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Askar 120APO f/7 Triplet

Askar 120APO f/7 Triplet

by Askar
SKU ASK-ASKAPO120
CA$2,379.00 - CA$2,379.00
CA$2,379.00
CA$2,379.00 - CA$2,379.00
CA$2,379.00
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  • 120mm Aperture Triplet Air-Spaced APO Objective
  • Includes one ED Glass Element for Superb Color Correction
  • 840mm Focal Length at a Native f/7 Focal Ratio
  • Lightweight 6.5 kg Total Weight with Rings and Plate
  • Supports a 44mm Full-Frame Image Circle
  • 3.3-inch Dual-Speed Rack & Pinion Focuser with 360° Rotator
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  • Description
  • FAQ
  • Specifications
  • In the Box
  • Downloads
  • Warranty

  • Askar 120APO f/7 Triplet Refractor

    The Askar 120APO f/7 Triplet refractor combines a 120mm aperture with an 840mm focal length in an optical tube assembly weighing just 6.5 kg with its rings and dovetail plate. Its air-spaced triplet objective, which includes one element of ED glass, delivers high-contrast, color-pure images across a 44mm image circle, making it a powerful and portable instrument for full-frame astrophotography.

    120mm f/7 Triplet APO Optics: Light Gathering and Color Correction

    The core of the 120APO is its 120mm air-spaced triplet objective. This design leverages an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass element to sharply minimize chromatic aberration, ensuring stars are tight, color-fringing is suppressed, and contrast on planetary and deep-sky targets is maximized. At f/7, the 840mm focal length provides the ideal image scale for resolving details in medium-to-large galaxies and planetary nebulae without demanding perfect seeing conditions.

    Engineered for Portability: A 6.5 kg Imaging Platform

    Askar designed the 120APO for field use, keeping the total weight to an impressively low 6.5 kg. Thoughtful mechanical features enhance its portability and ease of use, from the retractable dew shield that shortens its length to 722mm for transport to the dual finder bases that provide mounting flexibility. The included 290mm Vixen-style dovetail plate is extended to make balancing the OTA with a full imaging train a straightforward process on most equatorial mounts.

    Precision Focuser: 3.3-inch Dual-Speed with 360° Rotation

    To handle the demands of modern imaging cameras, the Askar 120APO is equipped with a robust 3.3-inch dual-speed rack and pinion focuser. This heavy-duty focuser provides 10 cm of precise travel, eliminating sag and tilt even with heavy camera and filter wheel combinations. A 360° rotator with a high-precision scale allows you to frame your target perfectly without rotating your entire imaging train.

    Dual-Speed Imaging: Native f/7 or Fast f/5.6 with Optional Reducer

    The 120APO offers exceptional flexibility for astrophotographers. With the optional 1x flattener, it operates at its native 840mm focal length and f/7 ratio, delivering a perfectly flat field for large sensors. For wider targets, the optional 0.8x reducer transforms the telescope into a fast f/5.6 astrograph, capturing expansive nebulae like the North American Nebula (NGC 7000) with significantly shorter exposure times.

    Askar 120APO vs. 103APO: Aperture and Imaging Scale

    For imagers deciding between Askar's APO refractors, the primary difference is light-gathering power and resolution. The 120APO's aperture provides a 36% larger light-collecting area than the 103APO. This directly translates to brighter images, shorter required exposure times for faint targets, and a higher theoretical resolution limit, allowing you to resolve finer details in globular clusters and galactic structures.

  • What kind of astronomical mount is needed for the Askar 120APO?

    With a total weight of 6.5 kg for the OTA, rings, and plate, the Askar 120APO requires a stable equatorial mount. For imaging, a mount in the EQ6-R Pro or CEM40 class is recommended to handle the telescope plus the additional weight of a camera, guide scope, and other accessories.

    How does the optional 0.8x reducer affect imaging the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) with the Askar 120APO?

    The 0.8x reducer shortens the focal ratio to f/5.6 and the focal length to approximately 672mm. This creates a wider field of view, allowing you to more easily fit the entire Andromeda Galaxy and its satellite galaxies (M32 and M110) into the frame of a full-frame sensor. The faster focal ratio also reduces exposure times by about 36% compared to imaging at the native f/7.

    Is the Askar 120APO suitable for visual use with a binoviewer?

    Yes. The Askar 120APO features a detachable lens tube segment. This design allows you to shorten the optical path, providing the necessary back focus to reach focus with most binoviewers without needing a barlow or optical corrector assembly.

    What is the maximum camera sensor size for the Askar 120APO?

    The Askar 120APO is designed to fully illuminate a 44mm image circle when used with its dedicated 1x flattener or 0.8x reducer. This makes it an excellent match for cameras with full-frame (36x24mm) sensors, providing corrected, unvignetted stars across the entire field.

    Can I use the Askar 120APO for high-magnification views of Jupiter?

    Absolutely. As a 120mm apochromatic refractor, its high-contrast, color-free optics are ideal for planetary observation. Using a high-quality Barlow lens and a short focal length eyepiece, you can easily push the magnification to see fine details like the cloud bands of Jupiter, the Great Red Spot, and the Cassini Division in Saturn's rings under steady seeing conditions.

    What is the purpose of the dual finder bases on the Askar 120APO?

    The dual finder bases provide flexibility. You can mount a finder scope on one side and a guide scope on the other, or mount other accessories like a small computer or autofocuser controller. This eliminates the need to disassemble and move a single base when reconfiguring your setup.

  • Aperture Size 120mm
    Focal Length 840mm
    Focal Ratio f/7
    Objective Lens Triplet air-spaced APO (including one ED glass)
    Image Circle 44mm
    OTA Weight 5.7 kg
    Gross Weight (w/ Rings & Plate) 6.5 kg
    Total Length (Dew Shield Contracted) 722mm
    Total Length (Dew Shield Stretched) 804mm
    Rear-End Adapters 2" and 1.25"

    • Askar 120APO OTA

      × 1

    • Tube Rings

      × 1 pair

    • Carry Handle

      × 1

    • Askar 290mm Vixen Dovetail Plate

      × 1

    • Oxford Cloth Case

      × 1

    • Instruction Manual

      × 1

  • Askar 1-Year Warranty