Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope SC 125/1250 StarSense Explorer DX 5 AZ (70081)

The StarSense Explorer telescope simplifies stargazing by using your smartphone to analyze the night sky and calculate its position in real time. It is perfect for beginners, thanks to the intuitive StarSense Explorer app, which provides detailed tutorials and acts as your personal guide to celestial objects.

Effortless Navigation:
Say goodbye to complicated star charts, imprecise planetarium apps, and cumbersome computerized mounts. With StarSense Explorer, locating celestial objects is faster, easier, and more accurate. Within minutes of setup, you’ll confidently navigate the night sky. Simply place your smartphone in the StarSense dock and launch the app. After a quick 2-minute alignment with the telescope’s optics, the app generates a list of visible celestial objects. Select an object, follow the onscreen arrows to move the telescope, and when aligned, the bullseye turns green—ready for viewing.

Advanced Technology:
The telescope uses patent-pending technology and your smartphone to determine its exact position in the night sky. The Lost in Space Algorithm (LISA), similar to those used by satellites for orientation, matches star patterns detected overhead with its internal database for precise alignment.

Light Pollution Friendly:
Even in light-polluted areas, StarSense Explorer can identify major celestial objects such as Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, the Orion Nebula, and double stars. It’s ideal for urban stargazers who want to explore space.

Smartphone Compatibility:
Minimum smartphone requirements and a list of tested models are available separately.

Schmidt-Cassegrain Optics by Celestron

The Schmidt-Cassegrain optical design combines a long focal length with a compact optical tube assembly (OTA), making it lightweight and portable. Light enters through an aspherically figured Schmidt corrector plate before reflecting off a spherical primary mirror. It then bounces off a secondary mirror back through a central hole in the primary mirror to reach the focuser at the base of the OTA. This closed system prevents air turbulence and protects against dust while delivering high-contrast images with minimal stray light reflections.

Versatile Performance:
This telescope provides sharp, high-contrast images that are ideal for planetary observation. The Schmidt-Cassegrain design is an excellent all-around system suitable for both visual observation and astrophotography. It also supports terrestrial viewing (e.g., birdwatching) at close range. With an aperture ratio of f/10, astrophotography is easily achievable with this system.

Main Mirror Focusing System:
The primary mirror focusing mechanism offers a wide range of focus adjustments to accommodate virtually any accessory. Pre-loaded ball bearings minimize "mirror shift," a common issue in simpler designs. High-quality materials such as CNC-milled aluminum components and stainless steel ensure durability while keeping weight low, reducing the need for heavy mounts.

Key Features of Schmidt-Cassegrain Optics:

• Long focal length with a short OTA for portability

• Lightweight aluminum construction

• High-quality XLT multi-coating for bright images

• Closed optical system to prevent dust and turbulence

• Pre-loaded ball bearings for minimal mirror shift

Azimuthal Mount:
The single-tine azimuthal mount allows intuitive movement and alignment with celestial objects.

Specifications

Optics:

• Type: Reflector

• Build: Schmidt-Cassegrain

• Aperture: 125mm

• Focal Length: 1250mm

• Aperture Ratio: f/10

• Resolving Capacity: 1.10 arcseconds

• Limiting Magnitude: 12.3 mag

• Light Gathering Capacity: 320x (compared to the human eye)

• Maximum Useful Magnification: 250x

• Tube Weight: 2.26kg

• Tube Diameter: 171.5mm

• Tube Length: 635mm

• Tube Material: Aluminum

• Coating: Starbright XLT

Reflector Details:

• Main Mirror Design: Spherical

• Secondary Mirror Design: Spherical

• Secondary Mirror Obstruction: 40%

• Secondary Mirror Diameter: 51mm

Focuser:

• Build Type: Primary mirror focusing system

• Eyepiece Connection: 1.25"

Mount:

• Build Type: Single-tine azimuthal mount with Vixen-style saddle plate

• Motors: None

GoTo Control:

• Push-To Navigation System with StarSense Explorer App Integration

• GPS Support: Yes

Tripod:

• Type: Aluminum tripod with accessory tray included

• Weight: 1.72kg

Included Accessories:

• Eyepieces (1.25"): 25mm and 10mm eyepieces included for different magnifications

• Finder Scope: Red dot finder included for initial alignment assistance

• Diagonal Mirror: 1.25", 90° star diagonal included

General Information:

• Series: StarSense Explorer

• Total Weight (Telescope + Mount + Tripod): 8.5kg

Applications:

• Astrophotography: No

• Moon & Planets Observation: Yes

• Nature Observation (Terrestrial): No

• Nebulae & Galaxies Observation: Yes

• Sun Observation: No (Only possible with appropriate solar filter)

Recommended For:

• Beginners: Yes

• Advanced Users: No

• Observatories: No