Antares 90mm f/11.1 Vixen-Spec - Model 9010VU

4.0 Antares 90mm F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec"

Sharp views, works well with all types of eyepieces.

Small amount of chromatic aberration, longish OTA.

I purchased my Antares scope this past summer from Agena Astro (when they still sold Antares scopes). It is, in my view, an excellent value-priced refractor, and a very good example of what a well-corrected achromatic refractor is capable of. The objective is very nicely figured, and handles high power views with ease. When the seeing is good I have observed with the Antares difficult lunar targets like Rima Birt, Hadley Rille, and the Davy crater chain (Catena Davy) on the Moon. Views up to 170X are razor sharp, and I have even taken the scope up to 200X with little image breakdown when the seeing has been excellent. Even at high power there is little chromatic aberration, and then only on the very brightest targets like Venus or Sirius. It isn't an apochromat, and it is a bit on the long side. But if you have a decent mount, and can stand the tiny amount of CA it shows on bright targets, and you are looking for a great performer that won't break the bank, then think about the Antares 90 Vixen-spec.