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Orion Telescopes
Intermediate
Orion Awesome AutoGuider Refractor Telescope Package
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  • Add this affordable and awe-inspiring autoguider package to any imaging set-up and enjoy the accurate astrophotography results
  • Included ShortTube 80mm f/5.0 refractor telescope optical tube provides a wide field-of -view which is perfect for finding prospective guide-stars
  • The intuitive StarShoot AutoGuider makes it easy to enhance your astrophotography pursuits with auto-guided accuracy
  • Package includes everything you need for accurate autoguiding: ShortTube 80 guide scope, guide scope rings, guide scope ring mounting bar, 1.25" extension tube (for focus) and the Orion StarShoot AutoGuider -- all you have to do is add your astrophotography telescope and equatorial mount
  • Astrophotography telescope must be equipped with tube rings in order to attach guide scope ring mounting bar in a piggyback orientation


Learn more
Item #  24770

Orion can guide you to better quality astrophotos, literally, with our Awesome AutoGuider Refractor Telescope Package. This affordable and effective autoguiding solution can be added to virtually any astrophotography system to improve guiding accuracy so you get awesome astrophotos every time.

No matter what telescope you're using for long-exposure astrophotography, precise guiding is an absolute requirement to get pinpoint star images. Using both a dedicated autoguider device and guide scope telescope is arguably the best way to optimize the accuracy of any astrophotography pursuit. Employing a complete autoguiding setup is especially useful when going after images of faint deep-sky objects when multiple lengthy exposures are required.

This complete Orion-exclusive package makes autoguiding easy, and its affordable price is easy on your wallet. The Awesome AutoGuider package contains everything you need to obtain precise tracking accuracy for your astrophotography setup. Let's take a closer look at each of the included items:

Orion ShortTube 80 Refractor Telescope Optical Tube Assembly
The popular Orion ShortTube 80 refractor telescope is included for use as a guide scope. With a short focal length of 400mm, the ShortTube 80 makes an ideal guide scope since the fast f/5.0 optical tube provides an expansive wide field-of-view, making guide star acquisition a breeze. With fully multi-coated optics and a light weight of 2.4 lbs., the ShortTube 80 refractor has become a popular guide scope thanks to its versatile design and no-nonsense performance.   

Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
The Orion StarShoot AutoGuider keeps track of a selected guide star and communicates constantly with connected equatorial telescope mount to correct any tracking errors throughout long exposure astrophotography sessions. The sensor inside the StarShoot AutoGuider is a high-resolution, 1/2" format 1.3-megapixel CMOS monochrome chip, with 5.2µ x 5.2µ pixels for highly accurate guiding. The chip resides in a super-compact, anodized aluminum housing that measures just 2.5" wide by 2.35" long and weighs a mere 4.4 oz. Thanks to the small pixel size, the highly accurate sensor makes the StarShoot AutoGuider a perfect match with the short focal length ShortTube 80 refractor guide scope.  

Orion 105mm ID Pair of Guide Scope Rings
The included set of two cast-metal rings are designed to hold the ShortTube 80 refractor and provide a wide range of alignment adjustment so the guide scope can be aligned with your astrophotography telescope easily. Each Guide Scope Ring features three non-marring nylon alignment screws for precise alignment of guide scope without scratching.

Orion Guide Scope Ring Mounting Bar
The rigid anodized aluminum Guide Scope Ring Mounting Bar is included to attach the entire Awesome AutoGuider Package to an astrophotography telescope. Attach the Guide Scope Rings to the Mounting Bar with the included hardware and then install the ShortTube 80 refractor into the Guide Scope Rings. Then couple the entire Awesome AutoGuider package to your astrophotography telescope. Pre-drilled through-holes allow easy attachment.

1.25" Orion Telescope Eyepiece Extension Tube

An anodized, machined aluminum 1.25" Orion Eyepiece Extension Tube is included for extra focuser "back travel" on the ShortTube 80 refractor so focus can be achieved easily.

With its total weight of just 4.5 lbs., the Orion Awesome Autoguider package can easily be added to virtually any astro-imaging set-up without exceeding your imaging-capable EQ mount's payload capacity. If you aspire to be an awesome astrophotographer, get the affordable Orion Awesome AutoGuider Refractor Package today!

Not compatible with Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes.

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 800-447-1001.

Warning

Please note this product was not designed or intended by the manufacturer for use by a child 12 years of age or younger.

