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Explore Scientific
Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre
The ES ED102 CF is a 102mm f/7 ED triplet apochromat in a carbon-fibre tube — one of the better-value premium refractors on the market. The carbon-fibre tube gives thermal stability (focus drift over a cold night is minimal) and a premium feel, while the FCD-100 glass in the triplet objective eliminates chromatic aberration effectively. At 714mm focal length, it is a versatile focal length: wide enough for large nebulae and star fields, long enough for smaller galaxies and planetary nebulae. The 3-inch Crayford focuser is oversize for a 4-inch scope, which means zero sag and precise control. A strong choice for visual observers who want a do-it-all refractor and for imagers who want a compact, thermally stable platform.
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What you'll see
The forum discussions provided do not contain substantive visual observing reports for the Explore Scientific ED102. The telescope appears in these threads primarily in the context of astrophotography equipment comparisons and purchasing advice. One user mentioned receiving an ED102 as a substitute when their ordered ED80 was cancelled due to COVID-related production delays, but they focused exclusively on deep-sky imaging results rather than visual observations. The forum conversations center on optical quality comparisons with competing APO refractors, focuser performance, mechanical build quality, and suitability for imaging work—not on what targets look like when viewed through an eyepiece. Without reports of actual visual observing sessions, specific targets observed, or descriptions of views through this telescope, it is not possible to characterize the visual observing experience or provide meaningful guidance on what observers will see.
Worth knowing before you buy
Requires significant back-focus extension beyond what comes included; users report needing to add 3-4 inches of addition…
The scope performs poorly for deep-sky imaging despite being marketed as suitable for DSO work; users report blown-out,…
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Head to head
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Full Specifications
Optics
| Aperture | 102mm |
| Focal Length | 714mm |
| Focal Ratio | f/7 |
| Optical Design | Refractor |
| Coatings | Fully multi-coated ED triplet (FCD-100 glass) |
Mount & Tracking
| GoTo (Computerised) | No |
| Tracking | No |
Focuser
| Focuser Size | 2" |
| Focuser Type | 3-inch dual-speed Crayford |
Physical
| OTA Weight | 2.9kg |
| Tube Length | 660mm |
| Tube Material | Carbon fibre |
Included Accessories
| Diagonal | No |