Ideal for beginners or intermediates, the Inspire 100AZ 100mm f/6.6 Alt-Az Refractor Telescope from Celestron has the largest aperture and shortest focal length in the Inspire series, which makes it as powerful as it is compact. The combination of aperture and focal length translates to a fast focal ratio, and therefore allowing for short exposure times when performing astrophotography using the included smartphone digiscoping adapter. It is intended to give novice astronomers a complete rig that is easy to set up and use for making detailed observations of the Moon; and viewing the planets, meteor showers, and brighter deep-sky objects with the resolution to split binary stars and separate clusters.
Its unique asymmetrical manual alt-azimuth mount helps to reduce overall weight without sacrificing stability, and a control cable makes finding and tracking objects easier while reducing vibrations. Two eyepieces produce 33x and 66x magnifications, and a 90° erect-image prism not only puts the eyepieces in comfortable viewing position but corrects the view to allow this astronomical scope to be used as a terrestrial spotting scope.
To take photos or videos through the scope, simply remove the innovatively-designed front lens cap. The 20mm eyepiece fits into the back to mount into the drawtube or diagonal, and a series of adjustable bungee cords holds a smartphone securely in place. An adjustable-height stainless steel tripod provides a stable platform for observing, and the included accessory tray is designed for convenience by folding with tripod so it always stays on and ready. Integrated into the bottom of the mount is a red flashlight that illuminates the accessory tray from the top. This allows you to change eyepieces and filters, or to mount your phone on the lens cap, without affecting your night-adjusted vision and to work with both hands — an important advantage when handling delicate optical gear.
- 100mm aperture
- f/6.6 focal ratio
- 660mm focal length
- Refractor-style optical configuration
- Fully coated optics increases light transmission, and improves contrast and color rendition
- Resolution: Rayleigh: 1.37 arcsec; Dawes Limit: 1.14 arcsec
- 1.25" rack-and-pinion focuser with printed micrometer on drawtube allows for quick return to a specific focus point
- Dovetail plate for easy attachment to mount head
- Mount:
- Manual alt-azimuth
- Asymmetrical fork configuration reduces weight without sacrificing stability
- Single control cable with clutch lock assists tracking
- Dovetail saddle accepts OTA mounting plate
- Tripod:
- Stainless steel
- 1.25" diameter legs
- 47" maximum height
- Two leg sections with convenient locking thumb screws
- Folding accessory tray stays on when tripod is fully folded for faster set-up and break-down
- Spiked feet offers improved stability on soft ground
- Eyepieces:
- 1.25" barrel diameter
- Fold-down rubber eyecup conforms to eye socket to block peripheral light from interfering with views
- Accept most eyepiece filters
- 20mm eyepiece produces 33x power
- 10mm eyepiece produces 66x power
- Diagonal:
- 90° angle puts head in comfortable position whether standing or sitting
- Erecting prism corrects image orientation for terrestrial use
- Digiscoping Adapter:
- Built-into the back of the objective lens cap
- Adjustable bungee cords to hold a variety of smartphones in the correct orientation
- Mount the 20mm eyepiece in adapter in the adapter to produce magnified view and provide a mounting snout
- Allows digiscoping through telescope
- StarPointer Pro Finderscope:
- Large unmagnified window provides a wide field of view for fast subject acquisition and easier star-hopping navigation
- Dual circle reticle won't obscure small objects
- Adjustable intensity helps to preserve night-adjusted vision
- Red LED Flashlight:
- Red light illuminates without affecting night-adjusted vision
- Variable output for precise light control
- Attaches to mount and provides hands-free illumination to accessory tray
- Removable to act as conventional flashlight