Explore Scientific ED80 80mm f/6 Triplet Refractor Telescope

The Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series packs a true air-spaced triplet APO with HOYA FCD1 extra-low dispersion glass into a 5.95-pound package for under $500 — making it one of the lightest and most affordable triplet refractors you can buy. Sharp enough to split tight doubles and resolve planetary detail at 160x, portable enough to set up in minutes at any dark-sky site, and priced to leave room in the budget for a solid mount.

Key Features

• HOYA FCD1 Extra-Low Dispersion Glass – S-FPL51 equivalent ED glass in a three-element design minimizes chromatic aberration, delivering clean, true-color views with high contrast across the field
• Air-Spaced Triplet Optical Design – Three-element apochromatic configuration achieves 1.45 arcsecond resolution and diffraction-limited performance guaranteed at 0.25 PV or better
• 2" Dual-Speed Rack-and-Pinion Focuser – Smooth focuser with 10:1 fine focus ratio for precise adjustments during both visual and imaging sessions — includes two 2" extension tubes for flexible camera adaptation
• Fast f/6 Focal Ratio – Wide-field sweet spot for deep-sky astrophotography at 480mm, with enough focal length for detailed lunar and planetary views at up to 160x
• EMD Enhanced Multi-Layer Coatings – Proprietary broadband coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces maximize light transmission and contrast
• Ultra-Lightweight Design – Just 5.95 lbs and 15" of tube (dew shield removed) make this one of the lightest triplet APOs on the market — a true grab-and-go scope
• Removable Dew Shield – Detaches and reverses onto the tube for compact storage and transport
• 99% Reflective 2" Diagonal Included – Premium dielectric diagonal maximizes light throughput right out of the box

Ideal For

• Beginning astrophotographers stepping into refractor imaging with a DSLR or dedicated camera — the triplet design produces clean star profiles at f/6, and the 480mm focal length frames large nebulae and galaxy groups beautifully
• Grab-and-go visual observers who want apochromatic color correction in the lightest possible package — at under 6 lbs, this scope travels anywhere and delivers sharp lunar, planetary, and double star views that leave achromats behind
• Dual-rig astrophotographers looking for a dedicated guide scope or secondary imaging OTA — the compact size and integrated Vixen dovetail mount directly to a larger setup without adapters
• Budget-conscious astronomers who want triplet APO performance for under $500 — competing triplet refractors start at $560 and up, most with lesser optics at this price point

Accessories & Compatibility

• Explore Scientific Field Flattener (f/5–f/7) – Eliminates field curvature for sharp, flat stars edge-to-edge in deep-sky imaging — recommended for astrophotography with this scope
• Explore Scientific 8x50 Illuminated Right Angle Polar Finder – Accurate polar alignment with an illuminated reticle for precise tracking during long exposures
• Explore Scientific Twilight I Alt-Azimuth Mount – Smooth manual tracking for visual observing sessions — a natural pairing for grab-and-go use
• Explore Scientific EXOS2-GT Equatorial Mount – GoTo motorized mount with PMC-Eight system for automated object tracking and long-exposure astrophotography
• ED80 Telescope Case – Custom-fit padded case for safe transport to dark-sky sites

Ready for the imaging upgrade? The ED80 FCD100 steps up to HOYA FCD100 glass (Abbe 95.10 vs 81.61) and a heavier-duty 2.5" hexagonal focuser rated for 10 lbs of imaging gear — the choice for dedicated astrophotographers who need the tightest possible chromatic correction and a focuser built for heavy camera rigs.

Note: A finder scope and carrying case are not included. The pre-installed hybrid finder scope base accepts most standard finder scopes and guiding systems.