Aurel Veil 70 achromatic refractor, tube with equatorial mount

Specifications

Description

The Veil 70 is a 70 mm achromatic doublet refractor with a focal length of 420 mm, which gives it a focal ratio of f/6. At that ratio the field at low power is wide enough for rich-field star clouds in the Milky Way, and the tube still takes moderate magnification on the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn. You will see a faint violet fringe around very bright objects, because a two-element achromat brings only two wavelengths to a common focus.

The objective is fully multi-coated and sits in a tube with internal baffles, which keeps the background dark when a bright planet is near the edge of the field. The 1.25 in rack-and-pinion focuser uses a single-speed knob with a short travel range, so it holds a standard eyepiece without tilting. A 6x30 finder scope with a right-angle correct-image bracket mounts on the tube with two thumbscrews, and it helps you locate targets before you move to the eyepiece.

At 1.6 kg for the tube, the Veil 70 rides on a light alt-az mount or a small equatorial mount, and it fits in a soft case for travel. A small refractor reaches outdoor temperature sooner than a reflector of similar aperture, so you can start observing soon after you carry it out. Allow a few minutes for the optics to settle before you judge fine detail.

Typical targets include double stars such as Albireo and Epsilon Lyrae, the phases of Venus, the Moon's craters near the terminator, and open clusters such as the Pleiades and the Double Cluster in Perseus. At this aperture, the Orion Nebula shows its bright core and the surrounding haze, and many star clouds in Sagittarius and Cygnus fill the wide field of a low-power eyepiece.

About this configuration

This listing covers one specific configuration of the Aurel Veil 70 achromatic refractor, defined by its bundle, finish, accessory kit, and edition year. The equatorial mount follows the sky along one axis once you align its polar axis with the celestial pole. With the equatorial mount, slow-motion controls let you keep a planet centered at high magnification with one hand. A matte white finish reduces glare from nearby lights while keeping the tube easy to see at night.

The starter kit adds two eyepieces and a Barlow lens, which gives you four magnifications from three pieces. This is the 2023 edition of the Veil line, the earliest version that is still listed in the catalog. If you plan to add accessories later, compare the compatibility notes with the parts you already own before choosing a configuration.

What's in the box

• Optical tube with dust cap
• Dovetail mounting bar
• 1.25 in star diagonal
• 6x30 finder scope with bracket
• Front dust cap
• Equatorial mount with steel tripod
• Counterweight and counterweight shaft
• 25 mm and 10 mm eyepieces (1.25 in)
• 2x Barlow lens (1.25 in)

Compatibility notes

• Accepts 1.25 in eyepieces directly.
• The dovetail bar fits most small alt-az and equatorial mounts that take a standard-width saddle.