{"title":"Explore Scientific Begginer","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover Explore Scientific Sidara telescope systems at Ontario Telescope, designed as an excellent choice for those getting started in astronomy. With easy setup, user-friendly controls, and quality optics, Sidara systems make it simple for beginners to explore the Moon, planets, and deep-sky objects. Shop introductory telescope systems in Canada and start your astronomy journey with confidence.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"sidara-pro","title":"Sidara Pro","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Sidara Pro GoTo Mount is designed to simplify the process of exploring the night sky by combining precision tracking with intelligent automation. Built for users who want to spend more time observing and less time searching, this system delivers a guided experience that removes much of the traditional complexity of astronomy. At the core of the mount is its GoTo functionality, powered by the SkyAssist system. Once the mount is set up and leveled, it uses built in technology to align itself and establish accurate positioning. From there, users can connect through the SkyAssist app and select objects directly from an extensive astronomical catalogue. With a single command, the mount moves the telescope into position and tracks the object as it moves across the sky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis level of automation transforms the observing experience. Instead of manually locating and following objects, users can move efficiently between targets and focus entirely on what they are seeing. This makes the system especially valuable for beginners, while also offering a more streamlined workflow for experienced observers.\u003cbr\u003eThe alt azimuth design keeps operation intuitive while still providing accurate tracking performance. The mount is compatible with a wide range of optical tubes that use a Vixen style dovetail, allowing flexibility when building or upgrading a system. Power options include standard AA batteries or an external power source such as a power bank, making it adaptable for different observing environments. The Sidara Pro GoTo Mount is an ideal foundation for a modern astronomy setup, offering a combination of precision, ease of use, and smart functionality that enhances every observing session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat’s Included:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSidara Pro GoTo mount\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTripod system\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmartphone control via SkyAssist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePower options via AA batteries or external power source\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52950269788271,"sku":"ES-SAGT-ST10","price":692.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/sidara_pro_v2.webp?v=1776178748"},{"product_id":"sidara-pro-127","title":"Explore Scientific Sidara Pro 127 Maksutov-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope System","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Explore Scientific Sidara Pro 127 is a complete telescope system: a 127mm Maksutov-Cassegrain optical tube on a computerized GoTo mount, supplied with a tripod, eyepieces and accessories in one box. Explore Scientific publishes a focal length of 1900mm for the optical tube and describes the pointing and tracking as being handled through their SkyAssist software interface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 1900mm focal length in a tube that a Maksutov folds into a compact package is the central idea here. The light path travels down the tube, back up it and down again before reaching the eyepiece, so the physical instrument is a fraction of the length its focal length would suggest. What that buys is image scale — the Moon, the planets, double stars and small bright deep-sky objects all arrive large in the field without a focal extender in the train.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLunar and planetary observers:\u003c\/strong\u003e this is a good match if craters, rilles, the Jovian belts, Saturn's rings and the phases of Venus are what you want to spend your nights on. The focal length delivers the scale for that work directly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObservers who want to find things quickly:\u003c\/strong\u003e the computerized GoTo mount with SkyAssist handles the pointing and the tracking, which changes what an hour under the sky produces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDouble-star observers,\u003c\/strong\u003e where high magnification in a long-focal-length instrument is exactly the tool for the job.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeople short on storage or transport space:\u003c\/strong\u003e this is a good match if a folded catadioptric that packs down small suits your situation better than a long tube.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAnyone who would rather buy one box than assemble a system:\u003c\/strong\u003e tube, mount, tripod, eyepieces and accessories arrive together.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e127mm Maksutov-Cassegrain optical tube:\u003c\/strong\u003e a catadioptric design combining a thick meniscus corrector lens at the front with mirrors behind it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1900mm focal length:\u003c\/strong\u003e long enough for serious lunar, planetary and double-star magnification straight out of the box.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComputerized GoTo mount:\u003c\/strong\u003e motorized pointing and tracking rather than manual slewing and nudging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkyAssist software interface:\u003c\/strong\u003e the control layer Explore Scientific supplies for automated targeting and tracking.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTripod included\u003c\/strong\u003e as part of the package rather than a separate purchase.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces and accessories included,\u003c\/strong\u003e so the system is observing-ready as delivered.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Maksutov-Cassegrain starts with a thick, strongly curved meniscus lens across the front of the tube. Light passes through that corrector, travels down to a concave primary mirror, reflects back up to a small secondary — in most Maksutov designs an aluminised spot on the inside face of the corrector itself — and then passes back down through a hole in the primary to the focuser. Folding the light path three times is what allows 1900mm of focal length to live inside a tube far shorter than that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe trades are equally specific and worth knowing. A closed tube with a thick glass corrector takes longer to reach ambient temperature than an open tube, and views taken before it has settled will be softer than the optics can actually deliver. The long focal length also means the widest true field available is modest — large open clusters and the bigger nebulae will not fit in a single view the way they would in a short refractor. This is an instrument built to look closely at small things rather than broadly at large ones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific does not publish a focal ratio, resolution figure or limiting magnitude for the Sidara Pro 127, so those rows are absent from the specifications below rather than estimated. If one of them decides the purchase for you, ask us and we will put the question to our Explore Scientific rep.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh-magnification observing of the Moon, its terminator and its craters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlanetary observing — Jupiter's belts and moons, Saturn's rings, the phases of Venus, Mars at opposition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSplitting double stars, where long focal length and a clean unobstructed-looking star image both help.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall bright deep-sky targets such as globular clusters and planetary nebulae.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAssisted observing sessions where GoTo pointing does the locating and you do the looking.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMagnification:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1900mm divided by the eyepiece focal length. A 32mm gives 59x, a 25mm gives 76x, a 12mm gives 158x and a 9mm gives 211x.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces:\u003c\/strong\u003e a set is included, though Explore Scientific does not publish which focal lengths. Longer focal lengths are the useful additions for this instrument, since the short end is already well covered by the 1900mm focal length.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFilters:\u003c\/strong\u003e lunar and neutral-density filters are a natural pairing with an instrument that puts this much magnification on a bright Moon. Colour and planetary filters thread into standard eyepiece barrels.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDew:\u003c\/strong\u003e the front corrector of a Maksutov is the surface dew forms on first. A dew shield or a heater strip sized to the tube is the standard remedy, and we stock both.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePower:\u003c\/strong\u003e Explore Scientific does not publish the power requirement for the GoTo mount, so we are not quoting one. If you plan to run it from a field battery, ask us and we will confirm the specification first.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExplore Scientific publishes very little of the usual specification table for this model.\u003c\/strong\u003e Focal ratio, weight, resolution, limiting magnitude, mount capacity and the supplied eyepiece focal lengths are not given, so those rows read \"Not published by vendor\" below rather than carrying an estimate. If you need any of them before deciding, ask us and we will get the figure from our rep.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1900mm is a long focal length, and that shapes what it does well.\u003c\/strong\u003e The Moon, planets and double stars are its strengths; sweeping wide-field views of large nebulae are not what this focal length produces. Longer eyepieces widen the field as far as the design allows, and we can suggest which ones.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA Maksutov needs cooling time.\u003c\/strong\u003e The thick corrector and the sealed tube mean the optics take longer to settle than an open tube of the same aperture. Putting it outside early is what unlocks the fine detail.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDew collects on the front corrector.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is the first surface to fog on a damp night, and a dew shield or heater sorts it out. We stock both.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGoTo needs an alignment at the start of each session.\u003c\/strong\u003e The SkyAssist interface walks the process; it takes a few minutes and it is what makes the pointing accurate for the rest of the night.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe physical assembly is straightforward — tripod, mount, tube, eyepiece, all of which arrive in the one box. The part that takes a few minutes is the GoTo alignment at the start of the session, which the SkyAssist interface guides you through. Once it is aligned, the mount does the finding and the tracking for the rest of the night. A Maksutov also holds its collimation well, so there is no routine optical adjustment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat magnification does it give?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDivide 1900mm by the focal length of the eyepiece. A 25mm eyepiece gives 76x, a 10mm gives 190x. Atmospheric seeing sets the practical ceiling on any given night.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat comes in the box?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific lists the optical tube, the GoTo mount, the tripod, and eyepieces with accessories, supplied as an integrated package. The specific eyepiece focal lengths are not published, and we will confirm them with our rep on request.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it good for deep-sky objects?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the compact bright ones — globular clusters, planetary nebulae, small galaxies — yes. Large sprawling nebulae and big open clusters exceed the true field a 1900mm instrument can show, which is a property of the focal length rather than a fault.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I take photographs with it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLunar and planetary imaging suits a long focal length well, and a camera adapter is the usual addition. Deep-sky imaging at 1900mm places heavy demands on tracking and guiding. Tell us what you have in mind and we will be straight with you about what the system will do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it need to be collimated?