# Celestron StarSense Explorer — user reviews > 121 indexed App Store user reviews of Celestron StarSense Explorer by Celestron, LLC, rated 3.30/5 from 161 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestron-starsense-explorer/id1368600689/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestron-starsense-explorer/id1368600689.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 69 · 4★ 16 · 3★ 10 · 2★ 23 · 1★ 43 ## What do users think of Celestron StarSense Explorer? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🎯 Accurate plate-solving technology for locating celestial objects - 📚 Comprehensive database with detailed information about objects - 🎧 Informative audio commentary during observations - 🔭 Seamless integration with Celestron StarSense telescopes - 👨‍🚀 Excellent for beginners to learn astronomy - 🌟 Intuitive graphical interface and visual design - ⚡ Quick setup process when instructions are followed correctly - 🎯 Reliable object identification within field of view **Cons** - 🧭 Persistent compass/directional calibration issues - 📍 Frequent alignment failures and position detection problems - 🔄 Requires constant realignment after minor telescope movements - ❌ Inconsistent accuracy across different iPhone models - ⏱️ Slow plate-solving on nights with full moon or light pollution - 🚫 Limited compatibility with non-Celestron telescopes - 🌐 No multi-language support (English only on iOS) - 📱 App crashes and freezes during use - 🎮 Poor user interface for beginners despite simplicity claims - 🔐 Code validation issues and account lockout problems **Commonly reported bugs** - Directional orientation reversed or offset by 90+ degrees - App fails to locate telescope position on clear nights - Compass defaults to west direction on startup - Plate-solving fails to recognize sky position - App crashes when switching between apps or receiving notifications - Phone camera not recognized after app backgrounding - Invalid code errors despite correct code entry - Code length validation issues (6-character vs 8-character codes) - Aspect ratio display problems - App becomes unresponsive during alignment process - Inconsistent performance across iPhone models (especially iPhone 14, 15) - Upside-down display when moving telescope side to side **Most requested features** - Multi-language support (Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Arabic, French, Italian, German) - Observation logging and favorites/bookmarks system - Support for additional celestial objects (dwarf planets, comets) - Pan and zoom functionality without moving telescope - Standalone app functionality without telescope requirement - Better arrow indicators for telescope movement guidance - Support for non-Celestron telescope models - Improved compass calibration options - Session notes and observation history tracking ## Newest reviews (12 of 121) ### 4/5 — Awesome! One suggestion! *2026-05-16* So I feel like it’s awesome!! I love it connected to my telescope but I rlly think you developers should update it to add the new space objects found! Depending on the telescope that the consumer has, if it is strong enough you should add the dwarf planets (ceres makemake hamuea eris pluto) you already have pluto but still! The others are cool to observe! Plus I love the detail they added! ### 2/5 — Nützt nichts *2026-04-22* Die app nützt garnichts ständig wechselte sie zu Jupiter ### 3/5 — Keine Favoriten speicherbar *2026-04-14* Ich suche nach einer Möglichkeit, Favoriten zu speichern von Planeten Nebeln und so weiter. Leider gibt es hier keine passende Funktion (Favoriten Sternchen/Herz Symbol) Man muss stets den kompletten Katalog durchforsten, wenn man was sucht. Wenn man einen Schritt zurück will, muss man komplett in den Katalog neu rein und zur Stelle scrollen, wo man war. Das ist leider super rückständig ### 4/5 — It needs improvements for telescope alignment. when I tried looking for the moon, the map was offset *2026-04-01* I’ve tried to get my telescope centered using this app by aligning it to the moon’s location, and I’m being dissatisfied by the app’s performance as when I tried to aligning the telescope through the app, the lens showed a blank sky because the telescope was offset to the right of the telescope’s direction of focus. I had to literally manually align the telescope due to this. I do have a screenshot of what I am speaking of. Finding planets took me time because of a similar scenario. It would be great if the app could make improvements with aligning the iPhone so that telescope users won’t have to turn on their battery powered laser that comes with their StarSense explorer telescopes or any other telescope of this brand. ### 4/5 — Really good for looking for planets *2026-03-17, version 2.0.1* This app is useful cause it tells you where every planet is at, but the telescope doesn’t show the planets really good so really W app ### 2/5 — Can’t find the moon *2026-03-02* As a first time telescope enthusiast I was very excited about using this with my new telescope. After several attempts at trying to locate Jupiter in the sky with no luck-and dozens of realignment attempts, I initially thought it was user error however, on a clear night after realigning my phone with the telescope, I figured I would see if the app could find the moon and it didn’t! I don’t think this is a user friendly app. Hopefully I can find another app to use that can find the moon better than this one! ### 3/5 — 한국어 지원 plz *2026-01-10* Plz ### 2/5 — What the actual hell? *2025-12-26* It does not work at all. I tried to do it very accurately but the app is not accurate at all. I’ve pointed it at. It was supposed to be satin and it was pointing at the fence wall not accurate. All that don’t try. It is a waste of your time. Better downloading another app worst app ever. ### 4/5 — 美中不足 *2025-10-04, version 1.1.8* 為什麼沒有中文版？！ ### 3/5 — 한국어 지원 좀 *2025-06-18* 다 좋는데 언어 지원을 좀 부탁드려요 ㅠㅠ ### 3/5 — 언어 선택 *2025-04-22* 언어선택은 할수 없나요. 영어도 아니고 모르는 언어인데 ㅠㅠ ### 1/5 — Horrible *2025-01-05* I got this telescope mainly for the reson to use the app to find cool stuff in the sky just to find out that it doesent event work trust me just use your eyes if looking for planets ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — 角度以外はいいけど、、 *2026-07-21* 西が南になるからすぐ直して ### 1/5 — Useless app *2026-07-04* My parents got me a Explorer telescope for my 13th birthday and I used the app for the first time. And the app is useless, whenever I start alining the stars and planets and stuff, they are in the wrong spot. Please developer respond 🙏 ### 1/5 — Garbage app *2026-03-21, version 2.0.1* This app is so frustrating by design. This app isn’t helpful for anything. So many better apps and this app costs money too. ### 1/5 — Bruh *2025-12-26, version 1.1.8* Box didn’t come with postcard. Stupid. ### 1/5 — 안드로이드처럼 한국어 지원 좀요 *2025-12-24* ios는 왜 언어지원을 안해주나요.. ### 1/5 — Worked once *2025-08-24, version 1.1.8* Great potential, but fails consistently. After fighting with it for a bit, finally got it working for one session. Unable to get it back into alignment. Useless app. ### 1/5 — Not good *2025-02-28, version 1.1.8* We followed step by step, hooked up the phone and went out when all planets were supposed to be aligned. The thing falls apart in your hands and the app did not recognize any code. But something else. ### 1/5 — Worst *2025-02-11, version 1.1.8* Always saying telescope position not found even though my compass and everything is calibrated ### 1/5 — It never aligns *2025-02-01, version 1.1.8* Pointless ### 1/5 — 100az not on list *2025-01-29, version 1.1.8* App is not compatible with a telescope that claimed on the box to be supported ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great App! *2026-06-11* Stars are easy to navigate in the sky, you can find where your planets and space objects are in the sky, pairs with telescopes, and my favorite thing is that if you set your altitude high enough you can exit the earth and then the milky way! Sincerely — ### 5/5 — Nice app *2026-03-29, version 2.0.1* This is a good app, but Rho Aquilae is actually in Delphinus believe it or not ### 5/5 — 목성에서 이상한 소리나요……. *2026-03-25* 제가 별보다 목성 찍었는데 휘오오오ㅗ오오오옹 라고들림 그래서 목성 잘못봐요………………………ㅋ ㅋ ### 5/5 — App is amazing *2025-08-11* I have had a great experience with this app. On nights with a full moon it may take a little longer to platesolve but has made finding night sky objects amazing easy. Just make sure you carefully do the alignment process and then you are ready to go. ### 5/5 — Flawless *2025-06-08, version 1.1.8* I’m not sure what all the negative reviews are about, im glad i ignored them. Instantaneously pan to different objects in the night sky and identify immediately. Very easy to set up, very user friendly. ### 5/5 — Makes stargazing a breeze *2025-02-26* I have a Celestron dob. This app made sky gazing so easy. I haven’t used a telescope in over 10 years. Thanks to this app we were able to observe 15-20 objects the first night I set up the new scope. They located everything so easily. It was amazing. So worth the extra money to get the starsense tech. ### 5/5 — 請支援中文 *2025-02-16, version 1.1.8* 請支援中文 ### 5/5 — Just read the instructions *2025-01-27* I was in the same boat as many, just skipped the instructions, and tried to set it up. No luck. Went back, did all the steps of the instructions, and everything works now perfectly. I am actually surprised how well it works. ### 5/5 — Good *2025-01-02* Very good, just a few annoyances such as the aspect ratio is off, but other than that it’s great. ### 5/5 — Works perfect *2024-11-08* Not sure how everyone is having problems, clip phone in, follow the instructions on screen and done. Takes 30 seconds and is dead on if you do what the screen tells you. It really couldn’t be any easier. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-18.*