Astro-Tech AT115EDT f/7 ED Triplet Refractor OTA

I know that this is my third review of this wonderful scope but with the performance I am receiving from it, I must continue to sing its praises.

For starters, I have been involved in the Astronomical League Double Star Observing Program for over a year now and this scope excells at splitting doubles. So much so that I was able to split a Double Star system in Cepeus that was at exactly one arc second in separation. I was running at 255X and this scope had room to spare in terms of magnification.

It performs wonderfully on planets even at f/7. Lunar observations are exquisite and open clusters look so much like multi colored sparkling diamonds on black velvet.

I have put this scope through its paces and it has not disappointed. The focuser still works flawlessly and the objective has stayed in perfect collocation. If you are on the fence about this scope, don't be. It by far will be the best astro purchase you have ever made. Thank you Astronomics for bringing us this amazing instrument. (Posted on 10/29/2023)

Last weekend was the first real opportunity I've had to get this scope under a crystal clear Michigan sky (there aren't many!). First up was Jupiter. With this scope I could resolve 8 cloud bands with my 6mm and 2x barlow. This included the north and south hemisphere. If the GRS was in view, I am sure I could have seen it. The edges of the cloud bands were wavey. In my 6" newt I typically get 4 cloud bands that appear more like stripes. The four major moons were all discs, not pinpoint stars looking things. Next was Saturn which was quickly moving behind an annoying tree. I have never seen Saturn so clear. It almost looked unreal. I could clearly see 2 cloud distinct cloud bands and the Cassini division. I "think" I could see the Encke gap, but I'll have to have another night out to confirm (tree leaves were getting in the way). This was the first time my wife has seen Saturn in a telescope. She said it looked like the photos she has seen in books. Next, Uranus. My Losmandy GM8G placed it right in the center on my 30mm. While pretty much featureless I could make out the blueish tint. The planet looked absolutely desolate with no stars anywhere near it. I think Titania was coming in and out of view. I figured 115mm of glass was just not enough even at 230x. My wife commented that she could see a star next to the planet. I couldn't see it the first time I looked. That night I also looked at a few planetary nebula. 115mm is just not enough to really punch a hole in the sky, but they were there. 4:30am M42 was up high enough to clearly see what contrast refractors are known for. So far I am 100% satisfied with this scope and I have a feeling one of the 6" versions are in my near future. (Posted on 9/20/2023)

Actually drove to Astronomics and bought it there. Live 30 miles away. Nice people. Using ALT / AZ mount while saving up for a good EQ mount. Engineering quality is very high. Focuser ,,,,smooth. Needs a handle on the set up. VERY PLEASED!!!! Great price and love the case that came with it. GOT A CHESIRE CAT GRIN ON THIS! (Posted on 5/3/2023)

There seems to be a hesitancy to call this thing an APO, not sure why. Last night I had first light during a daytime moon and well after sunset. I spent most of my time observing crater floors and crater central peaks rather than only the big stuff. The clarity of this thing was astounding. ZERO CA at 235x. This thing destroys the views of my old Meade MTS SN6. Not even a competition! It's like a haze has been wiped from my eyes. Unfortunately, Mars was behind my trees. Time to take this thing out to my dark site. If you are considering this scope as a first foray into refractors, do not hesitate. All the things you have heard about refractors are true! Can't wait to get a camera on this thing. (Posted on 4/28/2023)

So, why do we have more than one 'scope? For me it's horses for courses. I have an SCT - Celestron C8 that gives me a focal length of 2032mm. With a focal reducer I'm at 1280 and faster with F6.3. But, even with the Celestron electronic focuser, focus is difficult. I have a William Optics Z73. This is a magnificent lunar and wide field 'scope. It's ease of use turned me on to refractors. But, it suffers from the 430mm focal length, making planetary less than optimal. Then I bought the AT115EDT - Goldilocks. This is my new fave - it's so easy to use and the 805mm focal length fills the gaps in my 'scopes. With a 2x barlow the 1610mm focal length makes it a nice planetary 'scope. (Posted on 12/16/2022)

This is my first foray into the world of triplet APO's and I am truly impressed. The build quality is like that of a scope costing several hundred dollars more.

I received my scope and had to wait three days to use it and it was well worth the wait.

This scope is heavy. Mine, all dressed out with an AT finder, an AT RDF, the handle kit and an AT 2" diagonal comes in right about 16 pounds, so if you have a lighter weight mount, then an upgrade is recommended.

Now for the good part. My first object of the night was Saturn and I was blown away by the clarity and resolution that this scope provided. I was using my Agena 8mm Starguider Dual ED eyepiece and it provided me with a magnification right at 100 x. Saturn's disc and rings were tack sharp and the colors I was able to resolve were phenomenal. My next target was Jupiter and again I was stunned. Banding was pronounced and again, the colors were really beginning to stand out. I went to 275x and did not see a lick of CA. My next object was Polaris and I got a very nice split at 100x. Polaris showed itself to be a lovely orange color. I then went on to M31 and it too provided a wonderful apparition. Next up was Eta Cass and the split was very easy. Finally I put in my Starguider 25mm and just cruised around looking at open clusters and other celestial treasures.

