Orion SpaceProbe 130ST EQ Reflector Telescope

Description

Designed for the serious beginning or intermediate stargazer
130mm aperture and 650mm focal length for a wider field of view and brighter images
Includes sturdy tripod and equatorial mount for hands-free celestial tracking
Includes FREE Starry Night astronomy software
One-year limited warranty

The newest addition to our SpaceProbe line of scopes is the niftiest equatorial reflector we've seen in a long time. It's a step up from the SpaceProbe 130 for the more serious beginning or intermediate stargazer who wants additional performance, particularly for targeting deep-sky objects.

Just what's so nifty about the 130ST? The answer is "short and sweet."

First, the short. This "ST" version of the SpaceProbe 130 is indeed more compact than the standard model. The ST's optical tube measures 24" long compared to 33" on the standard 130. The focal length of the ST's 130mm (5.1") primary mirror is 650mm (f/5), yielding a wider field of view and brighter images for a given eyepiece focal length.

That brings us to sweet. The primary is a diffraction-limited parabolic mirror, the same type used on much larger reflectors costing many times as much. On a short-focal-length design like this one, a parabolic mirror is a must for focusing incoming light to a point and delivering sharp, detailed images. Moreover, the secondary mirror is held in an advanced holder with thin 0.5mm metal vanes, to reduce diffraction spikes and light loss. These features combined with the included 25mm (26x) and 10mm (65x) Sirius Plossl eyepieces and quick-release 6x30 achromatic finder scope make this one sweet optical system for astronomy! It also includes a collimation cap and center-marked primary mirror for easy optical alignment.

The scope comes on an EQ-2 equatorial mount with dual setting circles and slow-motion hand controls. An optional EQ-2M or AstroTrack electronic drive can be added for automatic tracking. The adjustable aluminum tripod is strong yet lightweight and includes an accessory tray.

Whether you're looking for a better-quality first telescope or a portable instrument to complement your big Dob, you'll love the SpaceProbe 130ST.

Weighs 27 lbs. One-year limited warranty.

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