A Refractor Designed for Deep-Sky Exploration! Orion AstroView™ 120ST EQ Rich-Field Refractor
A Refractor Designed for Deep-Sky Exploration! The AstroView 120ST is a compact, rich-field refractor designed for observation of nebular clouds, star clusters, and galaxies. Its multi-coated achromatic objective lens has a 120mm (4.7") clear aperture and has a focal length of just 600mm (f/5). Compared to the standard 120mm AstroView (f/8.3), that translates to a 66% wider field of view for any given eyepiece. The fast f/5 optical system also makes it an excellent telescope for astrophotography.
The 120ST has a well-baffled optical tube to ensure good contrast. The cast-metal, 2" rack-and-pinion focuser accommodates either both 1.25" and 2" diagonals. The AstroView equatorial mount with adjustable aluminium tripod provides a sturdy platform for precision tracking. Add an optional EQ-3M electronic drive for fully automatic tracking. One-year limited warranty. Refractors have long been touted as great instruments for studying the planets and Moon. But with its shortened focal length and generous aperture, the new AstroView 120ST (for “Short Tube”) takes refractor usage to new depths—as in deep sky!
It’s a compact, rich-field refractor designed for observation of nebular clouds, star clusters, and even galaxies. It has the same 120mm (4.7") clear aperture as our standard AstroView 120, but the 120ST’s multi-coated achromatic objective lens has a focal length of just 600mm (f/5) compared to 1000mm (f/8.3) for the standard model. That translates to a 66% wider field of view for any given eyepiece. With the included 25mm Plössl, the 120ST covers a sprawling 2.1° swath of sky—enough to display the entire Double Cluster, Pleiades Cluster, or North America Nebula! You should be able to see Cassini’s division in Saturn The fast f/5 optical system also makes it an excellent telescope for astrophotography.
The AstroView 120ST has a well-baffled optical tube to ensure good contrast. The cast-metal 2" rack-and-pinion focuser accommodates either a 1.25" or 2" diagonal, so you can use optional 2" eyepieces for an even dreamier wide-field effect! The 2 inch focuser has a 1.25 inch adapter. The 6x30 finder scope features an aluminium dovetail bracket with easy, two-screw adjustment. The two 1.25" Sirius Plössl eyepieces provide good, sharp views at 24x (25mm focal length) and 60x (10mm focal length). A 1.25" mirror star diagonal is also included. The highest theoretical magnification is 283x
The optical tube measures just 26" long including dew shield, so it earns high marks for portability. It comes with the AstroView equatorial mount, (Which looks just like Orion’s EQ3 mount), which provides the stability and smoothness of motion you need for enjoyable wanderings through the heavens. A free polar-axis scope gets you polar-aligned quickly and accurately, and manual slow-motion controls let you centre objects and track them effortlessly. Add an optional EQ-3M electronic drive for automatic tracking. The aluminium tripod adjusts in height and includes a roomy accessory tray. Although it will be a bit wobbly when fully extended. One thing to keep in mind with this mount is that the mounting rings bolt directly to the mount. There is no dovetail/saddle assembly for this mount.
The height of the mount (at its base) when the legs are fully extended is 47 inches and when fully retracted 26 inches. he height of the mount (at its base) when the legs are fully extended is 47 inches
This telescope was not designed for high-power examination of planetary or lunar surface detail; for that the AstroView 120 is recommended, with its longer focal length. Rather, the 120ST excels for breathtaking, wide-field images of deep-space delectable set against their stellar backdrops. A new refractor with a new purpose—that’s the Orion AstroView 120ST EQ!
(optical tube 8 lbs., 9 oz.; mount 28 lbs. Total Weight, assembled 36 lbs. 5 oz) Tube Length 24.5 in, One-year limited warranty. Price $469.00
It all comes in one box, with every component packaged in separate boxes within. The scope itself is only wrapped with tissue paper, with bubble wrap around that.
Designed for low power viewing, this is one heck of a Richfield Scope for the money.