This scope has out performed anything I have ever owned and I have been at this for fifty years.

In summary, this scope is such an amazing instrument, that to me it WILL be a forever scope. (Posted on 11/24/2022)

The AT115EDT is the third Astro Tech refractor that I have purchased and I am in complete awe of it. I have had the scope three days now and tonight was first light for it. Before I get in to the optical performance of this scope, I'd like to address the mechanics and construction of it. This scope is built like a tank. It is chunky in appearance and extremely well made. The focuser is very smooth and required no adjustment out of the box. The paint and trim exude quality and it is very evident that a lot of time and awesome quality control went in to this scope.

When I purchased it, I also purchased a handle kit, a 2"AT diagonal and the new AT8X50 Finder. All dressed out it weighs in right at 16#.

My first target for the evening was Polaris and I got a good split at 100x. I also spent time on Polaris aligning my AT RDF, and the optical finder. I also checked the collimation and it could not have been better. Perfect diffraction rings both intra and extra focus. I then went to Saturn and the resolution of the image was stunning. The disc and rings were tack sharp and color banding was very pronounced. I then went to Jupiter and at 100x, I was truly blown away. What struck me most was the fact that I could actually discern the colors of the bands. The Jovian moons were beautiful pinpoints and the sky was jet black. There wasn't a shred of false color to be had. I then went on to M31 and even with a ton of ambient light at my observing location, the galaxy shown beautifully. For this object, I used an Agena 25mm Starguider Dual ED. This provided plenty of magnification and a nice, wide FOV. My next target was Eta Cass and this too split cleanly at 100x. I then just cruised around to see what I could see and what really struck me about this scope was the brilliance of the colors of the stars I observed. I have never owned a scope in my fifty years of observing that put up images as fine as this did.

Lest I forget, I allowed the scope to cool for an hour and a half and I feel that this was very important to the optical performance of this unit. I would have stayed out longer but dew got me and that was the end of my evening.

In summary, this has to be the finest triplet apo in it's price range anywhere out there. I was fortunate enough to get it at the sale price, but even at full retail, it is well worth it and the prospect of it being a forever scope is very real. (Posted on 11/23/2022)

I had other scopes but wanted a triplet, and then I saw the AT115 EDT at a very good price. Sold is what my mind told me after reading about the scope. I have had it for a while it is everything I hoped it would be and much more. F7 at native fl was just the right spot for almost everything I had planned to do with my hobby.Fast enough to do imaging with optics that are good as any I have ever seen. Colors are vibrant and sharpness after focus is outstanding. I feel that if you get one you may never need anything else, and it fits well on a mid class mount. (Posted on 10/1/2022)

First of all, the fit and finish are outstanding. Love the powder coat finish. It masks fingerprints unlike a gloss finish paint. The focuser is smooth and so is the retractable dew shield. Have it on my advanced VX mount, but it is still light enough to use on my grab and go twilight 1 mount. So I have had the chance to check out a few things. I turned the scope on the double double in Lyra and the split was easy. Turned the scope on Vega and increased the magnification to 250 power and looked for false color. I could not detect any. Also checked the collimation and it was spot on with perfect concentric rings. Checked a few more messier objects, m4,m11,m13 and m22. All were beautifully framed with a jet black background. Could easily tell the difference in brightness and resolution versus a 102mm scope. All in all I can't find any negatives. This is the perfect package of light grasp while remaining fairly portable. This scope uses the same glass used in the Orion EON115 at a price 200 dollars less. Very satisfied. (Posted on 6/19/2022)

I am hooked on the Astro Tech 115EDT. I have used a LX200 SCT for years and wanted to try the little brother, the 72EDII so I bought one and was blow away with the Astro pictures of Large Nebulas in the Milky Way with a ZWO 533MC Pro. I was hooked on the great views as well as my astro pictures. Thus I had to have the larger brother the 115 EDT . The views and Pictures of M31,M81 and M82 as well as other Galaxies and Nebula have me sold on this telescope. It is by far my go to scope for visual and imaging. The build quality is spot on, the focuser is as advertised buttery smooth. What more can I say this is a bases loaded home run. (Posted on 5/24/2022)

I’ve had the AT80EDT for around a year and love its massive field of view, ease of guiding and high-end quality. I wanted another refractor with more magnification and resolution but still a decent FOV. The AT115EDT is the perfect complement to the 80. For example, I can capture the Lagoon and the Trifid in one image with the 80, then capture much deeper and higher resolution images of the Lagoon for a completely different in-depth view. These scopes remind of products from Apple - insanely great. (Posted on 4/9/2022)

