Reflector Telescope Celestron DX 130AZ 307x Black Silver 16.5 cm

The Celestron DX 130AZ 307x Black Silver is a Newtonian reflector telescope with a 16.5 cm (130 mm) optical tube designed for amateur astronomy. It combines a large-aperture primary mirror and high-reflectivity coatings to gather sufficient light for planetary detail and bright deep-sky objects. The telescope ships on a stable altazimuth mount with geared slow-motion controls and an adjustable aluminum tripod for steady viewing and easy pointing. Integrated StarSense Explorer compatibility lets you dock a smartphone and use Celestron’s Sky Recognition technology to locate and center targets in the eyepiece quickly.

Advantages

The 130 mm aperture provides improved light collection compared with smaller beginner scopes, delivering brighter, sharper views of planets, the Moon and many star clusters and nebulae. The altazimuth mount with slow-motion controls offers smooth manual tracking while the adjustable aluminum tripod balances portability and stability. StarSense Explorer support simplifies finding targets by using your smartphone to analyze the sky and guide the telescope in real time. The compact, relatively lightweight design makes the scope suitable for transport to darker sites.

Suitable for

• Beginner and intermediate observers who want a user-friendly manual telescope
• Planetary and lunar observation including Jupiter, Saturn and lunar surface detail
• Bright deep-sky objects: open clusters, brighter nebulae and nearby galaxies under darker skies
• Portable backyard observing and occasional travel to darker observing sites

Key specifications

• Optical design: Newtonian reflector
• Aperture: 16.5 cm (130 mm) primary mirror
• Maximum useful magnification: up to 307x (dependent on seeing and eyepiece)
• Mount type: Altazimuth with geared slow-motion controls
• Tripod material: Aluminum, adjustable height
• Star locating: Compatible with StarSense Explorer smartphone docking and app
• Optical coatings: High-reflectivity mirror coatings
• Weight: compact and portable for field use (typical kit weight around 8 kg total)

How to use

Set up the adjustable aluminum tripod on a level surface and attach the altazimuth mount and optical tube per the included instructions. Insert an eyepiece of moderate focal length to begin (e.g., provided 25 mm or similar) and balance the tube if required. For guided object location, place a compatible smartphone in the StarSense dock, launch the StarSense Explorer app and follow the brief alignment procedure which typically takes a couple of minutes. Use the slow-motion controls to refine pointing until the app indicates the target is centered and the view in the eyepiece is focused. Swap to higher magnification eyepieces for detailed planetary viewing, keeping in mind atmospheric seeing limits.

Usage recommendations

For best results, use the telescope from a stable surface and allow optics to reach thermal equilibrium with the outside air before high-magnification observing. Start with low-to-moderate magnification to locate and center objects, then increase magnification as seeing permits. Use StarSense Explorer in an area with a clear view of the sky and allow the app’s alignment routine to complete for accurate pointing. When transporting, secure the optical tube and tripod to avoid shocks to the mirrors and collimation; periodic collimation checks will maintain optimal image quality.