Starwave ASCENT 102ED F7 Refractor Telescope Geared Focuser

The ASCENT 102mm F7 ED Doublet refractor has all the features you need for enjoyable visual observing and astro-imaging.

The ASCENT 102 ED Refractor is a very versatile telescope, delivering sharp detailed high power planetary and lunar views, and low power wide field views of deep-sky objects. Genuine broadband multi-coated ED optics give higher contrast images only a refractor can deliver. Colour fringing is minimised by the Lanthanum / ED glass elements, and the moderate F7 focal ratio enables astro-photography of deep-sky or solar system objects. The optional 0.8x photo reducer gives a fast focal ratio of F5.6. The machined aluminium tube transmits heat to the optics, which benefits users of the Altair DewZapper heating bands. Aluminium allows the optics to shed heat quickly, and fast cool-down gives improved performance.

For visual observing accessories: Check out Altair Product code "VISKIT1" with everything you need to get started observing the heavens, including quality eyepiece, diagonal and finder.

The ASCENT geared focuser is a delight to use, and the 1:10th ratio fine-focus knob is conveniently set into the larger course focus knob, making adjustment easy and intuitive, for the sharpest image. The 2" push-fit adaptor has 3x thumbscrews and a brass compression ring for a firm, yet non-marring hold on accessories. A 2" to 1.25" adaptor is also included with the telescope. The focuser rack gear is tension adjustable by means of a thumbscrew on the underside of the focuser, and will easily support heavy accessories like large eyepieces, or cameras and and filter wheel without slipping.

For astrophotography, you have two options of focal ratio to suit your target. For extended deepsky objects such as nebula, you can choose to image at a faster F5.6 (571mm focal length) with the optional 0.8x focal reducer. For smaller objects such as globular clusters and galaxies, we recommend the optional 1.0x field flattener, for imaging at the normal 714mm focal length (F7).

What you get:

• Starwave 102mm F7 Lanthanum / FCD100 ED Doublet Objective, with full multi-coatings on all surfaces in a collimatable lens cell with QC serial number. Guaranteed to arrive in perfect collimation.
• 2.5" Dual Speed Geared focuser with 1:10 ratio fine-focusing knob.
• Rear 2" push-fit adaptor with 3x thumbscrews and inner compression ring.
• 2"-1.25" Push-Fit Adaptor with non-marring brass compression ring.
• Optional 9x50 finder with metal body, front focusing lens and all-metal mounting stalk.
• Front push-fit metal dust cap, rear plastic plug style dust cap.
• Genuine CNC machined tube rings, fully adjustable for balance and rotation.
• Metal dovetail plate so you can use the scope with just about any telescope mount including iOptron, Skywatcher.
• Metal dew shield 200mm length, 122mm diameter, retractable, can be unscrewed for lens cleaning.
• The optical tube is 73cm length and weighs about 4.2kg (including Rings and Vixen plate)
• Back focus is 150mm from rear end of focuser to image plane, to allow for a star diagonal. For imaging straight-through with a Barlow lens, we recommend the Altair Deluxe 70mm extension tube.

What can I see with this telescope?
When compared to Achromatic refractors of similar size, length and focal ratio, the Starwave 102ED offers better geared mechanics for easier focusing, and truer colour rendition thanks to the ED optics. The
Starwave 102 ED delivers a sharp "contrasty" image with good colour correction and tight star images. The 102mm aperture gathers about 63% more light than an 80mm refractor and the brighter image shows more
detail. With a higher power eyepiece or Barlow lens, this telescope will easily show details within the planetary disc of Jupiter, the Great Red Spot, cloud bands of different sizes colours and textures, as well as the four largest Galilean moons and their shadows on Jupiter's cloud tops. Saturn's rings and the famous Cassini division are sharp and easy to see at higher magnifications. Mars shows surface features and polar caps easily. Thousands of craters are visible on the moon - enough for a lifetime of enjoyment!

Why an ASCENT refractor? The optics are sharp, with high contrast. This is immediately visible in the eyepiece or a camera. Refractors are also versatile, convenient, and intuitive to use. Refractors are the easiest form of telescope to set up for the beginner, with no adjustment (collimation) of the optics needed, and a tube sealed from the elements. Pointing the scope at an object in the sky is intuitive too, especially with the ASCENT 50mm finder scope which makes locating even faint objects easy. Refractors are virtually maintenance free aside from the usual yearly cleaning of the lens.

Mount choices:
We recommend the Skywatcher EQ5, Celestron AVX, or larger with motor drive for imaging as a minimum, but the manual version of the EQ5 mount is more than adequate for visual planetary observation and you can add a motor drive later. Please contact us for recommendations based on your intended observing style.

Eyepiece choices for the ASCENT 102ED:

The magnification of a telescope is determined by dividing the telescope focal length in millimetres by the eyepiece focal length in millimetres.

For example the Starwave ASCENT 102ED has a 714mm focal length, which, when used with the Altair ULTRAFLAT 24mm eyepiece yields 30x magnification.
(E.g. 714mm divided by 24mm = 30x magnification). If you use a Barlow lens (such as the Altair 2x Flat Field Barlow) just multiply the magnification by 2x. In this case, the result is 60x.

Model: Focal Length: Magnification:

• AAUF30 30mm 24x
• AAUF18 24mm 30x
• AAUF18 18mm 40x
• AAUF15 15mm 48x
• AAUF10 10mm 71x

• Starwave ASCENT 50mm Finder & QRB (Product code: SWA50F-UNIFBR)
• RDF (Product code: SW-RDF-B1-UNIFBR)

• An optional 70mm M48 Extension Tube to insert into the 2" focuser aperture, to occupy the space normally taken up by a star-diagonal. Product code: AEX70-2
• Optional 0.8x reducer flattener. Product code: RED-ASCENT-0.8X
• Appropriate spacers between camera and reducer (please contact us for advice).
• 2" Light Pollution Filter (depends on your local conditions, contact us for advice)
• Optional Altair 2" Magnetic Filter Holder (choice depending on the camera)
• Optional Altair Bahtinov Focusing Mask for Starwave 80ED (Product Code: BMASK-SWAS80ED)