Aurel Quillon 100 f/6 reflector, tube with alt-az mount

Specifications

Description

The Quillon 100 is a Newtonian reflector with a parabolic primary mirror of 100 mm aperture and 600 mm focal length. It works at f/6, a ratio that gives a moderate field at low power and enough magnification for the Moon, the planets, and close double stars. Because the primary is parabolic, it brings all wavelengths to a single focus, so bright objects show no color fringe.

The open tube is painted steel, and the secondary mirror is held on a four-vane spider. The spider and secondary cause diffraction spikes around bright stars, which is normal for this design. The primary carries an aluminum coating with a protective overcoat, and it reflects most of the visible light that reaches it. You can expect the image to be sharpest once the optics have reached outdoor temperature.

The 1.25 in rack-and-pinion focuser accepts standard eyepieces and a star diagonal. Collimation is set with three screws on the primary cell and three on the secondary holder, and you should check it before each session, since a misaligned mirror softens the image at high power. At 4.2 kg for the tube, the Quillon 100 fits on a light alt-az mount or a tabletop stand. The tube needs about thirty minutes to cool to the outdoor temperature before you use high magnification.

Typical targets include the Moon, the rings of Saturn, the cloud belts of Jupiter, the Orion Nebula, and the Pleiades, which fill a low-power field. Under dark skies the 100 mm aperture shows brighter galaxies such as M81 and M82, and globular clusters such as M13 begin to resolve into individual stars at moderate power. A nebula filter threaded to a 1.25 in eyepiece can help with emission nebulae from a light-polluted yard.

About this configuration

The Aurel Quillon 100 f/6 reflector is offered in several configurations, and the notes below describe what this particular combination adds or changes. 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. Carbon fiber saves some weight compared with a metal tube, which eases the load on the mount and on your arms.

With the starter kit, begin with the low-power eyepiece whenever you search for a new target, then switch up. The 2025 edition keeps the same optical figures as the earlier years of the Quillon line. The optical figures in the specifications table apply to this configuration and to every other version of the Aurel Quillon 100 f/6 reflector.

What's in the box

• Optical tube with primary and secondary mirrors
• Four-vane spider assembly
• Rack-and-pinion focuser with 1.25 in drawtube
• 6x30 optical finder with bracket
• Collimation cap
• Front and rear dust caps
• Alt-az mount with aluminum tripod
• 25 mm and 10 mm eyepieces (1.25 in)
• 2x Barlow lens (1.25 in)

Compatibility notes

• Accepts 1.25 in eyepieces and filters directly in the focuser.
• The tube has a standard mounting ring slot that fits most light alt-az mounts.
• A 2 in adapter is not supplied and is not required for the focuser.