The National Geographic StarApp50 is a 50mm refractor that connects to the ARTelescope app — point the telescope at a star or planet, open the app on your phone, and it identifies what you're looking at with audio guides and encyclopedia content. For beginners who want to actually learn the night sky rather than just stare at it, having the identification and context built in changes how an observing session feels.
Unlike basic 50mm scopes that ship with a single eyepiece and a folded star chart, the StarApp50 includes two Plössl eyepieces plus a 2× Barlow for a magnification range of 23× to 123×, a panhandle mount for smooth one-hand navigation, and a smartphone adapter so you can photograph what you're seeing and share it. It's a more complete package than the name suggests.
What you'll see
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The Moon — craters and surface features in clear detail at multiple magnifications
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Saturn's rings — visible at 61× and higher on steady nights
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Jupiter's four Galilean moons — arranged in a line around the planet, identified by the app
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Stars, constellations, and clusters — found for you with the ARTelescope app's sky identification
What's in the box
- 50mm achromatic refractor OTA with coated optics
- Full-size adjustable tripod with smooth pan-and-tilt movement
- PanHandle mount — effortless up/down and left/right navigation
- 26mm Plössl eyepiece (23×) — wide field for finding and scanning
- 9.7mm Plössl eyepiece (61.8×) — higher power for planets and the Moon
- 2× Barlow lens — doubles magnification to 46× and 123×
- Smartphone adapter — for capturing photos of your observations
- ARTelescope App — free for iOS and Android with audio guide and encyclopedia
| Specifications |
|---|
| Optical design |
Achromatic refractor |
| Aperture |
50 mm |
| Focal length |
600 mm (f/12) |
| Magnification |
23× and 61.8× standard; 46× and 123× with 2× Barlow |
| Eyepieces |
26mm and 9.7mm Plössl + 2× Barlow |
| Mount |
PanHandle alt-azimuth on full-size adjustable tripod |
| App |
ARTelescope — free iOS and Android, sky identification with audio guide |
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Frequently asked questions
How does the ARTelescope app help beginners?
The app uses your phone's GPS and orientation sensors to identify what part of the sky you're pointing at, then provides information about the objects there — names, distances, mythology, and interesting facts. It's paired with an audio guide that plays information while you observe, so you can keep your eye at the eyepiece and your ears learning. For total beginners, this context makes the difference between "I see a bright dot" and "I'm looking at a star 25 light-years away."
Are Plössl eyepieces better than Huygens eyepieces?
Yes — Plössl eyepieces have a wider apparent field of view and better eye relief, meaning you can see more of the sky at once and your eye doesn't have to be pressed tightly against the lens. The 26mm and 9.7mm Plössls included with the StarApp50 are a step up from the cheaper Huygens or Ramsden eyepieces common on entry-level scopes.
What does the 2× Barlow actually do?
It doubles the magnification of any eyepiece you use it with. So your 23× eyepiece becomes 46× and your 61.8× becomes 123×. It effectively gives you four magnification options instead of two, without buying additional eyepieces. 123× is useful for lunar crater detail and planetary views on nights with good atmospheric seeing.
Can I use this telescope without the app?
Absolutely — the telescope works completely independently of the app. The app is an optional enhancement that helps you learn and identify objects while you observe. On clear nights when you just want to look at the Moon or Saturn, no app is required.
New to astronomy? Read our beginner's guide to choosing your first telescope or our Astronomy 101 guide to get started.
Watch it in action