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Maksutov-Cassegrain holds alignment far better than an open reflector, and routine collimation is not part of ordinary use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short: a 127mm Maksutov-Cassegrain at 1900mm focal length on a computerized GoTo mount with SkyAssist, supplied complete with tripod, eyepieces and accessories — a compact, high-magnification instrument aimed squarely at the Moon, the planets and double stars. If you would like us to confirm any of the figures Explore Scientific has not yet published, or to suggest eyepieces and a dew shield to go with it, get in touch and we will help you work it out.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52950278865007,"sku":"ES-MC1271900-SAGT-ST10","price":1385.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/sidara_pro_127_v2.webp?v=1776178724"},{"product_id":"sidara-pro-80","title":"Explore Scientific Sidara Pro 80 80mm GoTo Refractor Telescope System","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Explore Scientific Sidara Pro 80 is a complete telescope system: an 80mm refractor supplied on a computerized GoTo mount that runs Explore Scientific's SkyAssist interface, together with a tripod and a set of eyepieces and accessories. It carries item number ES-AR80900-SAGT-ST10.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific describes the optics as delivering sharp, high-contrast views that suit the Moon and the planets particularly well — which is what an 80mm refractor is good at. A refractor has no central obstruction in the light path, so contrast on fine low-contrast detail such as the Jovian belts or the ridges along a lunar terminator holds up better than in a reflector of similar aperture. Eighty millimetres of aperture gathers roughly 130 times the light of a dark-adapted 7mm eye pupil, and Dawes' criterion for an 80mm objective works out to about 1.45 arcseconds. Those two figures are calculated from the published aperture, and they define what the instrument can show before any question of mounting or software comes into it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe GoTo mount is the other half of the system. SkyAssist is Explore Scientific's software interface for driving the mount to a chosen object, which shifts the work of an observing session away from chart-reading and toward looking through the eyepiece. Explore Scientific has not published a specification table for the Sidara Pro 80, so focal length, focal ratio, tripod height, mount payload and the focal lengths of the supplied eyepieces are absent from the specifications below rather than estimated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObservers who want one box that covers everything.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a good match if you would rather have telescope, mount, tripod and eyepieces arrive matched to each other than assemble a system piece by piece.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLunar and planetary observers:\u003c\/strong\u003e an unobstructed 80mm objective is a contrast-friendly design, and the Moon and the bright planets are the targets it serves best from a suburban sky.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAnyone observing from a light-polluted location:\u003c\/strong\u003e a GoTo mount finds objects that are invisible to the naked eye, which is exactly the situation where star-hopping from anchor stars stops working.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHouseholds sharing a telescope:\u003c\/strong\u003e a driven mount keeps the target centred while several people take turns at the eyepiece, instead of the object drifting out between looks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e80mm refractor objective:\u003c\/strong\u003e around 130x the light grasp of the unaided eye, with a theoretical resolution near 1.45 arcseconds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUnobstructed optical path:\u003c\/strong\u003e no secondary mirror sitting in the beam, which is the structural reason refractors hold contrast well at moderate aperture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComputerized GoTo mount:\u003c\/strong\u003e the mount drives to a selected object and then tracks it, keeping the target in the eyepiece rather than letting the Earth's rotation carry it out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkyAssist interface:\u003c\/strong\u003e Explore Scientific's software front end for object selection and slewing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTripod, eyepieces and accessories included:\u003c\/strong\u003e Explore Scientific list all three as part of the package, though the eyepiece focal lengths are not stated on their page.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo collimation to maintain:\u003c\/strong\u003e a refractor objective is set at the factory and holds its alignment, so there is no optical adjustment to learn.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA refractor forms its image with a lens at the front of the tube rather than a mirror at the back. Light passes straight through the objective to a focus near the rear, with nothing intruding into the beam — no secondary mirror, no spider vanes, and therefore none of the diffraction effects those introduce. The practical consequence is that the contrast transfer at middle spatial frequencies, which is where planetary surface detail lives, stays higher in an unobstructed design than in an obstructed one of the same aperture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe second consequence is mechanical. The objective sits in a cell at the front and never needs attention: no collimation routine, no mirror to clean, and a sealed tube that keeps dust off the optical surfaces. Cooldown is brief too, because a thin lens reaches ambient temperature far faster than a thick mirror blank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific has not published the focal length or focal ratio for the Sidara Pro 80, so the true field of view, the magnification with the supplied eyepieces and the exit pupil at each of them all remain open. Those follow directly from the focal length, and we would rather obtain the figure from Explore Scientific than infer one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLunar observing, from the whole disc at low power down to individual craters along the terminator.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlanetary observing — the phases of Venus, the Galilean moons, the belts of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBright deep-sky targets such as the Orion Nebula, the Pleiades and the brighter double stars.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuided observing sessions where the mount does the finding and the observer does the looking.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces:\u003c\/strong\u003e the package includes eyepieces, and the focal lengths are not stated by Explore Scientific. Once we know what ships in the box, we can advise which additional focal length would widen the useful range most.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMagnification arithmetic:\u003c\/strong\u003e magnification is the telescope's focal length divided by the eyepiece focal length. The focal length for this model is unpublished, so example magnifications would be invented rather than calculated — we can get the figure from Explore Scientific if it is important to your choice of eyepieces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFilters:\u003c\/strong\u003e a lunar or neutral-density filter takes the glare off a bright Moon at higher powers. These thread into the eyepiece barrel, so the barrel size of the supplied eyepieces determines which filters fit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePower:\u003c\/strong\u003e a computerized mount needs a power source, and the supply arrangement is not detailed on the vendor page. A 12 V field battery is the usual answer for observing away from an outlet, and we stock them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSolar observing:\u003c\/strong\u003e possible only with a purpose-made front-mounted solar filter sized to the tube's outside diameter, which is a separate purchase.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExplore Scientific has not published a specification table for the Sidara Pro 80.\u003c\/strong\u003e Focal length, focal ratio, tripod height, mount payload rating, power requirement and the focal lengths of the supplied eyepieces are absent from their page, so those rows are blank here rather than filled with figures from a similar model. If one of them decides the purchase for you, we will get it from our Explore Scientific rep and pass on their answer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExplore Scientific currently lists this model as coming soon.\u003c\/strong\u003e Availability timing depends on their release schedule rather than ours, so a note to us before you order will get you the current status and an expected date.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEighty millimetres has a ceiling.\u003c\/strong\u003e Faint galaxies and small planetary nebulae are aperture-limited targets, and this system is built around the Moon, the planets and the brighter deep-sky objects. Within that range it does very well, and it stays a telescope that actually gets carried outside.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot particularly. The tripod goes up, the mount head sits on it, the tube goes into the saddle, and the electronics are aligned on one or two bright stars before observing starts. A refractor holds its collimation, so there is no optical adjustment on top of that. The alignment routine is the one part that takes practice, and it becomes a two-minute habit after a couple of sessions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it come with everything I need?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific lists the telescope, the GoTo mount with SkyAssist, the tripod, and eyepieces and accessories as part of the package. They do not itemise the accessories, so we will confirm the exact contents with the distributor before your order ships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat can I expect to see?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLunar craters and mountain ranges in detail, the phases of Venus, the four Galilean moons and the main belts of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, the brighter open clusters and the Orion Nebula. Faint galaxies are beyond what 80mm of aperture will show from most locations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat focal length is the telescope?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is not published on the Explore Scientific page for this model. We can ask them for the figure and give you the answer they supply rather than an estimate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I take photographs with it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShort exposures of the Moon and the brighter planets are within reach, particularly with a smartphone adapter. Deep-sky imaging asks more of a mount than a visual GoTo head is usually designed to give, and the payload and tracking specifications here are unpublished, so we would look at that with you rather than promise it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short: an 80mm refractor on a computerized GoTo mount with SkyAssist, supplied with tripod, eyepieces and accessories as a single system, aimed squarely at the Moon and the planets. Explore Scientific has not yet published a full specification sheet for it — so if there is a figure you need before deciding, ask us and we will get it from them and tell you exactly what they say.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52950292004975,"sku":"ES-AR80900-SAGT-ST10","price":831.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/ES-AR80900-SAGT-ST10_1.webp?v=1776178993"},{"product_id":"sidara-nano-114","title":"Explore Scientific Sidara Nano 114 114mm Newtonian Telescope with Alt-Azimuth Mount","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Explore Scientific Sidara Nano 114 is a complete telescope package built around a 114mm Newtonian reflector on a lightweight Nano alt-azimuth mount. Explore Scientific describes it as a short focal length instrument, chosen so the field of view stays wide and finding objects stays straightforward, and the package is supplied with the telescope, the Nano mount, a tripod, eyepieces and accessories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe other element Explore Scientific highlights is SkyAssist, an integrated navigation technology intended to simplify locating objects. They describe the function rather than the mechanism, so the operational detail is not something we will invent here — we can put the specific question to our Explore Scientific rep if it is the deciding factor for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat 114mm of aperture means in practice is fixed by physics rather than by marketing: an area roughly 265 times that of a fully dark-adapted 7mm eye pupil. That is enough for the Galilean moons, the phases of Venus, the cratered lunar terminator in detail, the brighter Messier clusters and the larger nebulae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObservers who want aperture without bulk:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 114mm mirror gathers substantially more light than a small refractor, and the Nano mount is built around keeping the whole package light enough to carry out in one trip.