Type

Used Maksutov-Cassegrains

A Maksutov-Cassegrain folds its light path like an SCT, but the front element is a thick, deeply curved meniscus lens instead of a thin plate. That gives a long focal ratio, usually around f/12 to f/15, in a short, sealed tube. The result is a compact scope with sharp, contrasty views of the Moon, planets and double stars, and a narrow field that's less suited to big star clusters. The thick front lens takes a while to cool to the night air. Used, check the front lens for haze and, on GoTo models, the hand controller, batteries and drives.

1 model we cover.