Celestron LT 114AZ Reflector Telescope 269x Black Silver 14.7 cm

The Celestron LT 114AZ is a 114 mm (4.5") Newtonian reflector telescope that pairs traditional optics with StarSense Explorer smartphone guidance. Designed to be portable and simple to use, it combines a bright 114 mm objective, an altazimuth mount with slow-motion altitude control, and a full-height adjustable tripod. The system uses the StarSense dock and app to analyze star patterns and guide you to visible celestial objects in real time.

Advantages

StarSense Explorer technology turns your smartphone into a real-time sky-recognition tool, making object location quicker and more accurate than using phone gyros alone. The 114 mm aperture provides good light-gathering for clear views of planets, star clusters, and brighter deep-sky objects, while the lightweight design and compact tripod make the kit easy to transport to darker observing sites. The simple altazimuth mount and altitude slow-motion control let you fine-tune tracking and centering with minimal setup.

Suitable for

• Beginners who want guided, app-assisted observing sessions
• Casual stargazers seeking a portable telescope for trips and camping
• Observers in suburban or moderately light-polluted locations looking to view planets and bright deep-sky objects
• Users wanting a simple altazimuth mount with manual slow-motion altitude adjustment

When it may not be suitable

This telescope is not intended for advanced deep-sky imaging or high-end astrophotography — its manual altazimuth mount does not provide motorized tracking required for long-exposure imaging. Extremely faint galaxies and nebulae beyond the reach of a 114 mm aperture may be difficult to observe from light-polluted skies.

Key specifications

• Optical design: Newtonian reflector
• Aperture: 114 mm (4.5")
• Focal length: (as specified by manufacturer’s model class; typical for this tube size)
• Mount type: Manual altazimuth with altitude slow-motion control
• Tripod: Adjustable full-height aluminum tripod
• Smartphone integration: StarSense dock and StarSense Explorer app compatibility
• Approximate kit weight: 10.4 lb (portable for car or backpack transport)

How to use

Set up the adjustable tripod on level ground and attach the optical tube to the altazimuth mount. Insert your smartphone into the StarSense dock, launch the StarSense Explorer app, and follow the on-screen alignment steps to align the phone with the telescope optics (a short, guided procedure). The app will identify visible objects and provide on-screen arrows to move the telescope until the bullseye indicator turns green, indicating the object is centered in the eyepiece. Use the altitude slow-motion control to fine-tune the telescope’s pointing.

What to consider before purchase

• Requires a compatible smartphone (iPhone 6 or newer, most Android devices from 2016 running Android 7.1.2 or later)
• Not designed for long-exposure astrophotography without additional tracking equipment
• Performance improves significantly under darker skies—city light pollution will limit faint object visibility

Usage recommendations

To get the best views with the Celestron LT 114AZ, perform the StarSense alignment away from bright lights, allow the telescope to cool to ambient temperature, start observing with low-to-medium magnification eyepieces for locating targets, and then increase magnification for planetary detail. Transport the 10.4 lb kit in a padded case for protection.