The Messier AR-102 telescope consists of a refractor telescope and an equatorial mount, including a tripod. The optics have an aperture of 102 mm with a focal length of 1000 mm, resulting in a focal ratio of F9.8. The refractor includes many extras such as tube rings with a carrying handle and an integrated camera mount, a zenith mirror, and a 6 x 30 finder scope. With the equatorial (also known as parallactic) EXOS-2 mount, one axis is aligned with the North Star. When tracking a celestial object, only one axis needs to be moved, which makes tracking significantly easier compared to mounts with only left/right and up/down axes (altazimuth mount). The included 6 x 30 finder scope simplifies locating celestial objects and features an illuminated crosshair for comfortable viewing in the dark. The mount also has an illuminated polar finder that facilitates alignment to the north. Two flexible shafts connected to the mechanical fine adjustment allow for precise positioning and tracking of objects in the eyepiece. The robust steel tube tripod is height-adjustable and provides a comfortable observing position.

Application: The Messier AR-102 on EXOS-2 offers the ambitious amateur astronomer good optics with a very stable universal mount. The 102 mm aperture is well-suited for detailed observations of the moon and the planets of our solar system. Additionally, the telescope gathers enough light to explore further into the night sky. Star clusters and various nebulae are observable under dark conditions. With a total weight of about 21 kilograms, consisting of three parts (tube, mount with counterweight, tripod), the telescope is best suited for use outside bright cities, where the optics can perform at their best.