Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ Review: Cheapest Smart-Guided Scope

This Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ review looks at the least expensive way to get the clever phone-guided finding system that has made Celestron’s StarSense range so popular. The LT 70AZ is a 70mm refractor that docks your smartphone and uses the camera to work out exactly where the scope is pointing, then walks you to a target with on-screen arrows. For a beginner who has ever been defeated by trying to find anything in the night sky, that is the whole appeal. The question is whether the smallest, cheapest StarSense scope gives you enough telescope to enjoy what the app finds.

If you are still weighing up the field, start with our best telescopes for beginners in the UK roundup and the refractor vs reflector explainer, then come back for the detail on this one.

The specs that matter

• Optical design: 70mm refractor with fully coated optics
• Focal length: 700mm, giving a focal ratio of f/10
• Mount: basic alt-azimuth fork with a slow-motion control on the altitude axis
• Weight: around 3.35kg for the whole kit, tripod included
• In the box: 25mm and 10mm eyepieces, a 2x Barlow lens, the StarSense smartphone dock, an erect-image diagonal, a red dot finder and a full-height aluminium tripod

That f/10 focal ratio makes this a “slow” scope, which in plain terms means it is built for the Moon, the planets and brighter, more compact targets rather than sprawling faint nebulae. The 70mm aperture is modest, so keep your expectations sensible: this is a first telescope, not a lifetime one. For more on why the front lens size sets the ceiling on what you see, read our telescope aperture explained guide.

How StarSense actually works

The StarSense Explorer system is the reason to buy this scope over a plain 70mm refractor. You download the free StarSense Explorer app, clamp your phone into the dock, and run a one-time alignment using the mirror inside the dock. From then on, the app reads the star field through your phone’s camera, plate-solves your position in real time, and displays arrows telling you which way to nudge the tube. When the target is centred, a bullseye appears and you look through the eyepiece.

It is genuinely effective and it is the same core technology as the pricier StarSense models. There is no motor here, so you still move the scope by hand, but the app removes the part beginners find hardest: knowing where to point. On a clear night you can hop from the Moon to Jupiter to a double star in minutes without knowing a single constellation. Bear in mind it needs a reasonably modern smartphone and a clear view of enough sky to get its bearings.

What you can actually see

On the Moon the LT 70AZ is a treat, showing crisp craters along the terminator and plenty of detail for a scope this size. Jupiter reveals its cloud belts and the four Galilean moons, and Saturn’s rings are clearly separated from the planet, which is the view that hooks most beginners. Colour fringing around the brightest objects is present, as it always is on a budget refractor, but it is not severe.

Push beyond the solar system and the aperture starts to bite. Brighter deep-sky targets are within reach: globular clusters such as M13 show up as soft cotton-wool balls, the brighter galaxies like M81 and M82 in Ursa Major are faint smudges, and well-separated double stars split cleanly. Fainter nebulae and galaxies are largely beyond a 70mm lens, so this is not the scope for chasing deep-sky trophies.

Where it falls short

The honest weak points are the mount and some of the plastic accessories. The alt-az fork is light, which is good for carrying but means the whole setup can wobble in a breeze, and you have to wait for vibrations to settle after each nudge. The supplied star diagonal is plastic and the eyepieces are basic, both obvious first upgrades once you catch the bug. And as with any 70mm scope, this is a starter you may outgrow as your interest deepens, rather than a forever telescope.

None of that is a dealbreaker at this price. They are the normal compromises of an entry-level refractor, and the StarSense finding system is a real, useful feature rather than a gimmick bolted on to justify a higher price.

LT 70AZ or step up to the DX 130AZ?

If budget is the deciding factor, the LT 70AZ is the cheapest route into StarSense and it does the job. If you can stretch further, the StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ swaps the 70mm lens for a 130mm reflector, roughly tripling the light-gathering area and opening up far more deep-sky detail on the same phone-guided mount. For pure planetary and lunar viewing on a tight budget the 70AZ is fine; if deep sky matters to you, the extra aperture of the 130AZ is the better long-term buy. Our best telescopes under £200 roundup puts both in context.

Who should buy the StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ

Buy it if you are a true beginner or buying for a family, you want the easiest possible way to find things, and you mainly care about the Moon and planets. It sets up in under ten minutes, it is light enough for a child to carry, and the app removes the frustration that makes so many first telescopes end up in a cupboard.

Look elsewhere if your priority is faint deep-sky objects, in which case a larger-aperture Dobsonian gives you more for the money, or if you already know your way around the sky and do not need the phone assistance you are partly paying for. You can check the current specification on the official Celestron product page, and for pricing, check current price at UK astronomy retailers as stock and offers change through the year.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ good for beginners? Yes. It is one of the easiest first telescopes to use because the StarSense app finds targets for you, and it sets up in under ten minutes. The main limits are the modest 70mm aperture and a light mount, both normal at this price.

What can you see with the StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ? The Moon in crisp detail, Jupiter’s cloud belts and moons, Saturn’s rings, brighter double stars and the brightest deep-sky objects like the M13 cluster. Fainter nebulae and galaxies are beyond a 70mm refractor.

Do you need a smartphone for the StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ? Yes. The whole finding system relies on the free StarSense Explorer app and a reasonably modern phone that fits the dock. Without a phone you can still use the scope, but you lose the feature that makes this model worth buying.

Does the StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ track objects automatically? No. There is no motor, so you move the scope by hand. The app tells you where to point with on-screen arrows, but you nudge the tube yourself and objects will slowly drift as the Earth rotates.

Is the LT 70AZ or the DX 130AZ better? The DX 130AZ has a much larger 130mm reflector, so it shows far more deep-sky detail and is the better long-term buy if you can afford it. The LT 70AZ is cheaper, lighter and perfectly good for the Moon and planets.

Is the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ available in the UK? Yes. While it has become harder to find in the US, it is still widely stocked by UK astronomy retailers. Check current price and availability before buying, as offers vary through the year.