The ShortTube 80 Telescope A User's Guide

Welcome to the first comprehensive guide to one of the world’s most popular telescopes: the ShortTube 80 refractor. With its ultra-portability, versatility, and relatively low cost, this telescope continues to delight generations of stargazers.

Starting in the field under a dark sky, the author walks the reader through a typical evening of stargazing, where the ShortTube 80 brings many astronomical treasures into focus. From there, he provides an in–depth account of the optical properties of the ShortTube 80 refractor and the accessories and mounting arrangements that maximize its potential both as a spotting ‘scope by day and an astronomical ‘scope by night.

The main text discusses how the versatile ShortTube 80 can be used to study deep sky objects, the Sun, the Moon, bright planets and even high-resolution projects, where the instrument's features can be optimized for the observation of tight double and multiple stars. It explores how the ShortTube 80 can image targets using camera phones, DSLRs and dedicated astronomical CCD imagers.

Packed with practical advice gained from years of firsthand stargazing experience, this book demonstrates exactly why ShortTube 80 has remained a firm favorite among amateur astronomers for over three decades, and why it is likely to remain popular for many years to come.

Internationally known UK observer and astronomy author, Dr. English has owned, reviewed and written about telescopes of all genres over the last 20 years. He is the proud owner of a number of excellent refracting and reflecting telescopes, including a fine ShortTube 80 that he employs for general observing or for teasing out especially difficult double and multiple stars. 

Neil has been a regular contributor to the UK's bestselling astronomy magazine Astronomy Now for over 20 years.  He has also contributed to Astronomy Ireland's monthly magazine Astronomy & Space for nearly 20 years.  During his writing career, he has published several hundred articles. Neil is the author of the fully illustrated Guide to Mars, published by Pole Star Publications in 2003. One of his astrophotography images (a full-page image) appeared in the June 2006 issue of US Astronomy. He has contributed several detailed telescope reviews to Cloudy Nights. Neil’s books for Springer include Choosing and Using a Refracting Telescope (2011), Choosing and Using a Dobsonian Telescope (2011), Classic Telescopes (2013), Grab ‘n’ Go Astronomy (2014), Space Telescopes (2016) and Chronicling the Golden Age of Astronomy (2018).

Neil currently lives with his wife and two sons in rural central Scotland.