Explore Scientific 127mm Carbon Fiber f/7.5 Air-Spaced Triplet ED Apochromatic Refractor Telescope

The Explore Scientific 127mm f/7.5 Air-Spaced Triplet ED APO produces a visual experience that is often compared to much larger aperture reflector telescopes. The contrast and resolving power can reveal stunning detail on planets and deep sky objects alike.

The designers of the Air Spaced Triplet ED Apo Series pursued to produce top-quality refractors with lasting value. The optical solution was to provide a traditional air-spaced design mounted in a rugged, adjustable lens cell. This design, shaped from experienced craftsmanship and polished from genuine HOYA™ FCD1 (Dense Fluor Crown) ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass, a critical element to produce images that refractor afficianados know can only be obtained with a high-quality true apochromat.
The owner of an Explore Scientific ED Apo will appreciate the attention to detail and the standard hardware which includes a precision two-speed focuser, a 2" 99% reflective dielectric diagonal, an 8x50 erect-image, illuminated-reticle viewfinder, and a deluxe case. You can be confident that the quality and construction of these telescopes will allow heavy use for many years and are backed with a transferrable Five Year USA Limited Warranty.

Carbon Fiber Tube and Cradle Rings with Handle

Although it cost more, we chose carbon fiber for the telescope tube and dew shield for its high strength-to-weight ratio and its low expansion characteristics when subjected to temperature variations. This helps to keep the instrument light in weight and keeps the instrument focused even if the temperature drops.

Even though this telescope uses a carbon fiber tube making it much lighter, we supply a handle to easily grip the telescope for mounting and placing it back in its case. In addition we slot the handle to accept a standard 1/4x20 bolt to attach a camera.

EMD™ (Enhanced Multilayer Deposition) Coatings eliminates light scatter and maintains image contrast.
Contrast is further enhanced with multiple baffles that mask and deflect unwanted stray light.

Exploring the fine features around the Moon's Hadley Rille will put to test observing skills of any astronomer as well as precision of telescope optics. Better optical quality dictates more precise focusing.

This is especially true when observing at high magnification or when making CCD images. With a standard focuser, you will find that a tiny nudge will throw out focus and turn your night into one of frustration.

So we included as standard equipment, on all Explore Scientific ED Apos, a ten-to-one, two-speed Crayford-style precision focuser with tension adjustment and lock to obtain and hold perfect focus. We think you'll agree that such precision is worth it.

Optical Alignment

We precision collimate every Explore Scientific telescope at our factory to give optimum performance. Although you may never need to adjust optical alignment, our ED Apos allow for optical centering to collimate the lens elements should the telescope ever require it.

One of the bonuses of ownership of a refractor is that, compared to standard reflector telescopes, they almost never require re-aligning of the optics (collimation). However, any telescope that is subjected to shock may require optical alignment.
Removing the dew shield, you can access the alignment screws, which you can adjust yourself by referring to the instructions. You can also send it to Explore Scientific’s Service Center for alignment. A standard service charge applies.

Viewing Comfort and the Preservation of Precious Light

The Two Inch Dielectric Diagonal includes a 1.25" eyepiece holder adapter and dust covers to protect the mirror.

The purpose of a diagonal is to securely hold your eyepiece and to give you a comfortable viewing angle.

Provided as standard equipment, Explore Scientific's Two Inch Dielectric Diagonal incorporates a light-weight, one-piece diagonal body that securely cradles the precision polished diagonal flat mirror, insuring precision alignment. Ultra-high reflective coatings (99% reflective) composed of multiple thin layers of dielectric material delivers maximum light output.

Both 2" and 1.25" eyepiece holders use compression rings instead of a simple set-screw to more securely hold your valued eyepiece (or imaging device) and to minimize scoring of eyepiece barrels. You can thread standard 48mm filters into the barrel.

The Explore Scientific 8x50 Erect-Image Viewfinder with Illuminated Reticle is standard equipment.

Many premium small refractors don't include some basic accessories like a viewfinder. This is often done to keep prices down. Those manufacturers rationalize that its owner simply will not need a viewfinder... wrong!

While it's true that ED Apos in this aperture usually have short focal lengths, it still is a challenge to successfully aim the telescope without a viewfinder. So we decided to offer a superior class 8x50 viewfinder as standard equipment.

The illuminated reticle of the 8x50 Viewfinder with its scale markings and open center not only helps you center objects precisely, but gives a reference of the exact field of view in degrees. The deep red illumination is continuously variable to provide the desired brightness.

The Explore Scientific 8x50 produces a wide 6° field of view and allows precision focus of both main objective and eyepiece illuminated reticle. A precision polished roof prism produces images that are right-side-up, left-to-right correct. In other words, things are not upside-down and backwards like most viewfinders. Our illuminated reticle is truly designed for finding objects with its open center (so you don't mask the object you are centering with cross hairs) and scale markings for 1.5°, 3°, and 4.5° (the edge of the field of view is the 6° boundary).
The 55° apparent field, long eye-relief eyepiece produces a bright 15.5mm exit pupil and will allow you to find faint galaxies, comets, and nebulae. All optics are fully-multicoated to insure maximum contrast.

Universal Mounting Plate 

The Universal Adjustable Mounting Plate of the ED 127 fits on mounts supplied by Explore Scientific, Vixen, and Meade LXD55/75. It also attaches to photo tripods with standard USA or European thread attaching knobs.

You can mount the ED 127 to many popular equatorial and Altaz mounts, including Explore Scientific mounts.