Optiques Fullum Folded Newtonian 30" f/3.5

The 30" Optiques Fullum Folded f/3.5 Newtonian Telescope is designed, engineered and manufactured in-house by master telescope builder Normand Fullum and his team. For many amateur astronomers, a 30-inch telescope may be the largest aperture that they have ever used. With light gathering power of 11,850 times that of the human eye, views of nebulae and galaxies show amazing brightness and structure. Under dark, transparent skies you can detect color in nebulae, especially in planetary nebulae. And when seeing conditions prevail, high-power views of the planets will leave you breathless.

The Optiques Fullum Folded Newtonian 30" Telescope, weighing only 225 lbs. features a diffraction-limited Techno-Fusion parabolic primary mirror with a very short f/3.5 focal ratio, coupled to a special secondary mirror that makes the optical assembly physically shorter. This secondary mirror redirects the optical axis at a 17.5-degree angle instead of 45 degrees, creating the "folded" Newtonian design. The Fullum Folded Newtonian provides a much lower observing height, which is a huge benefit with respect to safety. Most people of average height can observe through the eyepiece pointed at the zenith without the need of a ladder. However depending on your height, you may want to use a small platform to stand on for visual. The 30-inch design has an eyepiece height of only 58 inches when aimed at the zenith. But if you would like a custom eyepiece height, we can discuss the possibilities. After all, your safety and comfort while you are observing are of the utmost importance.

For the Folded Newtonian 30" Telescope, Optiques Fullum fabricates very light custom-designed aluminum and composite structures, fully motorized with a precision GOTO tracking system for visual work and imaging. Depending on your imaging requirements you may need to add a field de-rotator.

Optiques Fullum's unique Techno-Fusion mirror design produces fast cooling mirrors. Never worry about cool-down time and heat plumes again! Another benefit of Techno-Fusion comes from its light-weighting and its unmatched rigidity through a fused structure. You will never find yourself the victim of problems found in large solid mirrors such as astigmatism or other self-deflection aberrations.

At the end of the day, your large primary mirror is the heart of your telescope. At Fullum Optics, they make sure that it’s ready for its mission which is delivering the universe to your eyes without worrying about thermals or flexion.

All mirrors are manufactured according to the highest standards of conical constant accuracy, surface roughness, and critical tolerance specifications.

As these are specialized telescopes that are built to order, every aspect of the system is customized to the exact requirements of the client, be it for visual observation, research, or imaging. The price does not include shipping.

In this video, Normand Fullum describes how he developed and produces his lightweight Techno-Fusion primary mirrors for the Fullum Folded Newtonian telescopes.