Vixen A105MII achromatic refractor

A well-built telescope that is tailored to intermediate astronomers

- CHARLOTTE DANIELS

VITAL STATS

Price £838

Optics Achromatic refractor

Aperture 105mm

Focal length 1,000mm, f/9.5 Dimensions 1,010mm x 115mm

Focuser Single-speed rack and pinion

Extras Vixen XY Red Dot Finder II, tube rings with dovetail bar and carry handle, flip mirror diagonal

Weight 4.8kg (including the dovetail bar)

Supplier Telescope House

Tel [phone]

www.telescope house.com

Impressive focal length

The A105MII's 1,000mm focal length makes it ideal for viewing a variety of astronomical objects, including the Moon and planets, plus a wide range of deep-sky objects such as planetary nebulae, galaxies and star clusters. It also allows the use of lower powered eyepieces for improved 'eye relief - the distance your eye must be from the eyepiece to see the entire field of view - to ensure a better observing experience, as well as helping astronomers who wear glasses. The 105mm aperture provides a proficient level of light-gathering capability to enhance the viewing of faint and fuzzy objects, without the scope becoming difficult to manoeuvre. Generally, refractors are simple enough for beginners to use confidently, as they don't require collimation or a complicated setup routine. They also tend to offer the most natural and satisfying viewing experience, with good background contrast and sharp stars, allowing users to explore open clusters and other stellar phenomena.

As soon as we unpacked the Vixen A105MII achromatic refractor, we noticed its impressive build quality - there's not a piece of plastic in sight. It was also pleasing to discover that the optical tube comes with some robust accessories, including a handy, metal flip mirror diagonal - a unique addition and one that allowed us to switch from visual to imaging targets with ease. Feeling eager to put this 105mm refractor through its paces, we headed outside.