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(Orion StarBlast 4.5" (114mm) Astro Reflector Telescope
While designed especially for kids, the Orion StarBlast 4.5" Astro reflector telescope is also an ideal beginner telescope for the whole family. It is simple to use, very portable, reasonably priced, has great optics, and is ready to use right out of the box! Overall, this telescope provides the best views of the night sky out of any telescopes under $200.This 4.5" telescope has a light grasp of 15.5 square inches, which is 255% more light than a 60mm refractor telescope. The Explorer II Kellner eyepieces included with this scope are optically superior to the MA or Huygenian eyepieces that come with other telescopes in this price range. Also, the modified Dobsonian mount is much easier to use than an altazimuth or equatorial tripod mount and is perfect for kids. All they have to do is rotate the StarBlast on its base and swivel it with gentle hand pressure. Includes easy-to-understand instructions to get you observing the sky quickly. Ships in one box fully assembled.
Sky & Telescope magazine says "Orion's spunky 4 1/2-inch StarBlast reflector is remarkably portable, easy to use, and provides nice views of the Moon, the planets, and beyond" (June 2003).
In an independent test of low-cost starter scopes, Sky & Telescope gave the StarBlast a 4-star rating (Dec 2005). In this same test, the Orion Starblast 4.5 Astro Reflector significantly outperformed telescopes by Meade, Celestron, Bushnell and Scientifics.
For help finding the telescope that's right for you, see our Selecting a Telescope guide.
Note: Standard Shipping and shipping specials are not available for this bulky item. This item only ships to a street address in the 50 US states with UPS Ground shipping.
Product Specifications
- 113mm (4.5 inch) diameter parabolic mirror
- 450mm focal length, f/4.0
- 15.5 sq. in. light grasp
- 226x maximum theoretical magnification (based on 2x the mirror diameter in mm)
- Quality Explorer II Kellner fully-coated 17mm and 6mm 1.25" eyepieces provide clear, sharp images at magnification of 26x and 75x with a 50° apparent field-of-view
- EZ Finder II red-dotfinder scope provides a 10° field-of-view with upright image
- 1.25" rack-and-pinion focuser
- Collimation cap and center-marked primary mirror allow you to keep the mirrors fully collimated for best image quality
- Easy-to-use modified Dobsonian mount is perfect for kids--just rotate the swivel base and aim at any night sky object--includes Teflon/nylon mount bearings for smooth operation
- Mount includes an eyepiece rack and convenient carrying handle
- Rugged 450mm (18") aluminum tube with enamel finish
- Includes instructions
- Includes Starry Night Special Edition astronomy software for PC or Mac that provides access to 1 million star and deep space objects plus the SkyTheatre DVD which provides a 102 minute tour through our solar system ($69.90 value)
- Stands 26" tall and weighs 13 lbs.
- One year warranty, Orion Telescopes model StarBlast Astro Telescope
Telescope Magnification:
Don't make the mistake of buying a telescope for the high magnification advertised. Many low-priced telescopes boast magnification of over 500x, which is totally unusable for three reasons.
- First, the theoretical magnification for any telescope is limited by aperture (primary lens or mirror) diameter. The maximum theoretical magnification is 120x for a 60mm telescope and 228x for a 114mm telescope.
- Second, atmospheric conditions limit magnification to 200-250x on the very best of nights even with very large telescopes.
- Third, the low quality optics on most inexpensive telescopes do not produce a clear, sharp image even at lower magnifications.
Most night sky observing is done in the range of 25x-150x. The Orion telescopes we offer have excellent optics at these magnification levels, even up to 250x, ensuring you will enjoy your night sky viewing.
