The Orion StarBlast 4.5 is one of the company’s line of reflector telescopes. This scope, with its 4.5 in. aperture and decent optics, provides views that make it an excellent value for beginning astronomers who do not want to spend large sums of money on their first or second telescopes. In addition to these views, the StarBlast 4.5 offers ease of use, an affordable price tag, high quality eyepieces, and other features that make it one of the better basic reflector telescopes on the market today.

Product Specs

The Orion StarBlast 4.5 offers strong optical specs that allow it provide a wide field of view and fascinating images of the nighttime sky. Following are a few of the most important of these specs:
● Optical design: Reflector
● Highest useful magnification: 228x
● Lowest useful magnification: 16x
● Focal length: 450mm
● Focal ratio: f/4.0
● Optical diameter: 114mm
● Length of optical tube: 18in.
● Aperture: 4.5in.
● Assembled weight: 20.7lb.

Review

The StarBlast 4.5 from Orion earns its name from its 4.5-inch aperture. This aperture, while smaller than those offered on some of Orion’s other scopes, is still large enough to draw in sufficient light to view nearby planets and stars, as well as (with the addition of the right eyepieces) deeper sky objects.

The telescope’s optical abilities, however, truly stand out because of the inclusion of a short optical tube and fast optics that provide viewers with a wider-than-average field of view. While the length of the optical tube and the f/4.0 focal ratio contribute to this wide field of view, the included Expanse eyepieces are the real secret to the telescope’s field of view capabilities. These eyepieces, in combination with the StarBlast 4.5’s other specs, provide a 66-degree field of view. This broadness allows the user to more quickly and easily find the objects they wish to observe.

Even though the StarBlast 4.5 is designed primarily for beginning astronomers, reviewers praise it for the clarity and beauty of the views it provides. For instance, they report seeing Saturn and Jupiter in detail, enjoying intimate views of the sun’s features, and encountering virtually no blurriness. They also report that the scope performs well even in situations where light pollution is present (such as in a driveway or city). As a result, owners can enjoy the nighttime sky without necessarily needing to travel to a darker area.

The StarBlast 4.5, in addition to its wide field of view and clear views, provides an easy-to-use equatorial mount. This mount, which keeps part of the scope parallel to the rotation of the Earth, makes it easier to track objects through the nighttime sky. As a result, it requires less effort to keep the objects being viewed in sight and is an appealing feature for beginning astronomers who do not want to spend extra time and effort tracking celestial objects with a different type of mount.

Beginners will also enjoy the EZ Finder II, which simplifies the process of locating objects to view. The finder, which utilizes a red dot, is point and view technology that involves simply directing the red dot toward the area you wish to observe. As a result, whole families can enjoy the nighttime sky by taking advantage of these features that make it simple to use, regardless of one’s skill level.

Finally, while assembly takes a bit of time (upwards of an hour), it is fairly simple to accomplish with the use of the included instructions or online videos. Disassembly is also reported to be relatively easy, and the telescope, while not specifically portable, receives praise for its relative light weight and its ability to come apart into a few pieces that can be transported.

Choosing a telescope does not have to be as overwhelming as it sometimes feels. The Orion StarBlast 4.5 can provide you with the features you need to get started enjoying the nighttime sky, while allowing you to continue enjoying everything it offers even after you gain more experience. Its wide field of view, surprisingly clear optics, and ease of use make it an excellent choice for everyone wanting to enjoy the nighttime sky.