecting "Night Vision" it's not enough to affect night adapted vision.
We've found that dimming the display on the phone is adequate and, for us, preferable to switching to Night Vision on the app.
Shall I sacrifice aperture for automated tracking by which I mean a dob 8 inch or Celestron 6se , I’m a beginner but I want to get into astrophotography
AP would be more optimal with tracking, even though it's not an equatorial mount.
Does using the cell phone screen to find objects effect your night vision?
Hi Kevin,
It definitely can if you do not have the app's night vision mode enabled! We highly encourage it especially when viewing deep sky objects.
What's the difference between the 6se and a dob? Is one better than the other
The 6se is a Schmidt- Cass design and is a bit smaller in aperture. The 6se is a fully computerized, goto system where as the StarSense is only a Push To system. The se series are great for planetary viewing as they offer a longer focal length. A given eyepiece will have more magnification on the 6se than on the 8" StarSense. Feel free to reach out to us via our website for more information on these scopes. They are both awesome and serve different purposes!
Pictures would have been helpful.
compare to Orion xt10i, can you tell me which one is better? I want to buy one for my son. Thank you.
Both are identical in terms of light gathering capability & resolution!
is it possible to put a tablet instead of phone?
Unfortunately a tablet would be too large for the smartphone adapter. Thanks!
as far as I'm concerned, the app doesn't work, it always says it can't find the telescope, and the quality is also terrible, a toy that costs 500 dollars, I took it and destroyed it and put some garden flowers in it. The only use
Does it come with the case
No it does not but the Apertura case used in the video does work well!
need to find a way to mount the starsense phone holder to my Apertura AD8.. anyone do this?
Hello, the StarSense phone dock for the StarSense dobsonian is not designed for the Apertura AD8.
What about planets
Yes, this can easily show beautiful views of the planets.
Hi,
Can deliver to India?????
Unfortunately, we do not offer shipping to India at this time. Thank you!
Retirement makes these things pretty expensive. But that doesn’t make me want any less.
We hope you can get your hands on one!
@@highpointscientific , maybe the next lifetime 😊
@@kmichaelp4508😢
Could probably get a good workout also Lol
So sad that your paying like 300+$ more than a regular dob just for a phone adapter with a fancy app... if it wasnt liek this i would get it asap
Regular Dobs are up near $700 now. This one is $800. Well worth it