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCasual and spontaneous observers:\u003c\/strong\u003e this is a good match if you want something that goes from the cupboard to the driveway in a couple of minutes rather than something that needs a setup ritual.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObservers who prefer alt-azimuth motion:\u003c\/strong\u003e up-down and left-right is how the sky looks from where you are standing, without the equatorial step of polar alignment.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAnyone who wants navigation help:\u003c\/strong\u003e this is a good match if star-hopping from printed charts is not how you want to spend your first hour under the sky.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWide-field observers:\u003c\/strong\u003e a short focal ratio keeps large clusters and nebulae inside a single field rather than filling it with a fraction of the object.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e114mm Newtonian reflector:\u003c\/strong\u003e mirror optics, which means no chromatic aberration of any kind — a mirror reflects every wavelength to the same focus.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShort focal length:\u003c\/strong\u003e specified by Explore Scientific as the basis for the wide viewing angles that make locating objects easier.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNano alt-azimuth mount:\u003c\/strong\u003e two-axis motion in the directions the eye expects, on a mount designed around portability.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkyAssist navigation technology,\u003c\/strong\u003e integrated into the package as Explore Scientific's answer to finding targets.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComplete package:\u003c\/strong\u003e telescope, Nano mount, tripod, eyepieces and accessories are all part of the published contents.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Newtonian reflector collects light on a concave primary mirror at the base of the tube and returns it up to a flat secondary mirror set at 45 degrees, which turns the cone of light out through the side of the tube into the focuser. The eyepiece sits near the front of the tube rather than at the back, which is why a Newtonian on an alt-azimuth mount is comfortable to use standing up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe trade-offs are equally structural. The secondary mirror and its support sit in the light path, which produces the four-point diffraction spikes visible around bright stars. The two mirrors also need to stay aligned with each other, and that alignment — collimation — drifts slowly with transport and handling. It is adjusted with a collimation cap or a laser collimator in a few minutes, and it is a routine maintenance step on any Newtonian rather than a fault. We stock collimation tools and can include one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific does not publish a focal length, focal ratio, eyepiece specification or weight for this model, so those figures are absent from the specifications below rather than estimated from the model designation. If any of them decides the purchase for you, ask and we will get them confirmed before you order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLunar observing, where 114mm resolves crater chains, rilles and terracing along the terminator.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlanetary viewing — the Galilean moons, Saturn's rings, Venus through its phases and Mars near opposition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBright deep-sky objects: the Orion Nebula, the Pleiades, the Andromeda Galaxy, the brighter globulars.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFamily and backyard observing where quick setup decides whether the telescope actually gets used.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces:\u003c\/strong\u003e included in the package. Explore Scientific does not publish which focal lengths are supplied, so the resulting magnifications are not quoted here. Additional 1.25-inch eyepieces are the usual way to extend the range on a telescope of this class.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCollimation tools:\u003c\/strong\u003e a collimation cap or laser collimator is the standard companion to any Newtonian and keeps the two mirrors working together.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFilters:\u003c\/strong\u003e a lunar or neutral-density filter takes the glare off a gibbous Moon, which is the accessory most often wanted first with an aperture in this range.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMount:\u003c\/strong\u003e the Nano alt-azimuth mount and tripod are part of the package, so nothing further is needed to observe.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAstrophotography:\u003c\/strong\u003e an alt-azimuth mount without tracking suits short-exposure lunar and planetary work with a smartphone adapter or a planetary camera. Long-exposure deep-sky imaging calls for a tracking equatorial mount, which is a different class of instrument.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExplore Scientific publishes very little numerical specification for this model.\u003c\/strong\u003e Focal length, focal ratio, eyepiece focal lengths, tube length and weight are all absent from their product page, so those rows read as not published rather than carrying an estimate. We are happy to put specific questions to our Explore Scientific rep on your behalf.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNewtonians need occasional collimation.\u003c\/strong\u003e The two mirrors drift out of alignment slowly with handling and transport, and bringing them back takes a few minutes with a collimation cap. We stock the tools and can walk you through it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiffraction spikes come with the design.\u003c\/strong\u003e The secondary mirror support crosses the light path, so bright stars show four spikes. Many observers consider that part of how a reflector looks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAn alt-azimuth mount does not track the sky.\u003c\/strong\u003e Objects drift out of the field as the Earth turns and are nudged back by hand, which is normal for this mount type and part of why setup is so quick.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The tripod opens, the Nano mount sits on top, the tube goes on the mount and an eyepiece drops into the focuser — a couple of minutes with no polar alignment and no tools. SkyAssist is Explore Scientific's built-in aid for finding objects once you are set up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat can I expect to see?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e114mm gathers roughly 265 times the light of a dark-adapted eye. That covers lunar detail down to small craters, the Galilean moons and Saturn's rings, Venus through its phases, and the brighter clusters, nebulae and galaxies from a reasonably dark site.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat focal length is it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific does not publish one for this model, so we are not going to quote a figure. If it matters to your decision, ask us and we will get it from our rep first.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it track objects automatically?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Nano is an alt-azimuth mount, which moves in altitude and azimuth by hand. SkyAssist is described by Explore Scientific as navigation technology to make locating objects simpler rather than as a motorised drive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I take photographs with it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShort-exposure smartphone shots of the Moon work well on a mount like this. Deep-sky imaging needs a tracking equatorial mount and longer exposures than an alt-azimuth head supports.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short: a 114mm Newtonian reflector supplied complete with a lightweight Nano alt-azimuth mount, tripod, eyepieces and accessories, with SkyAssist navigation built in and a short focal ratio chosen for wide, easy-to-find fields. Explore Scientific keeps the published figures sparse on this one — if there is a specific number you need before deciding, send us the question and we will get it answered.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52950316384367,"sku":"ES-N114500-MAZ-NANO","price":276.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/ES-N114500-MAZ-NANO_2.webp?v=1776179706"},{"product_id":"sidara-plus-150","title":"Sidara Plus 150","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Sidara package combines a 150mm Newtonian reflector with the Nano mount to deliver strong light gathering capability in a portable observing system. It is designed for users who want to explore deeper into the night sky while maintaining a manageable setup. With a 150mm aperture and 750mm focal length, this telescope captures a significant amount of light, making faint deep sky objects more visible and detailed. The fast focal ratio enhances brightness and provides a wider field of view, making it easier to locate and observe large celestial objects. The Nano mount keeps the system lightweight and easy to use. Smooth slow motion controls allow for precise tracking, helping users stay focused on the viewing experience rather than constant adjustment. SkyAssist integration simplifies navigation, allowing users to quickly locate targets and spend more time observing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis package is well suited for those who want strong deep sky performance in a portable and accessible system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat’s Included:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e150mm Newtonian reflector telescope\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNano mount\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTripod system\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEyepieces and accessories per package configuration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Ontario Telescope and Accessories","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52950317138031,"sku":null,"price":980.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/sidara_plus_150_v2.webp?v=1776179838"},{"product_id":"sidara-pro-102","title":"Explore Scientific Sidara Pro 102 102mm GoTo Refractor Telescope System","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Explore Scientific Sidara Pro 102 is a complete telescope package rather than an optical tube on its own. It pairs a 102mm refractor with an automated GoTo mount built around Explore Scientific's SkyAssist technology, and ships with the tripod, eyepieces and assorted accessories needed to observe on the first clear night. The mount locates objects and then tracks them, so the object stays centred instead of drifting out of the field while you look.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe four-inch aperture is the figure that sets what the system can show. A 102mm objective gathers roughly 210 times the light of a fully dark-adapted 7mm eye pupil, which is what puts galaxies, nebulae and globular clusters within reach from a reasonable sky, while a refractor's unobstructed light path keeps planetary and lunar contrast crisp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific publishes an unusually short specification set for this package. There is no focal length, focal ratio, limiting magnitude, resolution figure, mount payload rating, tripod height or weight on their product page, and the supplied eyepieces are listed as included without their focal lengths being stated. Those rows appear below as unpublished rather than as numbers we have estimated, and the sections that follow work from what is actually published.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObservers who want the telescope pointed for them:\u003c\/strong\u003e SkyAssist handles the finding, which turns a session into looking at objects rather than hunting for them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeople buying one box:\u003c\/strong\u003e optics, mount, tripod, eyepieces and accessories arrive together and are specified to work with each other, so nothing is left to work out afterwards.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObservers with limited sky time:\u003c\/strong\u003e this is a good match if your clear nights are short and you would rather spend them observing than star hopping.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e102mm refractor optical tube:\u003c\/strong\u003e four inches of unobstructed aperture, with no central obstruction to reduce contrast and no mirrors to collimate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAutomated GoTo mount with SkyAssist:\u003c\/strong\u003e the mount drives to a chosen object and then tracks it, taking the Earth's rotation out of the equation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTripod included,\u003c\/strong\u003e so the package stands on its own without a separate purchase.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces and assorted accessories included,\u003c\/strong\u003e giving a working magnification range out of the box.