{"product_id":"daystar-80mm-f6-achromatic-refractor","title":"Daystar 80mm f\/6 Achromatic Refractor","description":"\u003cul class=\"DAV-feature-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e80mm Aperture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ef\/6 Focal Ratio\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e480mm Focal Length\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAchromatic Refractor Design\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRack \u0026amp; Pinion Focuser\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- more --\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFAQ\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the Box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDownloads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWarranty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section-center\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDaystar 80mm f\/6 Achromatic Refractor\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Daystar 480 refractor combines an 80mm achromatic objective with a fast f\/6 focal ratio, delivering a 480mm focal length in a compact optical tube assembly. This design prioritizes wide, rich fields of view, making it an ideal instrument for scanning the Milky Way or framing large deep-sky objects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e80mm f\/6 Achromat: A 480mm Window on the Milky Way\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its 480mm focal length, the Daystar 480 provides expansive views of the night sky, easily fitting large targets like the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) or the Pleiades (M45) into a single field. The f\/6 focal ratio delivers bright images, making it well-suited for observing extended nebulae and large open star clusters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an achromatic refractor, this telescope offers excellent value and utility for its intended purpose. However, the design will exhibit some chromatic aberration, or \"false color,\" on extremely bright targets like Jupiter, Venus, and the lunar limb. This is an inherent trade-off for its wide-field capability and portability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Daystar 480: A Functional Grab-and-Go and Guide Scope\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 80mm aperture and short focal length make the Daystar 480 an excellent \"grab-and-go\" telescope for spontaneous observing sessions where setting up a larger instrument is impractical. Its simple, robust construction is built for utility, whether mounted on a light alt-azimuth mount for visual use or used as a guide scope for a larger imaging system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scope includes a rack-and-pinion focuser, a reliable and straightforward mechanism for achieving sharp focus with standard eyepieces or a lightweight guide camera. This combination of features makes the Daystar 480 a versatile optical tube for observers who need a wide-field instrument or a dependable autoguiding platform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat is the focal length of the Daystar 480 refractor?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Daystar 480 has a focal length of \u003cstrong\u003e480mm\u003c\/strong\u003e. This is calculated from its 80mm aperture and f\/6 focal ratio (80 x 6 = 480).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWill I see color fringing with the Daystar 480's f\/6 achromatic optics?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, some color fringing (chromatic aberration) is expected, especially on very bright objects like the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter. The Daystar 480 is an achromatic refractor, and this is a known characteristic of the design, particularly at a fast f\/6 focal ratio. It is designed for low-to-medium power, wide-field views where this effect is less noticeable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat celestial objects are best suited for the Daystar 480's wide field of view?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Daystar 480 excels at viewing large deep-sky objects that require a wide field to be seen in their entirety. Excellent targets include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Andromeda Galaxy (M31)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Pleiades star cluster (M45)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Orion Nebula (M42)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge open clusters like the Beehive Cluster (M44)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRich-field sweeping of the Milky Way\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eCan the Daystar 480 be used for astrophotography?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Daystar 480 is primarily intended for visual observation and as a guide scope. While you can take images of the Moon or wide star fields, its achromatic optics are not ideal for serious deep-sky imaging, which requires apochromatic (APO) or ED glass to prevent color fringing around stars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow would the Daystar 480 perform as a guide scope for an 8\" SCT imaging the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Daystar 480 is an excellent choice for this scenario. Its 480mm focal length provides a wide field of view, making it easy to find suitable guide stars. It is a good match for the typical ~2000mm focal length of an 8\" SCT, providing precise guiding corrections without being overly sensitive to atmospheric seeing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eIs the Daystar 480 suitable for high-magnification views of planets like Jupiter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile you can see Jupiter and its moons with the Daystar 480, it is not optimized for high-power planetary viewing. The fast f\/6 achromatic optics will show noticeable chromatic aberration at high magnifications, which can soften fine details in cloud bands. An apochromatic refractor or a longer focal ratio reflector would be a better choice for dedicated planetary observation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"DAV-specifications\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAperture\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e80mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFocal Ratio\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ef\/6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFocal Length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e480mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOptical Design\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAchromatic Refractor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFocuser\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRack \u0026amp; Pinion\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"DAV-grid\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"DAV-grid-item\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"DAV-item-title\"\u003eDaystar 480 80mm Refractor OTA\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"DAV-item-subtitle\"\u003e× 1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"DAV-grid\"\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/pages\/daystar-filters-warranty-policy\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDaystar Filters Warranty\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Daystar Filters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52935164821789,"sku":"DAY-480EUD","price":699.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/5280\/1565\/files\/DaystarFilters-Daystar-480-80mm-Refractor-1_ec3335f8-41d2-4457-9f6a-db6ee3b3c05b.jpg?v=1789520787","url":"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/products\/daystar-80mm-f6-achromatic-refractor","provider":"David Astro","version":"1.0","type":"link"}