Askar 203 APO review

The Askar 203 APO from Jiaxing Rui Xing Optical Instrument Co., maker of Askar telescopes, is a powerhouse refractor built for astrophotography and stargazing. With a 203mm aperture and 1421mm focal length, it offers a versatile f/7 focal ratio. Its design aims to pull in plenty of light, giving you bright, sharp, and detailed views - perfect for capturing stunning celestial images or exploring the night sky.

The Askar 203 APO is a high-quality astrograph with an eight-inch aperture (yes, an 8" refactor!)

The optical design of the telescope incorporates a triplet air-spaced APO lens system, which includes a single piece of extra-low dispersion (ED) glass. This configuration plays a crucial role in minimizing chromatic aberration, ensuring that users achieve high-quality, sharp, and color-accurate images. The lens elements work together to improve overall image quality, which is essential for capturing clear details and accurate colors of celestial objects.

The telescope boasts a 20% increase in effective aperture area when compared to the Askar 185 APO, resulting in an improved limiting magnitude of 13.3. This increased aperture size gives the telescope a distinct advantage in both capturing more light and resolving finer details in the night sky. Photographers will benefit from a clearer view of distant and faint objects, with brighter and more detailed images.

Despite its large aperture, the telescope is designed with portability in mind. The telescope features a retractable lens tube that shortens the overall length to 1145mm when contracted. This makes the telescope easier to store and transport, ensuring that it remains manageable for both amateur and professional astronomers. The net weight of the OTA is 14.9kg, while the gross weight, including the handle, tube ring, and dovetail plate, is 23.5kg. These measurements strike a balance between stability and ease of use.

The tube design includes a retractable dew shield with enlarged locking screws, making it more user-friendly. This retractable feature also reduces the overall length when not in use. The tube ring system, designed with an enhanced triplet configuration, provides robust support for the optical tube. The tube rings include thumb screws that allow easy opening and locking, and the base of the rings is heightened to offer additional clearance for accessories.

The telescope is equipped with a 402mm handle, designed with a special slot that serves as a base for mounting a finder scope. The telescope comes with a standard Losmandy dovetail plate, which is compatible with most equatorial mounts and bases, ensuring that users can easily integrate it into their existing setup. The dovetail plate measures 500mm in length, offering ample room for adjustment and improved balance when mounted.

The rear lens tube of the telescope is designed to be retractable, offering both stability and convenience. When the tube is extended, it can be connected to a diagonal and eyepiece for visual observation. When contracted, it is compatible with binoviewers, providing flexibility in the way the telescope is used for both visual and photographic observation. The rear section also features a rudder-type locking ring that makes it simple to loosen or tighten when adjusting the tube length.

The telescope is equipped with a dual-speed rack and pinion large 3.5-inch rigid focuser

For focusing, the telescope includes a large 3.5-inch dual-speed rack and pinion focuser, allowing for fine adjustment and ensuring that users can achieve precise focus. The focuser provides 100mm of travel and is equipped with a high-precision scale to assist with accurate focusing. The internal design of the focuser barrel is anti-reflective, further improving image quality by reducing stray light. Additionally, the focuser features two finder bases, which provide flexibility when attaching a finder scope or other accessories without the need for disassembly.

A 360-degree rotator is also included at the rear of the focuser, allowing users to rotate the optical tube smoothly and lock it in place at their desired position. The rotator is designed with precise scales for accurate angle adjustments and features an enlarged locking screw to ensure secure positioning, even under heavy loads. The rear-end interface is compatible with both 1.25" and 2" adapters, providing additional compatibility with various accessories such as diagonals and eyepieces.

Specifications

• Aperture size: 203mm
• Focal length: 1421mm
• Focal ratio: f/7
• Objective lens: Triplet air-spaced APO (including one ED glass)
• Total length: 1145mm (when the dew shield is contracted) | 1335mm (when the dew shield is stretched)
• Length of the rear retractable lens tube: 150mm
• OTA weight: 18.5kg
• Gross weight (including tube ring and dovetail plate): 23.5kg
• Rear-end thread type: 2"/1.25" visual adapters
   

What's included in the package

• 203 APO OTA
• Tube rings
• Handle
• Askar 500mm Losmandy dovetail plate
• Aluminum box
• Manual
   

The full Askar APO series lineup

• Askar 120 APO: Features a 120mm aperture and f/7 focal ratio, providing a balance between portability and performance. 
• Askar 140 APO: Offers a 140mm aperture with a 980mm focal length and f/7 focal ratio, delivering enhanced light-gathering capabilities. 
• Askar 160 APO: Equipped with a 160mm aperture and f/7 focal ratio, this model provides superior resolution and brightness. 
• Askar 185 APO: Features a 185mm aperture and f/7 focal ratio, offering increased light-gathering power and contrast. 
• Askar 203 APO: The largest in the series, with a 203mm aperture and f/7 focal ratio, delivering exceptional image quality and detail.
   

The Askar 203 APO is a high-quality astrograph with an eight-inch aperture

The telescope is constructed using high-quality CNC machining, and the tube is finished with anodized and surface spray paint treatments. The sleek ivory-white finish, accented with orange details, gives the telescope an attractive and professional appearance. Askar also plans to release specialized reducers and flatteners in the future, further expanding the telescope's capabilities for astrophotography.

In terms of dimensions, the telescope measures 1145mm in total length when the dew shield is contracted and 1335mm when the dew shield is extended. The rear retractable lens tube measures 150mm in length. The telescope’s total weight, including the tube rings and dovetail plate, is 23.5kg, providing solid stability while keeping the setup manageable for practical use.

