Orion SpaceProbe 3 Altazimuth Reflector Telescope

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Orion SpaceProbe 3 Altazimuth Reflector Telescope

Free Starry Night software (a $69.90 value)

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A fantastic beginner telescope for kids that's lightweight, easy to set up, and has a very affordable price tag!
76mm (3") aperture reflector telescope is large enough for wonderful views of the Moon, rings of Saturn, moons orbiting Jupiter, and even some brighter nebulas
Stable altazimuth mount and tripod provides smooth motion in both altitude (up/down) and azimuth (left/right) axes of motion
The included EZ Finder II reflex sight makes finding celestial objects a breeze - once aligned, just place the red-dot on the object, and you're ready to view!
Includes two 1.25" telescope eyepieces, EZ Finder II reflex sight, smooth rack and pinion focuser, reflector collimation cap, and Starry Night astronomy software

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Item # 11043

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The petite SpaceProbe 3" AZ reflector telescope is a great choice for kids who are curious about space and the stars. The telescope's 3" aperture (or diameter) gathers a good amount of light from the night sky, for impressively bright and detailed views of celestial wonders. The whole family will want to join in the fun of seeing thrilling views of the Moon, bright planets, and star clusters seen through the SpaceProbe 3 AZ telescope. Even though this telescope is great for kids, it's definitely not a toy. This is a genuine reflector telescope that will help foster a lifetime of appreciation for science and astronomy.

Beginning astronomy enthusiasts seeking an affordable entry to astronomical adventure will get it in spades with an Orion SpaceProbe 3 Altazimuth Reflector Telescope. Great for all-around astronomical observing, this highly portable, uncomplicated telescope is just the right size and weight for all family members, and just the right price for parents.

The SpaceProbe 3 Altazimuth Reflector Telescope makes the night sky's treasures accessible right from the comfort of your own backyard. This inexpensive reflector telescope will amaze you with revealing views of Saturn's picturesque rings, Jupiter's moons, and the beautifully cratered terrain of our own Moon's surface. Built around a 3" (76mm) diameter primary mirror, the Orion SpaceProbe 3 Altazimuth Reflector Telescope also gathers enough light to snare the faint glows of some very exotic star clusters and distant nebulas! The SpaceProbe 3's focal length of 700mm (f/9.2) provides sharp views of cosmic curiosities the whole family can enjoy.

The aluminum Newtonian reflector optical tube features a 1.25" rack-and-pinion focuser to ensure sharp images in the telescope eyepiece. Speaking of which, each Orion SpaceProbe 3 Altazimuth Reflector includes two interchangeable 1.25" Explorer II telescope eyepieces, a 25mm and a 10mm. The 25mm eyepiece will yield 28x power magnification in the SpaceProbe 3 while the 10mm eyepiece boosts the magnification up to 70x power. A wide-field EZ Finder II reflex sight is also included to aid in locating objects and aiming the telescope. An adjustable-height tripod with accessory tray and aluminum legs is also included with the SpaceProbe 3.

The Orion SpaceProbe 3 Altazimuth Reflector Telescope comes with an altazimuth mount which allows simple up/down and left/right motion. The altazimuth mount is lightweight and easy to use for anyone on the family. (Like all reflector telescopes, the SpaceProbe 3 is not recommended for terrestrial viewing on land as the images will not be right-side up.)

For the novice keen to discover what's "out there," the affordable Orion SpaceProbe 3 Altazimuth reflector Telescope provides a wonderful opportunity!

Media Buzz

Sky & Telescope Magazine - December 2005
"If getting the most scope for the least money is the primary goal, the Orion SpaceProbe 3 Altazimuth reflector has much to recommend it. Simply put, this is a nice telescope. It provided sharp images and was a joy to use."

Warranty

Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact us at 800-676-1343.

Warning

Please note this product is compliant with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and is intended for children 9 years of age and older.

Product Support

Visit our product support section for instruction manuals and more

Specs

Best for viewing

Lunar & planetary
Best for imaging

Lunar & planetary
User level

User level

Beginner - Suited for a wide range of uses, Level 1 telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

Intermediate - These scopes offer higher performance and more advanced features than Level 1 models. They typically take a bit longer to learn and need some set-up or adjustments. But anyone with the slightest technical bent will have no problem getting familiar with these models. Referring to the manual is recommended.