I bought this mostly as a solar imaging telescope, but I could not resist the urge to give it a spin under darker skies. Beautiful pinprick diamonds on black velvet was promised in reviews and delivered in action. Collimation spot on, absolutely beautiful focuser. This is coming from someone who currently has a Moonlite and has owned two FTFs on other SCTs. This focuser required no fiddling - out of the box it was smooth and effective. The small things that remind you that this is not a $6000 refractor are the fact that you have to put a small amount of effort to move the sliding dew shield and the plenty effective tube rings aren't slightly beefier. That's...it. False color was invisible at 200x in focus on the moon. I had meant to go higher than this to really test for false color, but I got distracted by the view and enjoyed the telescope. Apos might tame false color, but they do not tame ADHD. Regardless, I ecstatic by what I saw. I added an ADM universal Vixen dovetail to the top of the rings (M6 hex cap screw, 10-12mm in length work here) as a carry handle and to hold accessories. I mount an AT60ED atop it on an ADM Mini Max Guider so that I can switch between scopes and and filters for solar imaging and viewing.

Perhaps another $3,000 would buy me OTA rings with another 0.5mm in width and a case made from the finest unobtainium rather than the serviceable case it comes with. Is this a $5500-$6000 refractor? I'm sure it isn't. Perhaps pixel peepers could spot something somewhere they didn't like, but visually this absolutely spectacular and it will crush it for solar imaging when seeing allows. This scope is effectively at the level where incremental gains in fit and finish and performance lead to exponential increases in price. I figure I saved about half a SkyShed Pod or Exploradome with this purchase.

For those who might be looking at this model for solar viewing and imaging, it works beautifully paired with a Daystar Quark Chromosphere. (Posted on 2/23/2022)

I'm loving my AT115EDT. I would easily buy again without question. (Posted on 2/12/2022)

I would buy again! Fit and finish are excellent and so are the optics. Could not be happier with my AT115EDT! (Posted on 1/21/2022)

I made my decision to buy the AT115 EDT based a lot on this YouTube video by Ed Ting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE18PBQRzDQ
I've only had the scope for about a week and have had 2 nights with clear skies. I live in a light polluted environment and Bortle scale of about 4-5. I Used the scope on several double stars: Mizar, Albireo, and Polaris. One of my other faves, Cor Caroli wasn't well placed for observation. I took a look at epsilon Lyrae, and the easy double was resolved, but lacking a suitable high power eyepiece was unable to resolve each of the components into the "double-double" configuration. I then viewed Vega, and it was a pure white star without any purple halo. The outside lighting from neighbors killed any hopes of viewing the dso's I had planned as part of my test protocols. I subsequently moved the telescope to another yard location where trees didn't block the view of Jupiter for my second night out with the telescope. I was pleased with the view and the planetary disk was bright and without any flare from internal reflections. I saw a few streaks across the disk that were cloud bands at very low power, and 3 of the Galilean moons were in the same FOV. I've ordered 2 eyepieces to do more double star observations and for Jupiter which is currently well placed for observation.
My impressions: the scope is nicely stored in a carrying case that appears both attractive and durable; the die-cut interior protects the scope very well. The finish of the OTA is excellent, and the focuser is extremely smooth. I would give this instrument a "two thumbs up" assessment, and yes, I would recommend it to a friend. (Posted on 11/7/2021)

I've always been something of a "quality first" freak, and I was extremely nervous about buying a "new to me" product line. I have been keeping my eyes open for a 115 mm scope that will be transportable to a dark skies site without overwhelming my small crossover with bulky boxes and carrying cases. I was surfing the web and saw that the AT115 EDT was AVAILABLE AND IN STOCK at Astromart, so I jumped on it immediately. I prefer dealing with the sponsors of the Cloudy Nights website over any other reputable dealers.
The scope was promptly shipped to me here in Colorado by FedEx ground and it arrived as scheduled. I carefully opened the package which was triple boxed and packed in foam peanuts, to find the carrying case and a beautiful white telescope appeared before my eyes! The new mount (Orion "Sirius G" ) was waiting for its new resident telescope.
OK, the telescope construction and finish are absolutely first class. It looks great on the mount and thankfully, it was a clear and cloudless day into evening. so there was no waiting for a "First Light." Pleased to say that the telescope met and exceeded m expectations; I only have a single eyepiece at the moment: Panoptic 35,which yields only 23X in the 805 mm focal length OTA. I normally use double stars to evaluate optical performance and this was checked, first on Mizar (clean split at 23X); then on Albireo (Clean split 23X, colors noted of amber-gold primary, and a Sapphire blue secondary).I switched to Vega and did a test for false color--both in and out of focus. I concluded that there was little--if any--chromatic aberration. I'm waiting now for another clear night for a view of Jupiter and his satellites, along with the Double Cluster in Perseus. The Andromeda Galaxy should be well placed for observation soon, as well as M15 in Pegasus. This will complete my test objects and I'm sure that they all will please me well.

