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Refractor Telescopes on Computerized Mounts

 
 

The refractor telescope has been in use since it's invention in 1608, but today's refractors would amaze Galileo! Refractors are now available in a wide range of sizes and have multiple features that support their use as a visual astronomy instrument or a premiere telescope for astro-imaging.


All of the refractors in this category come with a computerized telescope mount. Refractors on alt-azimuth GoTo mounts are usually very portable and lightweight, and make a wonderful first telescope for users who want a smart mount to show them around the Universe! A good example of a smart telescope for a beginner is the Celestron NexStar 102 SLT. If you take a look at this telescope, you will see that it is very streamlined due to it's alt-azimuth mount design. Even though it only weighs 14 pounds, the NexStar 102 SLT sports a medium telescope aperture of 102 mm, or 4". There are larger and smaller GoTo alt-azimuth refractors to choose from, of course, but if you are in search of a telescope that can be picked up and moved very easily but that comes with computerization, a refractor on a goto alt-azimuth mount is a good choice.


If you would like to do astro-imaging, either now or in the future, High Point always recommends an equatorial mount. Equatorial mounts may be bulkier than alt-azimuth mounts, but since they can be adjusted to the user's latitude, equatorial mounts are capable of better tracking of celestial objects for longer periods of time. This capability, among others, is required for beautifully sharp and clear results when taking long exposures of deep-sky objects like galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters.


You will find that we offer several larger refractors on computerized equatorial mounts. They vary in price due to differences in optical quality of the telescope itself as well as weight capacity and features of the equatorial mount they sit on. If astro-imaging is your main objective, choose the best quality optics on the sturdiest and most precision mount you can afford. A faster, short focal length refractor will offer wider fields of view and faster exposure times.


Want something in the middle? A good choice is the Celestron 6" Refractor on the Advanced VX Equatorial Mount. This telescope package includes a medium focal length refractor with 6" of aperture and the very popular Celestron AVX computerized GoTo equatorial mount. It would work well for both visual use and astrophotography, but a bonus is that if you decide later you'd like a faster telescope for astro-imaging, you can easily switch out the refractor for an imaging Newtonian, etc. The AVX mount has a 30 lb. weight capacity, which gives you some leeway.


If you need help choosing a telescope that will be best suited for your applications, feel free to contact one of our non-commissioned product advisors by phone or email. We are here to help and want your experience in astronomy to be the best it can be!