Chromatic aberration — the purple fringing around bright stars and the Moon that plagues achromatic refractors — is what drives observers to upgrade to ED glass. 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 most accessible triplet APO refractors on the market for visual observers and beginning astrophotographers who want clean, color-free views.

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.