Reflectors

SW EvoStar 100ED APO Refractor: When You Demand the Best!

Sky-Watcher is a leader in the design and manufacturer of ED-APO systems. Sky-Watcher offers one of the most extensive lines of ED-APOCHROMATIC refractors in the world.  Using only the finest fabrication materials available, Sky-Watcher APO refractors are manufactured to painstakingly rigorous, exacting standards of optical and mechanical quality to insure the amateur astronomer peak performance and a great experience each and every time a Sky-Watcher ED-APO is taken into the field.  We know the amateur astronomer has very high expectations regarding astronomical equipment purchases.  Sky-Watcher has been delivering consistent satisfaction for decades.  This telescope is designed for a lifetime of astronomical enjoyment!

Observing with the Sky-Watcher EvoStar 100ED 100mm Refractor

Turning the telescope to the first quarter Moon, the Apennine Mountains snap into focus revealing a cornucopia of jagged mountain ridges, canyons, and numerous small craters in razor-sharp detail.  Not far removed, reaching skyward the crater wall of Archimedes pops into view in bold relief against the smooth flatlands that transverse the distance between it and the Apennine Mountains.  This is lunar observing at its best – HD style.  The gas giant Jupiter displays its swirling equatorial bands in high-definition with festoons, and tonality within the bands.  The great spot is clearly visible, discreetly contrasted from the surrounding Jovian landscape.  Saturn’s storied surface phenomenon is simply stunning.  Hunt down double stars like Epsilon Lyrae, the “double-double" in Lyra.  A 100mm refractor will provide a crisp well defined image superior to even a larger reflector.  Always a star-party favorite, Alberio located in the tail of Cygnus never fails to please as it is a beautiful double.  Alberio appears like a gold sparkler and its companion looks blue-green.  It is a perfect refractor object.  Compact globular star clusters lend themselves well to a refractor. Located outside our galaxy the globular M2 will probably resolve more stars in a 4" refractor than a 6" reflector.  M4, M10 and many other globular cluster can be seen well with a 100mm refractor.  M13, the fantastic globular in Hercules is a stunning sight in a 100mm refractor.  The bright central cores of prominent nebulae can be seen and the brightest stars can be resolved.  This is just the beginning of an incredible journey of exploration possible with a SW ED-APO 100mm refractor. As an astrograph, the SW EvoStar 100ED APO performs superbly delivering crisp, high-fidelity imaging of planetary, lunar and aperture appropriate deep-space phenomenon.

Refractors—the Ultimate Imaging Instruments

In a given aperture size, refractors will always exhibit sharper images than other optical designs because the refractor concentrates more light into the central airy-disk and first diffraction rings.  There is no diffraction pattern interference caused by a diagonal mirror, or secondary mirror being suspended in the optical path (central obstruction) as is the case with reflectors.

Sky-Watcher ED-APOs—the Ultimate Refractors

Sky-Watcher ED-APO refractors provide the finest images obtainable—bar none—in their design class.  If you are on a quest for the ultimate in pristine, near textbook-perfect astronomical imaging, look no further!  Sky-Watcher ED apochromatic refractors deliver dramatic coal-back skies and faithful, contrast-rich views of planetary and deep-space phenomenon that are second to none.  Sky-Watcher ED-APO refractors are the logical choice as an investment in advanced instrumentation for exceptional viewing or photography.

Virtually Eliminates Residual Chromatic Aberration

The Sky-Watcher ED-APO design assures virtual elimination of residual “false color" (i.e. chromatic aberration) normally present in 2-element achromatic lens designs which utilize standard crown and flint glasses. Sky-Watcher APO refractors utilize the finest extra-low dispersion (ED) glass available, FPL-53. This results in the best color correction for an ED doublet lens.

Schott Glass Used in Selected Models for Crown Element

Select models of ED-APO refractors will benefit from the inclusion of Schott glass being used for the positive front Crown element in the objective.  Schott is the recognized world leader in glass utilized for precision optical lens systems, including medical instrumentation, and famous-brand camera lenses.  While Schott glass is only used in selected models, all other models utilize top-quality, Grade-A glass from perhaps less famous but, nonetheless, highly respected, high-quality glass manufacturers.

Pride and Perfection in Optical Manufacturing

Every lens element is individually inspected for purity and absence of striae and other image-degrading imperfections.   Every lens is pitched polished to exacting standards of optical fabrication and performance by highly skilled opticians utilizing state-of-the-art methodology and rigidly controlled optical testing procedures.  The result is high-quality, diffraction-limited optics performing to the theoretical limits of their respective aperture sizes.  All lenses are uniformly air-spaced in their cell housings.

