The tried-and-true 60mm refractor does a good job of showing beginning stargazers some of what the night sky has to offer. But we wanted a telescope with even more oomph, more performance — one that could reveal an even greater variety of stellar gems and provide greater resolution of old favorites, like the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Orion Nebula. So we came up with the Orion Observer 70mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope. More oomph, but still as easy to operate as Orion's Observer 60mm, and still highly affordable.

It features a multi-coated, achromatic glass objective lens that's 70mm in diameter, with a focal length of 700mm (f/10). This lens takes in 36% more light than a 60mm lens. Bottom line: you'll see more. So if you can afford the modest additional cost of an Observer 70mm over a 60mm refractor telescope, it will reward you with brighter images and a larger repertoire of objects to see.

The optical tube is crafted from black-enameled aluminum and outfitted with a smooth-action rack-and-pinion focuser on one end and a dew cap/glare shield on the other. The tube is held in quick-releasing tube rings on the Equatorial-1 Equatorial mount. Also made of aluminum, this mount lets the user manually "track" celestial objects with the slow-motion controls. For added convenience, an optional Equatorial-1M electronic drive can be installed to provide automatic, hands-free tracking.

The tube and mount are supported on a sturdy aluminum tripod that adjusts to a comfortable height. It looks so good, you'll want to keep your Observer 70mm on display when you're not using it!

The Observer 70mm Equatorial comes with everything you need to start observing right away, including a star diagonal and 25mm (28x) and 10mm (70x) Explorer II telescope eyepieces (1.25").

This refractor telescope is well suited to beginners of any age. It is lightweight and compact so it's easy to carry to your observing location, be it out on the lawn or an hour's drive into the hills. It offers optical performance that will keep any observer entranced, evening after evening. Get in on the fun, get an Orion Observer 70mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope today! One-year limited warranty.