TS-Optics Starscope 70/700 AZ Beginner Refractor

TS-Optics Starscope 70/700 – a classic refractor for beginners

The Starscope 70/700 is a complete refractor telescope for beginners, families and younger observers. Its 70 mm achromatic objective and 700 mm focal length make the Moon and bright planets rewarding first targets. The closed optical tube is straightforward to handle. The set includes an alt-azimuth mount, an adjustable tripod and accessories for getting started after assembly.

What can you observe?

The Moon shows craters, mountain ranges and rilles, especially along the terminator where shadows add contrast. In steady air you can observe the phases of Venus, Jupiter's four brightest moons and its most prominent cloud bands; Saturn's ring appears as a small but recognizable feature. Bright star clusters and a few prominent nebulae can also be observed from a dark site. Faint galaxies and nebulae remain dim and show limited detail with a 70 mm aperture.

The achromatic doublet reduces colour errors compared with a simple single lens, but it is not an apochromatic, colour-free design. A slight colour fringe may appear around very bright targets such as the lunar limb or Jupiter, particularly at high magnification. For visual observing of the Moon, planets and bright star fields, this is still a straightforward introduction. The simple mount is not designed for long-exposure astrophotography.

Magnification with the supplied eyepieces

The three 1.25-inch eyepieces have focal lengths of 20 mm, 12.5 mm and 4 mm. With the telescope's 700 mm focal length, they provide approximately 35×, 56× and 175× respectively. The 175× from the 4 mm eyepiece is above the useful maximum of around 140×; a larger number does not automatically reveal more detail. At excessive magnification the image becomes dimmer and more affected by atmospheric turbulence. Start with the 20 mm eyepiece and increase magnification only while the image remains sharp and steady.

The 3× Barlow lens triples magnification to 105×, 168× and 525× respectively. Used with the 20 mm eyepiece, it provides a useful higher-power step. The 12.5 mm and 4 mm combinations exceed the practical limits of this 70 mm telescope and are generally not recommended.

Manual AZ-2 mount and tripod

The alt-azimuth AZ-2 mount moves horizontally and vertically and does not require polar alignment. An altitude slow-motion control helps centre and follow a target. The mount is manual, with no motor drive or GoTo computer. Stars and planets drift across the field of view because of Earth's rotation and need to be followed by hand at intervals. The adjustable aluminium tripod extends to approximately 120 cm and includes a tray for accessories.

Finder and terrestrial observing

The 5×24 finder helps point the telescope toward the desired area of the sky. Its 1.25-inch rack-and-pinion focuser accepts the supplied eyepieces and many common accessories in this size. The included 1.5× erecting lens is intended for terrestrial observation and provides an upright image. It can be removed for astronomical observing; without erecting optics, the view through a refractor is inverted.

Technical specifications

Included in the set

TS-Optics Starscope 70/700 refractor, alt-azimuth mount, adjustable aluminium tripod, 5×24 finder, three 1.25-inch eyepieces (20 mm, 12.5 mm and 4 mm), 3× Barlow lens and 1.5× erecting lens for terrestrial viewing.

Solar safety: Never point the telescope at the Sun without a suitable, undamaged solar filter securely fitted over the front aperture. The supplied erecting lens and Barlow lens do not provide solar protection.