In summary, I am well pleased with this purchase, and will have a long number of years of enjoyment as a result. (Posted on 10/31/2021)

I regretted selling my AT106 a few years ago.
So I started imaging again and ordered the AT115.
This scope is a little bigger but well worth the money.
I imaged the moon ,some star clusters and a few galaxies recently.
Also the dedicated .8 reducer works perfectly.
I use it on a Sirius mount with no problems.
This is a great midsize scope for imaging and I would highly recommend it.

(Posted on 5/25/2021)

The Astro Tech 115 has been in my possession for about a month now and I have used it a handful of times under various skies and conditions. I have it mounted on an Explore Scientific EXOS-2 GT.

First light. Jupiter had just passed opposition and we had a string of some excellent weather when my scope was finally delivered. Paired up with a GSO 3 element barlow and Explore Scientific 14mm, I was able to see the GRS on Jupiter with EASE. I live in the Los Angeles basin and was absolutely blown away by the clarity this scope provides on the planets and moon.

Second night out in Class 3-4 skies. I dragged some family to go see Comet NEOWISE, it was still barely visible with the naked eye. Through the scope you can identify the obvious tail and core of the comet, taking short 5-10 second frames revealed the obvious presence of the object and it's tail with a touch of color.

Third night out. California wild fires have been raging and as a result has created very poor air quality across most of the coast. Again we had a night where the GRS on Jupiter was going to be visible and I really wanted to show my close friend since he had never seen it through a telescope. He looks through the eyepiece and goes "Oh yeah, I see it."
It was almost as clear as the first night out. Despite unhealthy air quality.

I can go on about the quality features this scope offers. Everything is just about perfect from the focuser to the dew shield, and everything in between. I highly recommend this scope. (Posted on 8/21/2020)

I have had the Astro Tech AT 115EDT for about nine months now. It has been mostly used for observing, I am still learning how to use my AVX Mount. It is crystal clear with every eyepiece I own from 32 to 5mm and has been used to view the planets, the moon, and the sun. Viewing deep space is my next goal and I expect it to perform perfectly once I get out of the lights of the suburbs.

I have used it to photograph the moon with my Nikon D850 and all I can say is WOW! I didn't realize there are craters inside of craters, inside of craters. Beautiful detail.

This is a great product at a great price, well made with a focuser as smooth as butter. (Posted on 10/17/2019)

This is by far the sweet spot in aperture and price. Phenomenal scope and what you get in optics in my opinion is well worth the investment. I've had far more expensive optics and it keeps up to par with them. Buy freely as you will not be dissapointed! (Posted on 10/4/2019)

This is a great buy, period. But if you want to read a novel, keep going below to see why i took a star away.


This is the scope we have needed in that sweet spot between 80mm and 130mm. Cost doubles in that range, and we all really want just a little more light when we make the leap into imaging. But none of us want to go from $800 to almost $2k just to get 1.5x as much aperture.

Like a lot of you probably did, I bought a ZenithStar 66 and wanted more Aperture. So I bought a 90mm ED from a competitor. It didn't blow my mind, but because I waited so long I couldn't send it back. So I traded it for other gear. So now I'm $1500 into the search for what I could have gotten, all-in, for $1500 to begin with. The AT115EDT.

A local guy had one of these at work, with a Solar Filter on it, a couple years ago the day of the Solar Eclipse. And I loved the scope. So I waited for them to be in stock and bought one. This was actually what reignited my interest in the hobby, and subsequently has caused my accountant (Wife) much consternation.

80mm wasn't enough, but 127 / 130mm was too much for my little CG5 mount at the time, and too pricey. But because none of us want to drag out the Dob or setup a big SCT, just to do visual on a weeknight, we need another option. So having that little extra punch is amazing. Now, I am not saying this is grab n go, it's not formidable but it is a relatively heft package when in a case, with a couple of EPs, a Powermate, etc.

As other reviewers have noted, there are only very minor flaws in the overall mechanics of the AT115EDT, which I'll shortly summarize. I won't rehash all my praise for quality of optics, the fit and finish of the tube rings or the dew shield, because well, even at a "bargain" price of $1200 - $1400 we should all expect those things. I read all the reviews, and agree with the praise. Here are a few more constructive pieces.

