AR152 Air-Spaced Doublet Refractor Telescope With Original Finder Base
The Explore Scientific AR152 Air-Spaced Doublet, is a classic air-spaced, crown-and-flint doublet achromatic refractor, and at 152mm (6-inches) of aperture, it provides the brightest images and highest resolution of the AR Series. Our design goal was to provide an extreme value by providing true diffraction-limited optics at a price that will allow more people to explore the sky with a wide-field (f/6.5) large aperture refractor. Images of deep-sky objects are stunning at low powers and all at a small fraction of the price you would pay for a similar aperture apochromat refractor.
At high power, the moon, planets, and double stars are revealed in sharp, high contrast. Designed to handle the rigors of public star parties and educational outreach, the Explore Scientific AR Series telescopes come with heavy-duty, high quality components, including a 2" dual-speed focuser, a one-piece 2" diagonal with 99% dielectric coatings, an 8 X 50 non-illuminated straight-through finderscope and quick release bracket, and a cradle ring assembly with Vixen-style dovetail mount. Just add a few eyepieces and the alt-azimuth or equatorial mount of your choice and you’ll be ready to discover the Universe!
Product Specifications
This refractor telescope is well-suited for astrophotography applications. Customers said it's "exactly what I wanted" for imaging open clusters and nebulas with specialized filters. Shoppers praised the excellent customer service and communication, with items arriving as expected.
- Exactly what I wanted for imaging open clusters and nebulas.
- Great customer service, good communication, item received as expected.
Great telescope! I loved it so much that I gave mine to my daughter and bought another one for myself. Great views for an achromat. Good quality and construction, but I did replace the Vixen dovetail with a D style one. Just my preference. I love using this with my bino viewer while looking at the moon. I also use it with my Pegasus SmartEye especially when doing outreach programs. The image attached is a quick shot while holding my phone up to the SmartEye. Not the best shot but you get the idea.
Great value scope, especially with everything that comes with it (2-speed focuser, finderscope, diagonal, cradle/mount plate). Very solidly built, feels high-quality. Focuser is smooth. I've had it for nearly two years now and taken it to several astronomy club events and it's held up without issue, and it's easy to transport. Views are clear and sharp. Whether pointing it at the moon, Saturn, or the Andromeda Galaxy, it's gotten plenty of "ooohs" and "aaahs" from people at star parties.
Now, this scope was also my intro to tracked astrophotography. Being a doublet, I knew it would have limitations, but for the price it still delivers pleasing (to a beginner at least) imaging capabilities if you're willing to take the time to work with it. It is also heavy, which is a factor for what mounts can handle it. I may have gotten lucky, but the IExos-100 with the basic tripod and no AZ adjuster has been solid with this scope and once I figured out guiding I'm frequently within 0.3 - 0.5. I keep the tripod legs fully retracted and try to be meticulous with balancing, but it works. I was even able to rig the included finder scope to accept a guide camera, so made the setup even more cost-effective. There's obviously some star bloat/halos, sometimes a LOT, but my skill and processing abilities are a bigger limiting factor at the moment than the scope. I definitely want to upgrade at some point, especially for something with a wider FOV, but I don't feel like it's a necessity at this point to continue growing in this hobby.
I used the AR 127 last night for the first time since acquiring it. Between bad weather and business, I just couldn't get time. I'm extremely impressed! No false color I could detect on the first quarter Moon. Strikingly beautiful images that I could not get enough of. Did some deep sky inspite of the Moon and was very impressed! Globular clusters look amazing, as did M 31 and companion. Coupled with the Twilight 1 mount which handles this optical tube with grace, I had one of the best observation experience ever! I have been an advocate for this hobby since the early 70's. I've taught high school astronomy for a decade, and ran a club for young people and their parents for even longer. I would highly recommend this scope to anyone interested in owning a great refractor but not wanting to spend for an Apo. This is going to be my new favorite.
Wonderful build quality. Excellent value.
Great all around telescope. Amazing objective lens coating. Highly recommended.
Nice scope, good optical quality. As usual tracking number arrived 4 days after
it was delivered make sure you call these guys afew days after placing your order glad I did.
Haven’t had a chance to test it yet. But it is exactly what I wanted. I intend to use it only for imaging open clusters with a Baader fringe killer filter or nebulas using a narrow band filter.
Great customer service, good communication, item received as expected. Good experience.