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA refractor forms its image with a lens at the front of the tube rather than a mirror at the back. Light passes straight through the objective to a focus near the eyepiece end, with nothing in the middle of the beam. That unobstructed path is the reason refractors are known for contrast: there is no secondary mirror or spider vane to scatter light out of the diffraction core and into the surrounding rings, so fine low-contrast detail on a planet or the Moon holds up well relative to aperture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAperture governs two things independently. Light grasp scales with the area of the objective, so 102mm collects about 210 times what a dark-adapted eye does, which is what determines how faint an object can be and still register. Resolving power scales with the diameter, setting how finely two close stars or two adjacent features on Jupiter can be separated. Explore Scientific does not publish a resolution or limiting magnitude figure for this package, so we quote neither and describe the behaviour instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific also does not publish the focal length or focal ratio of the Sidara Pro 102's optical tube, and those two figures are what set the magnification the supplied eyepieces deliver and how wide the resulting field is. Rather than infer them, we would rather find out: if the exact focal length is the deciding factor for you, ask us and we will put the question to our Explore Scientific representative before you order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuided tours of the night sky, where the mount finds the object and you concentrate on looking at it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLunar and planetary observing, where a refractor's contrast and a tracking mount work together at higher magnifications.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrighter deep-sky objects — open clusters, the larger nebulae, globular clusters and the nearer galaxies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublic outreach, school groups and family observing, where tracking keeps a target centred through a queue of viewers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEverything needed to observe is in the package:\u003c\/strong\u003e optical tube, GoTo mount, tripod, eyepieces and accessories. No separate mount purchase is involved.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces:\u003c\/strong\u003e supplied, though Explore Scientific does not publish which focal lengths ship in the box. Once you have the telescope, the focal lengths are printed on the eyepieces themselves and we can advise on what would usefully extend the set.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMagnification:\u003c\/strong\u003e telescope focal length divided by eyepiece focal length. Since the focal length of this tube is not published, we are not going to quote magnification figures — ask us and we will get the number from Explore Scientific.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExplore Scientific publishes very little numerical specification for this package.\u003c\/strong\u003e Focal length, focal ratio, limiting magnitude, resolution, mount capacity, tripod height and total weight are all absent from their product page, so those rows below read as unpublished rather than carrying estimates. If a specific figure decides the purchase for you, ask and we will get it from our Explore Scientific rep first.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA GoTo mount needs an alignment at the start of each session.\u003c\/strong\u003e That is normally a matter of levelling the tripod and centring one or more bright stars when prompted, and it takes a few minutes. Once done, the mount finds objects for the rest of the night.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe supplied eyepiece focal lengths are not published.\u003c\/strong\u003e They are marked on the eyepieces when the package arrives, and if the set turns out to leave a gap at high or low power, we can fill it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFour inches of aperture is four inches.\u003c\/strong\u003e A GoTo mount changes how easily you find an object, not how bright it appears; galaxies stay faint grey smudges in any telescope of this size, while clusters, the Moon and the planets are where the view rewards most.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mechanical side is simple: the tripod is spread and levelled, the mount goes on top, the optical tube seats on the mount and the accessories go on. The part that is new to most people is the alignment routine, where the mount asks you to centre a bright star or two so it can work out where it is pointing. It is a guided process through the hand controller and takes a few minutes once you have done it once. We are happy to walk you through the first alignment over the phone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does SkyAssist do?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is the technology behind the mount's automated pointing: you select an object and the mount slews to it and then tracks it, keeping it in the eyepiece rather than letting the Earth's rotation carry it out of the field.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat magnification will I get?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMagnification is the telescope's focal length divided by the eyepiece's. Explore Scientific does not publish the focal length for this tube, so we would rather ask them than quote a number we cannot source. Send us a message and we will chase it down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat can I expect to see?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLunar craters and mountain shadows in real detail, Saturn's rings, the four Galilean moons of Jupiter and its main cloud belts, the phases of Venus, bright double stars, open clusters, the brighter nebulae and globular clusters, and the nearer galaxies as soft grey shapes. Sky darkness affects the deep-sky end far more than the Solar System end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short: a complete 102mm refractor system on an automated SkyAssist GoTo mount, supplied with tripod, eyepieces and accessories, aimed at observers who would rather look at objects than search for them. Explore Scientific publishes little in the way of numerical specifications for it, so if a particular figure matters to your decision, ask us and we will get the answer from our Explore Scientific rep before you order.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52950317662319,"sku":"ES-AR102660-SAGT-ST10","price":1108.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"explore-scientific-114mm-f4-4-newtonian-reflector-equatorial-mount","title":"Explore Scientific 114mm f\/4.4 Newtonian Reflector Telescope with Equatorial Mount","description":"\u003ch2\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis Explore Scientific package pairs a 114 mm Newtonian reflector with an equatorial mount. The mirror works at 500 mm and f\/4.4 — a fast, short optical system that gives wide, bright views. Two eyepieces, a red-dot finder, and a counterweight are included, and the whole setup weighs 16 lb 1.5 oz.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a first telescope that comes on an equatorial mount rather than a simple tripod head, which matters more than it sounds: an equatorial mount follows the sky's rotation on one axis, so once a target is centred you keep it there with a single slow turn rather than nudging two directions at once. That makes it a good fit for someone who wants to learn how the sky actually moves, and for a family scope where the Moon and the brighter planets are the main attraction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e114 mm Newtonian primary mirror, gathering far more light than a small beginner refractor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e500 mm focal length at f\/4.4 for wide, bright fields\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEquatorial mount with counterweight, tracking the sky on a single axis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e25 mm eyepiece giving 20x and 10 mm eyepiece giving 50x\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRed-dot finder scope for quick, intuitive target acquisition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCounterweight included to rebalance as accessories are added\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOptical and Mechanical Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt f\/4.4 this is a fast mirror, which is what produces the wide field and the bright image at low power — well matched to large targets like the Pleiades, the Orion Nebula, and sweeping through the Milky Way. The equatorial mount is aligned to the celestial pole once at setup; after that a single axis follows the sky. The counterweight balances the tube so the mount moves smoothly and holds position, and it should be repositioned whenever you change to a heavier eyepiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLunar observing, where 114 mm shows craters, mountain ranges, and terminator shadows clearly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJupiter's moons and belts, and Saturn's rings at 50x and above\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWide-field sweeping of star clusters and the brighter nebulae\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLearning the constellations and how the sky rotates through a night\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe focuser takes standard 1.25-inch eyepieces, so the two supplied can be joined by anything in that barrel size. A 2x Barlow is an inexpensive way to double both magnifications and is the usual next purchase. A fast f\/4.4 mirror asks a little more of an eyepiece at the field edge than a slower one does, so a wider-field eyepiece designed for fast systems is a worthwhile upgrade — we can suggest one to suit. A collimation tool is useful for keeping the mirrors aligned.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific publishes a total weight of 16 lb 1.5 oz for the complete setup, so it is easy to carry outside in one trip. The mount needs to be pointed at the celestial pole to track properly, which takes a few minutes the first time and rather less after that; the supplied manual covers it and so will we, on the phone, if it does not click straight away. Newtonians can arrive slightly out of collimation after shipping and the alignment is a quick job. The mount is manually driven with no motor or GoTo, and no eyepiece beyond the two supplied is needed to start observing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e The telescope assembles in a few minutes. Polar alignment — pointing the mount's axis at the pole — is the one step that is new to most people, and it amounts to aiming the mount north and setting the latitude scale. We will happily walk you through it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat magnification will I actually use?\u003c\/strong\u003e The 25 mm eyepiece at 20x for finding things and wide views, the 10 mm at 50x for the Moon and planets. Higher is not always better; steady air matters more than magnification.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I take photographs?\u003c\/strong\u003e Phone snapshots of the Moon work with a smartphone adapter, sold separately. Deep-sky photography needs a motorised mount.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it need collimating?\u003c\/strong\u003e Occasionally, and possibly on arrival. It is a short job with a collimation tool and we can talk you through it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 114 mm reflector with two eyepieces, a finder, and an equatorial mount that tracks on one axis — enough aperture to show real detail and a mount that teaches you the sky. Everything needed for a first night is in the box. Call our Bolton team if you would like help choosing a Barlow or a second eyepiece.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53955518005359,"sku":"ES-ON11444EQ3","price":207.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/ES-ON11444EQ3_1.jpg?v=1785951948"},{"product_id":"explore-scientific-sidara-plus-127-refractor-alt-azimuth-telescope","title":"Explore Scientific Sidara Plus 127mm Refractor Telescope and Alt-Azimuth Mount with Sky Assist","description":"\u003ch2\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sidara Plus 127 is the largest refractor package in Explore Scientific's Sidara line: a 127 mm objective with an 820 mm focal length, riding on the Sidara Plus alt-azimuth mount with slow-motion controls on both axes, a tripod, and the eyepieces and accessories supplied with the package. Explore Scientific's own description calls it a system that \"gathers a substantial amount of light while maintaining a balanced field of view,\" and lists it under item number ES-AR127820-MAZ01. Working out to roughly f\/6.5, it is the aperture-first choice in the series for someone who wants a refractor rather than a reflector and does not want the tube to be the limiting factor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a first telescope for someone who has decided they want a refractor and wants the biggest one in the range, or a gift for someone in that position. Be clear on what a 127 mm aperture actually buys. Against the 90 mm Sidara Nano it collects roughly twice the light, and against a 60 mm department-store scope it collects more than four times as much. In practice that means the Moon at high power is genuinely absorbing, with craters, rilles and shadow detail along the terminator that changes night to night. Saturn's rings will be an unmistakable ring rather than an ambiguous bulge. Jupiter shows its two main cloud belts and the four Galilean moons. Brighter deep sky objects such as the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Pleiades and the great cluster in Hercules are within reach from a suburban garden, but they will look like grey, textured mist rather than the colour images you have seen online. No telescope at any price shows those colours to the eye. That is a limit of human night vision, not of this instrument.