Can Celestron StarSense be Moved to Another Telescope?
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- čas přidán 25. 02. 2022
- This video show how we moved a starsense system from the 114 reflector to a 12 inch dobsonian. We also have an epic showdown between myself (and astronomer) and Tiffany Fields, an astrophysicist and astronomy technician at the Burke-Gaffney Observatory.
Telescopes:
- Celestron StarSense 114 LT (Bird Jones) Newtonian (NOT RECOMMENDED)
- 12 Inch Dobsonian by Zhumell
Tiffany is using:
- Sharpstar 61 EDPH II Telescope
- ZWOASI294MC Pro Camera
- AZGTi mount (wedge mounted)
- ASIair app
Check out our books below!
110 Things to See with a Telescope:
www.amazon.com/110-Things-See...
50 Things to See with a Telescope - Kids:
www.amazon.com/50-Things-See-...
50 Things to See on the Moon:
www.amazon.com/Things-See-Moo... - Věda a technologie
For those who want to know “SMU” is Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia :) not to be confused with Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
Thanks, I was wondering.
I wish celestron sold the starsense to add to a telescope! Great video!
The best way to do this is to buy the StarSense LT 80AZ for $230, sort of like John did with the 114. Take the StarSense unit off of it and attach it to the scope you'd like to use with it. Then sell off the scope you just took it off of to salvage some of the outlay for the StarSense unit.
Costco is selling the AZ80 on their site. I think for like $180
Celestron actually make both a 8 and a 10 Dobsonian with StarSense
@@veryanoynimouse Yup, those just came out this week.
@@jongroubert4203 yeah I knew about the new dob, figured the Costco idea will be a cheaper alternative. However I have to admit, I think I’m not going to take my own recommendation. I have an Orion XT8i Intelliscope and I’m still considering the StarSense 8” dob. I guess I could go with the 10” to have a different size. But I think the StarSense 8” can be a grab and go scope at 22 pounds with quick star alignment.
That looked fun! I love having StarSense, makes the experience much more immersive and less frustrating
I love the content. Your the one that taught me all of the winter constellations lol. Right now I'm really trying to get a camera before the end of winter to try to take pictures of the orion nebula, Horseheads, and barnads loop. (Basically everything in orion). Thanks for teaching me so much.
Just found this, and I have to say that this is one of the most fun astronomy/telescope/technology videos I’ve ever seen! Thanks very much for doing this! I own two Starsense Explorer telescopes, DX102 and DX130, and I plan to exchange the DX130 OTA with an Apertura 6f4n 6 inch reflector, still using the tripod and connected Starsense hardware that came with the DX130, but modifying the tripod somewhat to make it sturdier. I do like your installing your Starsense hardware on the Dobsonian, and I thought that it would work just fine. So does Celestron, as they just recently came out with a couple of retail Starsense Dobsonians that look very nice, and are priced not to break the bank. This video is definitely a “keeper!”
Thanks so much for the lovely comment!
Another great video. If your inventory every needs to get lighter let me know :) your videos along with Trevor and others I watch are very inspiring and very knowledgeable thank you.
That is so cool!
Hey John, you made it to the big league. Your book made it into the new printing of "The Backyard Astronomer's Guide." I forgot what page it was.
Cool!
Great video! I am in the process of doing the same with my 10" Dob. Are you concerned by the intrusion of the stainless bolts possibly affecting light gathering?
They won’t. Not long enough.
I did the winter chapter out of your book last night with my starsense explorer
Fantastic!
Great video! Im considering installing the starsense dock on my AD8. Im just curious how difficult it was and if there are any issues i might run into if i decide to install it?
What you saw in the video was it. We didn’t cut anything important.
Wow 🤩
I was thinking of buying a star sense specifically for the app. I might pull the trigger now
Take a look on Open Source AstroHopper app. Solves same problem little bit differently but does not require to buy a telescope for this.
That was a cool idea 💡 😎
Thanks!
Nice video! I bought a starsense telecope just to get the unlock code for the app. Then I constructed a bracket with a cheap 3” square mirror which I can put on any telrad finder mount on any scope I have. It worked first time I tried it on my Coulter 13” dob. Problem is that the Celestron starsense app database is much more limited than SkySafari apps. I hope Celestron will expand the app’s database. I would pay for it but don’t tell them that. I expect other people/company’s to come out with plate solving push/to systems for smarphones or arduino that you can mount on any scope. Long overdue. Makes alt/az astronomy easy and great for beginners.
I feel the same way about the SynScan database by Skywatcher-database is far too limited. I’m a big fan of SkySafari.
The Starsense app probably limits the database/catalog to objects that would actually be viewable using said Starsense equipped telescopes.
I’ve found that steel tube dobs interfere with phone magnetometer had to add long extension arm
Really enjoy your videos. Just order one of your books. Got a question. What is your take of use Velcro to mount the StarSense. On a different telescope so you don’t drill into the scope body. Also you could move to different scopes. Clear Skies my friend. Bruce
Velcro might be worth a test! Enjoy the book!
