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Explore Scientific

ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope with 0.8x Focal Reducer and iEXOS-100-2 PMC-Eight Equatorial Tracker System

$1,199.99 USD

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ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope with 0.8x Focal Reducer and iEXOS-100-2 PMC-Eight Equatorial Tracker System
$1,199.99 USD
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ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope with 0.8x Focal Reducer and iEXOS-100-2 PMC-Eight Equatorial Tracker System

Description

The Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series is a true apochromatic refractor telescope built around an air-spaced triplet optical design using genuine HOYA FCD1 ED glass, delivering diffraction-limited, high-contrast views of the Moon, Saturn's rings, deep-sky nebulae, and the entire Messier catalog. Proprietary EMD enhanced multi-layer deposition coatings on every optical surface virtually eliminate chromatic aberration, producing sharp, color-accurate images session after session. Compact enough for spontaneous grab-and-go sessions yet capable enough to serve as a dedicated guide scope on a larger imaging rig, the ED80 punches well above its class.

This complete bundle pairs the ED80 with the Explore Scientific 0.8x Focal Reducer - dropping the focal length from 480 mm to 384 mm and the f-ratio from f/6 to a fast f/4.8 for wide-field astrophotography - and the iEXOS-100-2 PMC-Eight GOTO Equatorial Tracker, which brings WiFi, Bluetooth, and an 8-core precision motion controller to your backyard observatory. Together, these three components form a capable, ready-to-image astronomy system for beginners stepping up and experienced observers who want a portable, high-performance package.

Key Features

  • True Apochromatic Optics: Air-spaced triplet design with genuine HOYA FCD1 extra-low dispersion (ED) glass virtually eliminates chromatic aberration for sharp, color-accurate images.
  • EMD Multi-Layer Coatings: Proprietary enhanced multi-layer deposition coatings on all optical surfaces maximize light transmission and contrast.
  • 0.8x Focal Reducer - f/6 to f/4.8: Reduces focal length from 480 mm to 384 mm, enabling faster exposures and wider fields of view for astrophotography.
  • Superior Light Gathering vs. Smaller Scopes: The 80 mm aperture gathers 1.3x more light than a 70 mm, 1.8x more than a 60 mm, and 2.6x more than a 50 mm telescope.
  • iEXOS-100 PMC-Eight GOTO Tracker: German equatorial mount with WiFi and Bluetooth delivers precise, field-rotation-free tracking using an 8-core PMC-Eight microcontroller system.
  • ExploreStars App Compatible: Free app for Windows, Android, Amazon, and Apple tablets gives access to a database of tens of thousands of celestial objects for one-touch GOTO navigation.
  • ASCOM Driver Support: Works with virtually any ASCOM-compliant astronomy software via free PMC-Eight ASCOM driver and POTH Client, wired or wireless.
  • Mount Payload Capacity - 19 lbs: The iEXOS-100 supports up to 19 lbs total (scope, accessories, and counterweights combined), suitable for the ED80 and a full imaging camera setup.
  • Grab-and-Go Portable Design: Telescope tube weighs 5.95 lbs (2.7 kg); collapsed travel tripod is just 27.25 inches tall and weighs 5.5 lbs, making the whole system genuinely field-portable.
  • Vixen Dovetail & Dual-Use Versatility: Standard Vixen dovetail allows easy mounting; the 91 mm OD tube can also be mounted piggyback on a larger telescope for split guiding/imaging duties.

What's Included

  • ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope tube
  • Explore Scientific 0.8x Focal Reducer with end caps and adapter with 42 mm T2 ring thread
  • iEXOS-100-2 PMC-Eight Equatorial Tracker System with WiFi and Bluetooth
  • 99% reflective 2-inch diagonal
  • Explore Scientific 2.5-inch hexagonal focuser (rated to hold 10 lbs)
  • 2 focuser extension tubes
  • Hybrid Finder Scope Base (finder scope not included)
  • Built-in dew shield
  • Dust cover/lens cap
  • 2 x 1 kg counterweights
  • Lightweight travel tripod with accessory tray

Why You'll Love It

Few bundles at this price point deliver a true apochromatic refractor, a wide-field focal reducer, and a WiFi-enabled GOTO equatorial tracker all in one box - the ED80 Essential Series package does exactly that. The PMC-Eight's 8-core processor sets it apart from conventional single-processor GOTO mounts, providing the kind of smooth, responsive tracking that astrophotographers rely on for sharp, stacked images night after night. The ExploreStars app makes polar alignment, star alignment, and object selection intuitive enough for newcomers while still offering ASCOM connectivity for experienced imagers running dedicated astronomy software. Glow-in-the-dark mount markers, smooth locking clutches, a built-in polar alignment tunnel, and a bubble level show that Explore Scientific designed this system with real-world dark-site use in mind. Whether you're imaging the Orion Nebula from your backyard, hunting Messier objects from a dark-sky site, or using the ED80 as a guide scope on a larger rig, this system adapts to how you observe. It's the kind of confident, capable setup that grows with you as your passion for astronomy deepens.

