Apo Fever Relief: TMB-130 Signature Series Apo Refractor

Following a well-established trend of the last few years, refractors continue to dominate the telescopes introduced into the marketplace. If you’re looking for a moderate-aperture apochromat, consider the new arrival from TMB’s Signature Series, the TMB-130. This 5.1-inch f/7 apo designed by Thomas M. Back has a three-element, air-spaced objective made with ED glass. Other features include full multicoating, a retractable dew shield, and a dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser with a 4-inch clear aperture and built-in rotator for adjusting the angle of star diagonals and cameras. Perhaps best of all is the price. At $3,999, it costs hundreds (even thousands) of dollars less than any comparable-size apo currently in production.

Contact: Astronomics, 680 SW 24th Ave., Norman, OK 73069; 800-422-7876; www.astronomics.com

Every year the editors of Sky & Telescope present their selection of the most intriguing new products to enter the marketplace. "Hot New Products for 2007" appeared in the January 2007 issue, page 100. For further information about a specific product, contact the manufacturer or distributor. To alert the editors of Sky & Telescope to the introduction of a new product, please send e-mail to [email protected].