Explore Scientific 8x50 Illuminated Right Angle Polar Finder Scope with Illuminator II

Product Overview

The Explore Scientific 8x50 Illuminated Right Angle Polar Finder Scope is a 50mm finder that magnifies 8x, views through a 90° erect-image eyepiece, and carries a polar alignment crosshair reticle lit by the Illuminator II unit. Explore Scientific publishes a 7° field of view, 24.1mm of eye relief, dimensions of 200mm x 62mm x 112mm and a weight of 1 lb, 9.1 oz.

Two things separate it from a plain straight-through finder. The first is the right-angle eyepiece, which means the observer looks down into the finder rather than crouching along the tube — the difference is most obvious when the telescope is pointed anywhere near the pole, which is exactly where a polar finder is used. The second is the erect image: what appears in the finder has the same orientation as the sky, so moving the mount moves the view in the direction you expect instead of the reverse.

The reticle carries dual polar reference markings, one set for the northern hemisphere and one for the southern, and the illuminator produces a deep red glow adjustable by a variable brightness knob so the reticle can be dimmed to the point where faint alignment stars are still visible behind it.

Who It's For

• Equatorial mount owners whose mount has no built-in polar scope, or one whose reticle has become hard to read.
• Imagers who need repeatable polar alignment at the start of every session, where a few arcminutes of error shows up directly as field rotation over a long sub-exposure.
• Observers with awkward sightlines: a straight-through finder aimed near Polaris asks for a posture most people can hold for about ten seconds. The 90° eyepiece removes that.
• Anyone who finds star-hopping through an inverted finder disorienting — the erect image keeps the finder view matched to a printed chart or a planetarium app.
• Southern hemisphere users: the reticle carries southern reference markings alongside the northern ones.

Key Features & Design

• 8x50 optics: a 50mm objective at 8x, which is the combination that puts enough light through to show the faint stars used for polar reference while holding a usable exit pupil.
• 90° erect-image eyepiece: the view is upright and correct left-to-right, and the eye position is comfortable when the finder is aimed high or near the pole.
• 7° true field of view: roughly fourteen lunar diameters across, wide enough that the polar region can be recognised as a pattern rather than hunted for star by star.
• 24.1mm of eye relief: generous by finder standards, which makes the finder usable with eyeglasses on.
• Polar alignment crosshair reticle with reference markings for both the northern and southern hemispheres.
• Illuminator II unit: deep red illumination on a variable brightness knob, described by Explore Scientific as a long battery life design, running on two AAA batteries.
• Published size and weight: 200mm x 62mm x 112mm, 1 lb, 9.1 oz.
• Multiple base options: Explore Scientific states the finder is compatible with several finder scope base patterns.

Recommended Uses

• Polar alignment of German equatorial and other equatorial mounts before a visual or imaging session.
• General finding and star-hopping, where the erect 7° field matches a chart directly.
• Replacing a fixed polar scope on a mount whose reticle pattern is outdated or dim.
• Sessions where the telescope sits low or the pole is awkward to reach with a straight-through finder.
• Travel setups that are polar aligned fresh at every site.

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

• Mounting: Explore Scientific describes this finder as compatible with multiple finder scope base options. Which bracket suits your telescope depends on the shoe already fitted — send us the make and model of the scope or mount and we will identify the matching base.
• Batteries: two AAA cells run the Illuminator II, and they are supplied separately.
• Polar alignment routine: the reticle carries both northern and southern reference markings, so the same finder travels between hemispheres.
• Eyeglass wearers: 24.1mm of eye relief is ample for observing with glasses on, which is unusual in a finder of this size.
• Alongside a red-dot finder: many observers run both — a zero-power sight for gross pointing and an 8x50 for the fine work. Both can co-exist if the telescope has two shoes.
• Reticle brightness: the variable knob is what lets the illumination be dropped low enough that a faint alignment star stays visible next to a lit crosshair.

Good to Know Before You Order

• Batteries are not included. Two AAA cells are what the Illuminator II runs on, and they are easy to add to the order.
• A finder is only as good as its bracket. Explore Scientific lists compatibility with multiple base patterns rather than shipping one universal fitting. Tell us what telescope this is going on and we will confirm which base matches before it ships.
• Explore Scientific does not publish the objective coating specification for this finder, so that row is absent below rather than estimated. If it is a deciding factor, we can put the question to our rep.
• Polar alignment through any polar scope depends on the finder being aligned to the mount's polar axis first. That is a one-time adjustment using the finder's own adjustment screws, and it holds until the finder is removed.
• At 1 lb, 9.1 oz this is a substantial finder, and on a small telescope it counts against the balance. On a short refractor it is worth rebalancing the tube in its rings after fitting it — a two-minute job that pays back in tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to set up?

No. It fits into a matching finder base, the batteries go into the Illuminator II, and the only real task is aligning the finder to the telescope or to the mount's polar axis using its adjustment screws — done once in daylight or on a bright star, and it holds.

What does erect image mean in practice?

The view is the right way up and the right way round, so it matches a star chart or an app directly. A conventional straight-through finder inverts the field, which makes nudging the mount toward a target a mirror-image exercise.

Can I use it as a normal finder as well as a polar finder?

Yes. The 7° erect field at 8x is a capable general-purpose finder; the polar crosshair simply gives it a second job.

Does it work in the southern hemisphere?

Yes — the reticle carries dual polar reference markings covering both hemispheres.

How bright is the illumination?

Deep red and adjustable by a variable brightness knob, so it can be turned down far enough that a dim alignment star is still visible against the lit reticle.

Will it fit my telescope?

That depends on the finder shoe already on your telescope, since Explore Scientific offers this finder with more than one base option. Send us the telescope model and we will match the base for you.

Can I observe with glasses on?

Yes — 24.1mm of eye relief is enough to take in the full 7° field with spectacles in place.

Bottom Line

In short: an 8x50 finder with a 90° erect-image eyepiece, a 7° field, 24.1mm of eye relief and a dual-hemisphere polar crosshair lit by the variable-brightness Illuminator II — a comfortable way to polar align and a genuinely useful general finder the rest of the night. If you would like us to match the correct base to your telescope before it ships, send us the model and we will sort it out.