Product Specifications

View Product Specs
Item Number ES-ED0806-FR0.8X-iEXOS100
Telescope Aperture 80 mm
Focal Length (native) 480 mm
Focal Length (with 0.8x reducer) 384 mm
Focal Ratio (native) f/6
Focal Ratio (with 0.8x reducer) f/4.8
Limiting Magnitude 12
Resolution 1.45 arcsec
Tube Length (with dew shield) 18.5 in / 475 mm
Tube Length (without dew shield) 15 in / 381 mm
Tube Outer Diameter 91 mm
Optical Tube Weight 5.95 lb / 2.7 kg
Dovetail Standard Vixen
Focal Reducer Back Spacing 55 mm (+/- 2 mm)
Focal Reducer Camera Thread 42 mm T-ring (standard)
Mount Type German Equatorial (GEM)
Mount Connectivity WiFi and Bluetooth
Mount Payload Capacity 19 lbs (scope + accessories + counterweights combined)
Mount Weight 9.45 lb / 4.29 kg
Travel Tripod Weight 5.5 lb / 2.5 kg
Travel Tripod Collapsed Height 27.25 in / 69.21 cm
PMC-Eight Processor 8-core microcontroller
Power Source 8 x C batteries (not included)
App Compatibility ExploreStars (Windows, Android, Amazon, Apple)
Software Compatibility ASCOM-compliant software via free PMC-Eight ASCOM driver

FAQ

Do I need any astrophotography experience to use this bundle?

Not necessarily. The iEXOS-100's ExploreStars app is designed to be intuitive for newcomers - it walks you through polar alignment, star alignment, and object selection step by step. That said, astrophotography does have a learning curve. Beginners who take time to learn polar alignment and basic camera settings will get rewarding results relatively quickly, and experienced imagers will appreciate the ASCOM connectivity and PMC-Eight's precise tracking right from the start.

What camera can I use with the 0.8x Focal Reducer?

The focal reducer is threaded to accept a standard 42 mm T-ring, so it is compatible with virtually any DSLR or mirrorless camera that has a T-ring adapter available for its mount - Canon, Nikon, Sony, and many others all have compatible T-rings. Dedicated astronomy cameras with a T2 thread will also attach directly. The 55 mm back spacing must be maintained for correct focus and a flat field.

Is a tablet or controller included with the iEXOS-100 tracker?

No - a tablet or computer must be purchased separately. The iEXOS-100 is controlled via the free ExploreStars app on a Windows, Android, Amazon, or Apple tablet (minimum 7-inch screen recommended), or through any ASCOM-compliant astronomy software using the free PMC-Eight ASCOM driver and POTH Client. The mount can connect wirelessly via WiFi or Bluetooth, or via a wired connection.

What batteries does the iEXOS-100 require, and how long do they last?

The PMC-Eight system is powered by 8 C batteries, which are not included. Battery life will vary depending on usage, temperature, and how much slewing the GOTO system performs during a session. Many users opt to use a rechargeable battery pack or a 12V DC power supply in the field for longer observing sessions without worrying about battery drain.

Can the ED80 be used as a guide scope on a larger telescope?

Yes - one of the ED80's practical strengths is its compact size (91 mm outer diameter) and light weight, making it well suited for piggyback mounting on a larger imaging telescope. This setup lets you separate guiding and imaging duties, using the ED80 with a guide camera while your main telescope handles imaging. The Hybrid Finder Scope Base already installed on the tube also adds flexibility for accessories.

Is a finder scope included?

No, a finder scope is not included, though the ED80 does come with the Hybrid Finder Scope Base already installed on the tube, so adding your preferred finder scope is straightforward. Since the iEXOS-100's GOTO system can automatically slew to targets, many users find they rely less on a traditional finder scope once the mount is properly aligned.
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