MAKING WORLD-CLASS OPTICS
At Stellarvue we believe you ‘get what you pay for,’ and cater to those who are looking for a high-quality
product with reliable optics. While making commercial grade mass-produced optics is relatively easy and fast,
it results in unreliable products. That’s why we take the time to make each apo-triplet lens as close to perfect
as possible. To demonstrate our commitment to excellence, we provide our customers with their lens’ individ-
ual report card in the form of an interferometric test report.
People often ask us what type of glass we use, which is the
wrong question. While we use the best, lowest-dispesion
glass made, glass type says nothing of its consistency or
homogeneity. Bad glass makes bad optics, which is why it is
important to test each optic individually.
Stellarvue is a division of Auburn Precision Optics (APO).
We make optics for defense, industry, and space science.
We also manufacture the larger Stellarvue lenses. Lenses
that are used in our smaller telescopes are currently out-
sourced, but are made to our much higher optical standard.
These lenses are extensively tested, and approved for sale
only if they reach our high optical standard.
Mechanical quality is of extreme importance in making a world-class instrument. Using CNC machines and
high-quality materials makes a substantial difference. Our mounting rings for the 80 mm and bigger, for exam-
ple, are machined in our shop using 6061-6 aluminum and stainless steel. These rings are far stronger than
imported cast aluminum rings.
We provide our Apochromatic triplet refractors with a Zygo interferometric test report like the one shown below.
Our optics must reach a Strehl ratio of .95 or higher, and they are individually corrected to eliminate spherical
error, on-axis astigmatism, and coma. This is significantly more accurate than many competitive lenses we
have tested here, some of which show a Strehl ratio in the lower .8 range. You will see/image far less in a tele-
scope with a low optical rating. As your “report card” shows, with a Stellarvue you have a very accurate optic
that will show you everything the atmosphere will allow you to see (or image with your camera).
3
Alex our Production Manager using Stellarvue’s Zygo
Phase Shifting Laser Interferometer to test and adjust
Stellarvue objectives.
