Meade Instruments Infinity 80mm AZ Refractor Telescope

Ideal for the observer who views both astronomical and terrestrial objects, the Meade Infinity Series combines an altazimuth mount and quality optics for a superb value. For newcomers and beginners alike, these refracting telescopes are a great way for you to discover the cosmos and the outdoors. You’ll discover more with the Meade Infinity Series.

If you’ve never owned a telescope before, the Infinity 80 Refractor is a great telescope to get started in astronomy. This 80mm (3.1″) aperture gives bright, sharp images for both land and celestial objects. Whether you’re viewing the rings of Saturn, the moons of Jupiter, surface details on the Moon, or terrestrial objects, the Infinity 80 Refractor allows the first-time observer to explore the world, solar system, and beyond.

Pros: Right-side up image means you can use it for daytime observing (birds, hunting, ocean, etc)
Easy assembly
Refractor means you don’t have mirrors to align (collimate); it’s ready to go out of the box

Cons: Tracking celestial objects is less easy than an EQ mount because the controls function left, right, up, down whereas EQ mounts turn with the rotation of the Earth

Q: How is this telescope different than the other Infinity models (102, 90, 70, etc)?
A: The differences between each model are aperture size. The bigger the aperture, the more light-gathering power the telescope will have, resulting in brighter, detailed images. The Infinity 80 has an 80mm aperture, the third largest of the series. The Infinity 80 comes with a panhandle attached to the mount, allowing for easy adjustments when locating an object, while the Infinity 50, 60, and 70 do not. It also comes with 3 eyepieces, while the Infinity 60 and 70 come with two.