Askar N160 - 160/544 mm f/3.4 Newtonian Astrograph - with optics test

Askar N160 - 160/544 mm f/3.4 Newtonian Astrograph

The Askar N160 is a Newtonian reflector with 160 mm aperture and an f/3.6 native focal ratio, designed for deep-sky astrophotography.

With the included 2-inch 0.95× coma corrector, the system focal ratio is optimized to f/3.4. This coma corrector features a triplet air-spaced design and threaded connections,allowing it to be securely attached to the focuser.

The N160 supports APS-C format imaging and delivers excellent star performance.

Both the primary and secondary mirrors are made of high-borosilicate glass, which has an extremely low coefficient of thermal expansion and excellent stability.The primary mirror of the Askar N160 features a high-precision parabolic design, effectively eliminating spherical aberration. The secondary mirror has a minor axis of 61 mm and a major axis of 86 mm.

The Askar N160 tube is made of high-quality carbon fiber, offering both high strength and light weight. The side of the tube features a pre-drilled finder base, allowing you to mount accessories as needed.

The Askar N160 equipped with a dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser. 25 mm focus travel provide ample room for achieving focus.It supports the installation of an electronic focuser.The focuser base features angle adjustment screws and angle locking screws to ensure precise alignment between the focuser axis and the primary mirror optical axis.

Primary and secondary mirror material
Both the primary and secondary mirrors are made of borosilicate glass, which has an extremely low coefficient of thermal expansion and excellent stability. The mirror surfaces are coated with enhanced aluminum, providing high reflectivity, bright and clear imaging, and crisp, sharp image quality.

Primary mirror design
The primary mirror of the Askar N160 features a high-precision parabolic design. As an aspherical reflecting mirror, it demands extremely high standards of grinding and testing, effectively eliminating spherical aberration and delivering sharp, pinpoint star images.

On the bottom of the primary mirror, there are three height adjustment knobs and three locking knobs. The height adjustment knobs allow fine tuning of the primary mirror angle for precise collimation; the locking knobs secure the primary mirror position after collimation, preventing any shift during subsequent use.

Secondary mirror design
The secondary mirror has a minor axis of 61 mm and a major axis of 86 mm, providing ample illumination coverage for APS-C sensors and ensuring uniform brightness across the entire frame without any dark corners.

The secondary mirror bracket adopts an integrated CNC machining process. Its hollowed-out structural design reduces weight while maintaining high rigidity.

Three tilt adjustment screws are fitted on the bracket base, enabling fine angle calibration of the secondary mirror. The mirror position can be flexibly adjusted according to observation needs to further improve imaging accuracy.

Dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser
Equipped with a dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser, the operation feels smooth and precise. The 25 mm focus travel provides ample room for achieving focus. It supports the installation of an electronic focuser, and the focuser body can be rotated entirely, effectively preventing interference when attaching accessories such as an electronic focuser, thereby improving accessory compatibility.

The focuser base features angle adjustment screws and angle locking screws to ensure precise alignment between the focuser axis and the primary mirror optical axis.

2-Inch 0.95x coma corrector
The included 2" 0.95x coma corrector features a triplet air-spaced design, effectively correcting coma aberrations and ensuring sharpness and consistency from the center to the edge of the frame, delivering crisp and clear images.

The corrector is equipped with threaded connections, allowing it to be securely attached to the focuser - offering greater stability than common 2-inch push-fit designs.

Finder base
The side of the tube features a pre-drilled finder base, allowing you to mount a guide scope or other accessories as needed, further expanding observation capabilities and improving efficiency.

Carbon fiber tube
The tube is made of high-quality carbon fiber, offering both high strength and light weight. This ensures structural stability while significantly reducing overall weight, making it easy to carry and transport- ideal for outdoor observation.

Carbon fiber has an extremely low coefficient of thermal expansion, effectively resisting temperature variations and preventing tube deformation caused by thermal expansion or contraction. This guarantees stable optical alignment and imaging accuracy, ensuring reliable performance in both high. and low temperature environments.

Video
The manufacturer presents the telescope in a video:

- OTA
- MPCC coma corrector
- M58 to M48 adapter
- Tube rings
- Multifunctional handle
- Dovetail bar
- Set of shims (2 each of 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, and 0.3 mm thickness)
- Manual
- TS Star Test

Safety informations: PDF Download