Apertura CarbonStar 8" Ritchey-Chretien Telescope
Apertura CarbonStar 8" Ritchey-Chretien
Experience a premiere imaging optical design in super-charged astrophotography package, with the Apertura CarbonStar 8" Ritchey-Chretien telescope! Enhanced imaging rig features such as weight-saving, yet rigid, carbon fiber, an astrophotography dedicated focuser, and stylized hardware have been blended together for the best way to experience the optical design powering the Hubble Space Telescope. Build an imaging rig with the optics of the pros — powered by CarbonStar!
If we had to pick the optical design that was best suited for astrophotography, the Ritchey-Chretien design would undoubtedly be on our short list for the top slot. Bigger aperture than a refractor of a similar weight/length (8" on this scope, for an f/8, 1600mm focal length, package), compact design of a compound optical scope, with no need for a corrector plate — all while providing crisp images free of coma, spherical aberrations, and chromatic aberrations right out of the telescope! Great astrophotography optics are only one part of the CarbonStar 8" RC however. More than just an excellent set of mirrors, this scope is built off a sturdy-yet-lightweight carbon fiber tube that has been packed with all the astrophotography focused hardware needed to build a high-end imaging rig. This includes the spacers you need to set this up for the most popular cameras and accessories in use today, Losmandy D dovetail and Vixen top rail, and an EAF-ready, threaded, linear bearing focuser, making this the premiere way to experience the RC optical design!
Ritchey-Chretien Optical Design: Imaging Perfection Without the Correction
You may have heard that the Ritchey-Chretien optical design (RC for short) is used in many popular professional telescopes like the HST, but may be wondering: what makes it so special? Well this design, engineered by George Ritchey, combines the benefits of a compound mirror design like the popular SCT and Mak-Cass with the peace of mind of a corrector-less design like a Newtonian — no long OTAs or prominent glass surfaces to collect dew or stray light! It achieves all of this through the use of two hyperbolic mirrors. The unique shape of these mirrors interact in such a way that RC scopes provide an image that is well illuminated, coma free, spherical and chromatic aberration free, and fairly flat, requiring an extra corrective element with only larger camera sensors!
Designed for Imaging with Every Detail
The Apertura CarbonStar 8" Ritchey-Chretien telescope is packed full of features that put the needs of the astrophotographer front-and-center. From inherently aberration-free optics and an EAF-ready focuser, to a thermally stable and light build, this is a scope designed to sit at the center of your high-performance imaging setup!
Premium Optics
This Apertura RC telescope has 8" of aperture and a focal ratio of f/8, providing a 1600mm focal length. The 8" 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!
Linear Bearing, EAF-Ready, Focuser
Providing solid, smooth, focus travel for even the stoutest imaging trains is a linear bearing focuser. While similar to the Crayford-style focuser in appearance, linear focusers utilize many small ball bearings instead of a few bearing surfaces. This provides more points of contact, resulting in a strong yet incredibly smooth focuser. To make connecting modern imaging equipment simple, this focuser features M56 threading that can be adapted to M54, M48, or M42 with the included adapters. It doesn't stop there however — as this wouldn't be a true astrophotography dedicated telescope without automatic focus support! Out-of-the-box the CarbonStar RC focuser provides easy mounting points for most all popular bracket-style electronic focusers like the ZWO EAF, making upgrading your focusing system a breeze.
Not Just for Imaging
While the CarbonStar series, and Ritchey-Chretien telescopes, are primarily geared towards imaging, this by no means makes the CarbonStar 8" RC a one-trick pony! This compound reflector in a carbon fiber OTA is a perfect for a grab-and-go visual scope with a large aperture, dew fighting design, and portable mount friendly weight. In addition to all the imaging upgrades, the linear-bearing focuser still has 2" accessory compatibility, as well as a 2" to 1.25" adapter in the box to allow for all your favorite visual observing gear. Simply add the Apertura 2" Carbon Diagonal and your favorite eyepiece, like the Apertura Super-Wide Angle 26mm eyepiece (both sold separately) for a great visual experience!
Carbon Fiber Construction
Bringing the excellent optics and focuser together is the CarbonStar 8" Ritchey-Chretien's premium construction! Sturdy steel assemblies for the primary, secondary, and focuser are mounted in a carbon fiber tube, providing a rigid, but lightweight, platform for these critical components. Carbon fiber isn't just a lightweight steel OTA alternative however, it is also more thermally stable! This is owing to a lower coefficient of thermal expansion, allowing you focus more imaging and less on readjusting focus. Apertura has additionally packed this OTA with knife-edge baffles, increasing the optical performance by helping block stray light from reaching the 8" optics!
Recommended Accessories (Sold Separately)
Interested in squeezing even more performance out of your CarbonStar 8" RC? Check out Apertura's ecosystem of dedicated CarbonStar upgrades, such as the Apertura Focuser Tilt Adapter for 6" and 8" RC Telescopes that can help you refine this precision instrument even further, and the Apertura M56 Camera Rotator which helps you find your perfect shot! You also have the ability to widen your RC telescope’s field of view with the Apertura 0.67x Ritchey-Chrétien Focal Reducer. This accessory allows you to capture bigger targets in a single frame while simultaneously lowering your f-ratio to f/5.3. With the Baader 2" ClickLock you can add a rock-solid way to quickly swap visual connections in the field, or dial in your focus with the ZWO EAF. This scope is compatible with Apertura's Bright Focus Mask for 6" to 9.25" Telescopes, which makes electronically assisted or manual focusing a breeze. With out-of-the-box compatibility for these excellent accessories, upgrading your imaging rig has never been easier!
Comes with the Apertura Absolute Warranty
The Apertura Absolute Warranty provides two years of coverage against product defects. After the initial two-year warranty expires, this product qualifies for Apertura's Three-Year Accident Replacement Program. In addition, the Apertura Absolute Warranty is transferable! Download a copy of the Apertura Absolute Warranty for more information on this program, how to make a claim, and why it is important to keep your original receipt and the product's original boxes and packaging!
Astronomy Hub: Your one-stop-shop for Astrophotography Knowledge!
Our Gear Experts have compiled a wealth of information to help expand your astrophotography knowledge! Below you’ll find links to articles, videos and "how-to" guides. Just one more reason that our Astronomy Hub is a one-stop-shop for all your astronomy and astrophotography needs!
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