Great starter scope. The optics are very clear and with absolutely no distortion. Package includes a precision two-speed focuser, a 99-percent Reflective 2-inch Diagonal Mirror, and an 8x50 Finder Scope. Fit and finish was nice. The focus knobs have ribbed gripping surfaces so they are easy to operate, even while wearing gloves or mittens in cold weather. Construction is quality. The mount fits on many popular equatorial and Alt-Az mounts, including mounts supplied by Explore Scientific, Celestron, Vixen and others. Multicoated optics: Fully coated on all surfaces with multiple layers of antireflection materials for high light transmission and good contrast. Astronomics is a family-owned business that has been supplying amateur astronomers, schools, businesses, and government agencies with the right optical equipment and the right advice since 1979. I still get out the Celestron 6" refractor from time to time especially when Mars is at opposition but the AR102 is easier to use and balance. Like its two larger brothers, the AR127, and the AR152, these are classic air-spaced, crown-and-flint, doublet achromatic refractors with superior-class optical figure, in a short (f/6.5) focal length design. This highly portable 4" achromatic refractor optical tube (only 25.5" long, with a weight of 11.3 pounds) is a sensational value! Add Your Review. The Explore Scientific AR Series is equipped with standard hardware that includes a precision two-speed focuser, a 99-percent reflective 2-inch diagonal mirror, dew shield and an 8X50 Finder Scope. Over the years I find myself using the 6" less and less and the 4" ES more and more! Jan 14, 2013 - Explore Astronomics's board "Explore Scientific", followed by 368 people on Pinterest. Perfect for those who want large refractor performance at a modest price. Great scope for the cost! Comes with a nice 2" diagonal. I use this scope both visually and for astrophotography. Your wishlist has been temporarily saved. Explore Scientific's AR152 Air-Spaced Doublet is a diffraction-limited six inch f/6.5 refracting telescope complete with mounting rings, 8x50 finderscope, and two-speed two-inch focuser. I can't wait to get it under dark skies. Its coated optics provide a bright high-resolution image so that many faint stars and nebulosity can be detected for precise aiming. The Explore Scientific ED102CF telescope brings a nice balance of weight and light gathering power. Your input is very much appreciated. We only send interesting emails and will never sell your data. As I said, this is a great scope, I would highly recommend it for beginners or a grab and go. When it arrived the clouds played havoc with trying to test it for several months. EXPLORE SCIENTIFIC AR102 Air-Spaced Doublet: The latest addition to the Air-Spaced Doublet AR Series is the very portable, grab-and-go 102mm! The Explore Scientific 8X50 Finder Scope provides a true 6-degree field of view. The Best Dedicated Astronomy Cameras for Beginners. My original intention was to buy this telescope as a grab and go scope. Buy Explore Scientific AR152 152mm f/6.5 Achromatic Refractor Telescope (OTA only) featuring 152mm Aperture, 988mm Focal Length, f/6.5 Focal Ratio, Achromatic Doublet Lens System, 2" Dual-Speed Crayford-Style Focuser, 2" Dielectric 90° Diagonal, Vixen-Style Dovetail Mounting Plate, Mounting Cradle-Ring with Handle, 8x50 Finderscope, OTA Only - Mount and Tripod Required. You also can use Photoshop to eliminate the worst of the CA around bright stars. It was still there but visually could be controlled with a Minus V filter. InternetSales@optcorp.com, 800-483-6287 Bought this for a white light solar scope (herschel wedge) and it works great. Explore Scientific AR102 f/6.5 Air-Spaced Doublet Achromat Refractor Telescope. EXPLORE SCIENTIFIC AR102 Air-Spaced Doublet 599,00 € * Shipping Weight 7.7 kg Its collimatable lenses are fully multi-coated to eliminate light scatter and maintain image contrast. I use a fringe killer filter that helps quite a bit. Still a great bang for the buck! It's good enough optically to be the heart of a reasonably-priced serious observing system when mounted on one of the many equatorial mounts and go-to altazimuth mounts from Celestron, iOptron, and others. Tube diameter is 3.96" (100.7mm) and the tube length with dewshield installed is 25.5" (648mm). © 2021 OPT