The Celestron StarSense Explorer Dobson 305 mm brings the iconic Dobson design into the 21st century. This powerful telescope pairs a massive 305 mm mirror with the innovative StarSense Explorer app, which turns your smartphone into a digital guide through the universe. No complicated alignment, no GoTo motors, just follow, point and watch.
Even without experience, you can find the Moon, Jupiter or the Orion Nebula within minutes. Experienced observers will enjoy the tremendous luminosity and ease of use. It's like having a personal assistant next to you telling you exactly where to aim.
Smart navigation via your smartphone
The StarSense Explorer app uses the same technology as professional observatories: plate solving. Your smartphone takes a picture of the night sky, recognizes patterns and determines exactly where the telescope is aimed. The app then displays arrows that lead you step by step to the chosen object. Once the arrows disappear and a green visor appears, the object is perfectly in focus.
No WiFi or GPS required, the telescope works completely autonomously. Within two minutes, alignment is complete and you can track objects from the list “Tonight's Best”, tailored to your location and time of day.
305 mm optics - pure light and detail
The large 305 mm main mirror captures more than enough light to make even faint deep-sky objects visible. Expect bright, high-contrast images of Jupiter and its moons, the rings of Saturn, and subtle details in nebulae such as Orion or the Lagoon Nebula. Distant galaxies, such as Andromeda, also become clearly visible as oval patches with discernible structure.
The XLT coating increases light transmission, while the low-expansion mirror remains stable with temperature fluctuations. The capture mirror arms are extra thin to minimize diffractions - ideal for sharp star images.
The StarSense Explorer app makes finding objects much more accessible. Your smartphone analyzes the star pattern and provides live directions to precisely aim the telescope. So you find planets, nebulae and galaxies quickly and accurately, without alignment or prior knowledge.
Mechanically refined design
The 2″ Crayford focuser with 1.25″ adapter offers smooth focusing, even with heavy eyepieces. Thanks to the locking screw, focusing remains stable even during longer observations.
The azimuthal Dobson base is robustly constructed of laminated wood with large bearings for smooth, balanced movement. An integrated height brake ensures that the telescope remains perfectly balanced - even when slightly unbalanced due to heavy eyepieces or accessories.
The included panning button prevents pushing directly against the tube with warm hands, which can cause image distortion. In addition, there is a handle for safe transportation and a removable eyepiece holder on the side of the base.
Easy to use and powerful
The StarSense Explorer Dobson 305 mm is easy to use even without experience. Everything you need is in the box, no tools or additional accessories required. Within minutes, the telescope is ready for action.
The combination of classic Dobson stability, large mirror and modern navigation app makes this telescope a powerful tool for both educational use and serious hobby astronomy.
Observatory software in the palm of your hand
The power of the Celestron StarSense Explorer Dobson 305 mm is not only in his huge mirror, but in the smart software that guides him. The StarSense Explorer app uses a technology normally found only in professional observatories: plate solving.
Your smartphone takes pictures of the night sky and, based on the star patterns, recognizes exactly where the telescope is pointed. Then the app shows you in real time how to move the telescope. As soon as the green crosshairs appear on your screen, you know the object is perfectly in focus ready to observe.
This method gives a fully manual telescope the accuracy of an observatory system. After a short, simple alignment between your smartphone's camera and the telescope's field of view, the app displays the current sky over your location, complete with a list of visible objects.
With the function “Tonight's Best” easily select from the most beautiful objects visible at the time - from planets like Jupiter and Saturn to galaxies, nebulae and open clusters. Simply follow the arrows on your screen and enjoy the view in the eyepiece.
The StarSense Explorer works with a wide range of smartphones, including iPhone 6 or higher and Android 7.1.2 or newer (from 2016) with camera, gyroscope and acceleration sensor. You can find a complete list of compatible devices in the appendices on the product page.
What we recommend:
- The Moon in detail: craters, shadow structures and mountain ranges
- Jupiter with cloud bands and the four Galilean moons
- Saturn with rings and Cassini line
- Mars with polar caps around opposition
- Deep-sky objects such as the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Nebula and the Pleiades
- Double stars such as Albireo and Castor
Specifications
- Brand & Series
Celestron StarSense Explorer - Model number
22472 - Optical design
Newton reflector (Dobson) - Aperture (aperture)
305 mm - Focal length
1500 mm - Focal ratio
f/4,9 - Mount type
Dobson (alt-azimuth, manual) - Type of operation
Manually - with smartphone support via StarSense Explorer app - Optical coating
XLT reflective coatings with protective layers of silicon dioxide and tantalum pentaoxide on main and catch mirrors - Limiting star magnitude
14,9 - Resolution
Rayleigh: 0.45 arc seconds
Dawes: 0.38 arc seconds - Minimum usable magnification
43x - Maximum usable magnification
720x - Light output relative to human eye
1895× - Secondary mirror (minor axis)
70 mm - Focuser
2″ Crayford focuser with 1.25″ adapter - Optical tube diameter
356 mm (14″) - Optical tube length
1422 mm (56″) - Optical tube weight
22.6 kg - Total weight (telescope + base)
15.3 kg - Mounting dimensions (base)
635 × 635 × 737 mm - Included accessories
32 mm eyepiece (2″), Red Dot finder, collimation cap, StarSense Explorer smartphone holder - Compatible app
Celestron StarSense Explorer (iOS & Android) - Warranty
2-year manufacturer's warranty (Celestron)
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