A Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope combines a deeply curved meniscus corrector lens with a primary and secondary mirror, folding a long focal length into a remarkably short, compact tube. This catadioptric design produces sharp, high-contrast images with excellent color correction, making the Maksutov telescope a favorite for detailed views of the Moon, planets and double stars.
Because of their long focal ratios, Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes deliver high magnification with ease, revealing lunar craters and rilles, the cloud belts and Great Red Spot of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn and the polar caps of Mars. Their sealed tubes keep dust off the optics and rarely need collimation, so they are low-maintenance and ready to use. The compact size also makes a Mak-Cass telescope easy to carry, travel with and set up on a lightweight mount.
Explore Scientific offers Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes in the Explore FirstLight and Sidara lines, including models on manual alt-az mounts and GoTo mounts that locate objects automatically. For best performance, allow time for the optics to cool to outside temperature, and pair the telescope with a quality star diagonal and planetary eyepieces. If your primary interests are the Moon, planets and bright double stars, a Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope is an outstanding choice.
