StellaLyra · 4.5-inch f/4 Imaging Newtonian
Build a compact rig around a wider view.
The StellaLyra M-LRN-D combines a 114mm aperture and 456mm focal length in a carbon-fibre optical tube. It is a compact starting point for a dedicated deep-sky imaging system, with a dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser and integrated tube rotation.
Pair it with a suitable tracking mount, camera and coma corrector to build a setup around the targets you want to photograph.
Why choose this imaging Newtonian?
You want a short-focal-length reflector and are happy to assemble and tune your own imaging system. Its appeal lies in a compact optical tube that leaves the choice of camera, mount and control equipment to you.
This is an optical tube assembly, not a complete telescope-and-camera package. Budget for the full setup and check the mechanical connections before buying individual accessories.
Choose your field before your first target.
With the same camera, a shorter focal length captures a wider area of sky than a longer one. That can suit larger nebulae, clusters and star fields, depending on your sensor.
Start by checking how a few favourite targets fit your proposed camera and this focal length. A smaller sensor crops the field; a larger one also places greater demands on correction and illumination. Neither the focal ratio nor the focuser diameter guarantees full-frame coverage.
A compact tube, with mounting included.
The carbon-fibre tube includes an integrated rotation assembly and a full-length Vixen-style dovetail. The published telescope weight is 2.8kg.
Choose the mount around the complete working load: telescope, camera, corrector, guiding equipment and cables. Leave practical headroom for tracking performance, and balance the finished system rather than the empty optical tube.
Fine control where the camera meets the telescope.
The 2-inch dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser gives you coarse and fine adjustment for finding focus.
Make focus part of a repeatable routine: use short test exposures, examine star size and recheck after the setup has settled. Support cables so their weight does not pull on the camera as the mount moves across the sky.
Plan the complete camera connection.
For imaging, include a compatible coma corrector to control star distortion away from the centre. Its required sensor spacing and the telescope’s ability to reach focus are separate checks.
Add up the camera connection, adapters and any filter hardware before ordering. An accessory fitting into a 2-inch opening does not establish that the whole combination will focus or give the intended correction.
The supplier introduced a shorter-tube version to broaden coma-corrector compatibility. Ask us to confirm the supplied revision and your camera/corrector combination before choosing adapters. Earlier published focus distances should not be treated as universal.
Make alignment part of the setup.
Collimation aligns the two mirrors. Check it with a suitable tool before evaluating image quality, especially after transporting the telescope.
Once focused, inspect stars across a short test exposure. If the corners differ, check alignment, camera tilt and corrector spacing methodically. Change one thing at a time so you can see whether it improves the result.
What is included—and what completes the system?
| Included | Plan separately |
|---|---|
| Carbon-fibre optical tube | Tracking mount and tripod or pier |
| 2-inch dual-speed R&P focuser | Imaging camera and compatible coma corrector |
| Tube mounting/rotation assembly | Camera adapters and required spacing |
| Vixen-style dovetail | Collimation tool, power and control equipment |
Guiding equipment may be needed for your chosen exposures and mount. Eyepieces are not included; discuss visual-use requirements separately if that is also part of your plan.
Core specifications
| Optical design | Parabolic Newtonian reflector |
|---|---|
| Aperture | 114mm |
| Focal length / ratio | 456mm / f/4 |
| Tube material | Carbon fibre |
| Focuser | 2-inch dual-speed rack-and-pinion |
| Mount connection | Vixen-style dovetail |
| Published telescope weight | 2.8kg |
Before you build the rig
Is this an automatic or smart telescope?
No. It is an optical tube for a separately assembled system. Tracking, image capture and control depend on the mount, camera and software you choose.
Can I use my existing camera?
Possibly, but confirm the camera model, corrector and available focus travel together. Send us those details, including any filter drawer or wheel, so we can help check the proposed connection.
Does f/4 mean tracking is unimportant?
No. Tracking errors, vibration and poor alignment can still spoil an exposure. A shorter focal length can make the system more forgiving than a long-focal-length rig with the same camera, but careful setup remains worthwhile.
What should I test on the first night?
Begin with reliable focus, stable tracking and a short star-field exposure. Check the centre and corners before committing to a long sequence. Once the system is behaving consistently, build your imaging session around a well-framed target.
Availability reflects supplier stock and may change. Contact Dark Clear Skies to confirm dispatch timing if you need the telescope by a particular date.