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Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescopes

Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes fold a long focal length into a short, portable tube using a corrector lens and two mirrors. They excel at high magnification views of the Moon, planets and double stars while staying compact enough to travel with. We currently stock one, the Explore FirstLight 127mm optical tube at $479.99.

A Mak is the specialist of the catalogue. It is the best planetary performer per inch of tube length, and the worst choice for wide field deep sky work, because that same long focal length gives a narrow field of view.

What to look for

1

Long focal length, short tube

The 127mm Mak packs a focal length that would need a tube twice as long in a Newtonian. That is what makes it both high power and genuinely portable.

2

Planets and doubles

High magnification per eyepiece and very clean images make this the tool for lunar craters, Jupiter's belts, Saturn's rings and splitting close double stars.

3

Narrow field

You will not fit the Andromeda Galaxy or the Pleiades in the field of view. For that you want a short focal length refractor or a Dobsonian.

4

Cool down time

The sealed tube takes longer to reach ambient temperature than an open one. Set it outside twenty to thirty minutes before you observe.

The model we stock

One tube, plus the two directions people most often go instead.

In stock

Explore FirstLight 127mm Mak-Cassegrain OTA

127mm of aperture in a tube short enough to carry one handed, supplied with accessories. Sold as an optical tube, so add a mount.

$479.99
 If you want wide field

Explore Scientific AR127 Air-Spaced Doublet

Same aperture, much wider field, better for star clusters and nebulae. A refractor rather than a catadioptric.

$449.99
 If you want the Sun

Lunt LS60MT 60mm Universal Telescope

A day and night tube from Lunt. Planetary and lunar at night, full hydrogen-alpha solar detail by day.

From $1,195.99

Mak-Cassegrains and the Sun

A Mak's long focal length and sealed tube make it a reasonable white light solar scope with a full aperture filter in front, and its high magnification suits sunspot detail. It cannot show prominences or hydrogen-alpha surface structure, because that needs an etalon. Lunt Solar Systems builds both the filters that retrofit a telescope and complete solar telescopes starting at $995.99.

Lunt Solar Telescopes Lunt White Light Solar Wedge Lunt Solar Filters Lunt LS60MT Day and Night Telescope

Common questions

What is a Maksutov-Cassegrain good for?
High magnification targets. The Moon, the planets, and close double stars. It is the most portable way to get a long focal length, and the images are clean and high contrast.
What is it not good for?
Wide field deep sky viewing. The long focal length gives a narrow field, so large nebulae and open clusters will not fit. A short refractor or a Dobsonian is better for that.
Does the 127mm come with a mount?
No. It is sold as an optical tube with accessories, so you will need a mount and tripod. See Mounts & Stands, where mounts start at $129.99.
How does it compare to a refractor of the same aperture?
The AR127 refractor at $449.99 has the same aperture and a much wider field. The Mak is shorter, higher power and better on planets. They suit different nights.
Can I use it for solar observing?
With a full aperture white light filter such as a Lunt solar wedge, yes, for sunspots. For prominences and hydrogen-alpha detail you need a dedicated Lunt solar telescope.
Why does it need to cool down?
The tube is sealed, so trapped air at indoor temperature causes currents that blur the image at high power. Twenty to thirty minutes outside usually settles it.