Astro-Physics, Inc. is a manufacturer of amateur telescopes, mounts, and accessories. Founded in 1975 by former Sundstrand Corporation engineer Roland Christen, the company is noted for its line of apochromatic refractors as well as high-end mounts. The company is located in Machesney Park, Illinois.
The company is owned by Roland and Marjorie Christen. Author and Astronomy magazine contributing editor Philip S. Harrington wrote in his 2011 book Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories that Astro-Physics is "a name immediately recognizable to the connoisseur of fine refractors on rock-steady mounts".
Astro-Physics was profiled by Travel Channels Made in America, a TV program hosted by John Ratzenberger, on October 25, 2006. In 2006, the company employed 18 people. The company's finished telescopes, which include mounting and lens, cost between $10,000 and $25,000.
Astro-Physics has offered many models of telescopes over the years, distinctive for their apertures and optical designs as well as for their brief periods of production and irregular availability before being discontinued. Past product lines include refractors up to 206mm in aperture, a catadioptric design of 254mm, and an astrograph of 305mm. As of the end of 2021, the company's line of telescopes (optical tubes only, consisting of objective lens, tube, and focuser) included only a 92mm refractor and a 130mm refractor, priced in the $4000–$7000 range. Their more active line of products is three series of computer-controlled "German"-style equatorial mounts priced in the $10,000–$20,000 range. (Complete telescopes consisting of both optical tube and mount are not currently offered.) Both the telescopes and the mounts, despite being sought-after, are manufactured in small numbers on an irregular basis. None are maintained in stock, and all typically have long lead times. When available on the used market, Astro-Physics' telescopes and mounts command high prices, telescopes often selling for multiples of their original cost. The company also offers a wide array of telescope, mount and imaging accessories available from stock.
Models
Early models
4" f/6 Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 4" f/10 Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 5" f/6 Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 5" f/8 Standard Christen Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 5" f/12 Christen Super Planetary Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 6" f/8 Standard Christen Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 6" f/9 Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 6" f/12 Christen Super Planetary Triplet Apochromatic Refractor
Star series
Star 12 ED Doublet Apochromatic Refractor Star 130 Super ED Doublet Apochromatic Refractor Star 155 Super ED Doublet Apochromatic Refractor
StarFire series
102mm f/8 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 127mm f/8 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 142mm f/7 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 152mm f/9 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 152mm f/12 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 175mm f/9 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 178mm f/9 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor
StarFire EDT series (extra low dispersion triplet)
130mm f/8 StarFire EDT Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 130mm f/8.35 StarFire EDT Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 155mm f/7.1 StarFire EDT Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 155mm f/9 StarFire EDT Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 180mm f/9 StarFire EDT Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 2.7" Focuser
StarFire EDF series (extra low dispersion flat field)
130mm f/6 StarFire EDFS Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 130mm f/6.3 StarFire EDF "Gran Turismo" Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 2.7" Focuser 140mm f/7.5 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 2.7" or 4" Focuser 152mm f/7.5 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 2.7" or 4" Focuser and Field Flattener 155mm f/7 StarFire EDFS Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 2.7" Focuser 155mm f/7 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 4" Focuser and Field Flattener 160mm f/7.5 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 4" Focuser 175mm f/8 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 4" Focuser and CCD Field Flattener 180mm f/7 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 4" Focuser 206mm f/7.9 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 4" Focuser
StarFire GTX series
110mm f/6 StarFire GTX Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 3.5" Focuser 130mm f/6.3 StarFire GTX "Gran Turismo" Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 3.5" Focuser
Traveler series
105mm f/6 Traveler EDT Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 105mm f/6 Traveler EDFS Triplet Apochromatic Refractor
Stowaway series
90mm f/5 Stowaway EDFS Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 92mm f/6.65 Stowaway Triplet Apochromatic Refractor 92mm f/7 Stowaway EDFS Triplet Apochromatic Refractor
Others
180mm FASTMAX f/4.5 Maksutov-Newtonian 254mm f/14.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain 10" f/14.6 High-Resolution Maksutov-Cassegrain 305mm f/3.8 Riccardi-Honders Astrograph
References
External links Official website