The Sky-Watcher SW1025AZGT One Great Astronomical Ride. 
The LightChariot 102AR delivers substantially higher resolution and brighter images compared to an 80mm lens, thus permitting more advanced study of objects in the solar system and deep-space. The Moon, for instance, reveals a treasure trove of smaller craters, rills, and fault lines all but invisible in an 80mm telescope. In deep-space, M13 is often revealed as a fuzzy, luminous cotton ball in an 80mm telescope. In a 102mm telescope, M13 begins to take on the appearance of a beehive of many discrete star points buzzing around the central core. Prominent emission nebulae look brighter and reveal more of their surrounding gaseous extensions in a 102mm instrument. Galaxies, often exceeding faint, are more easily located with a 102mm aperture. Terrestrially, conditions permitting, breathtaking detail can be observed in nature, distant landmarks, and people. Read a license-plate clearly from half a mile away.


When comparing image quality between reflectors and refractors, aperture for aperture, refractors deliver the most pristine, near text-book perfect imaging available. Sky-Watcher LightChariot 102AR-AZ objective lenses are pitch polished to rigorous standards of optical quality under the close supervision of a highly skilled optician ensuring optimum performance and freedom from image degrading imperfections. LightChariot lenses include high-transmission optical coatings on air-to-glass surfaces. Sky-Watcher's achromatic, air-spaced objective lenses are fabricated from only the finest Grade-A Crown & Flint glass.

LightChariot's SynScan computer system demystifies telescope use, making your astronomical experience fun and carefree right out of the box! SycScan boldly banishes arcane sky-alignment procedures, replaces esoteric object finding methodology, and obliterates the traditional learning-curve normally associated with navigating the heavens.

After a brief and simple Astro-Tri-Align initialization, the SynScan computer does all the work. Sky-Watcher's alignment software doesn't require tricky mechanical leveling of the telescope or dependence on finding precise north to work properly. Just find three bright stars, point the telescope to them, push the "Enter" button and you are on your way—it's the easiest, most reliable way to start your adventures in astronomy (or alternatively choose 1-star, or 2-star alignment).

After initialization, SyncScan software algorithms interpret pulses from the DC-Servo motor encoders on each axis to extrapolate the precise position the telescope is pointing to in the celestial sphere. This combined with an astronomical library of objects with known coordinates allows the telescope to deliver heavenly bodies on demand.

The SyncScan computer includes a 4,000-object database library, and a provision for 200 user-defined objects. At the touch of a few buttons on the computer keypad, the telescope automatically moves to locate and track celestial phenomenon including planets, the Moon, and thousands of deep-space objects. A number of these objects have interesting and educational data that can be made to scroll across the screen. Sky tours may be downloaded for expert guided treks across the heavens. SynScan facilitates variable tracking at either of lunar, solar, or sidereal (star) rates. Variable speed motors on each axis can move the telescope from a slow speed of 2x-sidereal, to a very fast 5-degrees a second while slewing (moving quickly) from object to object.

The ergonomically-designed remote computer hand-box includes a backlit keypad for entering fingertip commands. A 2-line, 16-character LCD display produces easy to read text messages.

The telescope's sleek, swept-back single fork-tine design with black tube and contrasting silver mount accents, plus stable aluminum tripod favors the telescope with a cool, high-tech appearance. All motors and electronics are internal. External battery pack requires 8-AA batteries (user-supplied).

Standard Accessories:

    * Super Plossl eyepieces (SP10mm and SP26mm) provide a 52° apparent-field. These eyepieces are parfocal so there is no need for gross adjustments to refocus when changing eyepieces.
    * 90° Mirror Diagonal
    * The Red-Dot finder helps center bright objects during initialization.
    * Includes a RS232 cord to communicate with a PC.
    * Planetarium software allows you to explore the heavens on your personal