Included with the telescope are the OTA, a pair of tube rings, a 402mm handle, a 500mm Losmandy dovetail plate, an aluminum carrying box, and a user manual, ensuring that users have everything they need to set up and begin their astronomical observations.

What AstroJohn had to say about the Askar 203 APO telescope

In a recent video, an avid astrophotographer aka AstroJohn, shared his excitement about acquiring the large refractor telescope, which he picked up on Christmas Eve after a long drive from 365 Astronomy UK. The telescope came in a substantial flight case weighing approximately 123.46 lbs - 130.07 lbs. The case was equipped with wheels, making the handling of such heavy equipment more manageable. At the time of the video, the telescope had not yet been removed from its protective packaging, but his enthusiasm for the new addition was evident. He expressed that this acquisition would be an important step forward in his astrophotography journey.

He had plans to use the telescope with a variety of accessories to enhance its functionality and performance. One of the key components of his setup would be the PrimaLuceLab Eagle 5, a device he would use to control the telescope. The Eagle 5 is an all-in-one computer that provides integrated control over a range of astrophotography equipment. He explained that he would be attaching the Eagle 5 to the telescope using a shoe bracket mounted onto the finder adapter. With the Eagle 5 in place, it would serve as the central control hub, managing various systems related to the telescope's operation. This would allow him to focus on imaging without needing to manually adjust settings on different pieces of equipment.

To capture images with the telescope, he planned to use the ZWO 6200 mono camera, a popular choice for astrophotographers who specialize in narrowband imaging. The ZWO 6200 mono camera is known for its high sensitivity, allowing for the capture of detailed images of deep-sky objects, even in low-light conditions. He mentioned his intention to shoot in narrowband, which is a technique where specific wavelengths of light are targeted to reveal details not visible in full-color imaging. This technique is especially effective for capturing images of nebulae, which emit light primarily in certain wavelengths, such as hydrogen-alpha, oxygen, and sulfur.

In addition to the camera, he decided to use the Pegasus Rotator rather than the ZWO Rotator that is often recommended for large telescopes. The Pegasus Rotator is known for its smaller size, making it a better fit for his setup. Despite the ZWO Rotator being more commonly used, he expressed that the Pegasus model's more compact design made it the more suitable choice for his particular configuration. He also acknowledged that the Pegasus Rotator was more expensive than its ZWO counterpart, but he seemed confident that it would be a worthwhile investment for his astrophotography needs.

The mount he planned to use with the telescope was the iOptron 7120, which he noted would be capable of supporting the telescope's weight and ensuring stability during long exposures. He explained that the total weight of the telescope, including its mounting rings, would be around 23 kilograms. This weight was manageable for the iOptron 7120, which is known for being a reliable and robust mount. The mount's primary role would be to securely hold the telescope while allowing for precise tracking of celestial objects during imaging sessions. He did not go into specific details about the mount's features, but his confidence in its capabilities suggested that he had carefully considered this choice.

The telescope has a focal length of 1421 millimeters and an f/7 focal ratio, which makes it suitable for capturing high-resolution images of distant celestial objects. However, he noted that there was currently no flattener or reducer available for the telescope. This meant that, at least for the time being, he would be using the telescope at its native focal length. He expected a flattener or reducer to be released by March, which would allow him to correct any field curvature and improve the overall image quality, especially for wide-field astrophotography. This would be a significant addition to his setup, as flatteners and reducers are essential tools for achieving sharp, well-corrected images across the entire field of view.

At the time of the video, he was in the process of setting up a new observatory, which he hoped would be operational by the end of January. This observatory would serve as a dedicated space for his astrophotography equipment, allowing him to have everything organized and easily accessible. He seemed excited about the possibilities this new observatory would offer, as it would provide a more controlled environment for imaging and allow him to spend more time focused on capturing high-quality images. He mentioned that the telescope would be one of the central pieces of equipment in his new observatory, and he was eager to see how it would perform once everything was set up.

The telescope is a large refractor telescope, and it is clear that he intended to use it for capturing detailed images of deep-sky objects. With its long focal length and fast f/7 focal ratio, the telescope is capable of delivering sharp, high-resolution images, making it an excellent choice for those who want to capture the intricate details of nebulae, galaxies, and other distant objects. He had already planned the specific accessories and equipment that would complement the telescope, including the camera, rotator, mount, and control system, ensuring that each component would work together to create an efficient astrophotography setup.

The use of narrowband imaging, in particular, would allow him to capture stunning images of nebulae and other objects that emit light in specific wavelengths. Narrowband imaging is often used by astrophotographers who want to capture detailed images of objects like the Orion Nebula or the Veil Nebula, which emit primarily in the hydrogen-alpha, oxygen, and sulfur wavelengths. This technique helps to isolate the emissions from these elements, resulting in images with rich contrast and detail. He was clearly excited about the potential of the telescope to produce exceptional narrowband images, and he looked forward to testing the setup once the observatory was complete.

The decision to invest in high-quality equipment like the Askar 203 APO, the ZWO 6200 mono camera, and the Pegasus Rotator show that he is committed to achieving the best possible results in his astrophotography work. Each piece of equipment was carefully selected to provide the functionality and performance needed to capture stunning images of distant celestial objects. His choice of the PrimaLuceLab Eagle 5 as the central control unit also indicated that he was focused on creating a streamlined and efficient imaging system that would allow him to spend more time capturing images and less time dealing with equipment setup and troubleshooting.

Askar 203 reveal

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