The Vixen A81M achromatic refractor shows point-like stars and crisp images of the Moon and planets. This is ensured by the achromatic lens made of convex crown glass and concave flint glass with an air gap (optical design according to Joseph von Fraunhofer). This lens arrangement reduces the colour aberration that all lenses exhibit.
The favourable aperture ratio also contributes to this: with f/10 or less, achromatic lenses are practically free of colour aberrations. The long focal length allows for high magnification.
All air-glass surfaces of the objective lens are multi-coated to maximise light transmission. The result is a bright image. Well-built refracting telescopes such as the A81M from Vixen achieve a sharpness that mirror telescopes with their light-diffracting secondary mirrors can only dream of.
The Achromat A81M is stable and robust. Weighing less than three kilograms and less than a metre long, it is also very portable – a good choice for beginners and advanced users alike!
Made in Japan: The A81M is manufactured entirely in Japan!
The Advanced Polaris equatorial mount is ideal for beginners, but also for more experienced observers who are looking for a light travel mount.
The Advanced Polaris not only has a very stylish design, but also some powerful features under the hood, as the illustration on the right shows. An aluminium gearwheel with a 58.4mm diameter and 144 teeth allows fine adjustments to the axes, as well as 9mm diameter worm shafts, each supported by two bearings - that’s precision engineering at its best!
What is special about the Advanced Polaris is the adjustable slipper clutch: without having to unlock anything, you can simply move your telescope in the direction in which you want to point it. The exact centering of the eyepiece is then done using rotary knobs. The slipper clutch works even if your Advanced Polaris is equipped with motors (AP-SM). This allows you to quickly and intuitively navigate the sky.
In order to align the mount to the north, you can use either a polar finder scope, or the compass of the of the Vixen Polarie photo mount. The Advanced Polaris has connectors for both options. The compass has the advantage that you do not need to bend down under the mount, and also don’t need a view of the Polar Star for alignment. The polar finder and compass can be found under “recommended accessories”. In summary: thanks to the extensive accessories available, the mount can be enhanced to suit all your needs.
The APP-TL130 tripod was developed for the Advanced Polaris mount, it it is also compatible with the Porta II, GP and fork mounts from Vixen.
The APP-TL130 tripod guarantees both portability and stability for astronomical observations. Retracted it measures only 60 centimeters and is therefore an ideal companion for people on the go. The tripod can be extended to a maximum height of 130 centimeters. The tips of the tripod legs have a retractable rubber cover, which protects the floor from scratches.
It not only matters which telescope you buy but also where you buy it. Our additional services:
- We are a leading telescope dealer and know the devices we sell. Our customer service team will gladly help you after your purchase if you have problems with assembly or operation.
- We provide a copy of the 80-page Telescope ABC beginners handbook with every telescope.
