StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ

The easiest way is to visit Celestron.com/sse with your smartphone’s web browser and run a compatibility check. Otherwise, you can go to the same webpage on your computer and view a list of tested Android smartphones. In general, Android devices running Android 7.1.2 and higher that were manufactured in 2016 or later are usually compatible.

If you are still unsure, download the StarSense Explorer app from Google Play. When you open the app, it will indicate compatibility automatically.

One of two things could potentially be happening here:

• 1) Camera Alignment Error: Your smartphone’s camera may not be well aligned to the telescope. Exit StarSense mode, re-enter it, select “Need Alignment”, and redo the camera alignment procedure carefully on a distant object.
• 2) Object Light Pollution Faintness: The object may be in the eyepiece, but too dim to see due to city light pollution or Moonlight. Targets marked as "DARK SKY VIEWABLE" require dark skies. You can also consider adding a 31.75 mm (1.25 in) Light Pollution Reduction (LPR/UHC) filter.

There are tension adjustment screws for each axis of motion on the StarSense dock. Tighten these screws gently with a small Phillips screwdriver until the holder stops slipping:

- Y-Axis Adjustment: Turn the X-axis knob counterclockwise all the way to expose the 3 Y-axis screws shown below and tighten them slightly.

- X-Axis Adjustment: Turn the X-axis knob clockwise all the way to access the 3 X-axis screws shown below.

Yes, this is completely normal. Modern smartphone cameras often feature wide field-of-view lenses that extend beyond the StarSense dock mirror edges. This does not affect performance, as StarSense Explorer still detects enough stars for real-time plate solving.

When the bullseye stays red, the app cannot sense enough stars. Common causes include:

• Cloudy, hazy, or twilight skies (wait 1 hour after sunset).
• Direct streetlight glaring into the dock mirror (move to a shaded area).
• Obstructions like trees, power lines, or building edges in the camera view.
• Dew forming on the dock mirror (wipe gently with a clean tissue or micro-fiber cloth).
• Reflections off shiny metallic/glass smartphone cases.

Tap the orange rectangle containing the selected object’s name at the bottom of the screen to open its full Object Info page.

This is caused by the natural rotation of the Earth. On a manual mount, simply turn the slow-motion control knobs periodically to keep the green bullseye centered over the object.

StarSense Explorer App: Works exclusively with StarSense telescopes using the phone dock and unlock code for real-time sky sensing and guided pointing.

SkyPortal App: A free standalone planetarium app for general star chart exploring or controlling computerized GoTo telescopes via Wi-Fi.

This is caused by stray light reflecting off glossy or metallic smartphone cases into the camera lens. Use a matte, non-reflective case or observe away from direct artificial lighting.

This "gyro drift" occurs on older phones (like iPhone 6 or certain Android models) due to internal gyro sensor calibration drift. The app automatically re-corrects its position after each successful plate solve without affecting alignment accuracy.

Plate solve images captured by StarSense are noisy black frames with faint star points used solely for astrometric calculations—they are not aesthetic astro-photos.

The "Save Images & Logs" option is designed for tech support troubleshooting only. Keep it OFF during normal use to conserve phone storage space.

Lower your smartphone brightness setting and enable Night Vision Mode from the app Menu. This converts the interface to a red-light display that preserves dark adaptation.

The "Tonight’s Best" list updates dynamically in real time. Objects that set below the horizon as the night progresses are automatically removed from the active list.

The StarPointer assists during the initial 2-minute camera alignment process, serves for daytime terrestrial spotting, and ensures you can still use the telescope if your smartphone battery runs out.

No. Daytime skies are too bright for the camera to detect background stars required for plate solving.

No. StarSense Explorer relies on real-time GPS time and date. Use Celestron SkyPortal if you wish to simulate future or past sky conditions.

Manual location entry is only required if you disable smartphone Location Services (GPS). Always ensure your location is set accurately for precise target lists.