Explore Scientific Maksutov-Newton Telescope MN 152/740 OTA David H. Leavy "Comet Hunter"

Highly corrected optics for wide field observation and astrophotography.

Developed in collaboration with the famous "Kite Hunter" David H. Levy.

Due to its design, the Maksutov-Newton system has advantages and disadvantages compared to the classical Newton. In addition to the higher price, the downside is the increased weight: the thick meniscus lens in the front aperture is a factor here. The main advantage of the Maksutov Newton over the classic Newton is the sharpness of its edges. Newtonian telescopes are only really sharp at the absolute center of the image: outside the center of the image, these telescopes show a dominant image error, the so-called coma. This is system related, has nothing to do with manufacturing tolerances and applies accordingly to all brands. The comma "distorts" the star point - it gets a tail, like a small comet. This results in a loss of image sharpness and contrast. The Maksutov-Newton exhibits this error to a much lesser extent. The result is a significantly sharper image, both for visual observation and for photography with digital SLR cameras. The Maksutov-Newtonian is thus a nearly ideal all-around telescope that displays sharp images over the entire field without additional correctors.