Telescope for a newbie: Smart app enabled? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 month ago by imminent_nebula@lemmy.ca to c/astronomy@mander.xyz

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I'm starting my journey into astronomy and looking for a beginner telescope to start. I've found a few on telescopescanada.ca that fit my budget between $350 and $400 CAD but noticed a lot have "smartphone app-enabled" as a feature.

Over the last few years I've found that smart connected tech just complicates things and have been reverting my tech back, often to the point of wired over wireless. What's the consensus when it comes to telescopes?

Is app-connection a feature you use? I'm looking at the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ but wondering if I'll be paying for smart features that aren't necessary.

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[-] LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 month ago

Seriously, don't get a 10" dob. They're FUCKING HUGE. You'll never drag it out to use it.

Binoculars, or a 6" Dobsonian are plenty to learn on, and since they're so small, you'll get them out all the time.

The bigger it is, the more hassle it takes to get out, and there's really not a huge difference in what you can see.

You don't get better magnification, you just get a slightly brighter view.

this post was submitted on 30 Aug 2026

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