Sky-Watcher AC 70/500 Mercury AZ-3 Telescope

The AC 70 Telescope:

With its 70mm aperture, this telescope captures a hundred times more light than the naked eye, offering significantly greater light-gathering ability compared to the common 60mm beginner telescopes. This translates to improved resolution and the ability to reveal intricate details on expansive planets like Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars at its maximum magnification of 140X. Delve into the cratered terrain of the Moon, observing its ever-changing landscape under varying lighting conditions with different lunar phases. Moreover, indulge in captivating daytime nature watching by incorporating an erecting lens or Amici prism. Focusing is effortless with the rack and pinion focuser's adjustment knob, ensuring precise and stable focus throughout observation sessions.

This telescope serves as a valuable asset for seasoned astronomers or transitioning to a more potent system, perfectly suited for guiding larger telescopes or capturing images.

The Skywatcher AZ-3 Altazimuth Mount:

Practical and user-friendly, the Skywatcher AZ-3 mount provides excellent stability for terrestrial or astronomical observations, accommodating telescopes or spotting scopes weighing up to 5kg (refractors up to 120mm aperture and reflectors up to 150mm diameter).

Featuring horizontal quick adjustment with a locking screw and vertical rapid adjustment via a slipper clutch, the AZ-3 mount offers flexible slow motions on both axes for precise tracking, even at high magnifications. Its versatile design allows vertical angle adjustment from 50 to 90 degrees, facilitating viewing from the horizon to near the zenith and offering full 360° panning capability. Equally adept at terrestrial and astronomical observations, the telescope or spotting scope is securely mounted via tube ring clamps.

• Altazimuth mount enabling 360° panning and adjustable from the horizon to near the zenith
• Vertical rapid adjustment with slipper clutch
• Fine adjustment via flexible slow motions
• Aluminum tripod - height infinitely adjustable from 70cm to 123cm
• Total weight approximately 3.9kg, including tripod

Included Accessories:

• AZ-3 Altazimuth mount
• Height-adjustable tripod
• 1.25'' Eyepieces: 25mm, 10mm
• Finder Scope: Red dot finder
• Deviating Optics: Amici prism, 1.25", 45°
• Slow Motion Cable (piece): 2
• Dew Shield: Yes

Specifications:

Optics:

Type: Refractor

Build Type: Achromat

Aperture (mm): 70

Focal Length (mm): 500

Aperture Ratio (f/): 7.1

Resolving Capacity: 1.64

Limit Value (mag): 11

Light Gathering Capacity: 100

Tube Weight (kg): 1.3

Tube Material: Aluminium

Tube Construction: Full tube

Focuser:

Build Type: Gear rack

Connection to Eyepiece: 1.25"

Mount:

Type of build: AZ-3

Mounting Type: Altazimuth

GoTo Control: No

Weight (kg): 3.9

Load Capacity (kg): 5

Tripod:

Height (cm): 71-123

Type: Tripod

Material: Aluminium

Accessory Plate: Yes

General:

Series: AZ-3

Special Recommendation: Yes

Shipping Weight (kg): 8.9

Area of Application:

Moon & Planets: Yes

Nebulae & Galaxies: Yes

Astrophotography: No

Nature Observation: Yes

Sun: No (Only with appropriate Sun filter)

Recommended for:

Beginners: Yes

Advanced: No

Observatories: No