Metallic High-Transmission Lens Coatings 

Each air-to-glass lens surface has exotic anti-reflection metallic coatings applied to ensure optimum light through-put.  The proprietary Sky-Watcher “Metallic High-Transmission Coatings" (MHC) are the finest photon anti-rejection coatings in their class.

Light-Baffled Optical Systems

The objective lens cell is light-baffled to reject stray, unfocused light.  The draw tube is likewise baffled to insure optimum contrast.  The tube interior is flat blackened to help prevent unfocused internal light reflections from reaching the focal plane.

Precision 2" Crayford-style Focuser is Standard

Optical focus is achieved by means of a mechanically ultra-smooth, backlash-free, precision 2" Crayford-style focuser-assembly with 1.25 adaptor.  This focuser operates at 2 speeds for fine and ultra-fine focusing adjustments.

Tube Materials

The optical tube material is aluminum, powder-coated reflective gloss black with gold fleck accent. The front and back cells are cast-aluminum painted white, or black.

Telescope Tube Attachment Hardware

The Sky-Watcher APO optical tubes come with attachment hardware that allows them to be securely fastened to compatible mounts. The quick-release tube rings provided with SW ED-APO models 80ED, 100ED and 120ED are cast-aluminum, painted white.

Included Components for Selected Models

All Sky-Watcher USA EvoStars come with 2-speed backlash-free 2” Crayford-style focusers and quality foam-lined metal carrying cases as standard equipment. EvoStars are also supplied with right-angle 8x50mm viewfinder with bracket; 2” dielectric diagonal; two 1.25” LE (Long Eye relief) eyepieces (LET20mm and LET5mm); 1.25” focuser adaptor; and tube ring attachment hardware that works with compatible mounts.

• 100 mm apochromatic Refractor with Schott BK-7 and FPL-53 ED glass
• 900 mm focal length (f/9)
• Dual-speed 2″ Crayford-type focuser with 1.25″ adaptor
• 8×50 RA erect-image finderscope
• 2″ dielectric diagonal
• 20 mm and 5 mm 1.25″ eyepieces
• Tube-ring attachment hardware n Aluminum carry case

Specifications:

Sky-Watcher EvoStar 80ED APO Refractor: Portable Optical Powerhouse!
Due to their unobstructed textbook-like diffraction patterns and exotic optical properties, the ED-APO produces the sharpest, highest quality imaging obtainable from any telescope optical design.  These breathtakingly pristine celestial views are coveted by experienced amateur astronomers.

Observing with SW EvoStar 80ED Refractor
Fortunate indeed is the amateur astronomer with a SW ED-APO 80 mm refractor on a clear night with transparent skies and a stable atmosphere.  The Sky-Watcher ED-APO 80mm is a modestly wide-field telescope offering bright, wide swaths of sky in a single view.  It is well suited for wide-field astronomical observation of prominent nebulae, star clusters and galaxies from a dark-sky location, or can be used as an astrograph for sky photography.  As a terrestrial spotting scope or telephoto lens, the ED-APO’s performance is absolutely superb.  Ultra high contrast allows the subtlest of details to be easily scrutinized under conditions of good seeing.  The petite silhouette of the SW ED-APO 80 mm makes for an excellent compact, portable telescope that travels light and fits a small space.  At about 50-power, structural detail becomes apparent in our solar system’s gas giants like Saturn and Jupiter.  The Moon also exhibits striking crater detail along the lunar terminator.

As an astrograph, the SW EvoStar 80ED delivers superb performance imaging a wide spectrum of astronomical phenomenon.

Refractors—the Ultimate Imaging Instruments
In a given aperture size, refractors will always exhibit sharper images than other optical designs because the refractor concentrates more light into the central airy-disk and first diffraction rings.  There is no diffraction pattern interference caused by a diagonal mirror, or secondary mirror being suspended in the optical path (central obstruction) as is the case with reflectors.

Sky-Watcher ED-APOs—the Ultimate Refractors
Sky-Watcher ED-APO refractors provide the finest images obtainable—bar none—in their design class.  If you are on a quest for the ultimate in pristine, near textbook-perfect astronomical imaging, look no further! Sky-Watcher ED apochromatic refractors deliver dramatic coal-black skies and faithful, contrast-rich views of planetary and deep-space phenomenon that are second to none.  Sky-Watcher ED-APO refractors are the logical choice as an investment in advanced instrumentation for exceptional viewing or photography.

Virtually Eliminates Residual Chromatic Aberration 
The Sky-Watcher ED-APO design assures virtual elimination of residual “false color” (i.e. chromatic aberration) normally present in 2-element achromatic lens designs which utilize standard crown and flint glasses.

Sky-Watcher APO refractors utilize the finest extra-low dispersion (ED) glass available, FPL-53.  This results in the best color correction for an ED doublet lens.