Slight-Knock-1 - This isn't so much the scope, as it is the product. If these are in such high demand that they're constantly on back-order, why has it proven so difficult to find folks willing to exhaustively review and demo these ? Youtube is full of ES Scope, Orion, Tak, Celestron, WO, and you can find 2 dozen videos and/or reviews of almost all of those units. But there's very meager info on the AT115, in particular. My concern is either this "Demand" is falsely inflated or perhaps at the very least exaggerated. Or, as is the case in the OEM manufacturing space, you have folks who get 1sn, 2nd, and 3rd "dibs" for their buyers to take delivery, and then lower tier Wholesalers or Distributors have to wait their turn. Astronomics as an incredibly high-integrity and trustworthy shop, and I would never suggest they are artificially creating "shortages". But, the reality is that sometimes when you're waiting for your share of what comes off the manufacturing line, you end up with some inconsistency and bugs. Just facts of the import business.

Slight-Knock-2 - As of now, Summer-2019, the scopes are on Backorder, but there seems to be a flood of a half-dozen or so for sale either new in the box, or "lightly used" on A***mart, and CN Classifieds. I don't know, perhaps there's been competitive encroachment from ES and Orion lately, which is driving Astronomics to slow-roll new inventory. But still, this product is good, and for this price, even great. But you have tons of options at the $1400 price point right now. Many of those scopes are all over YouTube and Forums for you to virtually see, look, touch and experience.
Astronomics AT scopes are certainly not inferior to ES or Orions offering at this price point, so why don't we see more of them ? So anyway, not a knock on the scope, but if you're someone who is going to maybe dabble and hope to maybe get your cash back out of this scope in the future. That alone may give you pause. Folks are wary to buy or trade for things they can't go research the heck out of online. But if you have conviction, and this is what you need, and you're do a thorough inspection before your return period, I expect you'll receive a fantastic product. And I for one, Know, you'll get phenomenal high-touch 1:1 service from the folks here at Astronomics.

Slight-Knock-3 - Relatively high quality optical cell, "checkbox" features such as dew-shield and 2.5" focuser, rings and a case. But no finder or guider, no starting kit of EPs, Diag, Barlow, which I think would be good to offer for another $99 or something. I love that the market has decided that OTA, Rings, and a case are the nominal "kit" for a 100mm ED Refractor. But what about a Bahtinov mask ? What about a diagonal and a 32mm and 16mm EP ? How about throwing in a serviceable imported 30mm-50mm Guidescope ? I think the competitors in this range are finding ways to give the new buyer more value, and this scope seems to be competing with the more premium brands which are basically "OTA plus Lens Cap". Yes, we all need to keep these in a case and we all want to buy it, have it delivered and immediately slap it on a Mount. But many folks would love to be able to buy it as a "just add cameras" package.

Let's be real, it doesn't cost much more to make an AP or a Tak Refractor-tube than it does to make one of the mass-production models. The cost variance is in glass, sourcing of components, and assembly and QC "consistency". Consistency is the key. My grandfather used to say that he could cut (100) 8' 2x4's in 30 minutes if you don't want them all exactly the same length. And I am sure Tak could make 100mm scopes by the dozens, if you don't want them all to be mythically accurate and bulletproof. So, you're not spending $6k on a 115mm scope, don't expect that level of precision. But it's still a pretty good chunk of change, so perhaps a little "more value add" would be welcome.

That logic applies to these scopes. So, there are a few things I have found in my year of ownership, and after talking to other owners both in-person and using their scopes, I see things that you'll want to pay attention to if you buy this scope. (and I think you should buy it, btw.)

1.) Focuser Sag - Mine had a pronounced sag at about 1/2 to 3/4 the way extended. Even with a minor load like a 1-1/4" diag and a small Plossl on it. Once the warranty was out i sat down with a white bath towel and meticulously disassembled, cleaned and 000 steel-wooled things and reassembled. It still has some sag, at full draw, but not nearly what it had out of the box. This may be concerning for imagers with large cameras, reducers, color wheels, etc. Now, of course it's likely your locking things in at that point, but it's worth mentioning the focuser does leave a little to be desired in that department. But, at the price range, what do you want ? It's certainly a "premium" style unit, and dual-speed, etc. etc. what we expect at this price point. I do think maybe it's specific to a few runs of these because I have spoken to others who hang DSLRs off the back at Zenith and don't have an issue.
**worth noting, if you get a bargain on one of these, and upgrade to a 3" focuser assembly or perhaps a motorized 2-1/2" unit wouldn't be a bad investment. On the other hand, I am just being honest and I could quite possibly just have the one focuser that's a little contrary.

2.) Dew Shield - I have inconsisent performance of my dew shield and it's something that was this way out of the box. I'm not sure if it's slightly out of round, or just out of spec, but sometimes its fine and i can move it to 1/2 or full and it will stay put. Some nights, it seems like it just flat doesn't want to stay full extended. I'm wondering if perhaps i just got "that one".. I didn't dock the star just for this, but it's worth noting when you buy online you cannot check these things. So if you're buying pre-owned, or otherwise be sure to ask and/or test for these issues. What I have done is take a roll of the thin "cable management" Velcro, and wound a big long strip 2x around the OTA just behind the dew shield, where I want it. And it is just enough friction to keep it put always. I saw another guy who took an old dead Heater Band, and used it behind his shield, and stole the idea from him.

