Orion 09798 StarBlast 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope (Blue)

by Orion

• A wide-field reflector telescope with enough aperture to get great views of the Moon, planets, and many bright deep-sky objects
• A fantastic general-purpose astronomical telescope - great for the beginner to test the waters with mirror optics large enough to keep you and your family busy viewing for years to come
• Works amazingly well with the included Expanse telescope eyepieces which yield a very wide 66 degree apparent field of view - your first look at the Andromeda galaxy will knock your socks off!
• Fast f/4 optics and a short focal length provide a very wide field of view, making it easy to locate celestial objects without having to hunt around
• The EQ-1 equatorial telescope mount makes tracking night-sky objects extremely easy using the included slow-motion controls.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 20 x 12 x 44 inches ; 20.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 21 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0069VYPV4
• Item model number: 09798
• Batteries 1 Lithium ion batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #659 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
  • #5 in Camera & Photo > Binoculars, Telescopes & Optics > Telescopes > Reflectors
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 1, 2003

Product Description

Our compact, performance-packed Orion StarBlast 4.5 EQ Reflector telescope is a favorite of both beginners and expert astronomers alike. It combines the much-heralded Orion StarBlast 4.5-Inch wide-field (f/4.0) parabolic reflector optics with our sturdy EQ-1 equatorial tracking mount and adjustable-height tripod. The 4.5-Inch aperture reflector telescope's short focal length serves up a generous chunk of sky in the eyepiece, making it easy for beginners to find celestial objects to study. This tripod-mounted version of the StarBlast 4.5 reflector offers an even more pronounced wide-field viewing experience compared to its tabletop counterpart, as we've upgraded the telescope eyepieces to include two from the Orion Expanse series - a 15mm and 6mm - which have a large 66 degree apparent field of view. Observations of everything from the Moon to Messier objects appear exceptionally sharp and rich in contrast through this petite reflector telescope. The included 15mm Expanse telescope eyepiece provides 30x power magnification, while the 6mm Expanse eyepiece bumps up the power all the way to 75x magnification. The 15mm is a great eyepiece to begin observing sessions with, since it provides a large window of night sky for you to view. Once you've found an object you'd like to inspect more closely, swap out the 15mm Expanse with the 6mm eyepiece and enjoy a significantly more powerful view. An included Orion EZ Finder II reflex sight makes it easy to effectively aim the StarBlast 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope anywhere in the night sky. The EZ Finder II projects a small red-dot onto a viewing window so all you have to do is move the telescope until the red-dot is aimed at the area of sky you wish to view through the telescope. With the EZ Finder II reflex sight, star hopping around the sky is a breeze for anyone in the family!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

113 of 116 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great First Scope February 6, 2009

By Sheryl Westleigh

Amazon Verified Purchase

I've wanted a telescope since I was a kid and now that I'm all grown up and can afford one I did a lot of research and comparison of scopes in my price range and the StarBlast always had the best reviews. The reviews are right, the first night I went out and looked at the moon, Venus, and a few other objects and they all exceeded my expectations for such a small scope. I can't wait for warmer weather so I can use it even more.

The equatorial mount is a bit complicated to use but I got used to it pretty quickly. I'd recommend the original Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro with the simpler dobsonian mount for younger kids or people who need a lot of portability.

64 of 68 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars So far so good September 16, 2009

By C. L. Barger

Amazon Verified Purchase

Just got this scope and tripod. Weather has not cooperated for much viewing as yet. However, the few times I've been out with the scope, have been extremely pleased. Seems to be a good step up from the cheapo beginner scopes. If you are thinking about a starter scope and dont wish to spend lots of $$S, please take a suggestion from one who has been there and done that. Go ahead and spend over $200-250 for scope and tripod. I spent that much on numerous low end stuff that were unsatisfactory and generally broke soon after. This scope seems much more durable, viewing size is good and the tripod is all metal, very nice. So far no major cons. Will add more if I find any other info with further useage.

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid bang for the buck entry level scope March 4, 2010

By Marcus Ebenhack

Amazon Verified Purchase

I've never owned a telescope and got this for me and my 7 and 9 year old kids after doing some internet homework. It arrived packaged securely. was relatively easy to set up and we were exploring the heavens in no time. Showed my skeptic wife a planet, forget which one, she said "how do I know that's not just a bright star?" so I zoomed in on Saturn and there was no room for doubt! We live in a suburban neighborhood so the seeing conditions are generally not very good but even in these conditions the rings of Saturn were unmistakable. Can't wait to get out in the country to check it out under better conditions but so far we love it and highly recommend to others as a solid bang for the buck entry level scope.