Askar SQA130

Askar SQA130 - quintuplet Petzval 130/624 f/4.8 «TOA-130 Killer»

L’Askar SQA130 is an optical tube with a diameter of 130 mm and a focal length of 624 mm (f/4,8) to design Petzval quintuplet, including two SD glass lenses. This architecture offers a perfectly corrected field of view up to medium format (55 mm) and impressive sharpness, with stars and stars of all shapes and sizes. fine, round and clean right to the edge of the field. It's an instrument designed for wide-field deep-sky imaging with modern sensors.

130 mm at f/4.8: a real photon vacuum for the deep sky

With 130 mm opening and a fast opening ratio of f/4,8, The SQA130 enables rapid signal collection from diffuse nebulae, large Hα complexes and dense star fields.

The 624 mm focal length is ideal for :

• Large nebulae (Orion, California, North America, Cygnus, Veil, etc.).
• Complex HII regions in mosaics or large fields.
• The large open clusters and rich stellar fields of the Milky Way.
• Medium-sized galaxies with a very interesting field/resolution ratio.

The tube is given for cover medium format (55 mm) and full format (44 mm), This makes it an excellent companion for full-frame cameras such as the 6200 / 2400 series or hybrid bodies.

Petzval quintuplet design with two SD lenses

The SQA130 uses Petzval APO quintuplet including two SD glass lenses.

In concrete terms, this means :

• APO perfectly corrected in the visible range, with extremely well-mastered chromaticism.
• Native plane field No need to look for an external flattener and manage backfocus to the nearest millimetre.
• Even quilting over the whole field for sensors up to medium format.
• A design conceived from the outset for astrophotography, with no visual/photographic compromises.

The result is deep-sky imagery with round stars right up to the edges, even with very large sensors. The manufacturer also highlights images such as M42 obtained with a IMX571, which perfectly illustrate the quality of the correction.

Heavy-duty mechanics, rigid tubing and complete photo interfaces

The SQA130 is a true «central setup» tube for an observatory or semi-fixed station. The mechanics are dimensioned to support a cooled camera, a filter wheel, an optical divider or an integrated guide:

• Total length Dimensions: 650 mm mistscreen retracted, 764 mm extended.
• OTA weight weight : 9.18 kg.
• Weight with collars and dovetail weight : 11.76 kg.
• Modular rear outlet : adapters M48 / M54 / M68 provided.
• Adjustable backfocus supported range of 46 mm to 76 mm, recommended connection length 55 mm.

The tube is supplied with a retractable fog shieldand robust collars and a dovetail quality, as well as Oxford fabric suitcase, It's easy to transport and store. Schematics provided by Askar (size diagram, connection diagram, position of locking screws, mounting of an electronic focuser) show well-thought-out mechanics for field use.

Sensor compatibility and photo editing

The optics are advertised as medium format 55 mm, covering full format (44 mm).

This opens the door to :

• Full-format cameras (IMX455, IMX410, etc.).
• Modern APS-C sensors (571, 533, 071, etc.) with a very well-corrected field of view.
• Full-format camera bodies thanks to appropriate adapters (M48/M54/M68).

The included adapters simplify integration of the SQA130 into a complete optical train, whether with a filter wheel, guide prism or optical splitter. The 46-76 mm backfocus range makes it adaptable to a wide range of setups, with a handy reference at 55 mm just in time
for current astro cameras.

For what type of amateur astronomer?

The SQA130 is clearly aimed at the’astrophotographer who wants a stable, fast and very well corrected main tube. It is particularly suitable for :

• For enthusiasts who wish to a reference instrument for an observatory or fixed station.
• To those who work with large sensors (full format or larger) and want a native flat field.
• For users who prefer an all-in-one Petzval solution rather than stacking flatteners and rings.
• For astrophotographers looking for large, detailed fields without sacrificing resolution on more compact objects.

On an EQ6 / CEM60 / EQ8 class mount or equivalent, the SQA130 becomes the heart of a very complete setup, capable of producing deep, resolved images on a wide variety of targets.

ClearSky | M42 | ASKAR SQA130 + ZWO 2600DUO

Askar SQA130 technical specifications

SQA130: a central tube for a complete astrophoto setup

In short, the Askar SQA130 is a fast wide-field tube, designed for astrophotographers who want to take advantage of large sensors without having to struggle with external correctors.

Its Petzval quintuplet design, coverage up to medium format and solid mechanics make it an excellent basis for a demanding and durable astrophoto setup.