Aurel Ashgrove 130 f/5 Dobsonian, with Dobsonian base

Specifications

Description

The Ashgrove 130 f/5 is a Newtonian reflector mounted on a Dobsonian rocker base. Its 130 mm parabolic primary mirror gathers light at a focal length of 650 mm, a focal ratio of f/5. That ratio keeps the optical tube short while giving a wide field at low power, and you can still reach high magnification on the Moon and the planets with a short focal length eyepiece.

The primary mirror is aluminized and overcoated with silicon monoxide to reflect most visible light. The secondary mirror is held by a three-vane spider and adjusts with three screws, so you can align the optics with a laser collimator when the views soften. Because the tube is open at the top, it takes time to reach outdoor temperature. Set the telescope outside about 30 to 45 minutes before you begin observing, and allow more time on cold nights.

The rocker base folds down for transport, and the optical tube lifts out of its cradle. The tube weighs 9.8 kg, so you can carry it in one trip, while the base is best moved separately. The rocker base lets you point the tube at any part of the sky without a tripod or equatorial mount.

Typical targets include the bands of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, and globular clusters such as M13 in Hercules. Under dark skies, the 130 mm aperture shows spiral structure in brighter galaxies and resolves many stars in globular clusters.

About this configuration

This listing covers one specific configuration of the Aurel Ashgrove 130 f/5 Dobsonian, defined by its bundle, finish, accessory kit, and edition year. The Dobsonian rocker base keeps the telescope low and stable, and you aim it by pushing the tube gently by hand. A Dobsonian base needs no alignment, so you can set it on level ground and start observing within a few minutes. The carbon fiber tube expands less as the temperature drops, so the focus point drifts less as the night cools.

With the imaging kit, a camera attaches at prime focus, so the telescope works as a long telephoto lens. The 2023 edition uses the same optical design as later years, with small differences in fittings and labels. The optical figures in the specifications table apply to this configuration and to every other version of the Aurel Ashgrove 130 f/5 Dobsonian.

What's in the box

• Optical tube assembly
• Dobsonian rocker base
• Collimation kit with laser collimator
• 6x30 optical finder with bracket
• 2 in to 1.25 in eyepiece adapter
• Front and rear dust caps
• Dobsonian rocker base with altitude bearings
• T-ring and T-adapter
• Bahtinov focusing mask

Compatibility notes

• Accepts 2 in eyepieces directly and 1.25 in eyepieces through the supplied adapter.
• The rocker base fits the optical tube cradle without tools.
• The finder bracket mounts on the upper tube ring.