Askar 103APO f/6.8 Triplet

103mm f/6.8 Triplet APO Optics for Color-Free Imaging

At the heart of the Askar 103APO is an air-spaced triplet objective lens that includes one element of ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass. This apochromatic design virtually eliminates false color, ensuring that stars resolve to sharp, high-contrast points without distracting purple or blue halos. The 103mm aperture gathers significant light, allowing you to capture faint details in nebulae and resolve fine structures in galaxies.

Imaging-Focused Build: Baffled Tube & Precision Focuser

Every mechanical detail of the 103APO is engineered to maximize image contrast and user convenience. The interior of the main tube is knife-edge baffled and coated with matting paint, while the retractable dew shield is lined with felt to absorb stray light before it can reduce contrast. This ensures a dark background signal, critical for deep-sky astrophotography.

The instrument features a large, dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser for precise adjustments, even with heavy camera loads. A 360° rotator with a high-precision scale allows you to perfectly frame your target without rotating your camera and upsetting your cable management. For added flexibility, finder bases are mounted on both sides of the focuser, providing ample room for a guide scope, finder, or other accessories.

Detachable Tube Design for Reducers and Binoviewers

A key feature of the Askar 103APO is its modular, detachable tube. The rear section of the optical tube can be unthreaded and removed, a design that enables two critical capabilities. First, it allows the telescope to reach focus with optional focal reducers, transforming the f/6.8 system into a much faster wide-field instrument. Second, the shortened light path provides the necessary back-focus for use with binoviewers, offering immersive, three-dimensional visual experiences.

• Optional 0.6x Reducer: Requires removing the rear tube section to achieve a significantly faster focal ratio for wide-field imaging.
• Optional 0.8x Reducer: Shortens the native f/6.8 focal ratio for wider fields of view and reduced exposure times.
• Optional 1x Flattener: Corrects for field curvature without altering the 700.4mm focal length, ensuring sharp stars across the entire imaging sensor.

290mm Vixen Dovetail & Slotted Handle for Superior Balance

The Askar 103APO comes equipped with a robust mounting system designed for stability and adaptability. The included 290mm Vixen-style dovetail plate is extra long, providing an extended range of adjustment to perfectly balance the telescope on your equatorial mount, regardless of the camera and accessory payload. The rigid handle not only provides a secure grip but also features a central slot, allowing you to adjust the spacing of the tube rings or mount additional accessories directly to the top of the OTA.