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Scope

The primary instrument will be a 10” Meade LX-200 classic SCT. It will either have the current 120mm Astroview refractor or another more suitable wide field refractor mounted piggyback.  I will probably piggyback my PST Ha solar scope for daytime solar viewing and imaging.

Here is a link to the manual for the LX200 CLassic: Manual


Here's the 10" Meade LX200 Classic installed in the dome.  It currently has either an Orion Astroview 120mm F5 refractor or a 4.5" starblast reflector piggybacked.  It also has an ETX70 refractor piggybacked where the original finder use to be and a 30mm finder attached to the right of the piggyback scope.  These combinations give me lots of flexibility when it comes to viewing or imaging.  One of these days I will get an APO to piggyback but that's a ways off.

Orion 120mm f/5.0 Refractor Telescope Optical Tube
•Perfect for deep-sky pursuits and excellent for astrophotography
•120mm aperture and 600mm focal length for breathtaking wide-field views
•Does not include mount or tripod - can be purchased separately
•One-year limited warranty


This compact, large-aperture Orion 120mm F/5.0 Refractor Telescope Optical Tube is perfect for deep-sky pursuits. Its 120mm (4.7"), multi-coated achromatic telescope lens assembly and modest 600mm focal length combine to provide breathtaking wide-field views. With an optional 25mm Plossl telescope eyepiece, this telescope serves up a sprawling 2.1-deg swath of sky! The fast f/5.0 optical system also makes it an excellent telescope for astrophotography. The 26"-long optical tube is well baffled to ensure good contrast. The cast-metal 2" rack-and-pinion focuser accommodates either a 1.25" or 2" diagonal, so you can use 1.25" or 2" telescope eyepieces. Tube color is gunmetal gray metallic. A mounting base molded into the focuser casting to accept an optional Orion finder scope or EZ Finder II. Sold as tube assembly only without accessories. Includes objective lens cap. One-year limited warranty.



Orion StarBlast 4.5 Imaging Reflector Optical Tube
•Simply the most affordable astrophotography-optimized telescope available!
•Big 4.5" primary mirror and fast f/4 focal ratio produce stunning images with short exposure times.
•Fully illuminates Orion StarShoot Deep Space Imager and other small-chip CCD cameras
•Compact, lightweight, easily transportable, and works with 1.25" eyepieces for observing
•Offered as an optical tube assembly only, no accessories


If you're looking for an exceptional telescope for astrophotography that won't cost you big bucks, then check out this affordable alternative. We've optimized the optics of our popular short-focal-length Orion StarBlast 4.5 Imaging Reflector Optical Tube to give a fully illuminated field of view with the Orion StarShoot Deep-Space Imager and similar small-chip astronomical charge coupled device (CCD) cameras. The result is a compact imaging telescope with a price that will please the budget-conscious astrophotographer — beginner or expert — and with the performance that will give pricey refractors a run for their money.

With its big 4.5" parabolic mirror and fast f/4 focal ratio, the Orion StarBlast 4.5 Imaging Reflector Optical Tube provides exquisite, high-quality images ó and it's simply the most affordable astrophotography-optimized telescope in the market. Unlike refractors, the Orion StarBlast introduces no chromatic aberration with negligible coma. The fast focal ratio also minimizes exposure time and guiding errors.

To achieve 100% illumination with the StarShoot Deep Space Imaging Camera, we slightly widened the secondary mirror and extended the focal point further out in the focuser. The short focal length provides a wide field of view for imaging with small-chip charage coupled device (CCD) cameras. While the telescope works with standard 1.25" eyepieces (Sirius Plossl recommended) some wide-field telescope eyepieces may require the use of an extension tube to reach focus.

At only 3.7 lbs, the StarBlast 4.5 doesn't require a heavy mount and it transports easily to your favorite site. The 1.25" focuser accepts 1.25" telescope eyepieces for visual use as well.

The Orion StarBlast 4.5 Imaging Reflector Optical Tube is offered as tube assembly only, with no accessories. One-year limited warranty.

Please note this product was not designed or intended by the manufacturer for use by a child 12 years of age or younger.

Need Instructions?
Download a PDF file of the Instruction Manual for this product. Requires Adobe Reader version 3.0 or higher.

I bought one of these with a bad mount and removed the OTA (optical tube assembly) for use as a finder replacement.  It allows flip mirror between a normal eyepiece and a reticle or an eyepiece and a cheap imager for remote finder application.
Optical Design: Refractor
Optical Diameter: 70 mm
Focal Length: 350 mm
Max Useful Magnification: x 240