The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 5-inch Schmidt Cassegrain telescope is one of the most compelling beginner-friendly telescopes on the market – and with the total lunar eclipse happening on March 3, 2026, it’s an ideal choice for anyone who wants dramatic views of the moon beyond what astronomical binoculars can offer. Plus, it’s now the cheapest it’s been since before Black Friday, so it’s worth taking advantage of this deal now so you can make the most of the blood moon eclipse.
Get the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 5-inch Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope for $479.97 at Amazon right now. Don’t forget to add the coupon to checkout.
Its 5-inch aperture and long 1250mm focal length provide bright, high-contrast views with plenty of detail on the moon’s craters and surface features. The included 25mm and 10mm eyepieces provide a good range of moderate (50x) to strong (125x) magnification for both wide and more detailed lunar viewing – although we recommend upgrading the eyepieces for even better views.
The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 5-inch Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope comes ready to observe right out of the box with everything you need to get started. In this deal you get the optical tube, a stand with accessory tray, a two-axis alt-azimuth mount, two eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), a red dot finder and upright image diagonal.
This telescope also comes with a StarSense smartphone dock. Once your phone is in place and the StarSense Explorer app is fired up, it determines exactly where the telescope is pointing and guides you to celestial objects with arrows on the screen, displaying a green bullseye when you’re perfectly aligned. This system is perfect for beginners who may not yet know their way around the night sky, and ideal for a quick setup if you want to catch the total lunar eclipse on March 3rd.
Key Features: 5-inch (125 mm) aperture, 1250 mm focal length, f/10 focal length, total kit weight 14.6 pounds (6.62 kg), includes 25 mm and 10 mm eyepieces.
Product launched: 2021.
Price history: This is almost the lowest price we have seen it. Last November, it went down to $475 before Black Friday, and it usually retails for around $579.99.
Price comparison: Amazon: $479.97 | B&H: $579.99 | Adorama: $579.99
Assessment consensus: We haven’t tested this specific model, but we love Celestron as a reliable telescope brand that consistently delivers excellent quality optics that are easy to use and good value for money. Amazon users rate this telescope 4.1 out of 5 stars.
✅ Buy it if: You are a beginner looking to invest in a decent first telescope that you won’t get bored with after a few uses.
❌ Do not buy it if: You are an experienced astronomer and want to observe faint deep sky objects and resolve fine planetary details.