Advanced - These scopes provide the best performance but may require more skill to master and appreciate. They have exceptionally fine optics and mechanics. Some are easy to use but are but on the large or heavy side. Some are intended for specialized uses. These scopes will appeal to the more technically inclined. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Expert - Expert telescopes offer uncompromising optical and mechanical quality for the most demanding amateur astronomer. They may be technically involved or designed for specialized use, such as astrophotography or detailed deep sky observation. They carry a premium price, but are designed to provide the ultimate performance in the field. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Beginner
Optical design

Optical design

Reflector telescopes use a pair of large and small mirrors to direct incoming light to the eyepiece. Refractor telescopes refract, or "bend" incoming light to a focus by means of an objective lens. Cassegrain telescopes, such as Maksutov-Cassegrains, "fold" incoming light using two mirrors and a front "corrector" lens.

Reflector
Optical diameter

Optical diameter

The optical diameter (also known as aperture), is the size of the telescope's main light collecting lens or mirror, measured in millimeters or inches. As the diameter increases, more light is collected and the resolution increases.

76mm
Focal length

Focal length

The focal ratio of an optical system is the ratio of a telescope's focal length to its aperture. Short focal ratios (f/5, f/4.5) produce wide fields of view and small image scales, while long focal lengths produce narrower fields of views and larger image scales.

700mm
Focal ratio

Focal ratio

The focal ratio of an optical system is the ratio of a telescope's focal length to its aperture. Short focal ratios (f/5, f/4.5) produce wide fields of view and small image scales, while long focal lengths produce narrower fields of views and larger image scales.

f/9.2
Optics type

Optics type

Newtonian reflectors will have either a spherical shaped mirror, which is less expensive to produce, or a higher quality parabola, which does not result in spherical aberration. Cassegrain telescopes routinely use spheres in addition to other lenses in the optical path to correct for residual spherical aberration. Refractors use a series of lenses to provide a clear image. Designs range from a standard air-spaced doublet (two lenses in a row) to exotic designs such as oil-spaced triplets and 4-element multi group lenses.

Spherical
Glass material

Glass material

Refractors use glass lenses to focus the light, and the glass material plays an important role in the quality of the resulting image. Standard achromatic refractors routinely use Crown and Flint for the two elements, but more expensive apochromatic refractors can use ED (extra low dispersion) glass for one or more of the lenses. Reflector mirrors are made from glass with different levels of thermal expansion. Standard mirrors are made from material such as Soda-Lime Plate glass and BK-7 glass. Glass with Pyrex or other low thermal expansion material will not change shape as dramatically during the cool-down period, resulting in more stable images during this period.

Soda-lime plate
Eyepieces

Explorer II 25.0mm, 10.0mm
Magnification with included eyepieces

28x, 70x
Resolving power

Resolving power

The theoretical resolving power of a telescope can be calculated with the following formula: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 4.56 divided by aperture of telescope (in inches). In metric units, this is: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 116 divided by aperture of telescope (in millimeters). Note that the formula is independent of the telescope type or model, and is based only upon the aperture of the telescope. So the larger the telescope's aperture, the more it is capable of resolving. This is important to keep in mind when observing astronomical objects which require high resolution for best viewing, such as planets and double stars. However, it is usually atmospheric seeing conditions (not the telescope) which limits the actual resolving power on a given night; rarely is resolution less than one arc-second possible from even the best viewing locations on Earth.

1.52arc*sec
Lowest useful magnification

Lowest useful magnification

Lowest useful magnification is the power at which the exit pupil becomes 7mm in diameter. Powers below this can still be reached with the telescope to give wider fields of view, but the image no longer becomes brighter at a lower power. This is due to the fact that the exit pupil of the telescope (the beam of light exiting the eyepiece) is now larger than the average person's dark adapted pupil, and no more light can fit into the eye.

18x
Highest useful magnification

Highest useful magnification

The highest practical limit is different from the often used "highest theoretical magnification" specification. The "theoretical" limit generally is 50x the aperture of the scope in inches (2x the aperture in mm). So for example, an 80mm refractor is capable of 160x, and a 10" telescope is theoretically capable of 500x magnification. But after approximately 300x, theory breaks down and real world problems take over. The atmosphere above us is constantly in motion, and it will distort the image seen through the telescope. This effect may not be noticeable at lower powers, but at higher powers the atmosphere will dramatically blur the object, reducing the quality of the image. On a good night (a night where the air above is steady and the stars aren't twinkling), the practical upper limit of a large telescope is 300x, even thought the theoretical limit may be much higher. This doesn't mean the scope will never be able to reach those higher "theoretical" powers - there will be that rare night where the atmosphere is perfectly still and the scope can be pushed past it's practical limit, but those nights will be few and far between.

