Aurel Lodestar 114 Newtonian reflector, tube with alt-az mount

Specifications

Description

The Lodestar 114 is a Newtonian reflector with a 114 mm parabolic primary mirror and a focal length of 570 mm, which gives a focal ratio of f/5. At that ratio the telescope gives a moderate field of view, wide enough to frame the Andromeda Galaxy and the larger nebulae in Sagittarius at low power. Eyepieces with shorter focal lengths take it to high magnification on the Moon and the brighter planets.

Light from the primary mirror reaches a flat secondary mirror near the front of the tube, which turns it toward the focuser on the side of the tube. Because the optics contain no lenses, the telescope shows no chromatic aberration, so bright planets such as Jupiter and Saturn appear without the color fringe that an achromatic refractor of the same aperture would show. The open tube lets the mirror reach outdoor temperature in about 30 to 45 minutes, and mirror seeing can still affect sharp detail on warm nights. Allow the tube to cool before you judge fine planetary detail.

The 1.25 in dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser accepts standard eyepieces and filters, and the 6x30 finder helps you locate targets before you switch to higher power. The optical tube weighs 5.8 kg, so you can carry it outdoors without a heavy base. A light alt-az mount carries the tube at a comfortable height for seated observing, and the tube length keeps the assembly compact enough for transport in a car.

Typical targets include the Moon, the planets, the Orion Nebula, the Double Cluster in Perseus, and the brighter globular clusters such as M13. Under suburban skies the 114 mm aperture shows the cloud bands of Jupiter and the spiral arms of M51 as faint detail. Fainter nebulae and galaxies show more contrast from darker sites, and a nebula filter can improve emission nebulae under light-polluted skies.

About this configuration

Every configuration of the Aurel Lodestar 114 Newtonian reflector shares the same optics; the choices below change how the telescope is mounted, finished, and equipped. The included alt-az mount moves up and down and side to side, so you point the telescope by hand without polar alignment. Manual alt-az motion suits visual observing, though you need to nudge the tube now and then to follow objects as the sky turns. The gloss white tube reflects sunlight, which helps it stay closer to air temperature while you set up before dusk.

The deep-sky kit adds a wide-field eyepiece and a UHC filter for emission nebulae such as the Lagoon and the Orion Nebula. The 2026 edition carries the optics over unchanged and updates small parts such as dust caps and thumbscrews. The optical figures in the specifications table apply to this configuration and to every other version of the Aurel Lodestar 114 Newtonian reflector.

What's in the box

• Optical tube assembly with primary mirror
• Flat secondary mirror installed
• 1.25 in 25 mm eyepiece
• 6x30 finder scope with bracket
• Dust cover
• Alt-az mount with aluminum tripod
• 24 mm wide-field eyepiece (1.25 in)
• UHC nebula filter (1.25 in)

Compatibility notes

• Accepts 1.25 in eyepieces, diagonals, and filters directly.
• The optical tube mounts on alt-az mounts that accept a standard tube clamp.