Orion SpaceProbe 130ST EQ Reflector Telescope

Orion SpaceProbe 130ST EQ Reflector Telescope
Designed for the serious beginning or intermediate stargazer
130mm aperture and 650mm focal length for a wider field of view and brighter images
Includes sturdy tripod and equatorial mount for hands-free celestial tracking
Includes FREE Starry Night astronomy software
One-year limited warranty

The newest addition to our Orion SpaceProbe line of telescopes is the niftiest equatorial Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope we've seen in a long time. It's a step up from the SpaceProbe 130 for the more serious beginning or intermediate stargazer who wants additional performance, particularly for targeting deep-sky objects.

Just what's so nifty about the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector? The answer is "short and sweet."

First, the short. This "ST" version of the SpaceProbe 130 is indeed more compact than the standard model. The ST's optical tube measures 24" long compared to 33" on the standard 130. The focal length of the ST's 130mm (5.1") primary mirror is 650mm (f/5), yielding a wider field of view and brighter images for a given telescope eyepiece focal length.

That brings us to sweet. The primary is a diffraction-limited parabolic mirror, the same type used on much larger reflector telescopes costing many times as much. On a short-focal-length design like this one, a parabolic mirror is a must for focusing incoming light to a point and delivering sharp, detailed images. Moreover, the secondary mirror is held in an advanced holder with thin 0.5mm metal vanes, to reduce diffraction spikes and light loss. These features combined with the included 25mm (26x) and 10mm (65x) Sirius Plossl telescope eyepieces and quick-release 6x30 achromatic finder telescope make this one sweet optical system for astronomy! It also includes a collimation cap and center-marked primary mirror for easy optical alignment.

The telescope comes on an EQ-2 equatorial mount with dual setting circles and slow-motion hand controls. An optional EQ-2M or AstroTrack electronic drive can be added for automatic tracking. The adjustable aluminum tripod is strong yet lightweight and includes an accessory tray.

Whether you're looking for a better-quality first telescope or a portable telescope to complement your big Dobsonian Telescope, you'll love the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope.

Weighs 27 lbs. One-year limited warranty.

Included Items:
Optical tube assembly
25mm Sirius Plossl telescope eyepiece (1.25")
10mm Sirius Plossl telescope eyepiece (1.25")
Tripod legs with attachment screws
Equatorial mount
6x30 finder scope
Finder scope bracket with O-ring
Collimation cap
Tube rings
Counterweight
Counterweight shaft
Tripod accessory tray
Slow-motion control cables
Dust cap
Leg lock knobs
Accessory tray bracket
Accessory tray wing screws
Starry Night special edition software