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.

Smartphone Compatibility

StarSense Explorer DX 5 works with most modern smartphones, including iPhone 6 and up and most devices running Android 7.1.2 or later manufactured since 2016.

Patent-Pending 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. A Lost in Space Algorithm (LISA), like the ones satellites use in orbit to correctly reorient themselves, helps the app match star patterns it detects overhead to its internal database.

While other astronomy apps may claim that they can help you find objects, they rely exclusively on the phone’s gyros and accelerometers, which aren’t as accurate as LISA technology. No other app can accurately tell you when your target is visible in the eyepiece.

High Quality Altazimuth Mount with Slow Motion Control

An ultra-stable altazimuth mount provides a sturdy foundation for StarSense Explorer DX. Slip clutches and geared slow motion controls in both axes help you move the telescope smoothly and zero in your target. As celestial objects appear to drift across the night sky, you’ll be able to follow them with just a turn of the knobs. It’s all anchored by an adjustable, full-height tripod.

Dazzling Views with High Quality Optics

With a large 5” Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube—Celestron’s tried-and-true optical design for over 50 years—this telescope has enough light gathering ability to bring out impressive detail in celestial objects while remaining compact and lightweight. You can expect sharp, bright views of Jupiter’s four Galilean moons, its cloud bands and Great Red Spot, the rings of Saturn, the trapezium in the Orion Nebula, and the beautiful Pleaides Open Star Cluster.

All air-to-glass surfaces are coated with our StarBright XLT optical coatings to visibly increase contrast and light transmission for brighter deep space views. With StarBright XLT, you’ll be able to discern subtle details while viewing the Moon and planets as well as faint galaxies and nebulae. For more information about our patented StarBright XLT coatings.

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. With this 5” Schmidt-Cassegrain and relatively dark skies, the Andromeda Galaxy, Hercules Open Star Cluster, and so many more are easily within your reach.

• Celestron’s beloved entry-level telescope gets a stunning look! The Signature Series FirstScope features a superb Moon image by astroimager and Team Celestron member Robert Reeves
• High-quality tabletop Dobsonian with a 76mm reflector optical tube
• FirstScope artwork highlights key features on the lunar surface like craters and maria that you can explore for yourself with the telescope
• Simple, portable design that’s easy to use for astronomers of all levels—a great choice for kids and families
• Also includes a free PDF download of the Lunar Landscapes eBook by Robert Reeves

Celestron has joined forces with master lunar imager Robert Reeves  on this addition to the beloved FirstScope family: the FirstScope Signature Series: Moon by Robert Reeves. This quality Dobsonian-style telescope features a spherical glass mirror with a generous 76mm of aperture. The FirstScope’s wide field-of-view provides bright, sharp views of the Moon’s mountains and craters in crisp detail. You’ll also enjoy using the FirstScope to pan the Milky Way, explore open star clusters, marvel at Saturn’s rings, or view favourite deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula.

This compact, lightweight telescope is an ideal entry-level astronomical telescope. Just remove it from the box, insert an eyepiece, and you’re ready to view. To navigate the sky, simply rotate the azimuth axis in the direction of your desired object. It doesn’t get much simpler or more portable than the FirstScope.

Its compact design makes the FirstScope Signature Series easy to take along on your next camping trip, picnic, or hike. When not in use, the FirstScope Signature Series: Moon by Robert Reeves will be a stylish decorative fixture on your bookshelf or desk.

Explore the Moon

Familiarize yourself with the Moon, our neighbouring world. Robert Reeves’ signature FirstScope comes with a custom wrap that highlights 10 lunar features to explore including Tycho, Plato, and Copernicus.  Learn more about the Moon with Robert Reeves’ Lunar Landscape eBook which goes into detail about the sizes of craters, how marias are formed, the natural history of the Moon, and other fascinating tidbits.

About Robert Reeves

Robert Reeves first photographed the Moon in 1959, just as our space program was setting its sights on lunar exploration. Since then, he’s become one of the world’s best lunar imagers and a prolific author on astrophotography. Using Celestron telescopes from his home in Texas, Robert captures more detailed images than professional astronomers could during the heyday of the Apollo missions. To learn more information about Robert Reeves, check out his Team Celestron page or for Robert’s personal perspective on having his own telescope in the Signature Series

Specifications

Bintel Lunar New Year Accessory Bundle

Celebrate the Moon with a trio of accessories designed to enhance your lunar observing experience. The Bintel Lunar New Year Accessory Bundle is perfect for anyone who wants to see more detail and enjoy longer, more comfortable viewing sessions.

This bundle includes:

Celestron T-Adapter-Barlow Lens Universal (1.25")
A flexible 2× Barlow and T-adapter all in one. Use it to double the magnification of your 1.25" eyepieces, giving you closer views of lunar craters, mountains, and valleys. Compact and lightweight, it lets you explore the Moon and planets in more detail without complicated setups.

Celestron Moon Filter (1.25")
The Moon is bright and beautiful, but its glare can make details hard to see. This simple screw-on filter reduces brightness and improves contrast, helping your eyes relax and revealing subtle surface features. Perfect for evenings near the full Moon, and useful for bright planets or terrestrial scenes.

Orion Moon Map 260
A laminated, fold-out map showing over 260 lunar features, including craters, mountain ranges, valleys, and historic landing sites. Both correct-image and mirror-image views are included, making it easy to identify features through binoculars, a telescope, or even with the naked eye.

Together, these three accessories make the Bintel Lunar New Year Accessory Bundle the ideal kit for exploring the Moon. See more, understand what you’re seeing, and enjoy longer, more detailed lunar observing sessions.