Product Support
Visit our product support section for instruction manuals and more
  • Best for imaging
    Deep sky
  • User level
    Intermediate
  • Optical design
    Refractor
  • Optical diameter
    80mm
  • Focal length
    400mm
  • Focal ratio
    f/5.0
  • Coatings
    Fully multi-coated
  • Optics type
    Air-spaced doublet
  • Glass material
    Crown/Flint
  • Eyepieces
    None
  • Resolving power
    1.45arc*sec
  • Lowest useful magnification
    12x
  • Highest useful magnification
    160x
  • Highest theoretical magnification
    160x
  • Limiting stellar magnitude
    12.2
  • Optical quality
    Diffraction limited
  • Finder scope
    5x24
  • Focuser
    1.25" Rack-and-pinion
  • Mount type
    Optical Tube without Mount
  • Astro-imaging capability
    Lunar, planetary & long exposure
  • Tube material
    Aluminum
  • Length of optical tube
    15.0 in.
  • Weight, optical tube
    3.0 lbs.
  • Other features
    Fully multi-coated, Compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7
  • Warranty
    One year
Orion ShortTube 80 refractor telescope optical tube assembly (OTA)
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
1.25" Extension tube (for camera focus)
Guide scope  rings
Guide scope ring mounting bar

Orders received by 1pm Eastern Standard Time for in-stock items ship the same business day. Order 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
Standard Delivery to Canada: $10.00
3 Day Delivery: $25.00
2 Day Delivery: $25.00
Next Day Delivery: $37.00

What is Orion’s Standard One Year Limited Warranty?
Orion warranties against defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase for Orion brand products. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. During this warranty period Orion Telescopes & Binoculars will repair or replace, at Orion’s option, any warranted instrument that proves to be defective, provided it is returned postage paid to: Orion Warranty Repair, 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076. If the product is not registered, proof of purchase (such as a copy of the original invoice) is required. This warranty does not apply if, in Orion’s judgment, the instrument has been abused, mishandled, or modified, nor does it apply to normal wear and tear. This warranty gives customer’s specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state. For further warranty service information, contact: Customer Service Department, Orion Telescopes & Binoculars, 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville CA 95076; (800) 676-1343.

Some items may be covered by a warranty period shorter or longer than the standard one year warranty. Specific warranty information is available on the product detail page of the website

Does the atmosphere play a role in how good the quality of the image will be?
Atmospheric conditions play a huge part in quality of viewing. In conditions of good “seeing”, star twinkling is minimal and objects appear steady in the eyepiece. Seeing is best over-head, worst at the horizon. Also, seeing generally gets better after midnight, when much of the heat absorbed by the Earth during the day has radiated off into space. Typically, seeing conditions will be better at sites that have an altitude over about 3000 feet. Altitude helps because it decreases the amount of distortion causing atmosphere you are looking through. A good way to judge if the seeing is good or not is to look at bright stars about 40 degrees above the horizon. If the stars appear to “twinkle”, the atmosphere is significantly distorting the incoming light, and views at high magnifications will not appear sharp. If the stars appear steady and do not twinkle, seeing conditions are probably good and higher magnifications will be possible. Also, seeing conditions are typically poor during the day. This is because the heat from the Sun warms the air and causes turbulence. Good “transparency” is especially important for observing faint objects. It simply means the air is free of moisture, smoke, and dust. These tend to scatter light, which reduces an object’s brightness. One good way to tell if conditions are good is by how many stars you can see with your naked eye. If you cannot see stars of magnitude 3.5 or dimmer then conditions are poor. Magnitude is a measure of how bright a star is, the brighter a star is, the lower its magnitude will be. A good star to remember for this is Megrez (mag. 3.4), which is the star in the “Big Dipper” connecting the handle to the “dipper”. If you cannot see Megrez, then you have fog, haze, clouds, smog, light pollution or other conditions that are hindering your viewing. Another hint: Good seeing can vary minute to minute. Watch the planets for a while to pick-up those moments of good seeing.

How do I clean any of the optical lenses?
Any quality optical lens cleaning tissue and optical lens cleaning fluid specifically designed for multi-coated optics can be used to clean the exposed lenses of your eyepieces or finder scope. Never use regular glass cleaner or cleaning fluid designed for eyeglasses. Before cleaning with fluid and tissue, blow any loose particles off the lens with a blower bulb or compressed air. Then apply some cleaning fluid to a tissue, never directly on the optics. Wipe the lens gently in a circular motion, then remove any excess fluid with a fresh lens tissue. Oily finger-prints and smudges may be removed using this method. Use caution; rubbing too hard may scratch the lens. On larger lenses, clean only a small area at a time, using a fresh lens tissue on each area. Never reuse tissues.

What is Periodic Error Correction or PEC?
Periodic Error Correction, or PEC for short, is a system that improves the track accuracy for the drive by reducing the number of the user corrections. PEC is designed to improve photographic quality by reducing the amplitude of the worm errors. Using the PEC function is a two-step process. First you guide for at least 5 ½ minutes (the time it takes the worm to make one revolution) during which the system records the corrections you make. This “teaches” the PEC chip the characteristics of the worm. The second step is to play back the corrections you made during one recording phase. Keep in mind, this feature is for the advanced astrophotographer and requires careful guiding.

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