The 14-inch diameter (0.36-meter) f/4.6 Dobsonian telescope is a Newtonian-style reflector made by Orion Telescopes, who has been supplying telescopes to amateur astronomers for more than 30 years. Its primary mirror is made of low-thermal-expansion glass which, when cooled by three attached fans at the beginning of the evening, can quickly reach a stable temperature for producing crisp views of the heavens. This telescope's primary mirror is large enough to capture light more than 2,400 times fainter than the average dark-adapted human eye, enabling observers to view objects as near as the moon (240,000 miles / 386,000 kilometers away) and as far as 2.4 billion light years (14 billion trillion miles / 22 billion trillion kilometers). Its optics can resolve detail as fine as the width of a U.S. dime seen from a distance of nearly seven miles (11.2 kilometers). With 40,000+ objects in its computer database, this electronically-controlled instrument will robotically find, center and track fascinating objects around the heavens, allowing you to stand or sit comfortably at the eyepiece for extended views of your favorite celestial bodies.

ABOUT THE TELESCOPE

During your Night Sky Tour you will be peering across our galaxy through one of two large telescopes. The primary scope is an 11-inch diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector; the backup is a 14-inch diameter Dobsonian reflector. One of these two remarkable instruments will be used, depending on conditions and astronomical targets selected for the night, and will transport you to back many thousands, millions or billions of years to glimpse distant and ancient celestial objects — some as they were long before humans walked the Earth.

The 11-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain

The 14-inch Dobsonian

The 11-inch diameter (0.28-meter) f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is made by Celestron, a leader in astronomical and optical technology for more than 50 years. This instrument is the larger model of that currently flying onboard the International Space Station. Its revolutionary EdgeHD optical system produces sharp views free of optical defects, and all optical surfaces are coated with Celestron’s StarBright XLT coatings to produce brighter images and increased light transmission. The telescope's primary mirror is made of low-thermal- expansion glass which, when cooled by three attached mag-lev fans, can maintain a stable temperature (with no vibrations) to produce crisp views of the heavens. It can capture light more than 1,400 times fainter than the average dark-adapted human eye, enabling observers to view objects as near as the moon (240,000 miles / 386,000 kilometers away) and as far as 2.4 billion light years (14 billion trillion miles / 22 billion trillion kilometers). It can resolve detail as fine as the width of a U.S. dime seen from a distance of more than six miles (10.3 kilometers). With 40,000+ objects in its computer database, this electronically-controlled instrument will robotically find, center and track fascinating objects around the heavens, allowing you to sit comfortably at the eyepiece for extended views of your favorite celestial bodies.