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRefractor against reflector matters at this size. The refractor here has a sealed tube with no central obstruction, so contrast on the Moon and planets is clean, collimation is not something you will ever have to think about, and there is nothing to align before you observe. The trade-off is that a 127 mm achromatic refractor at this focal ratio shows some violet-blue fringing around very bright objects, most visibly on the limb of the Moon, on Venus and on Jupiter, which the 150 mm Sidara Plus reflector does not. The reflector in turn gives you more aperture for less money but needs occasional collimation and takes longer to cool to outside temperature. If you value low fuss and colour-neutral contrast on the Moon and planets, and you can live with a little fringing on the very brightest targets, the refractor is the more forgiving instrument to own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e127 mm aperture refractor with an 820 mm focal length, roughly f\/6.5, and the largest refractor in the Sidara series.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSidara Plus alt-azimuth head with slow-motion controls on both axes for smooth geared tracking rather than nudge-and-hope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSky Assist target guidance, which Explore Scientific describes as \"helping guide users to celestial targets, reducing time spent searching and increasing time spent observing.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSupplied as a complete package: optical tube, mount, tripod, and eyepieces and accessories per the package configuration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStraightforward up-and-down, left-and-right alt-azimuth motion that matches how a beginner intuitively expects a telescope to move.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnobstructed refractor light path with no secondary mirror, no diffraction spikes and no collimation routine.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuilt by Explore Scientific to stay portable enough that it gets carried outside regularly rather than left in a cupboard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOptical and Mechanical Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo numbers do most of the work here. The 127 mm aperture sets both how much light the telescope collects and how fine a detail it can resolve, and resolving power scales with aperture, so a 127 mm objective separates closer double stars and shows finer lunar features than any smaller tube regardless of which eyepiece you screw into it. The 820 mm focal length then sets the magnification each eyepiece delivers, since magnification is telescope focal length divided by eyepiece focal length: a 25 mm eyepiece gives about 33x for wide, easy sweeping and a 10 mm gives about 82x for the Moon and planets. The useful ceiling for a 127 mm aperture sits somewhere near 250x on a steady night, and atmospheric seeing will usually stop you well below that. Mechanically, an alt-azimuth mount moves in altitude and azimuth rather than following the sky's rotation about a single axis, which makes it far more intuitive to point but means you correct in two directions as an object drifts out of the field. That is precisely what the dual-axis slow-motion controls are for. They let you make small geared corrections at high magnification without knocking the tube off target, which is the difference between usable and infuriating above about 80x.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed lunar observing, where the aperture and the unobstructed light path show terminator detail that changes from night to night.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlanetary viewing: Saturn's rings, Jupiter's belts and moons, the phases of Venus, and Mars around opposition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrighter deep sky objects from suburban skies, including open and globular clusters, the Orion Nebula and the brighter galaxies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSplitting double stars, where the 127 mm aperture's resolving power is the deciding factor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA first serious telescope for an adult beginner or an older child who wants an instrument they will not outgrow in a season.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe package arrives with eyepieces and accessories per Explore Scientific's package configuration, and that supplied set is a starting point rather than a finished collection. The most worthwhile early additions are a good medium-power eyepiece somewhere in the 8 mm to 12 mm range for planetary work, a neutral density Moon filter to take the glare off a near-full Moon at this aperture, and a comfortable star diagonal if you find yourself craning at objects high overhead. Explore Scientific does not publish the focuser barrel size, the eyepiece specifications, the finder type or the diagonal for this package on its product page, so if you are buying eyepieces or a diagonal to go alongside it, contact our team in Bolton and we will confirm the fitting before you order rather than have you guess. The same applies to whether this tube's dovetail will transfer onto an equatorial mount later, which is genuinely model-dependent and worth checking rather than assuming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific publishes no shipping weight for this item, so we are confirming it on our own scales before the listing goes live. That is why it is currently unpublished. Contact us and we will give you a shipping figure for your address. Beyond the weight, Explore Scientific's published information on this package is unusually thin. The product page gives the aperture, the focal length, the mount type and the fact that eyepieces and accessories are included, but it does not itemise which eyepieces, which finder or which diagonal ship in the box, and there is no specification table. We are not going to invent those details, so ask us and we will confirm against the carton before you commit. Note too that this is an alt-azimuth mount rather than an equatorial one, and it is not a motorised GoTo mount: pointing and tracking are done by hand using the slow-motion controls. It is not an astrophotography rig, and it will manage casual phone snaps of the Moon and not much more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat exactly is Sky Assist, and do I need a phone for it?\u003c\/strong\u003e On this package Explore Scientific describes Sky Assist only as target guidance, in their words \"helping guide users to celestial targets, reducing time spent searching and increasing time spent observing.\" On their motorised Sidara Pro mounts they go further and say that using Sky Assist \"users can select targets and allow the mount to move the telescope into position,\" but the Sidara Plus is a manual mount, so here it is a finding aid rather than something that drives the telescope for you. Explore Scientific has not published the full detail of what the feature requires or how it is set up, and we would rather say that plainly than guess. Contact us and we will confirm the current details with the distributor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill I see colour in nebulae and galaxies the way photographs show it?\u003c\/strong\u003e No, and no telescope will. The colour receptors in the human eye do not work at low light levels, so deep sky objects appear as grey or grey-green structure regardless of aperture. What more aperture buys you is more of that structure, seen more clearly. The Moon, the planets and stars do show colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShould I buy this or the 150 mm Sidara Plus reflector?\u003c\/strong\u003e Take the 127 mm refractor if you want clean contrast, no maintenance and no collimation, and you mainly observe the Moon and planets. Take the 150 mm reflector if raw light grasp on faint deep sky objects matters more to you and you do not mind checking collimation from time to time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan a complete beginner set this up alone?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. It is a package designed to go together without tools beyond what is supplied, and the alt-azimuth mount removes the polar alignment step that trips people up on equatorial mounts. Allow one unhurried evening indoors to assemble it and to learn the focuser and finder before you take it out in the dark.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sidara Plus 127 is the aperture-first refractor in the Sidara range, and it earns that aperture on the Moon, the planets and the brighter deep sky. It asks nothing of you in maintenance and gives you geared slow-motion control where a beginner package usually gives you a stiff pan handle. If you are weighing it against the 150 mm reflector or one of the smaller Sidara packages, contact our team in Bolton and we will talk it through against your skies and your budget.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53958605602927,"sku":"ES-AR127820-MAZ01","price":1246.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/sidaraplus127v2.jpg?v=1785960657"},{"product_id":"explore-scientific-sidara-plus-150-newtonian-reflector-telescope","title":"Explore Scientific Sidara Plus 150mm Newtonian Reflector Telescope and Alt-Azimuth Mount with Sky Assist","description":"\u003ch2\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sidara Plus 150 is the light bucket of Explore Scientific's Sidara range: a 150 mm Newtonian reflector of 750 mm focal length, which works out to f\/5, supplied on the Sidara Plus alt-azimuth mount with dual-axis slow-motion controls, a tripod, and eyepieces and accessories per the package configuration. Explore Scientific describes it as a telescope that \"captures a significant amount of light, making faint deep sky objects more visible and detailed,\" and notes that \"the fast focal ratio enhances brightness and provides a wider field of view.\" It carries vendor item number ES-N150750-MAZ01 and is the largest aperture in the manual side of the Sidara line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuy this one if faint fuzzies are what you actually care about. A 150 mm mirror gathers about forty per cent more light than the 127 mm refractor alongside it in this range, and roughly two and a half times what a 90 mm Sidara Nano collects. That is the difference between an object being detectable and an object being interesting. Globular clusters like M13 begin to resolve into individual stars around the edges instead of looking like a fuzzy ball. The Orion Nebula shows wings and structure. The dust lane in the Andromeda Galaxy becomes findable from a reasonably dark site. Set expectations honestly, though: even at 150 mm, galaxies are grey smudges with shape, not colour photographs, and light-polluted suburban skies will cost you more deep sky detail than any aperture upgrade will win back. Driving forty minutes out of town does more for this telescope than any accessory you can buy for it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reflector-against-refractor question comes down to what you give up for that aperture. A Newtonian uses mirrors rather than lenses, so it has no chromatic aberration at all: no violet fringe on the Moon or on Jupiter, which the achromatic refractors in this range do show. You also get far more aperture per dollar, which is why this 150 mm package sits below the 127 mm refractor on price. In exchange you take on three things. The secondary mirror sits in the light path, which very slightly softens planetary contrast compared with a refractor of the same size. The optics need collimation, meaning occasional alignment of the mirrors, which is a five-minute job once you have done it twice but is genuinely a job. And at f\/5 the tube is fast enough that stars towards the edge of a wide field show a little coma, a small comet-shaped flare, which is a property of the design rather than a fault. If none of that bothers you, this is the most telescope in the group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e150 mm Newtonian reflector with a 750 mm focal length, giving a fast f\/5 system with a wide, bright field.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLargest aperture in the manual Sidara range and the strongest performer here on faint deep sky objects.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSidara Plus alt-azimuth mount with slow-motion controls on both axes, described by Explore Scientific as allowing \"precise tracking.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSky Assist integration, which Explore Scientific says \"simplifies navigation, allowing users to quickly locate targets and spend more time observing.