The Sky-Watcher USA StarTravel 102mm f/4.9 AZ Refractor Telescope is a compact yet powerful optical tube assembly (OTA) that can be used to see detailed views of celestial objects from the moon to bright deep-sky objects, or as a conventional spotting scope to enjoy terrestrial subjects like wildlife and birds. It is also portable enough to be used as a grab-and-go option over larger and heavier scopes, or it can be easily removed from the included mount and set up on a dual-mount rig for astrophotography/astroimaging. Its fully multi-coated achromatic doublet lens configuration corrects for spherical and chromatic aberrations to create images that are clear and bright without distortion across the entire field of view, with true color rendition.
This scope features a mounting cradle-ring assembly that clamps over the OTA and lets you adjust the orientation and position of the scope relative to the mount to optimize viewing comfort and balancing, while avoiding interference with other equipment. The OTA attaches to the mount using a Vixen-style dovetail plate, so it can easily be swapped with other compatible mounts, and other OTAs will similarly fit onto the mount. You control the mount using two flexible control arms with large knurled knobs for a sure grip. An aluminum tripod provides a stable and solid platform for observations. Also included with the scope are a 45° erect-image diagonal, a red-dot finder, and two eyepieces to get you observing right out of the box.
- Large 102mm aperture makes it ideal for viewing the moon, planets, and bright deep-sky objects like binary stars, clusters, and galaxies
- Fast f/4.9 focal ratio reduces exposure times during astrophotography without sacrificing image quality, detail, or brightness
- 500mm focal length helps to produce the fast focal ratio and makes the optical tube short for easier transport to remote observing locations
- Two-element air-spaced achromatic refractor design produces rich views with reduced chromatic aberration and requires little maintenance
- Anti-reflection fully multi-coated optics maximize light transmission to ensure views are bright and clear with improved contrast and clarity
- Sturdy rack-and-pinion design can easily carry larger and heavier eyepieces, accessories like Barlows and focal reducers, and imaging systems
- Large 2" drawtube provides unrestricted light throughput to ensure views are bright, along with complete coverage of camera sensors
- 2" holder enables large 2" eyepiece accessories to be used without the need for adapters
- Standard T-2 mounting threads on drawtube provide a solid connection point for astrophotography rigs or DSLR cameras equipped with optional camera-specific T-ring
- Manual alt-azimuth design
- Simple dovetail saddle makes setup and breakdown fast and easy
- Cradle ring assembly allows the OTA to be precisely placed and oriented for proper balance and ideal viewing position
- Long slow-motion cables enable precise alignment and tracking with reduced vibration to make views clearer
- Lightweight and sturdy aluminum legs
- Adjustable height accommodates a wide variety of users and viewing positions
- Tray holds accessories like eyepieces and filters and provides a convenient place for a compass or cell phone to keep them safe and off the ground
- 1.25" nosepiece makes them compatible with the most popular size drawtubes, focusers, and accessories like filters, Barlows, and diagonals
- 25mm eyepiece produces a low 20x power that allows users to see wide areas for observing the moon and constellations and scan the sky for comets
- 10mm eyepiece yields 50x magnification to make detailed observations with a smaller field of view
- 1.25" nosepiece and holder make it compatible with a wide assortment of eyepieces, accessories, and focuser drawtubes
- 45° viewing angle places the user's head in a comfortable viewing position when the telescope is parallel to the ground or pointed high overhead
- Integrated erecting prism corrects the image vertically and horizontally, allowing the telescope to be used as a conventional spotting scope
- Allows the use of 1.25" accessories to be used in the larger 2" drawtube
- Red dot design provides a wide field of view to make alignment fast and star-hopping navigation easy
- Provides an easy-to-see center aiming dot to make centering your target object simple