I really hated Celestron to bundle the StarSense software with their scope. I probably will get a Celestron StarSense 114 AZ and install it on my smartphone. Drilling on my dob is out of the question, but I think I can make a bracket to have that StarSense cradle to sit on the spot of the finder scope (just need to find screws, brackets, dovetails...)
There’s also this website :-) artyom-beilis.github.io/astrohopper.html
quality. content.
Howdy. Can I use your 110 book in the southern hemisphere? Or is it made for people in the northern hemisphere? Cheers. 🙂
Howdy! Anyone living between 20 degrees south latitude and 55 degrees north latitude can see all 110 objects. Cheers!
When you moved the smaller diameter 114 mount to the Dob, did you just flex/bend the base so it would sit flush to the Dob's tube? Thanks
It’s not flush, but it’s tightly fixed in place.
I just 3D printed an adapter that allowed me to put the Starsense Explorer dock in any standard dovetail finder bracket. Now I can just hot-swap a full digital setting circle system onto any telescope. Easy as pi.
Thanks a great idea! I might try that someday!
Im planning to buy an Skywatcher 8" And 6" Classic Dobsonians Next year! Because i will start an telescope reselling business in my country, I was originally gonna buy an Starsense 8" Dob for 800$ But both the Skywatcher 8 and 6 only costs 808$ together!!! Im also gonna buy the Starsense 114LT because i will do the same on putting the Starsense dock on the 8 inch Dobsonian lol, im gonna barely use the Starsense 114LT, anyways i might as well give it to my freind.
The screws seem to be m4 metric machine screws...just in case anyone is looking to replicate this setup.
How did the mount fit the dobsonian?? I would have thought that the curvature of the small 114 tube would be far smaller than the 12inch dobsonian? surely the mount would not have fitted? (unless it was flexible plastic?).....even worse with the LT 80AZ??
The curves don’t match, but with the bolts, it’s a firm connection.
Hi John, thanks for the video.
I’m fairly green in terms of telescopes and I’m buying my first one; after a bit of research I came to a decision to buy a 10” dob Apertura AD10 / Zhullem Z10. Sucks for me Highpoint (apparently sole source for these) doesn’t sell/ship to Canada for the foreseeable future. So I had to look for other brands. I came across the Celestron Starsense Explorer 10". Their app starsense feature is a plus since I’m fairly new in this. After watching your video I saw your note in the description that you do not recommend the Celestron 114LT; I understand that’s an entirely different model with smaller aperture but does your note apply to other Celestrons as well? Would very much appreciate your input on the 10” model. It’s my first one and I really want to invest in something that I could stick to for years to come. Thank you
Hi! If price isn’t an issue, the 10 inch Dobsonian Starsense is a fine telescope. The Starsense database of objects is quite limited, you’d be better off setting a regular 10 inch Dobsonian (from B&H photo or Ontario Telescope if you live in Canada) and then a few guidebooks. If you want go-to capability with a large database, and SCT like this one would be a better option: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802511487-USE/celestron_11069_nexstar_8se_203mm_f_10.html
@@LearnToStargaze thank you very much
careful a 10 in dob is pretty big, it gets draining to move all the time, carefully without banging anything. ( I'm 73 so...) I have an 8 in dob, wish I got a 6 in F 5 > noticeably smaller. or even a 5 in Mak. talking beginner stuff here, and not spending big bucks on an 8 in Schmidt cass. I do think a Dob. base is way better than a tripod of affordable category.
@@rickc661 thanks Rick. I really liked the portability of Schmit cass, but yes it is a bit pricy ($2k CAD) for me as a beginner. I think I’ll end up getting the Celestron Starsense 10”. It is heavy but I think I’ll manage (6 months from today I’ll probably come back and confess how foolish that was).
One thing I really like to ask since you’ve been so kind and shared your thoughts: Celestron 10” is priced at $1370 cad, vs Apertura AD10 at close to $1300cad. Would you pick Apertura over Celestron? Celestron does offer the limited object tracking and I do have to add Apertura is not currently available for purchase in Canada. I’m trying to see if it’s worth waiting for it.
www.highpointscientific.com/apertura-ad10-10inch-dobsonian-telescope-ad10
all-startelescope.com/products/celestron-starsense-explorer-10-smartphone-app-enabled-dobsonian-telescope-22471
@@Navid1988 I have no direct knowledge on other than my 8 in Dob & a much smaller 80mm one, which I just bought a 50 mm aperture finder scope for. I have trouble finding things, even like the Orion Nebula and use both a 50 mm spotting scope and the telrad setup. (kinda bulky and I had to add an extra weight to counterbalance ) I think with no proof the new Celest. tracker would be a big + as a roadmap. the apparently far more detailed 'go to' system is maybe only avail on tripods, which in affordable, below $1000. versions are too shaky. my opinion.