3.) Lastly, and this is a picky one and maybe you folks will discard this, but I'd really like to see Astronomics consider offering at least 1 other color option. That stuff absolutely doesn't matter, I know. But fact is most other brands offer a Carbon option, or Anodizing of hardware, and etc. And I think that In 2019 and beyond, those things become differentiators and by gosh, colors are cool.


(Posted on 9/8/2019)

I've had this scope for a couple of years now and overall would recommend it at its price point.
Optics are very good and performs well when seeing allows. I frequently use it at 200x with its included diagonal and 4mm Delite on the planets and the Moon. Have also done a little planetary imaging with it this summer.

Mechanics are overall very good too. The sliding dew shield on mine functions flawlessly and the rings and rail do their job; no glitches at all. The focuser is very good with these exceptions. The finder shoe clamp screws threads and threads in the shoe don't match well. Not sure if its the screw or the threaded hole. It works but doesn't inspire confidence. Also, the focuser rotation adjustments are touchy. It doesn't take much to go from too loose to too tight. The brass screw slots are thinner than normal and took me a while to find a screw driver that fit.

Overall a solid 4 Star! (Posted on 8/26/2019)

I have had the 115EDT for awhile now. It is the one scope that almost always goes out with me. Crisp clean pinpoint stars, awesome lunar and planetary viewing. The mechanicals of the scope are great. The focuser is buttery smooth and handles anything I can throw at it. I will not part with this scope for love or money. You will not be disappointed if you purchase this scope. (Posted on 8/22/2019)

This is quite possibly the best value for astrophotography available anywhere (provided it's in stock). It's light enough for a Celestron AVX mount, well corrected, and very sharp. Note the the 0.8X field flattener/reducer does not correct all the way to the edge even with a crop sensor DSLR, but the 2" AT2FF field flattener is sharp across the entire field. (Posted on 7/22/2019)

Purchased this scope over a year ago and couldn't be happier. Fit and finish is exemplary and best of all at 67 years old I am still able to carry it down two flights of stairs to the yard. Optics are clear with pinpoint stars although with certain eyepieces I do see the slightest hint of purple fringing on the moon. I finished it off with a Baader sky-surfer RDF and a mounted it on a Stellarvue M2C mount with Nexus DSC and encoders. Nice and stable. (Posted on 1/14/2019)

Once the budget opens up this is my next scope. I have researched a ton and had the chance to look at the images this scope is capable of and I was sold. The price for the capability is hard to beat. The aperature is enough to allow plenty of light yet still yield a great field of view. (Posted on 1/13/2019)

Once the budget opens up this is my next scope. I have researched a ton and had the chance to look at the images this scope is capable of and I was sold. The price for the capability is hard to beat. The aperature is enough to allow plenty of light yet still yield a great field of view. (Posted on 1/13/2019)

One will always hear about refractors' superior optical quality compared to others systems so I did a lot of research when I was in the market for a triplet refractor. I read forums and online articles,and kept coming across great reviews about AT scopes. Since this was going to be my first refractor and used primarily for astroimaging, I wanted to start with a small focal length and inquired about the AT80. However, this was not in stock at the time and the sales rep recommended the AT115. I was a bit hesitant as this had a longer focal length but at the end I went with it.

I have been extremely happy with my decision to purchase the AD115EDT. It has exceeded all my expectations in imaging and even casual viewing through eyepieces. The tube finish is clearly of great quality and the scope feels great. I did not expect it to be this big but the weight is definitely not an issue. I currently have mine on a CGEM and image with a DSLR. Views of planets though quality eyepieces are impressive.

The dew shield set screw (x2) have a tendency to come loose so the shield slides back from time to time. A quick tightening of the screws does the job. I also had some issues with the screw that keeps the focuser from rotating (not the screw that keep the focuser from moving in and out).

This is a great quality scope and you can't beat the price. I can see myself growing with this scope for years to come.

Last but not least, I want to thank the crew at Astronomics for their professionalism and outstanding customer service. (Posted on 1/2/2019)

I purchased the AT115EDT and .8 focal reducer/flattener from Astronomics about a year ago. Its been a great telescope and certainly is an excellent value. I have produced some excellent images using this scope. The R&P focuser is very nice for this price point. It has many rotaional adjustments, which did require some adjustment to remove slack and shift, but it is now solid and never slips even when loaded up with camera gear.

I have compaired this telescope to other competitors in the price range. The Skywatcher 120ed, Orion Eon 115, SW 8" newt, SW evostar 80ed. The AT115 has the best optics of the bunch (tied with the orion which is essentially the same scope). The focuser is much better than any of the other scopes. The views were the best of the group as well. The AT115edt collapses into a much more compact package than the SW 120ed, much closer to the size of the SW 80ed, which is nice for transport and does not require me to fold down my seats. Performance of a 120mm scope in a 100mm size.

