About this product
Our compact, performance-packed Orion StarBlast II 4.5 EQ Reflector kit telescope is a favorite of both beginners and expert astronomers alike. It combines the much-heralded Orion StarBlast II 4.5" wide-field (f/4) parabolic reflector optics with a sturdy equatorial mount and adjustable-height tripod, plus bonus accessories, all for one great price!
The StarBlast II 4.5 EQ will amaze the whole family with bright views thanks to its big, 4.5"-aperture telescope tube, which collects a lot of light from the night sky to send bright, clear images of objects in space to the telescope eyepiece for viewing. The telescope's combination of short 500mm focal length and sizable 4.5" aperture means the StarBlast II 4.5 EQ will provide brighter views at any magnification compared to longer focal length telescopes, which makes it easier for everyone, and especially beginners, to locate interesting sights in the night sky. Using a telescope allows backyard stargazers to explore the sparkling night sky and search out interesting objects to observe. Everyone in the family will enjoy using the StarBlast II 4.5 EQ to look at fascinating craters, valleys and mountains on the Moon; and bright planets like Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. Even distant objects like star clusters, brighter nebulas and galaxies can be seen in this petite reflector telescope.
Much of the quality of the StarBlast II 4.5 telescope is thanks to its diffraction-limited parabolic primary mirror. While many similar reflector telescopes on the market utilize spherically figured mirrors, for the StarBlast we insisted on using a parabolic primary mirror like those found in larger, observatory quality reflectors because it produces better sharpness across the field with less distortion at the edges. On a short-focal-length design like this one, a parabolic mirror is a must for delivering sharp, detailed images. Parabolic mirrors are more expensive to manufacture, but the payoff is in higher quality celestial images in the eyepiece. This feature combined with the included equatorial mount with dovetail cradle mounting and included accessories described below make this one sweet optical system for astronomy!
The included 25mm Plossl eyepiece provides a 18-power view in the StarBlast II 4.5 EQ with a 52° apparent field of view. The 25mm Plossl is a great eyepiece to use first when you use the telescope each night, since it provides a larger, less magnified window of night sky for you to view. This lower magnification makes it easy to find interesting objects in the night sky.
After you've scanned the skies with the 25mm Plossl ocular in the StarBlast II 4.5 EQ, take a closer look at interesting objects by swapping out the 25mm eyepiece with 10mm Plossl to boost magnification up to 45x. The more powerful view in the 10mm focal length eyepiece makes it easier to see details such as craters and mountains on the Moon, as well as details of bright planets like the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn.
The accessories included in this value-packed Telescope Kit have been selected to enhance stargazing experiences for anyone beginning a hobby of amateur astronomy.
Use the included Orion Shorty 2x Barlow Lens to double the magnifying power of included eyepieces.
A 2-power (2x) Barlow lens is an extremely versatile telescope accessory that doubles the magnification of any eyepiece installed. Using the included Shorty 2x Barlow with the 10mm eyepiece in the StarBlast II 4.5 EQ bumps its viewing power from 45x to 90x, and boosts the 25mm eyepiece's magnification from 18x to 36x when used with the 4.5" reflector. What's more, you can use the compact Shorty 2x Barlow with any other 1.25" eyepieces you already have, or any you purchase in the future.
The Orion MoonMap 260 makes it easy to locate and learn about interesting features on the Moon.
With locations and names of over 260 features on the Moon such as craters, mountains, valleys, "seas" and more, the included Orion MoonMap 260 is a great tool for beginning astronomers. This detailed map will even show you where various spacecraft have landed on the Moon's surface! The whole family will enjoy looking at the Moon with the StarBlast II 4.5 EQ telescope, then discovering the names of the craters and other features you've seen in the telescope.
The Orion Star Target planisphere is a useful star chart wheel for any day of the year.
This circular star map lets you dial-in the month and day you're observing the sky, so you can see exactly which constellations and stars will be visible if skies are clear. Using the Orion Star Target is a great way for starters to plan their first stargazing sessions with the StarBlast II 4.5 EQ reflector, since you'll know just where to point the telescope.
The Orion Telescope Observer's Guide book will introduce you to the wonders of the night sky.
This book will help you explore amazing celestial objects including planetary, emission and reflection nebulas; double and multiple stars; open and globular star clusters, the Andromeda Galaxy, and more. With a full page of information dedicated to each interesting object, author Richard J. Bartlett leads you on a detailed tour of the night sky as he describes over 60 fascinating astronomical objects that can easily be seen with a small telescope.
Use the RedBeam Mini LED flashlight to see in the dark without disrupting dark-adapted vision.
You don't need a big flashlight to read star maps or see inside your accessory case at night. The included 2.5"-long Orion RedBeam Mini Flashlight does the job perfectly, emitting night-vision friendly red LED light. Red light won't disrupt your eyes' dark-adapted vision, so this flashlight lets you check charts and accessories while keeping your eyes primed for viewing celestial gems through the StarBlast II 4.5 EQ telescope. Includes batteries and a handy key-ring.
Take smartphone pictures of the view through your telescope with this Smartphone Telescope adapter.
Quick and easy self-centering eyepiece clamp provides fast installation. Provides a stable platform for your smartphone to yield stable, clearly focused snapshots. Compatible with even the biggest modern smartphones as large as 3-3/4" wide. Twist-lock eyepiece clamp compatible with telescope, binocular, and microscope eyepieces measuring 25-45mm in diameter.
- This wide-field parabolic reflector telescope has enough aperture for great views of the Moon, planets, and many bright deep-sky objects
- A fantastic general-purpose astronomical telescope - great for the beginner to test the waters with mirror optics large enough to keep you and your family busy viewing for years to come
- Included Shorty 2x Barlow doubles the magnification of both included eyepieces
- Use the included Star Target Planisphere, MoonMap 260, Telescope Observer's Guide book, and keychain red LED flashlight to plan stargazing sessions
- Take pictures of solar system objects with the included Smartphone camera adapter
