The SkyWatcher StarQuest 70/500 refractor (binoculars with lens) is highly recommended for beginner skywatchers. The tiny craters of the Moon, the magnificent ring of Saturn, or even the magnificent cloud bands of Jupiter are certain to impress the novice observer. But the telescope can do more! With a little practice, you can catch a wide range of binary stars, dazzling star clusters and mysterious galaxies. Its relatively short focal length also makes it ideal for nature observation.
In the box you'll find everything you need to get started! First and foremost, two eyepieces that provide magnifications of 25x and 50x, with additional magnifications available with a short focus eyepiece or barlow lens. The basic package includes a starpointer, which makes it easy to align the brighter celestial bodies, and a zenith mirror for comfortable viewing. The white tube has the advantage of absorbing less heat and allowing it to dissipate more quickly than the black tube when used for solar filtering or daytime nature observation.
The new StarQuest equatorial mechanism is lightweight at only 1.2 kg, yet strong enough to move telescope tubes weighing less than 3 kg. Its large 122-tooth worm gear wheel allows unobstructed fine movement through 360° on both axes. And the extendable tripod, which can be adjusted to your body height, adds significantly to its stability, with an eyepiece holder tray on which you can conveniently place your sighting accessories. Although the mechanism is designed for equatorial use, it can also be used in azimuthal mode, if necessary, by placing it in a horizontal position. The mechanics automatically follow the apparent rotation of the clockwork with a stepping motor (optional), so that the selected objects do not move out of the field of view, facilitating their study over extended periods of time.
