Starsense Explorer line

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SiouxCityGuy
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Starsense Explorer line

#1

Post by SiouxCityGuy »


I know it is a very beginner line of telescopes. And to my quick research, the line seems to be very, very new - released January 6 - I believe. So, I am asking people to chime in with there opinions.
It looks to be within my budget. And household management will (maybe) agree to it for an upcoming b-day present. So please chime in. Tell me your thoughts and pl;ease share any reviews etc you can find.
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Re: Starsense Explorer line

#2

Post by Lady Fraktor »


These have just been released into the market so as of yet there are no reviews as of yet.
Personally I would prefer a actual hand controller than having to rely on something that connects through wifi/ bluetooth. A personal preference.

Do you have an idea of what you may like to view with it?
For setting up can you just walk out the door or do you need to carry it down multiple stairs?
How is your light pollution in your area?
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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SiouxCityGuy
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Re: Starsense Explorer line

#3

Post by SiouxCityGuy »


I will be mostly looking at the planets mostly. The light pollution is pretty bad in my area. I'm in an orange zone, the last time I looked at a map. To get in and out of my house, I walk 4 steps. So that's not bad. I did read that some scopes relying on wifi had bad connection problems. This one is different - no wifi. Look at this video.

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Re: Starsense Explorer line

#4

Post by Lady Fraktor »


For planets/ lunar I would recommend a refractor or long focal length Newtonian.
Short focal length Newtonian give wider field views, larger aperture gives you the ability to see fainter objects.
What would you say your maximum budget is?

They still drop out for various reasons, a wired hand controller to the mount, no issues. Like I stated just personal preference. :)
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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SiouxCityGuy
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Re: Starsense Explorer line

#5

Post by SiouxCityGuy »


The model I was attracted to lists for $399.95 and is supposed to be a 5" Newtonian.
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Re: Starsense Explorer line

#6

Post by Lady Fraktor »


There is the telescope you are looking at, the Celestron Astromaster 130mm EQ (manual mount), the Celestron SLT 130mm (slightly more) goto and a few others in this range that get progressively more expensive.
There are also refractors both manual and goto between 80mm to 100mm though most of these suffer from poor mounts supplied with them.
Optically the telescopes are good though.

Or you can get a telescope like this: https://agenaastro.com/sky-watcher-6-tr ... 11600.html though it is manual, a 200mm is $100USD more.
A lot of aperture for a small price.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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Sinerjee
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Re: Starsense Explorer line

#7

Post by Sinerjee »


From my reading on them they aren’t actually a go to mount so won’t need a hand controller.
The scopes themselves (there are 4, 2 refractor and 2 refractor) are the same as there respectively sized astromaster scope. However it has the Star sense mount attached which very basically will tel you what you are looking at. They all seemed to be on manual alt/az mounts. The smaller two on az2 and the larger two on az3.

I thought they looked good for a beginner so you can know what your looking at.
Scope: Celestron Astromaster 130EQ Reflector
Astromaster Lens and Filter Kit
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Re: Starsense Explorer line

#8

Post by Voyageur »


Sinerjee wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2020 1:05 am From my reading on them they aren’t actually a go to mount so won’t need a hand controller.
The scopes themselves (there are 4, 2 refractor and 2 refractor) are the same as there respectively sized astromaster scope. However it has the Star sense mount attached which very basically will tel you what you are looking at. They all seemed to be on manual alt/az mounts. The smaller two on az2 and the larger two on az3.

I thought they looked good for a beginner so you can know what your looking at.
Yes, you're right, they aren't goto, not motorized, but rather incorporate the user's cell phone into a "push-to" system on an alt-az mount.

Kind of a cool idea, actually. It would give beginners a place to get started finding objects and learning about the objects they see in the eyepiece. Would help people learn the night sky a bit better than they might do with a goto scope.

One could of course make a homegrown version for any telescope with a cell phone and a free planetarium app (there are many that will work). Just need to come up with a bracket to affix the phone to the scope. Here is one version: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advi ... telescope/
Scopes: Vixen VMC200L, D=200mm, F=1950, f/9.75; Televue 2" Everbright diagonal. Coronado PST; AstroTech EDT 80mm, F=480, f/6.
Mounts: Vixen SXW/Starbook (original); Stellarvue M2C alt-az.
Eyepieces: Televue: 55mm Plossl, 22mm Panoptic, 17.3mm Delos, 13mm Nagler, c. 1980, 11mm Plossl, 7mm Nagler, 5mm Radian; Meade 15mm Super Plossl; VERNONSCOPE 2.4X BARLOW
Binoculars: Leica 8x32 Trinovids, circa 1997; Orion Megaview 20x80, Orion Paragon Plus mount.
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JayTee United States of America
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Re: Starsense Explorer line

#9

Post by JayTee »


The Android app Skeye has been around for a couple of years now and does exactly that - turns my manual dob into a Pushto monster! And, oh, it's free!

Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

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SiouxCityGuy
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Re: Starsense Explorer line

#10

Post by SiouxCityGuy »


JayTee wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2020 10:16 pm The Android app Skeye has been around for a couple of years now and does exactly that - turns my manual dob into a Pushto monster! And, oh, it's free!

Cheers,
JT
Do you have an article and pictures?
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Re: Starsense Explorer line

#11

Post by JayTee »


Do you have an article and pictures?
[mention]SiouxCityGuy[/mention] Go to Google Play and type in Skeye in the search box and this is what you'll see.
Skeye on Play.jpg
Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

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