I wish my AT115 was a little sharper. Its startest has slightly soft rings especially when compared to my Televue TV-76 and TV-85. Perhaps my example is on the soft side, perhaps its the limitation of the design, I do not know. That being said, the scope is a good value considering the cost of a similar aperture premium scope and astronomics is not claiming their scopes to match the premium brands. I would say that they accurately represent the scope and that for most users, the difference does not justify the costs. You are getting 80-90% of the performance for a quarter of the cost.

The combination of ED elements used in the AT115 is well designed/matched and yield good color correction.

The included rings are excellent, much better than the SW offerings.

The included AT diagonal performs comparably to my TV everbright with only a slight difference noticed on high mag planetary viewing. Speaking of planetary views, I have had some great views of the planets this year through the AT115, some excellent images as well.

The .8 reducer/flattener works well with my camera and is flat out to 85% of the field. The focal reduction is nice for capturing extended objects like M31 and the Veils.

I will be looking for a new large apo scope for my permanent pier, and I will probably spend the extra money for a higher quality premium optic than the AT scopes to guarantee performance. That however should not dissuade you from considering the AT line of scopes for a budget APO. They really offer a great value and are leaps above the slightly lower cost (and much lower tier) scopes on the market. I would love to test out the AT152 if given an opportunity to see how it compares to the premium options. (Posted on 12/31/2018)

The AT115EDT has provided great EAA images and views in the year that I have used it. I purchased the scope new from astronomics along with the focal reducer/field flattener. Its a good balance of aperture, collapses down to a easily transportable size and comes with a nice R&P focuser. There are alot of rotation adjustments on the focuser assembly, those did require some adjustment to remove play and shift. But works well and is steady after adjustment and does not slip at all. I wish the optics on my AT115 were a little sharper. Star test is not quite as strong as my Televue 76 and 85 (softer diffraction rings), but this scope is also a fraction of the cost of a comparable size premium scope. Id like to get a larger scope for a pier mount I am installing, I will probably spend the extra money for premium optics over the AT offerings to ensure I get top performance on my next scope. But for the price category of the AT scope, its represents an excellent value and is leaps beyond the entry level mass produced scopes including.

I directly tested the AT115EDT against the Skywatcher 120ed, Orion 115edt, SW 200 Newt, SW Evostar 80ed, TV-76, TV-85. The AT focuser is much better than the SW and Orion. The optics are better than the SW. The orion is essentially the same scope with a much worse focuser that slipped. For the price category, its an excellent value, whic his why I picked it. It also packs up in a case almost as small as the SW 80ed which was important to me for transport without folding down my seats.

I managed some excellent planetary views this year with the AT115 and have an excellent portfolio of images it produced.

All in all, the AT115EDT been an enjoyable scope to use and provides great views and value. The included diagonal also performs well compared to my TV everbright. (Posted on 12/31/2018)

The AT115 is a great scope for the money. In fact, I don't think you can get a better refractor in this price range. I have owned several refractors in this price\quality range. The AT scopes are of a very high mechanical quality compared to the other manufacturers in this price range. It's not even close. I want to give an honest review and say that there is a hint of false color on the brightest dozen or so stars in the sky when OUT OF FOCUS. IN FOCUS is EXCELLENT. DSO viewing there is no obvious color. I am particularly sensitive to CA so do not let my comments dissuade you from a purchase. I have members in my club that own the AT130 and AT152. These are all great scopes for the money. (Posted on 12/30/2018)

The at 115EDT is optically very good and an excellent value. Stars are sharp. It is easy to transport to a dark site. The focuser works well. (Posted on 12/26/2018)

I purchased this scope to try imaging, and couldn’t be happier. It pairs well with my Canon DSLR, providing good resolution with a huge field of view. The combination is very forgiving for someone just starting imaging. Great scope and great value. (Posted on 12/23/2018)

I purchased this scope to try imaging and have been extremely happy. With the 0.8x flattener/reducer and my Canon DSLR I get 1.3 arc sec per pixel and a field of view 2 degrees wide, so the combination is fairly forgiving. I get interesting images of deep sky objects while I am still getting up the learning curve on tracking, image collection, and processing. (Posted on 12/22/2018)

perfect fit for my needs-no need for coma corrector with proper eyepiece selection. (Posted on 12/21/2018)

The Astro-Tech AT115EDT is my first refractor this past summer, and the new scope curse hit hard! Everything from smoked out from west coast forest fires, to cloudy weather for a month, but now that I've had some time to use it I'm beyond happy with this scope. The build quality is solid, and everything looks really nice.