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMirror optics with no chromatic aberration, so bright objects show no colour fringing at any magnification.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComplete package: 150 mm Newtonian tube, mount, tripod, and eyepieces and accessories per the package configuration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShort tube for its aperture, which keeps the whole assembly manageable to carry outside in one or two trips.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOptical Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Newtonian is the simplest useful reflecting telescope there is. Light travels down an open tube to a concave parabolic primary mirror at the bottom, bounces back up, and is intercepted by a small flat secondary mirror set at forty-five degrees near the top, which throws the focused image sideways out to the focuser and your eyepiece. Because the image is formed by reflection rather than refraction, every wavelength of light is bent by exactly the same amount, which is why a mirror telescope is inherently free of the colour error that limits an achromatic refractor. The f\/5 focal ratio here is the consequence of pairing a 150 mm mirror with only 750 mm of focal length: the light cone is steep, the image is bright and the field of view at any given eyepiece is wide, which makes finding objects by sweeping much easier for a beginner. The cost of that steep cone is tighter tolerances. A fast mirror needs its collimation to be closer to correct than a slow one does, and it asks a little more of the eyepiece at the edge of the field. In magnification terms the 750 mm focal length gives roughly 30x with a 25 mm eyepiece and about 75x with a 10 mm, with a practical ceiling near 200x on nights when the atmosphere cooperates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeep sky observing from dark or semi-dark sites: globular clusters, open clusters, nebulae and the brighter galaxies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWide-field sweeping along the Milky Way, where the f\/5 focal ratio and low-power eyepiece show large swathes of sky at once.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLunar observing, where the aperture reveals fine detail without any colour fringing along the limb.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlanetary viewing at moderate to high power, once the mirror has cooled and the collimation is good.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA first telescope for someone who has already decided that deep sky is what draws them, and who is willing to learn collimation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo accessories matter more for this telescope than for the refractors in the range. The first is a collimation tool, either a simple sight tube or a laser collimator, which turns mirror alignment from guesswork into a quick routine. The second is a decent low-power wide-field eyepiece, because at f\/5 the cheapest eyepieces show their weaknesses at the edge of the field and a better one repays itself immediately. A Moon filter is worth having as well, since 150 mm of aperture on a gibbous Moon is uncomfortably bright. Explore Scientific does not publish the focuser barrel size, the eyepiece specifications or the finder type for this package on its product page, so before you order a collimator or eyepieces to match, contact our team in Bolton and we will confirm the fitting for you. Whether the tube rings or dovetail will transfer to another mount later is model-dependent, and we are happy to check it rather than have you assume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific publishes no shipping weight for this item, so we are confirming it on our own scales before the listing goes live. That is why it is currently unpublished. Contact us and we will give you a shipping figure for your address. Two other things are worth saying plainly. First, this is a reflector, so it will need collimation, and a Newtonian that has travelled in a car boot will sometimes need a check before you observe. That is normal ownership rather than a defect, but if the idea of ever adjusting your own optics puts you off, the 127 mm refractor in the same range is the calmer choice. Second, Explore Scientific's product page for this package is light on detail. It states the aperture, the focal length and the mount type, and says eyepieces and accessories are included, but does not itemise which eyepieces or which finder ships in the box, and publishes no specification table. We will not guess at that, so ask us and we will confirm against the carton. This is a manual alt-azimuth mount with no motors and no GoTo, and it is not intended for astrophotography beyond casual lunar phone shots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Sky Assist do on this mount?\u003c\/strong\u003e Explore Scientific describes it on this package as navigation help, saying that Sky Assist \"simplifies navigation, allowing users to quickly locate targets and spend more time observing.\" On their motorised Sidara Pro mounts they describe it as letting users \"select targets and allow the mount to move the telescope into position,\" but the Sidara Plus mount is manual, so on this telescope it guides you to the target and you do the moving with the slow-motion controls. Explore Scientific has not published the full setup detail, and we would rather tell you that than invent it. Contact us and we will confirm the current specifics with the distributor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow often will I actually have to collimate it?\u003c\/strong\u003e In practice, a check every few sessions and a real adjustment a few times a year, more often if the telescope regularly travels in a vehicle. The first time takes half an hour and some reading; after that it is a few minutes before you observe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this better than the 130 mm Sidara Essential reflector?\u003c\/strong\u003e It gathers about a third more light, which is a visible step on faint objects, and it sits on the sturdier Plus mount. If your budget stretches and you have somewhere reasonably dark to observe from, the 150 mm is the better long-term buy. If portability and price matter more, the 130 mm gives up less than the numbers suggest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it for planets, or is it deep sky only?\u003c\/strong\u003e It is a capable planetary telescope. A well collimated 150 mm Newtonian will show Jupiter's belts, the Great Red Spot and Saturn's Cassini division on a steady night. A refractor of similar size has slightly cleaner contrast, but the difference is smaller than most beginners expect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sidara Plus 150 is the aperture answer in this range, and on deep sky objects it simply shows you more than anything else in the Sidara line. Ask yourself honestly whether you will keep the mirrors collimated and get the telescope to darker skies, because those two habits matter more than the specification does. If you want help deciding between this and the 127 mm refractor, contact our team in Bolton and we will work through it with you.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53958645710959,"sku":"ES-N150750-MAZ01","price":969.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/sidara_plus_150_v2.jpg?v=1785960726"},{"product_id":"explore-scientific-sidara-essential-102-refractor-telescope","title":"Explore Scientific Sidara Essential 102mm Refractor Telescope and Alt-Azimuth Mount with Sky Assist","description":"\u003ch2\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sidara Essential 102 pairs a 102 mm refractor with Explore Scientific's Essential alt-azimuth mount, a tripod, and eyepieces and accessories per the package configuration. Explore Scientific describes the combination as \"a balanced system focused on brightness, versatility, and ease of use,\" with \"smooth slow motion controls and adjustable positioning\" on both axes, and calls it \"an excellent choice for those who want a dependable, all around telescope that is easy to use and capable of delivering consistent results.\" It carries vendor item number ES-AR102660-MAZ01-ST10. A four-inch refractor on a steady alt-azimuth head has been the standard recommendation for a first telescope for decades, and this is Explore Scientific's current version of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the sensible middle of the Sidara range, and probably the most defensible choice if you are buying a first telescope for yourself or as a gift and do not yet know which direction the interest will run. At 102 mm it collects around a third more light than the 90 mm Sidara Nano and about forty per cent less than the 127 mm Sidara Plus, which in practice puts it comfortably past the threshold where a telescope stops being a novelty. Expect the Moon to be the object that converts people, with craters and mountain shadows in real relief. Saturn will clearly show its rings, Jupiter its cloud belts and four moons, Venus its phase. On deep sky objects a four-inch refractor from a suburban garden will show you the Orion Nebula, the Pleiades, the double cluster in Perseus, the brighter globulars as soft round glows, and the Andromeda Galaxy as an elongated smudge. What it will not show is colour in those objects, and no telescope will, because the eye's colour vision simply does not work at that light level. Anyone expecting Hubble images from an eyepiece is going to be disappointed by every telescope ever made, which is worth saying out loud before a gift is unwrapped.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoosing the refractor over the 130 mm Essential reflector at a similar tier is a trade between convenience and raw aperture. The refractor arrives aligned and stays aligned, has a sealed tube that keeps dust off the optics, and needs no maintenance ritual at all, which matters a great deal if the intended owner is a child, a gift recipient, or anyone who will lose interest if the equipment demands homework. It also has cleaner contrast on the Moon and planets because there is no secondary mirror sitting in the light path. The reflector counters with more aperture for less money and no colour fringing. This 102 mm objective is an achromat, so on the very brightest targets, the limb of a full Moon or Venus low in twilight, you will see a faint violet-blue edge. It is a known characteristic of the design rather than a fault, and most people stop noticing it within a few sessions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e102 mm aperture refractor, the classic four-inch size long recommended as a capable first telescope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEssential alt-azimuth mount with dual-axis slow-motion controls for smooth, geared tracking on both axes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdjustable mount positioning, which Explore Scientific highlights for comfortable viewing even on objects high in the sky.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSky Assist compatibility, which Explore Scientific says \"helps users explore the night sky more efficiently.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSealed refractor tube with no central obstruction, no diffraction spikes and no collimation to maintain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSupplied complete: 102 mm refractor tube, Essential mount, tripod, and eyepieces and accessories per the package configuration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePositioned by Explore Scientific as the all-round choice in the Sidara line rather than a specialist for one kind of target.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOptical Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn achromatic refractor of this class uses a two-element objective: a crown glass lens and a flint glass lens of differing dispersion, cemented or air-spaced, chosen so that two wavelengths of light come to focus at the same point. That correction is what makes the image usable, but it is only a correction at two wavelengths, so the far violet end of the spectrum lands slightly out of focus and appears as a soft halo around very bright objects. Aperture governs both light grasp and resolution, and at 102 mm the theoretical resolving limit is a little over one arcsecond, which is enough to split many attractive double stars and to show real texture in lunar terrain. Explore Scientific does not publish a focal length or focal ratio for this package on its product page, describing only a \"moderate focal length\"; the vendor item number ES-AR102660 follows the company's usual convention of encoding aperture and focal length, which would put it at 660 mm and roughly f\/6.5, and that matches the pattern of the other packages in the series. We would rather flag that as a reasonable reading of the item number than present it as a published figure, so contact our team in Bolton and we will confirm it against the carton before you order eyepieces around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLunar observing, which is where a four-inch refractor makes its strongest first impression.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlanetary viewing of Saturn, Jupiter, Venus and Mars at moderate to high magnification.