{"title":"Explore Scientific Newtonian Reflectors","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific's Newtonians are complete telescopes for visual observing: the Sidara Nano 114, Sidara Essential 130 and Sidara Plus 150 on alt-azimuth mounts, the latter two with Sky Assist, and a 114mm f\/4.4 reflector on an equatorial mount. Part of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/reflectors\"\u003eReflector \u0026amp; Newtonian Telescopes\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"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":252.95,"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":"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":281.95,"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-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":887.95,"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-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":506.95,"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"}],"url":"https:\/\/ontariotelescope.com\/collections\/reflectors-explore-scientific.oembed","provider":"Ontario Telescope and Accessories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}