Moonraker Nebula Class 4-inch f/12 refractor.

A striking telescope that could be destined to be a classic

WORDS: STEVE COLLINGWOOD

At a time when small, short focus apochromatic refractors are all the rage, it comes as quite a surprise to see a long focus achromatic refractor enter the market. Moonraker’s Nebula Class 4-inch f/12 instrument certainly stands out from the crowd.

Modern mass production techniques and developments in glass types have revolutionised the way telescopes are made, and indeed made highquality telescopes more affordable than ever. From the sleek black gloss powder coat finish to the highly polished aluminium fixtures, this telescope certainly looks unique.

The refractor ships with Moonraker’s own tube rings and dovetail bar. These are hand made and beautifully finished, and they contribute to the overall look of the telescope in no small measure. The supplied carry handle also attaches to the tube rings. Unlike many of today’s high-end refractors, no hard case is included.

We found the Vixen/Synta profile dovetail bar allowed a good solid connection to our mount, though given the weight and size of the telescope it would be useful to have the larger ‘D’ type Losmandy-style dovetail bar as the majority of medium to large mounts use this bar for stability. This is a minor quibble, however. The supplied rack and pinion focuser proved positive and robust, holding a wealth of eyepiece and diagonal combinations without slipping.

Journeys around the heavens

We took the scope out under the night sky with our own star diagonal and a selection of eyepieces, and found that it delivered beautifully crisp images. The contrast was excellent, even under a moonlit sky. The telescope tube is both internally flocked and baffled. The extra-long dew shield is also internally flocked, ensuring that valuable photons are