Sky-Watcher Telescope AC 102/500 StarTravel BD AZ-3

The Sky-Watcher Telescope AC 102/500 StarTravel BD AZ-3 is a compact, bright refractor with a wide viewing angle - ideal for those who want to explore the night sky as well as nature. Thanks to its 102 mm aperture and short focal length of 500 mm (f/4.9), this telescope delivers a very bright, high-contrast image over a wide field of view. This makes it perfect for large-field observations, such as open star clusters, nebulae and the Milky Way.

The dual-lens achromatic objective lens minimizes color errors, while the f/5 ratio provides plenty of light output. This makes objects such as the Pleiades, the Orion Nebula or the Andromeda Nebula easily visible under dark skies. The Moon also shows a lot of detail, with sharp shadows along the terminator.

The telescope comes with the AZ-3 mount, a stable azimuth mount that moves smoothly and intuitively. Thanks to the slip clutch and flexible slow-motion axes, you can accurately aim and track even at high magnifications. The mount is fully 360° rotatable and height adjustable from 71 to 121 cm.

The included Amici prism of 45° ensures an upright and natural image, which also makes this telescope particularly suitable for nature observations daytime. So you can use it as a powerful spotting scope to view birds, ships or landscapes, and at night as a full-fledged telescope for deep-sky or planetary observations.

Its compact construction makes the StarTravel 102/500 highly portable and quick to set up. Within minutes you are ready for observation - ideal for novice astronomers or travelers looking for a powerful but lightweight telescope.

As with any telescope from Telescoop.co.uk, you will receive the 80-page beginner's manual upon purchase “Telescope ABC.” and get free installation, initial use and maintenance support.

Application:
The Sky-Watcher AC 102/500 StarTravel BD AZ-3 is an excellent choice for beginners and travelers who want a versatile telescope for both the sky and the earth.
You can with it:

• Viewing the Moon in detail, including craters and terminators
• Observing the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter
• Seeing open star clusters and nebulae in the Milky Way
• Observe birds, ships and landscapes during the day thanks to the upright image

Astrophotography is possible to a limited extent with this setup (for example, the Moon with smartphone adapter), but the strength of this model lies mainly in visual observation.

Specifications:
Optics
Type: Refractor (Achromat)
Aperture: 102 mm
Focal length: 500 mm
Aperture ratio: f/4.9
Resolution: 1.14″
Boundary magnitude: 11.8
Light output: 212×
Max. useful magnification: 200×
Tube construction: closed tube
Tube weight: 3.2 kg
Focuser: rack-type, 1.25″ connection

Mount
Type: azimuthal
Design: AZ-3
GoTo control: no
Carrying capacity: 5 kg

Tripod
Material: aluminum
Height: 71-121 cm
Accessory holder: yes

Accessories

• Eyepieces 25 mm and 10 mm (1.25″)
• 6×30 viewfinder
• Amici prism 1.25″ (45° upright image)
• Two slow-motion cables
• Beginner's Guide Telescope ABC

General
Total weight: 8.4 kg
Series: StarTravel BD
Special recommendation: yes