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Telescope-Reflecting Telescopes-Apertura 8" Classical Cassegrain Telescope

Telescope-Reflecting Telescopes-Apertura 8" Classical Cassegrain Telescope - Image 2

Telescope-Reflecting Telescopes-Apertura 8" Classical Cassegrain Telescope - Image 3

Telescope-Reflecting Telescopes-Apertura 8″ Classical Cassegrain Telescope

Original price was: $749.25.Current price is: $299.70.

87 in stock

Categories: Reflecting Telescopes, Telescopes Tags: Apertura 8" Classical Cassegrain Telescope, good telescope to see planets, gskyer telescope, hubble space telescope, hubble telescope photos, newtonian telescope, Reflecting Telescopes, Telescope, telescope casual furniture, telescopic flag pole

Overview

Apertura 8″ Classical Cassegrain Telescope

While the rapidly advancing amateur astronomy hobby continues to produce exciting and novel optical designs, sometimes the best choice is something classic. Apertura has created the best of both worlds with the 8″ Classical Cassegrain, combining the optical design that put catadioptric telescopes on the map, with modern refinements and quality-of-life improvements to make an exceptional visual observing instrument.

While this isn’t the first modern take on a timeless optical design, Apertura has meticulously optimized the optical elements to maximize performance compared to other classical offerings — or in their words, correctly sizing these components! This attention to detail and dedication to this ageless optical design have resulted in a scope that provides truly stellar visual views. These visuals are rendered with more fine detail and contrast than a f/8 Ritchey-Chretien of the same size, without the need for corrective optics like an SCT or Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes. With a field of view that can give you a close up view of objects both massive, such as the Orion nebula, and small, like NGC6910, with just common eyepiece focal lengths, you’ll be able to explore a wide wide range of incredible objects with just one relatively compact scope!

Apertura 8 Inch Classical Cassegrain, side-on, facing left

Apertura 8 Inch Classical Cassegrain installed on a Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro mount

Apertura 8 Inch Classical Cassegrain, side-on, facing right

A Case for the Classical Cassegrain in the Modern World

With just a parabolic primary mirror and hyperbolic secondary, the classic Cassegrain design is fully corrected for spherical aberration, has substantial coma correction (with most setups not requiring a coma corrector at all), a well illuminated field, and no chromatic aberration. This design allows the eyepiece to be set at a comfortable position, reduces dew concerns present on corrector-reliant telescope designs, and doesn’t need the ‘reading glasses’ of an SCT and Mak-Cass. This model from Apertura also has a smaller central obstruction, allowing this f/12 to provide a higher level of contrast than a similarly sized f/8 RC scope. All these factors combine to make a telescope that still makes an excellent case for going back this foundational optical design for visual use! For a deeper dive into what gives the classical Cassegrain optical design so much staying power and how Apertura has taken it to new heights, be sure the check out our article A Classical Cassegrain Telescope for the Modern World.

FOV of Apertura 8 Inch Classical Cassegrain through a 12mm Plossl eyepiece

FOV of Apertura 8 Inch Classical Cassegrain through a 32 SWA eyepiece

A Modern Classic

There’s more to the Apertura 8″ Classical Cassegrain than just an optimized optical design! A smooth and strong focuser, stray light defeating baffles, and connections/adapters you need to connect all the most popular visual equipment — all backed by a warranty you can rely on!

Comparison of previous classical Cassegrain secondary mirrors with the Apertura Classical Cassegrain's redesigned secondary mirror

Optimized Secondary Optics
Classically, modern renditions of the classic Cassegrain design have featured a smaller secondary mirror and baffle tube. This has resulted in offerings that effectively reduce the useable aperture of the telescope — until now! By increasing the secondary mirror proportions, or properly sizing them as Apertura states, you can now enjoy the classic Cassegrain optical design in its optimal form.

Image of Apertura 8 Inch Classical Cassegrain's focuser

Smooth Operation
At the heart of this telescope’s premium 2″ focuser is a linear bearing system that helps your gear glide effortlessly across the entire range of focus. With a mechanism supported by a multitude of ball bearings, rather than just a few bearing surfaces like a Crayford focuser, this linear bearing system can support even the stoutest eyepieces and visual diagonals without issue! The 10:1 dual-speed focus knobs make precisely focusing on your target a breeze, though for those interested in a more methodical approach Apertura has designed out-of-the-box bracket-style electronic focuser compatibility into this linear system, making installation of ZWO’s popular Advanced Electronic Automatic Focuser – 5V USB Version w/ Hand Controller and Sensor and other popular electronic upgrades easy!

Shot down the Apertura 8 Inch Classical Cassegrain OTA

Advanced Baffle System
The Apertura 8″ Classical Cassegrain uses a complex mirror baffling system, consisting of three distinct sections: a primary mirror baffle, a secondary mirror baffle, and optical tube baffles. Where others have used sub-optimally sized mirror baffles, decreasing effective aperture, Apertura has tuned these systems to maximize the performance of the precision optics. With eleven knife-edge baffles running the length of the interior of the optical tube, this telescope also provides enhanced contrast over unbaffled systems, by catching rays of stray light before they reach the mirrors.

System charts of all the configurations of popular accessories and the Apertura 8 Inch Classical Cassegrain

Ultimate Equipment Compatibility
With 1.25″ and 2″, M56, M54, M48, and M42 connections supported right out-of-the-box, the Apertura 8″ Classical Cassegrain supports a wide variety of astronomical equipment! Additionally building out your system has never been easier with Apertura’s detailed system charts (included in the digital manual available for download in the Product Attachments tab) that show you how to construct a number of popular optical trains. This is designed to integrate with a wide variety of mounts as well — with both a D-series and V-series dovetail included.

Recommended Accessories (Sold Separately)
With such a wide range of compatible accessories, there are a lot of great upgrades for the Apertura 8″ Classical Cassegrain! For those wondering where to start, check out our short list of excellent add-ons — starting with the Apertura M56 Camera Rotator which makes angling your threaded accessories for comfortable viewing, easy! The Apertura 2″ Twist Lock Carbon Dielectric Mirror Diagonal pairs with this perfectly and allows you to easily make quick, secure, 2″ accessory changes a cinch. Looking to mount accessories to the top of your Classic Cassegrain? This V-Style Dovetail Plate provides a sturdy base for a wide variety of additions! Finally, to make precision focus adjustments without needing to jostle your gear, the ZWO Advanced Electronic Automatic Focuser – 5V USB Version w/ Hand Controller and Sensor is a simple to integrate solution!

Comes with the Apertura Absolute Warranty
The Apertura Absolute Warranty provides two years of coverage against product defects. After the initial two-year warranty expires, this product qualifies for Apertura’s Three-Year Accident Replacement Program. In addition, the Apertura Absolute Warranty is transferable! Download a copy of the Apertura Absolute Warranty for more information on this program, how to make a claim, and why it is important to keep your original receipt and the product’s original boxes and packaging!