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBright deep sky objects from suburban skies: open clusters, the brighter nebulae and the larger globulars.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDaytime terrestrial viewing with an erecting diagonal, which a refractor handles better than a Newtonian.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA first telescope as a gift, where low maintenance and quick setup matter as much as the optical specification.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe package includes eyepieces and accessories, though Explore Scientific does not itemise them on the product page. The additions worth considering first are a higher-power eyepiece around 8 mm to 10 mm for planetary nights, a neutral density Moon filter, and an erecting prism diagonal if terrestrial daytime use is part of the plan. Because the vendor does not publish the focuser barrel size, the finder type or the supplied diagonal for this package, do not order eyepieces or filters on assumption. Contact us and we will confirm whether it takes 1.25-inch or 2-inch fittings before anything ships. The same goes for the Essential mount's stated load capacity and dovetail standard, which Explore Scientific has not published; if you are thinking about putting a different tube on this mount later, or this tube on a different mount, ask us and we will check the specifics rather than guess on your behalf.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific publishes no shipping weight for this item, so we are confirming it on our own scales before the listing goes live. That is why it is currently unpublished. Contact us and we will give you a shipping figure for your address. It is also fair to say that the vendor's published detail on this package is sparse. There is no specification table, no focal length figure, and no itemised accessory list, and where we have inferred a figure above from the item number we have said so rather than dressed it up as a specification. Practically, note that this is a manual mount with no motors and no GoTo function, so you point the telescope yourself and use the slow-motion controls to keep an object in view as the sky drifts. It is not an astrophotography instrument. And as with any telescope, a first evening spent assembling it indoors and aligning the finder in daylight will save a great deal of frustration on the first clear night.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is Sky Assist, in plain terms?\u003c\/strong\u003e On this package Explore Scientific describes it only as a way to \"explore the night sky more efficiently,\" and elsewhere in the Sidara line as guidance that helps you find celestial targets and spend less time searching. On their motorised Sidara Pro mounts they say Sky Assist lets users \"select targets and allow the mount to move the telescope into position,\" but this is a manual mount, so here it points you at the target and you move the telescope yourself. Explore Scientific has not published the full requirements or setup process, and we are not going to invent app features on their behalf. Ask us and we will confirm the current details with the distributor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs 102 mm enough aperture to be worth it?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. Four inches is the point at which the Moon, the planets and the brighter deep sky objects all become genuinely rewarding rather than merely visible. More aperture always shows more, but a 102 mm refractor that gets used regularly beats a larger telescope that stays in its box.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShould I get this or the 130 mm Essential reflector?\u003c\/strong\u003e Choose this if you want zero maintenance, cleaner planetary contrast, and the option of daytime use. Choose the 130 mm reflector if faint deep sky objects are the draw and you are willing to learn collimation. They sit at similar tiers, so it is genuinely a preference rather than a step up or down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it suitable for a child?\u003c\/strong\u003e For a supervised child, yes, and the refractor's lack of collimation is a real advantage there. The tripod and mount are adult-sized, so expect to help with setup and with getting the eyepiece to a comfortable height.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sidara Essential 102 is the safe, sensible answer in this range: enough aperture to show the things that make people keep observing, and no maintenance to get in the way. If you are choosing between it, the 130 mm reflector and the smaller Nano 90, contact our team in Bolton and we will help you match it to your skies and to who will actually be using it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53958671237231,"sku":"ES-AR102660-MAZ01-ST10","price":692.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/sidara_essential_102_v2.jpg?v=1785960797"},{"product_id":"explore-scientific-sidara-essential-130-newtonian-reflector-telescope","title":"Explore Scientific Sidara Essential 130mm Newtonian Reflector Telescope and Alt-Azimuth Mount with Sky Assist","description":"\u003ch2\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sidara Essential 130 is a 130 mm Newtonian reflector of 650 mm focal length, which works out to f\/5, supplied on Explore Scientific's Essential alt-azimuth mount with a tripod and eyepieces and accessories per the package configuration. Explore Scientific writes that \"the 130 mm aperture captures more light, revealing greater detail in deep sky objects such as nebulae and galaxies,\" and that \"the 650 mm focal length provides a wide field of view that makes locating objects easier.\" They position it as a package \"for those looking to step up in performance while maintaining ease of use.\" It carries vendor item number ES-N130650-MAZ01-ST10.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf the five Sidara packages, this is the one that gives you the most aperture for the least money, and that is not a small thing when you are buying a first telescope. Against the 90 mm Sidara Nano it collects roughly twice the light; against the 102 mm Essential refractor it collects about sixty per cent more. What that actually looks like at the eyepiece is more deep sky objects being worth looking at rather than merely being detectable. The Moon and planets are still the reliable crowd-pleasers, with Jupiter's belts, Saturn's rings and lunar craters all easy at moderate power. Beyond those, the Orion Nebula shows real shape, M13 in Hercules starts to look grainy at its edges instead of uniformly fuzzy, and open clusters are genuinely beautiful. It is worth being blunt with a gift buyer, though: galaxies through any beginner telescope are faint grey ovals, not the coloured spirals in posters, and from a bright suburban street they may be barely there at all. That is the sky's fault, not the telescope's, and a short drive to darker countryside changes the picture more than any upgrade would.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoosing a reflector at this price means accepting a small amount of ownership work in return for aperture. There is no colour fringing at all, because mirrors bend every wavelength identically, so bright objects look cleaner than they do through the achromatic refractors in this range. You pay for that with collimation, the periodic alignment of the two mirrors, which is a short routine once learned but is a routine nonetheless, and with a secondary mirror sitting in the light path that slightly reduces planetary contrast against a refractor of the same size. The open tube also needs time to cool to outdoor temperature before the image settles. If the telescope is destined for a younger child or for someone who will be put off by any maintenance at all, the 102 mm Essential refractor is the kinder choice even though it shows less. If the buyer is curious and does not mind learning one mechanical skill, this is more telescope for the money.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e130 mm Newtonian reflector at 650 mm focal length, an f\/5 system with a wide, bright field.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe best aperture-per-dollar position in the Sidara range, and a clear step up in light grasp from the Nano packages.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEssential alt-azimuth mount with dual-axis slow-motion controls for smooth, controlled tracking.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdjustable mount design, which Explore Scientific notes \"allows for comfortable viewing positions, even when observing objects high in the sky.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSky Assist integration, described by Explore Scientific as helping \"simplify navigation, allowing users to quickly find and observe celestial targets.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMirror optics with no chromatic aberration, so no violet fringing on the Moon, Venus or Jupiter at any power.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSupplied complete: 130 mm Newtonian tube, Essential mount, tripod, and eyepieces and accessories per the package configuration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOptical Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe f\/5 focal ratio is the most consequential number on this specification sheet, and it cuts both ways. A short focal length relative to aperture produces a wide true field of view at any given eyepiece, which is exactly what a beginner on a manual mount needs: a wider field means an object you have aimed at roughly is still likely to be somewhere in view, and it means less frequent correction as the sky drifts. That is why Explore Scientific specifically credits the 650 mm focal length with making objects \"easier\" to locate. The cost of a fast light cone is that it is less forgiving. Collimation errors that a slow telescope would tolerate become visible at f\/5, and inexpensive eyepieces show coma and edge softness that better ones control. In magnification terms, 650 mm of focal length divided by a 25 mm eyepiece gives about 26x for wide sweeping, and a 10 mm gives about 65x, which is a sensible planetary starting point. The practical ceiling for a 130 mm aperture is around 150x to 180x on a typical night, and pushing much beyond that trades detail for a larger, dimmer, mushier image. Beware any claim that a telescope of this size delivers several hundred times magnification usefully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeep sky observing on a budget: nebulae, open and globular clusters, and the brighter galaxies from darker sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWide-field sweeping of the Milky Way, where the f\/5 focal ratio shows large regions of sky in a single view.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLunar detail at moderate to high power, entirely free of colour fringing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlanetary observing of Jupiter and Saturn once the mirror has cooled and collimation is good.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA first telescope for a teenager or adult who wants maximum aperture for the money and will learn to collimate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBudget for a collimation tool alongside this telescope. A simple sight tube or a laser collimator turns mirror alignment from an intimidating unknown into a two-minute check, and at f\/5 it makes a visible difference to image quality. After that, a better low-power wide-field eyepiece is the single upgrade that will most improve the views, because fast focal ratios expose the limits of basic eyepieces at the edge of the field. A neutral density Moon filter is worth adding too. Explore Scientific does not publish the focuser barrel size, the eyepiece specifications, the finder type or the mount's load capacity for this package, so before you order a collimator, eyepieces or filters, contact our team in Bolton and we will confirm whether it takes 1.25-inch or 2-inch fittings. If you are considering moving this tube onto a different mount later, or a different tube onto the Essential head, that is genuinely model-dependent and we would rather check it for you than have you order on assumption.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific publishes no shipping weight for this item, so we are confirming it on our own scales before the listing goes live. That is why it is currently unpublished. Contact us and we will give you a shipping figure for your address. Two further points are worth making plainly. First, the vendor's product page carries no specification table and does not itemise which eyepieces, finder or diagonal are in the box, saying only that eyepieces and accessories are included per the package configuration. We will not fill those gaps with guesses, so ask us and we will confirm against the carton before you order. Second, this is a manual alt-azimuth mount with no motors and no GoTo, and a Newtonian reflector will need collimation, particularly after it has travelled in a vehicle. Neither is a drawback exactly, but both are things a first-time buyer is better off knowing in advance than discovering on a cold night. It is not an astrophotography telescope.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Sky Assist actually do here?