Warning: With the Orion StarMax 90mm Equatorial Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope, casual astronomy can quickly develop into a full-time infatuation!

It takes novice astronomy to a whole new level of quality, portability, and visual excitement. While similar telescopes on the market feature plastic-laden gadgetry and price tags that inflict "buyer's remorse," we designed our Orion StarMax 90mm Equatorial Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope with the emphasis on uncomplicated ease of use and uncompromising quality, at an attractive price. The result is a grab-it-and-go REAL telescope that puts the fun back into stargazing.

Its metallic-burgundy aluminum tube measures just 11" in length, yet it houses star-grabbing 90mm-diameter Maksutov-Cassegrain optics. Handily outperforming typical starter telescopes the Orion StarMax 90mm Equatorial Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope will reward your evening's sky tour with crisp views of Saturn's rings, the black Cassini Division etched between them as with a knife. Swinging over to the Lagoon Nebula, it looks big even at 50x with the included 25mm Sirius Plossl telescope eyepiece (1.25"), and the splatters of stars sparkling within it delight your friends as each steps up for a peek. Then, using the 6x20 correct-image finder scope, you aim the telsscope toward that faint fuzzy patch in Hercules. You look into the telescope eyepiece and — WHOA! — that thing is cool! Checking your star chart, you find you've just discovered globular cluster M13! It appears as a dense ball, but with stars resolved around its edges.

Its long, 1250mm focal length (f/13.9) gives the StarMax 90mm Equatorial serious magnifying power — up to 200x with optional telescope eyepieces. The fully multi-coated front lens allows maximum light transmission. The optics are precision-aligned (collimated) at the factory and will never need further adjustment. Metal front and rear castings and a rubber-coated metal focus knob are further examples of the tube assembly's quality components.

With the StarMax 90mm Equatorial you get a complete observing package that includes the portable, German-type EQ-1 equatorial mounting. Its aluminum tripod has a new, hinged center tri-brace for easier setup and takedown, and a larger accessory tray. Tracking the motion of celestial objects requires a mere turn of the manual slow-motion control. Or, an optional electronic drive can be installed for automatic tracking. You also get a 90° mirror star diagonal, front lens cap, and a deluxe carrying case that holds the tube assembly and accessories!

For terrestrial observing, it's easy to uncouple the tube assembly from the Equatorial mount and pop it on any camera tripod! (We recommend a 45° correct-image diagonal for terrestrial use.)

The measure of any telescope's value ultimately comes down to how much it really gets used. And this compact, capable Orion StarMak 90mm Equatorial Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope just screams "use me"! In no time, you'll be hooked. Don't say we didn't warn you! Weighs 15.8 pounds total. One-year limited warranty.

Need Instructions?
Download a PDF file of the Instruction Manual and Addendum for this product. Requires Adobe Reader version 3.0 or higher.