Celestron Omni XLT 120 Telescope

Celestron's Omni XLT - 120 Telescope features easy, no tool set up, 1.75" legs and StarBrite XLT optical coatings that provide optimum light allowance. Using aspheric shaping technology in conjunction with hand-figuring the optics the Omni XLT presents an image with virtually no spherical aberration. It is highlighted by a refractor telescope design and has an innovative German Equatorial Mount with setting circles and slow-motion controls for astronomy and astrophotography. Only the finest grade of glass is used in the Celestron Omni XLT's hand-selected and hand-figured mirrors and lenses. The included 25mm eyepiece sports 20mm eye relief, making it comfortable even for those who wear glasses. Additionally, the XLT-120 comes with ball bearings in both axis of the mount for smooth performance. This preassembled tripod comes with an accessory tray, bubble level, and "The Sky Level 1" planetarium software, which features a 10,000-object database and enhanced images. About Celestron Refractor Telescopes Celestron's high-quality refractor telescopes allow beginners to improve upon Galileo's vision with a simple, reliable design that is easy to use, requires minimal maintenance, and is versatile enough for land or sky viewing. Known for viewing planetary detail and splitting close double-stars. A refractor telescope uses a lens as the primary. The lens at the front of the telescope bends the light passing through it until it comes to a single point called the "focal plane". The long, thin tubes of refractor telescopes look much the same as those Galileo used centuries ago. High quality optical glass and multi-coatings provide today's sky watchers views Galileo never dreamed of. The refractor type of telescope is very popular with individuals who want mechanical simplicity, rugged reliability and ease of use. Because the focal length is limited by the length of the tube, refractor telescopes become quite bulky and expensive beyond a four inch aperture. This limits the light gathering properties of refractor telescopes, but it is an excellent choice for beginners and those who prefer simple operation and versatility. Refractor telescopes are also a popular choice because of their unobstructed view, high contrast and good definition. Refractor Advantages Easy to set-up and use Simple and reliable design requires little or no maintenance Excellent for lunar, planetary and binary star observing especially in larger apertures Good for terrestrial viewing High contrast images with no secondary mirror or diagonal obstruction Color correction is good in achromatic designs and excellent in apochromatic and fluorite designs Sealed optical tube reduces image-degrading air currents and protects optics Objective lens is permanently mounted and aligned