95x
Highest theoretical magnification

152x
Limiting stellar magnitude

Limiting stellar magnitude

The limiting stellar magnitude is a measure of the faintest star you can see through the telescope.

12.1
Optical quality

Optical quality

"Diffraction Limited" means that the limits of image detail are determined by the physical properties of light, and not by optical defects in the telescope.

Diffraction limited
Finder scope

EZ Finder II
Focuser

1.25" Rack-and-pinion
Secondary mirror obstruction

20mm
Secondary mirror obstruction by diameter

26%
Secondary mirror obstruction by area

7%
Mirror coatings/over-coatings

Aluminum & Silicon Dioxide
Mount type

Altazimuth
Astro-imaging capability

Astro-imaging capability

The astro-photographic capability of the telescope is based on the style, stability, and accuracy of the mount and tripod. Telescopes on either very lightweight mounts or non tracking mounts (such as Dobsonians) are capable of only very short exposures such as lunar photographs. If a motor drive is attached to an equatorial mount, even a small lightweight mount is capable of capturing some planetary detail. Larger EQ mounts that utilize very precise tracking and excellent stability are capable of longer exposure deep-sky photography.

Simple moon shots
Computerized compatibility

Computerized compatibility

Some mounts are compatible with a motorized Go-To system for fully automated computer finding of objects in the night sky. Others mounts are compatible with computer finding systems which require the user to manually move the mount to the object's position as indicated by the computer finder.

Not compatible
Bearing material

Friction bearings
Setting circles

Yes
Tube material

Steel
Tripod material

Aluminum
Length of optical tube

27.0 in.
Weight, optical tube

4.0 lbs.
Weight, mount/tripod

4.4 lbs.
Weight, fully assembled

8.4 lbs.
Additional included accessories

Collimation cap, Altitude fine adjustment
Warranty

One year

In the Box

Orion 3" Reflector optical tube assembly
25mm Orion Explorer II telescope eyepiece (1.25")
10mm Oriion Explorer II telescope eyepiece (1.25")
Tripod legs
Altazimuth yoke telescope mount
EZ Finder II finder scope
Finder scope bracket
Collimation cap
Tripod accessory tray
Dust cap
Altitude micro-motion control rod and thumbwheel
Tripod attachment screws
Wing nuts
Washers

Shipping Info

Orders received by noon Pacific Time for in-stock items ship the same business day. Orders received after noon will ship the next business day. When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available. You have the option in check out to request that your order ship complete, if you'd prefer.

A per-item shipping charge (in addition to the standard shipping and handling charge) applies to this product due to its size and weight. This charge varies based on the shipping method.

Standard Delivery: $0.00
3 Day Delivery: $15.00
2 Day Delivery: $15.00
Next Day Delivery: $21.00

Reviews

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About Orion Telescopes & Binoculars

Since 1975 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars has been offering telescopes for sale direct to customers, with an unswerving commitment to best quality products, value and unmatched customer care. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee says it all.

Orion offers telescopes for every level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert. From our entry level beginner telescopes for amateur astronomers to our Dobsonian telescopes to our most advanced Cassegrain telescopes and accessories, you can find the best telescope for you. And you'll enjoy discount prices by buying your telescope online, direct from Orion. Not sure how to choose a telescope? Orion's Telescope Buyer's Guide is a great place to start.

Orion binoculars are known for quality optics at a great price. We offer binoculars for every viewing interest, including astronomical binoculars, compact binoculars, waterproof binoculars, birding binoculars, and sport and hunting binoculars.

Orion's telescope and astrophotography accessories will enhance your telescope enjoyment without breaking the bank. Expand your viewing experience with accessories ranging from moon filters to power-boosting Barlow lenses to advanced computerized telescope mounts. Capture breathtaking photos with our affordable astrophotography cameras. And when you're stargazing, Orion's telescope cases and covers, observing gear, red LED flashlights, astronomy books and star charts will make your observing sessions more convenient, comfortable and meaningful.

At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, and reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!

Why Buy From Orion

Beginner

Media Buzz

User level

Optical design

Optical diameter

Focal length

Focal ratio

Optics type

Glass material

Resolving power

Lowest useful magnification

Highest useful magnification

Limiting stellar magnitude

Optical quality

Astro-imaging capability

Computerized compatibility

Why Buy From Orion

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