Explore One Aries 50 mm Telescope: A Beginner’s Guide to Specs, Setup and First Targets

The original post on this site was a short listing for the “ExploreOne Aires” telescope. The correct name is the Explore One Aries, a 50 mm refractor sold by Explore Scientific for young astronomers. This rewrite uses Explore Scientific’s product page and the Aries instruction manual (model 88-10050) to give verified specs and a simple getting-started guide.

Verified specifications

From Explore Scientific and the Aries manual:

• Optical design: achromatic refractor
• Aperture: 50 mm
• Focal length: 600 mm; focal ratio f/12
• Eyepieces: 20 mm and 12.5 mm, 1.25-inch (31.7 mm)
• Magnifications: 30x (20 mm) and 48x (12.5 mm)
• Finder: red dot viewfinder powered by a CR-2032 (3V) battery, with two brightness settings
• Mount: alt-azimuth with a panhandle for pan-and-tilt control
• Tripod: full-size and adjustable, with an accessory tray
• Diagonal included
• Weight: 2.45 kg (5.4 lb)
• Extras: star map (planisphere) and astronomy software, available from Explore One’s product manuals page
• Age guidance on the manual: 10+

Corrections to the original listing

• Name: “Aires” is a misspelling; the telescope is the Aries.
• Eyepieces: the original title said three eyepieces. The manual and Explore Scientific both list two: 20 mm and 12.5 mm.
• Moon filter: the original text said a Moon filter is included. Neither the manual’s parts list nor Explore Scientific’s page mentions one, so we removed that claim.
• Manual slips: the manual tells you to insert a “26mm eyepiece” during setup, but no 26 mm eyepiece is supplied; use the 20 mm. It also prints the Moon‘s diameter as “3.476km”, using a full stop as the thousands separator; that means about 3,476 km.

Understanding magnification

The manual gives the simple formula: telescope focal length divided by eyepiece focal length equals magnification. So 600 ÷ 20 = 30x and 600 ÷ 12.5 = 48x. The manual explains that 30x means an object appears 30 times larger than with the naked eye. It also notes that heat turbulence in the air is magnified too, so in warm conditions it can help to stick to medium magnifications.

Setting up the Aries

The manual’s steps, simplified:

• Tripod: spread the legs until the spreaders are level, fit the accessory tray, and set the height with the leg clamps.
• Tube: set the telescope on the mount head, snug the front tension screw, then tighten the bottom tension screw until firm without overtightening.
• Panhandle and finder: thread on the panhandle and slide the red dot viewfinder into its holder from the back. Remove the plastic insulator from the battery first.
• Eyepiece: remove the dust cover from the objective lens, insert the 20 mm eyepiece and focus with the focus wheel.
• Align the finder in daylight: point the telescope at something distinct, like a telephone pole, using the eyepiece. Then, without moving the telescope, turn on the red dot and use its two adjustment screws until the dot sits on the same object.
• Switch it off: the manual reminds you to turn the red dot off after use.

The view through a diagonal

The manual explains that a diagonal deflects light by 90 degrees so you can look down into the eyepiece comfortably. The image appears upright but mirror-reversed, which does not matter for the sky.

First targets

Explore Scientific says the Aries shows the Moon’s rugged craters, Saturn’s rings and the Galilean moons of Jupiter. The manual suggests practising focus on land objects first: start with the 20 mm eyepiece, then move to the 12.5 mm. At night, it lists these objects:

• The Moon: Earth’s only natural satellite, about 384,400 km away on average, with about 29.5 days between new moons.
• Orion Nebula (M42): about 1,500 light years away; the manual calls it the brightest diffuse nebula in the sky, visible to the naked eye.
• Ring Nebula (M57) in Lyra: about 2,400 light years away; the manual calls it the prototype of a planetary nebula.
• Dumbbell Nebula (M27) in Vulpecula: about 1,360 light years away. The manual says Charles Messier discovered it on July 12, 1764, the first planetary nebula found.

Troubleshooting tips from the manual

• No picture: remove the dust cap from the objective.
• No focus possible: wait for the telescope’s temperature to balance out.
• Poor image: never observe through a window.
• Object in finder but not telescope: re-align the finder.

Care and safety

Clean lenses only with a soft, lint-free cloth such as microfibre, using eyeglass cleaning solution for stubborn dirt and no excess pressure. Never use detergents, gasoline or thinner. Let dew dry before storing the telescope with its caps on.

The manual’s warnings are important for families: never look at or near the Sun with the telescope, as even a short look may cause blindness. Children should only use it under supervision, and the lenses should never be left in direct sunlight, which can cause fires or burns.

Quick summary

• 50 mm, 600 mm, f/12 achromatic refractor on an alt-az mount; 5.4 lb.
• Two eyepieces: 30x and 48x.
• Good for the Moon, Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s moons and bright nebulae.
• Adult supervision and Sun safety are essential.