Coming from a average newtonian for imaging, the first thing I noticed was how much nicer the focuser was on the AT115EDT. 1) I liked how it was marked along the tube so if you have different camera/eye piece setups you could easily rack the focuser to the determined spot to reach focus rather than spend time racking in and out trying to find focus. 2) The focuser is much strong than any telescope I've had. I've easily left the scope at it's set focus point and I'm able to tear down my setup bring everything in, and setup another time and the focuser hasn't moved in the slightest. It can easily hold my magnesium alloy DSLR that has some heft to it compared to a entry level DSLR.

The only issue I had was not very round stars at the edge after having everything setup and balanced. After soem trouble shooting I was able to resolve the issue. I have moved the scope back a little in the tube rings, and the cold weather in my location was causing the rings to contract and pinch the optics. Moving the rings a bit and making sure they weren't too tight has resolved the issue and now I have round stars to the edge of the frame (on aps-c sensor)

It would be nice to to able to attach images to our reviews as I think this scope really does punch high for it's price range. (Posted on 12/14/2018)

I purchased the AT115EDT after owning several other scopes, but Astro-Tech and others, and I couldn't be happier. The views are outstanding from my backyard (on the border of orange/red zones), and the scope works great with a zoom eyepiece. Views of the moon are crisp, and planetary viewing is good too. Most good-for-viewing DSO's are a treat, and globulars really pop. I haven't had the chance to image with this scope yet (very bad weather for the last 6-7 mos!), but am very much looking forward to it! (Posted on 11/26/2018)

I received my AT-115 from Astronomics a little over a year ago. I could not be more pleased with this OTA. Optics are great. The focuser is wonderful. I am taking the best photos I have ever taken using this OTA. The fit and finish of this scope is impressive. (Posted on 11/1/2018)

After looking through a friend's much more expensive smaller aperture refractor I decided I needed one but at a lower cost. I picked the AT115EDT over its competitors and over the larger 130mm and have not regretted it at all, not even once. I use it for 100% visual. It is crisp and completely color free. From a dark site it is a DSO monster, showing such large wonders as the M31/32/110 trio, Rosette Nebula, M45 and M42/43 just beautifully. From here in town it serves well for lunar, planetary, double star and bright open cluster viewing appropriate to terribly light polluted conditions. VERY highly recommended. (Posted on 10/30/2018)

I stepped up to the AT115EDT from the AT65EDQ, and could not be happier. I've used it exclusively for Deep Sky imaging, and it's performed tremendously. The optics are excellent, and the mechanics (in particular the focuser) are rock solid. (Posted on 10/25/2018)

I have over the years owned many of the Astrotech line of telescopes. My very first was the AT 90mm EDT and it was the very first refractor that I had owned for doing Astrophotography. My next one was the AT 111mm with the TEC Optics and all I can say about that scope was WOW insane build and insane optics. I like it so much that I sold it to get the 130 f/6 and I wish that they still made that scope. For being a 130mm at f/6 I was very surprised at how little false color it had. The latest version of the AT line of refactors are still holding up the the quality of build and optics that AT has been doing for Years. I will always be a fan of there scopes and if you are thinking of getting one for yourself don't hold back. You will be more than pleased with your Purchase. (Posted on 10/13/2018)

After weeks of research I decided to get the AT115EDT for my astrophotography needs. Since then, this scope has been my go-to scope for almost any need. Pairs quite well with my AVX (just make sure to balance it correctly), moderate size\weight and is a great value for its quality and features. Stars look sharp and the view has great contrast. The camera angle adjuster is a treat!

Also, the AT2FF (sold separately) makes an even flat field which is great for bigger objects but you don't want to loose focal length. I highly recommend it.

Overall, this scope has been a great purchase and I'm pleased with it. (Posted on 10/11/2018)

I bought this scope second hand through Cloudy Nights and cannot be more pleased with the purchase. Focuser is smooth (much smoother than I thought with a rack and pinion) and very secure. I really like the camera angle adjuster which is not an add-on for comparable telescopes. The rings are nicely padded and fit nicely. Mine did not come with the vixen bar that comes from Astronomics but I was easily able to add a universal bar and now have a place to install my auto-guiding setup in line with the counterweight. I have always had balance issues with the guider on the finder scope location on my SCT. I use this scope on a CGEM (old style).

I am glad I went with the 115EDT simply because it is much heavier than I expected and it is pretty big. Having gotten used to SCTs and larger reflectors, I am having to adapt to the heavier and longer refractors.

Now if I can only get a break with the weather and other things in life that get in the way of viewing time (Sleep? who needs sleep?). If you purchase this scope, you will not be disappointed. (Posted on 10/8/2018)

The Astro Tech AT 115EDT was my first refractor purchase and it was a great buy at a perfect price. The scope was bright color free and punched well above what I expected for a scope of this size. Great value for the money and a great fit for an AVX class EQ mount. (Posted on 10/8/2018)