\u003c\/strong\u003e Explore Scientific describes it on this package as navigation help that \"simplifies navigation, allowing users to quickly find and observe celestial targets.\" On their motorised Sidara Pro mounts they describe Sky Assist as letting users \"select targets and allow the mount to move the telescope into position,\" but the Essential mount is manual, so on this telescope it guides you to a target and you make the movement yourself with the slow-motion controls. Explore Scientific has not published what the feature requires or how it is set up, and we are not going to describe app features they have not documented. Contact us and we will confirm the current details with the distributor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow hard is collimation really?\u003c\/strong\u003e Easier than its reputation. It is the adjustment of three screws behind the primary mirror while looking through a sight tube, and once you have done it twice it takes a couple of minutes. Expect to check it every few sessions and after the telescope has been transported.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the jump to the 150 mm Sidara Plus worth the extra money?\u003c\/strong\u003e The 150 mm gathers about a third more light and comes on the heavier Plus mount, so it is a real step rather than a marketing one. Whether it is worth it depends on how dark your skies are; under heavy light pollution the extra aperture is partly wasted, and under rural skies it is very much not.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I look at things on the ground with it?\u003c\/strong\u003e Not usefully. A Newtonian gives an inverted image and has a very long minimum focus distance, so it is a poor terrestrial instrument. If daytime use matters to you, the 102 mm Essential refractor is the one to choose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sidara Essential 130 is the value pick of this group: the most light-gathering area for the money, on a mount with proper geared controls, in a package that a beginner can learn on without being overwhelmed. The trade is a small amount of collimation work, which most owners find takes minutes rather than evenings. If you would like help deciding between this, the 102 mm refractor and the larger 150 mm, contact our team in Bolton and we will talk it through.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53958699384943,"sku":"ES-N130650-MAZ01-ST10","price":553.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/sidara_essential_130_v2.jpg?v=1785960874"},{"product_id":"explore-scientific-sidara-nano-90-refractor-telescope","title":"Explore Scientific Sidara Nano 90mm Refractor Telescope and Alt-Azimuth Mount with Sky Assist","description":"\u003ch2\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sidara Nano 90 is the entry point to Explore Scientific's Sidara range: a 90 mm refractor of 700 mm focal length, which works out to about f\/7.8, on the compact Nano alt-azimuth mount with a slow-motion control system, a tripod, and eyepieces and accessories. Explore Scientific describes it as \"a compact and highly approachable system\" that gives \"a balanced combination of magnification and clarity,\" and says it is \"well suited for observing the Moon, planets, and brighter deep sky objects, offering sharp and stable views.\" It carries vendor item number ES-AR90700-MAZ-NANO and is the lightest and simplest package in the series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the one to buy when portability and simplicity matter more than aperture, and it is the most realistic gift telescope in the range. Ninety millimetres is a genuine, useful aperture rather than a toy: it will show the Moon in real detail, Saturn's rings unmistakably, Jupiter's two main cloud belts and its four bright moons, the phases of Venus, the Orion Nebula, the Pleiades, the double cluster in Perseus, and the brighter globular clusters as soft round glows. That list is enough to keep a curious beginner busy for years. What it will not do is compete on faint deep sky objects. Galaxies beyond the very brightest will be difficult or invisible from a suburban garden, and even under dark skies they are faint grey patches. Nothing at this aperture shows colour in nebulae, because human colour vision does not operate at those light levels, so a gift recipient expecting the images they have seen online needs that expectation adjusted before the box is opened rather than after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSet against the larger telescopes in this group, the trade is honest and worth understanding. The 102 mm Essential refractor collects about a third more light, and the 150 mm Plus reflector collects nearly three times as much, so each step up genuinely shows more. But light grasp is only half the story for a first telescope. The Nano 90 is the one that is light enough to carry outside on a whim, quick enough to set up that a clear half hour is worth using, and simple enough that nobody has to be taught anything before they look through it. A telescope that gets used every clear week shows its owner far more over a year than a bigger one that stays in a cupboard. There is also a real optical advantage hiding in the specification: at roughly f\/7.8 this is the slowest, most gently corrected refractor in the range, so it shows noticeably less violet fringing on the Moon and on bright planets than the faster 102 mm and 127 mm achromats do. Small aperture, but clean images.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e90 mm aperture refractor with a 700 mm focal length, giving a relatively slow f\/7.8 system with well-controlled colour error.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompact Nano alt-azimuth mount with a slow-motion control system for smooth tracking, described by Explore Scientific as \"making it easier to follow objects across the sky.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe lightest and most portable package in the Sidara line, intended to be carried out and set up quickly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSky Assist compatibility, which Explore Scientific says helps \"guide users to celestial targets, reducing the learning curve and improving the overall experience.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSealed refractor tube with no mirrors to align, so there is no collimation and no maintenance routine.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSupplied complete: 90 mm refractor tube, Nano mount, tripod, and eyepieces and accessories.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUsable for daytime terrestrial viewing with an appropriate erecting diagonal, which reflectors cannot manage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOptical Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFocal ratio is the quiet hero of this specification. A doublet achromat brings two wavelengths to a common focus and leaves the rest slightly astray, and the size of that residual error shrinks as the telescope gets slower, which is to say as the focal ratio number gets larger. At f\/7.8 the 90 mm objective here is meaningfully better corrected than the faster achromatic refractors elsewhere in the Sidara line, so bright objects show a cleaner edge with less of the violet halo that faster achromats produce. The 700 mm focal length also gives comfortable magnifications without extreme eyepieces: a 25 mm eyepiece yields about 28x for wide, easy views, and a 10 mm yields about 70x, which is a good working power for the Moon and planets. The realistic upper limit for a 90 mm aperture is somewhere around 150x, and atmospheric steadiness rather than the optics will usually be what stops you. Mechanically, the Nano mount moves in altitude and azimuth, the two directions a beginner instinctively expects, and its slow-motion control lets you follow an object as the Earth's rotation carries it out of the field without bumping the tube off target, which is the difference between comfortable viewing and constant re-aiming above about 50x.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLunar observing, where 90 mm of clean aperture shows craters, mountain ranges and terminator shadows in detail.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlanetary viewing of Saturn, Jupiter and Venus at moderate magnification.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBright star clusters and the brighter nebulae from suburban or semi-rural skies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTravel and grab-and-go observing, including camping trips and cottage weekends where bulk is the deciding factor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDaytime terrestrial and wildlife viewing with a suitable erecting diagonal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe package includes eyepieces and accessories, but Explore Scientific does not itemise them, publish the focuser barrel size, or state the finder and diagonal supplied. That matters here more than usual, because a 90 mm refractor is the size where a single good eyepiece changes the experience noticeably. If you want a higher-power eyepiece in the 6 mm to 9 mm range for planetary nights, or an erecting prism for daytime use, contact our team in Bolton and we will confirm whether the focuser takes 1.25-inch fittings before you order anything. A neutral density Moon filter is a modest and worthwhile addition. If you are thinking about whether this tube could later ride on a larger mount, or whether the Nano head could carry a heavier telescope, that is genuinely model-dependent and Explore Scientific has not published a load rating, so ask us and we will check rather than guess.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific publishes no shipping weight for this item, so we are confirming it on our own scales before the listing goes live. That is why it is currently unpublished. Contact us and we will give you a shipping figure for your address. Beyond that, be realistic about the mount rather than the optics. The Nano is the lightest head in the Sidara range and is matched to this small tube; a light mount is easy to carry but will also settle more slowly after you touch the focuser, so expect a second or two of vibration at higher powers. That is normal for a compact package at this size. The vendor publishes no specification table and no itemised accessory list for this telescope, so we are not going to state what is in the box beyond what they say. This is a manual mount with no motors and no GoTo, and it is not intended for astrophotography beyond casual phone shots of the Moon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is Sky Assist and what does it require?\u003c\/strong\u003e Explore Scientific describes it on this package as guidance that helps \"guide users to celestial targets, reducing the learning curve and improving the overall experience.\" On their motorised Sidara Pro mounts they say Sky Assist lets users \"select targets and allow the mount to move the telescope into position,\" but the Nano is a manual mount, so here it points you toward a target and you move the telescope by hand. Explore Scientific has not published what the feature needs in order to run or how it is configured, and we would rather say so than describe features they have not documented. Contact us and we will confirm the current details with the distributor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs 90 mm big enough to be worth buying?\u003c\/strong\u003e For the Moon, the planets and bright clusters and nebulae, comfortably yes. For faint galaxies and dim nebulae, no, and you should step up to the 130 mm or 150 mm reflector if those are what you are after. Most beginners spend their first year on the objects a 90 mm handles well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a good telescope for a child?\u003c\/strong\u003e It is the best choice in this range for that. It is light enough for a child to help carry, there is no collimation to learn, and the eyepiece sits at a manageable height. Expect an adult to handle setup and finder alignment for the first few sessions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does it compare with a good pair of binoculars?\u003c\/strong\u003e It shows considerably more. Binoculars are better for wide star fields and are more portable still, but they cannot deliver the magnification needed to show Saturn's rings or lunar crater detail, which is where this telescope earns its place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sidara Nano 90 is a small telescope that is honest about being one, and it does the things beginners actually spend their time on very well: the Moon, the planets, bright clusters, and getting outside quickly. Its slower focal ratio gives it cleaner images than its bigger achromatic siblings, which is a fair consolation for the aperture. If you are not sure whether to start here or step up to the 102 mm or 130 mm, contact our team in Bolton and we will help you match it to your skies and to who will be using it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53958722093167,"sku":"ES-AR90700-MAZ-NANO","price":415.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/sidara_nano_90_v2.jpg?v=1785960942"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/collections\/ES-N114500-MAZ-NANO_2.webp?v=1776182982","url":"https:\/\/ontariotelescope.com\/collections\/explore-scientific-begginner.oembed","provider":"Ontario Telescope and Accessories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}