The Telrad reflex finder makes finding objects through your telescope straightforward. Instead of squinting through a small finderscope, you look through the Telrad and see the real sky with three illuminated LED target rings projected onto it. What you see matches your star charts exactly - no flipped or inverted image to work out.
How Do the Three Rings Work?
The Telrad projects three bullseye rings at fixed angular sizes. The outer ring covers 4 degrees, the middle ring covers 2 degrees, and the small centre ring covers half a degree. This makes star hopping really easy. Find your target on a star chart, note its position among the visible stars, then place the Telrad rings on that spot in the sky. A quick alignment gets the object into your finderscope field, and a more careful alignment puts it directly in the eyepiece.
Great for Beginners and Experienced Observers
If you're just getting started, the Telrad takes the guesswork out of locating objects. With a bit of practice you'll be judging angular distances between stars at a glance. Use the Telrad on its own for bright targets and for aligning GoTo telescopes. For fainter deep sky objects, use it to get you close, then switch to a magnified finderscope to zero in.
Not Just for Telescopes
The Telrad is also widely used in stage lighting across Australia. Operators mount them on followspot lights to aim precisely at performers. The same qualities that make it work on a telescope - zero magnification, a clear projected bullseye, and fast target acquisition - make it a handy tool for theatrical and event lighting too.
Why Customers Love the Telrad
We've had folks tell us the Telrad is the single best accessory they've added to their telescope, and it's hard to argue with that. Once you try one, you'll see why.
