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Skip to content Celestron EclipSmart 10 Pack

Apertura 6" f/9 Ritchey-Chretien Steel Optical Tube

(Only 4 Left)
Free shipping
SKU: APT-6RC
$549.95 $499.95

Add Apertura Bright Focus Mask for 6" to 9.25" Telescopes to your order

$44.95
 

Please Note: The Ritchey-Chretien telescope has been designed for photographic use. You can put in an eyepiece in the diagonal and use it visually, but you will get less than "stellar" results. For this reason, we do not recommend an RC telescope for visual use. If you have any questions or need help choosing a telescope that performs well when used either visually or photographically, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thank you!

Apertura 6” f/9 Ritchey-Chretien OTA

Many amateur astronomers dream of owning their own Ritchey-Chretien telescope as they advance in their astrophotography skills. RC telescopes have been and are still being used in some of the world’s biggest and best observatories due to their color-free, coma-free, spherical aberration-free optics. However, Ritchey-Chretien telescopes are often out of the reach of most backyard astronomers due to their high price tag. However, Apertura is delivering that great Ritchey-Chretien performance to you in an OTA that won't break the bank!

This Apertura RC telescope has 6” of aperture and a focal ratio of f/9. The 6" Ritchey-Chretien's primary and secondary mirrors have been upgraded from BK7 glass to quartz, which gives improved optical performance as the mirrors cool. Quartz has a coefficient of thermal expansion many times lower than BK7 which helps the optics to hold their precision-manufactured shape far better than other substrates. These changes further add to the already amazing performance of this little powerhouse of a telescope!

Inside the 6” Apertura RC telescope is a Knife-Edge Baffle System whose only job is to keep stray light out of the telescope’s interior. The addition of a dew shield (sold separately) would help further defeat stray light, so we recommend picking one up. The OTA mounts easily to a variety of mounts that accept Vixen-style dovetails. Simply remove the dovetail if you choose to mount the telescope via cradle rings.

A high-quality 2” dual speed Crayford focuser comes standard with the Apertura 6" f/9 Ritchey, and you'll also get a 2" to 1.25" adapter as well as a 2" long thread-on extension and two (2) 1" long thread-on extensions. This focuser is EAF-ready out of the box - allowing you to easily attach many of the most popular electronic focusers without the need for specialized adapters. An additional benefit of this focuser that really sets this 6" Ritchey-Chretien telescope apart from Schmidt-Cassegrains, even though it looks like one, is the lack of image shift. In SCT’s, the focuser moves the primary mirror forward and back, and it is this movement that can cause image shift. The mirror of the Apertura 6" RC is fixed into place, similar to that of a Newtonian; and focus is adjusted with a Crayford Style Focuser. Removing the primary mirror movement removes image shift. To collimate the RC, adjustments are made to the secondary mirror.

Learn more about the Apertura 6" f/9 RC Telescope OTA and its impressive features in the comprehensive video below!


Apertura 6” f/9 RC Telescope OTA Specifications

  • Optical Design: Ritchey-Chretien
  • Aperture: 6”
  • Focal Length: 1370 mm
  • Focal Ratio: f/9
  • Mirror Material: Low-expansion Quartz
  • Coatings: 96% Enhanced Protected Aluminum Coatings
  • Optical Tube Material: Metal
  • OTA Length: 19.1”
  • OTA Weight: 12.3 lb.