Askar 80ED Refractor OTA
The Askar 80ED Refractor: Perfect for Beginners!
If you’re in search of a telescope great for beginners, can adapt as you grow, and is highly affordable, look no further than this Askar 80ED Refractor! Doublet in design, this simple, yet high-performance telescope opens the doors to outstanding visual sessions night after night. If you’d like to progress into the world of astrophotography, Askar offers three optional accessories, a flattener and two reducers, to turn this telescope into an astroimaging powerhouse. User-friendly, precision-engineered, and fitted with a number of useful inclusions, the Askar 80ED telescope is designed to deliver high quality results right out of the box!
Housing two internal lens elements with one piece of ED glass, 80 mm of aperture, and 560 mm of focal length, you’re well equipped for striking views of the cosmos. Marvel at the craters on our Moon, be stunned by the beauty of the Orion Nebula, and discover our galactic neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy. Suitable for both visual astronomy and astrophotography, this multifaceted refractor is designed to grow with you as your skills progress. The onboard Rack & Pinion focuser provides smooth, precise focusing, and is EAF ready right from the get go! Equipped with numerous accessories such as durable tube rings, a Vixen-style dovetail plate, a 2” adapter, and plenty more, Askar has set you up for success. The entire system weighs in at just 4.4 lbs. (2 kg), enabling beautiful sights wherever your astronomy adventures take you. Whether you’re just starting your stargazing journey and seeking a beginner-friendly yet advanced-ready scope, or a seasoned observer looking for a compact, versatile refractor, the Askar 80ED is an invaluable addition to your astroimaging toolkit.
Excellent for Both Visual Astronomy & Astrophotography
With 80 mm of aperture, 560 mm of focal length, and high performance ED glass, take advantage of this telescope for both visual observing and astrophotography! Be amazed by the beauty of the universe with your own eyes, or attach your camera to capture the moment forever. Accepting 2” barreled accessories with the included adapter, this Askar telescope can be used with a host of eyepieces on the market today. Witness the intricate structure on the lunar surface, get to know the Pleiades Star Cluster, and get lost counting the stars within the Hercules Globular Cluster. The high quality doublet design makes this telescope suitable for striking visual observations right out of the box, while three different optical accessories can be purchased separately for peak astrophotography performance. Designed specifically for this 80ED, the 1x Flattener, 0.7x Reducer, and 0.85x Reducer turn this doublet telescope into a high-powered astrograph, opening the doors to stunning astroimages. A great telescope to have on hand as your expertise expands, the Askar 80ED is designed to support you at any skill level!
A Multifacted, Feature-Rich Refractor
This Askar 80ED Refractor is a premium telescope wonderful for exploring the cosmos. Blending impressive optics, ergonomics, and versatility within a singular, easily manageable package, you’re geared up for superb observing sessions. No matter your experience level, bright, detailed views are well within reach. Read on as we take a deeper dive into the aspects of this Askar 80ED!
80 MM Aperture and ED Glass
Doublet in design, this Askar 80ED Refractor houses two internal lens elements. One of these lenses is crafted of extra-low dispersion (ED) glass, a premium substrate excellent for reducing chromatic aberration. Thanks to its superb color correcting abilities, you can expect crisp, vibrant detail through your eyepiece or camera sensor. The 80 mm aperture is a wonderful size for collecting light on a host of different celestial objects. Pair this light gathering power with the 560 mm focal length, and you have yourself a powerful, versatile tool for observing or imaging the Moon, star clusters, nebulae, and even dim galaxies!
Dual-Speed Rack & Pinion Focuser
Delivering smooth, seamless focusing, this Askar 80ED boasts a robust Rack & Pinion focuser. Two knobs are included for coarse and fine adjustments, providing you with heightened control over your focusing routine. First, find rough focus with the coarse knob, then hone in on the details with the 1:10 fine adjustment knob. Durable in design, this focuser is a solid mount for heavy imaging and observation equipment. It also lends itself to adaptation with some of the most popular electronic focusers on the market today!
Three Ways to Elevate Your Experience
From powerful visual scope to high-performance astrograph, Askar offers three optional accessories to help you maximize this refractor’s astroimaging capabilities! If you’d like to preserve this telescope’s focal length, yet still reap the benefits of a flat imaging field, the 1x Flattener is the perfect solution. This optical accessory corrects for field curvature without affecting the field of view, enabling full use of the native 560 mm focal length. However, if a wider field is what you’re after, Askar offers a 0.7x and a 0.85x reducer! These reducers shorten the focal length for an extended look at the night sky, while also providing a flat imaging field. All three accessories require 55 mm of back focus and adopt a triplet design, with one piece of ED glass for superb image quality.
Outfitted for Exploration
Understanding the needs of astronomers, Askar includes a host of useful additions within this 80ED package! The durable, enlarged tube rings hold your telescope securely in place and feature easy-to-grip locking thumbscrews for effortless mounting and dismounting. At the bottom of these tube rings you’ll find a 200 mm Vixen-style dovetail plate, offering seamless adaptation to a wide variety of telescope mounts. Accessory attachment is quick and easy thanks to the two included finderbases, as well as the dual-use handlebar! Within the box you’ll find an M54 to 2” adapter, enabling connection with a host of eyepieces, diagonals, and other barreled accessories to the rear of your telescope. Also included is a 360° rotator and a reversible lens hood for compact storage.
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!
The Ultimate Guide to Dark Sky Parks |
10 Things You Need to Know About Nebulae |
The 10 Best Things to See With a Telescope |