About this product
Model: askar_203_apo
Part Number: 203APO
Optical Bench Test
At FLO, we check all our Askar telescopes on an optical bench before dispatch.
So you can be confident your telescope will have well-figured optics, negligible false colour and spherical aberration, and no astigmatism (the bane of any optical system!). Star shapes will be round, not triangular, oval or egg-shaped!
The Askar 203APO has an impressive 203mm aperture, 1421mm focal length, and a native focal ratio of F7.
ETA November 2024.
The triplet air-spaced optics include an ED glass lens to correct chromatic aberration.
With a 20% larger effective aperture area than the 185APO, the limiting magnitude can reach 13.3.
The large aperture also provides an inherent advantage in terms of light-gathering power, resolution, brightness, and contrast, enabling the photographer to gather more light and present more details and brighter objects in the image.
The Askar 203APO is also surprisingly portable for a large-aperture telescope. Due to the retractable lens tube design, the shortest overall length is only 1145mm.
The net weight is 14.9kg, and the gross weight is 23.5kg (including the handle, tube ring, and dovetail plate).
Each piece of Askar 203APO is equipped with a unique name ring for identification. The retractable design of the dew shield, along with the enlarged locking screws, provides convenient usage.
Large thumbscrews enable easy opening and locking of the tube rings. Meanwhile, the base of the tube rings is heightened, providing more space.
The Askar 203APO has an extended 402mm handle with a special slot design, making it a base for installing a finder scope.
The dovetail plate of the Askar 203APO is the standard Losmandy dovetail plate, which is compatible with most equatorial mounts and bases on the market. The dovetail plate is designed with multiple holes, which makes it easy to adjust the position. The length of the dovetail plate has been extended to 500mm, which is more convenient for balancing on the mount.
It is worth mentioning that the rear lens tube of the Askar 203APO has an integrated retractable design. We strengthen the overall stability and ensure that the optical axis will not be affected when the lens tube is stretched, thus guaranteeing the quality of the image. The retractable part also features a rudder-type locking ring, making it easy to loosen or tighten.
When the lens tube is stretched, the 203APO can be connected to a diagonal and an eyepiece for observation. When the lens tube is contracted, the Askar 203APO can be used with a binoviewer for visual observation.
Regarding the focuser, the Askar 203APO is equipped with a dual-speed rack-and-pinion large 3.5-inch rigid focuser, which can be compatible with most motorised focusers on the market. The 100 mm focusing travel has a high-precision scale printed on it. The entire focuser barrel is CNC machined with an anti-reflective internal design and matting paint, providing extra measures to eliminate stray light.
There are two finder bases on both sides of the focuser, which eliminates the need for disassembling when changing the position of the finder scope and provides additional mounting positions for other astronomical accessories.
The rear of the focuser features a 360° high-precision big rotator, along with precise scales for convenient adjustment and saving of rotation angles, enabling precise rotation. It is also equipped with an enlarged rotator locking screw that can be easily secured even under high loads.
Regarding visual observation, the focuser interface at the rear comes with a 1.25"/2" adapter, so the 203APO can quickly and easily achieve focus when connected to 1.25" or 2" diagonals or various eyepieces. The retractable lens tube design can also be attached to a binoviewer for visual observation.
The Askar 203APO tube is crafted using high-quality CNC machining with anodised and surface spray paint treatments. The orange accents on the ivory-white tube add a bright and eye-catching touch, presenting a stylish and elegant overall appearance.
Later, the specialised Askar 203APO reducer and flattener will also be launched to further enhance the Askar 203APO’s potential.
Specifications
Aperture size | 203 mm |
Focal length | 1421 mm |
Focal ratio | f/7 |
Objective lens | Triplet air-spaced APO (including one ED glass) |
Total length | 1145mm (with dew shield is retracted) |
The length of the rear retractable lens tube | 150 mm |
OTA weight | 18.5 kg |
Gross weight（including tube ring and dovetail plate） | 23.5kg |
Rear-end thread type | 2"/1.25" visual adapters |
Standard package items | An Askar 203APO OTA, a group of tube rings, a handle, an Askar 500mm Losmandy dovetail plate, an aluminium box and a manual. |
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