Telescopes. Dual-speed Crayford-style focuser: 2" focuser, with adjustable tension and lock knobs. Removable Dew Shield; Front and Rear Dust Covers; Cradle Rings with Handle and Univsersal Saddle Plate; Two-Speed Focuser 2.0" I.D. . Cradle Rings with Handle and Universal Saddle Plate. I’m using a Mead LX70 EQ Mount and my scope has been easy to balance. Still not sure what is the right gear for you? I bought the 6" doublet a couple of years back and purchased this scope this last winter. Sign up for OPT news, exclusive offers, and updates on the latest gear! The latest addition to the Air-Spaced Doublet AR Series is the very portable, grab-and-go 102 mm Aperture Refractor. 102mm, f6.5, air-spaced doublet achromat. Crater detail was excellent, especially along the terminator. Most observers feel the relatively limited amount of chromatic aberration visible is a small price to pay for the scope's many other virtues of portability, sharpness, contrast, and optical clarity. Provided as standard equipment, Explore Scientific's 2-Inch Dielectric Diagonal incorporates a light-weight, one-piece diagonal body that securely cradles the polished diagonal flat mirror, ensuring precision alignment. Their price is a small fraction to that of comparable aperture apochromatic refractors making them an extreme value. Explore Scientific’s Universal Mounting Plate is made from extruded aluminum for added strength. As a standard on all Explore Scientific AR Series, a two-speed Crayford-style precision focuser is included. There was just a hint of color along the edge of the crescent. Each detail of the scope is obviously carefully constructed and tested. Wow! This has been a great scope. However, the spurious color is well controlled and not unreasonable, thanks to careful optical design, and has little effect on deep space observing. The AR102 has a f/6.5 focal ratio, for a focal length of 663 mm. Explore Scientific manufactures these in their own factories in China. The AR152 has received several good reviews since it came out, along with all of Explore Scientific’s products, and is offered at the unbelievable price of $750. I finally settled on a 2" Wratten #8 to attenuate the worst of the CA. Aperture: 4" (102mm), Type: Refracting Telescopes Add description, images, menus and links to your mega menu, A column with no settings can be used as a spacer, Link to your collections, sales and even external links. Read our 101 article or get in touch. I recently picked up a Explorer Scientific AR102 f/6.5 Refractor Telescope. However, budget and size dictated the 102mm or 4" version. The precision-made 2" focuser has dual-speed focusing. 680 24th Avenue SW Norman, OK, 73069, USA © 2021 Astronomics.com. Hi guys! Buy EXPLORE SCIENTIFIC AR102 Air-Spaced Doublet online from your expert for ☄telescopes! This is my second Explore Scientific telescope. Dielectric-Coated 99-percent Reflective 2-inch Mirror Diagonal with 1.25-inch Adapter. The scope arrives with the tubes wrapped in tissue paper. I will probably eventually replace the compression ring with a Baader click-lock. This highly portable 4" achromatic refractor optical tube (only 25.5" long, with a weight of 11.3 pounds) is a sensational value! Also improves visual and photographic contrast by shielding the lens from off-axis ambient light (the neighbor's yard light, moonlight, etc.). Finderscope: 8 x 50mm straight-through achromatic design, in a dual-ring six-point adjustment bracket with a quick release mounting shoe. Collimatable lens cell: The 4" Explore Scientific lens is precision collimated at the factory to give optimum performance. Now, with bigger eyepieces and camera adapters my scope has become end heavy. My criticisms are minor. Aperture: 4" (102mm), Type: Refracting Telescopes The Explore Scientific AR102 Air-Spaced Doublet Refractor is a classic air-spaced, crown-and-flint, doublet achromatic refractor with superior-class optical figure, in a short (f/6.5) focal length design. The Explore Scientific ED102 Triplet CF was built for astrophotography. Extended lifetime warranty: This individually serial numbered Explore Scientific telescope is backed by a limited one year warranty, which will be extended to an Explore Scientific transferable Life of the Product Limited Warranty when its warranty card is registered with Explore Scientific within 60 days of purchase.