I've just had to purchase an lz80 starsense just to remove it and stick on my 10" bresser dob. I wish they would just sell it as a stand alone piece of kit but nevermind I'll use the frac for lunar observations.
Would it be worth be sending in back using sky safari Pro?
How does the StarSense database compare with SkySafari or Stellarium?
StarSense is Limited to Messier, Caldwell, and a few double stars, asterisms etc. need to do more research as to how to add targets.
Hi John - just found this as I was looking for this exact question about buying a cheaper telescope and moving the StarSense to my 8"Dob. But can you tell me please, after looking... might have missed your answer somewhere, but can I use your books in the southern hemisphere as I'm in Australia - or adapt them to our skies.
Have you seen this book (it could really use a second review, haha) www.amazon.com.au/50-Things-See-Telescope-Hemisphere/dp/177745171X
@@LearnToStargaze Awesome thanks, I'll get that and double the reviews for you .. ha😉
Done!!
Do you know what size the mirror is on the starsense dock?
From memory about 2x3
@@LearnToStargaze Thanks!
Gso 8 inch dobsonian profesonal telescope vs celestron starsense explorer 127az which best?
The Dobsonian. But unless it cost over $10 million it’s probably not a professional telescope, haha.
How accurate was the starsense? Enough for a newbie to find some dsos?
I’ve found it accurate to about have a degree, so yes.
It makes me sad that the commercial nature of astronomy means that instead of selling this technology as a bolt on finder and improving it, they've chosen to attach it to a cheap telescope. Imagine being able to buy the mount for $100 or $150 and bolt it on yourself. Would open up astronomy to many more beginners.
Agreed! They should make this adaptable to any existing scope. That product might sell even more!
I wanna do this with my 8” inch but can’t find anyone that’s selling just the dock for the phone.
Hopefully can come up with a less drilling holes solution like Velcro
You could start with this app and just tape your phone to the telescope: artyom-beilis.github.io/astrohopper.html
@@LearnToStargaze I have also see phone adapters that attach to the dovetail!
celestron now has a 12” Starsense dobsonian for preorder
@@klttrll You can make your own dock for your telescope.
There is actually a Starsense Explorer Dobsonian 8" and also a 10"
Yes, those were released after this video was produced. They are priced at quite a premium though. An 8 inch Dobsonian was $399 last year.
@@LearnToStargaze yeah İ am thinking to buy a 8" from celestron
Great video! Has anyone else done this successfully? How well does it work?
It works great. Lots of others have done it now. Celestron also offers this system on its large Dobsonians.
@@LearnToStargazeOK I just cannibalized a StarSense phone dock from a cheapo Celestron scope and put it on my brand new 12" Dobsonian. It works like a dream! Very impressed, by the StarSense app and this video. I would just add there's really no need to drill this directly into your Dobsonian. I got a dovetail bar off Amazon for $25 and just used the existing finder scope mount on the Dob. A finder scope is unnecessary with StarSense. Very cool.
I need to get a skysense, I'm 66 and bending twisting isn't fun anymore.
tl; dr: Yes. And it works great.
OMG, you're drilling into your scope with the MIRRORS STILL IN PLACE?!? Yikes, dude! Those metal shavings are going to go EVERYWHERE = scratched mirrors. To those watching, DON'T DO THIS!
I thought the same thing!
Just hold a small cardboard box inside the tube over the target area while drilling to catch the debris. Can also spray some adhesive in the box to hold the small metal particles in.
John did you just use a power drill on a telescope? you're lucky my dad didn't see that!!!
HaHa Tiffany, astrophysicist and meridian-flipper from SMU, lost. *lol* Very cool video. Thanks guys. Guess I'll have to subscribe to yet another channel. All of these entertaining and creative humans are really getting on my nerves. 😆
Does it require a phone with magnets like the galaxy etc. or can you use an old phone with no magnets? Nobody asked that. Like astrohopper you need a phone with magnets.
I have no idea.
They did it lol
They did! (And doubled the price of the telescope in the process)
@@LearnToStargaze yeah, I still might get it tho
Try AstroHopper vs SSE... would be more interesting
You really didn't finish your review ..I guess it was positive
There was a review? We just confirmed that Starsense works great on a Dobsonian.
Or just put the telescope on a dobsonion mount
A 114 on a Dobsonian mount would still be terrible. It’s the bird jones lens system that makes it so bad.
I just purchase the Celestron StarSense 12" dobsonian yeehaw
Wow! Amazing!
Yes you can move the the StarSense Explorer dock to another Dobsonian. Then the you tuber that did it got a call from celestron a few months after he transferred StarSense Explorer dock to another scope. Was it a coincident after they saw what he just did? They ask him to review their new StarSense Explorer dobsonian 8" here's that video czcams.com/video/ZVA365OAsyA/video.html