Schott Glass Used for Front Crown Element and ED 2 Lens Element
The P80ED will benefit from the inclusion of Schott glass being used for the positive front Crown element in the objective.  Schott is the recognized world leader in glass utilized for precision optical lens systems, including medical instrumentation and famous-brand camera lenses.  While Schott glass is only used in selected models, all other models utilize top-quality, Grade-A glass from perhaps less famous but, nonetheless, highly respected, high-quality glass manufacturers.

Pride and Perfection in Optical Manufacturing
Every lens element is individually inspected for purity and absence of striae and other image-degrading imperfections.  Every lens is pitched polished to exacting standards of optical fabrication and performance by highly skilled opticians utilizing state-of-the-art methodology and rigidly controlled optical testing procedures.  The result is high-quality, diffraction-limited optics performing to the theoretical limits of their respective aperture sizes.  All lenses are uniformly air-spaced in their cell housings.

Sky-Watcher offers one of the most extensive lines of ED-APOCHROMATIC refractors in the world.  Using only the finest fabrication materials available, Sky-Watcher APO refractors are manufactured to painstakingly rigorous, exacting standards of optical and mechanical quality to insure the amateur astronomer peak performance and a great experience each and every time a Sky-Watcher ED-APO is taken into the field.  We know the amateur astronomer has very high expectations regarding astronomical equipment purchases.  Sky-Watcher has been delivering consistent satisfaction for over a decade.

Metallic High-Transmission Lens Coatings 
Each air-to-glass lens surface has exotic anti-reflection metallic coatings applied to ensure optimum light through-put.  The proprietary Sky-Watcher “Metallic High-Transmission Coatings” (MHC) are the finest photon anti-rejection coatings in their class.

Light-Baffled Optical Systems
The objective lens cell is light-baffled to reject stray, unfocused light.  The draw tube is likewise baffled to insure optimum contrast.  The tube interior is flat blackened to help prevent unfocused internal light reflections from reaching the focal plane.

Precision 2″ Crayford-style Focuser is Standard
Optical focus is achieved by means of a mechanically ultra-smooth, backlash-free, precision 2″ Crayford-style focuser-assembly with 1.25″ adaptor.  Focuser offers 2 speeds for fine and ultra-fine focusing adjustments.

Tube Materials
The optical tube material is aluminum, powder-coated reflective gloss black with gold fleck accent.  The front and back cells are cast-aluminum painted white or black.

Telescope Tube Attachment Hardware
The Sky-Watcher APO optical tubes come with attachment hardware that allows them to be securely fastened to compatible mounts. The quick-release tube rings provided with SW ED-APO models 80ED, 100ED and 120ED are cast-aluminum, painted white.

Included Components for Selected Models

All Sky-Watcher USA EvoStar s come with 2-speed backlash-free 2” Crayford-style focusers and quality foam-lined metal carrying cases as standard equipment. EvoStars are also supplied with right-angle 8x50mm viewfinder with bracket; 2” dielectric diagonal; two 1.25” LE (Long Eye relief) eyepieces (LET20mm and LET5mm); 1.25” focuser adaptor; and tube ring attachment hardware that works with compatible mounts.

The AllView Mount is a truly versatile mount, perfect for panoramic photography, videography and astroimaging. AllView is a fully automatic Go-To mount that can be paired with a variety of cameras, camcorders and telescopes. Take time-lapse video of outdoor activities, panoramic images of cityscapes, astroimages of moon, stars, galaxies, and more with this sophisticated computerized mount.

• Capture full 360 degree panoramas with a DSLR or most point-and-shoot cameras
• Capture motion time lapse movies with your DSLR while the mount rotates
• When shooting video with a camcorder or DSLR, use AllView as a motorized panning head for smooth motion
• Attach any small telescope (using the standard 1.75” dovetail bar) and the mount’s Go-To electronics will find any of 42,000 celestial objects and automatically center and track them in your eyepiece.

Features include:

• Electronic shutter release — automatically triggers your DSLR when shooting panoramas or time lapse images^*
• Dual encoder technology — allows you to move the mount by hand or using the hand control and without losing alignment
• 3/8” tripod socket for mounting to virtually any prosumer tripod
• Can be powered using 10 internally carried AA batteries for use in the field without the need for a bulky external power supply
• Motorized mount can be easily removed from the heavy duty tripod for easy transportation and storage
• Intuitive interface of the computerized hand control makes it easy to setup panoramas and time lapse images
• All brackets are included for mounting cameras and camcorders that use a standard ¼-20 tripod socket

^*The supplied shutter release cable works with Canon Rebel DSLR cameras. Optional cables are available for other camera manufacturers and models.