The part that decides whether pointing is a pleasure · review
Explore Scientific's 8x50 illuminated straight-through finder: a 6-degree field, a roof prism for an upright correct image, a red illuminated open-center measuring reticle, 16 mm eye relief and EMD coatings, with bracket.
Explore Scientific publishes the field (6 degrees), the reticle scale (marks at 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 degrees), the eyepiece’s apparent field (55 degrees), eye relief (16 mm), exit pupil (7 mm), coatings (EMD) and weight (15.9 oz). Few finder listings come close.
A deep red illuminated reticle with an open center, powered by two AAA batteries and adjustable in brightness. The open center does not hide the object being centered; the scale marks measure the field. Both the objective and the reticle eyepiece focus.
A roof prism shows the sky upright and correct left to right, so the view matches a star chart and the naked eye.
This is a straight-through finder. Near the zenith it means crouching under it; a right-angle finder such as Astromania’s correct-image 9x50 avoids that.
Included, and stated to fit Explore Scientific’s Hybrid Finder Scope Base or the original standard and T-shaped bases.
On November 7, 2026, Amazon.com listed it at about $180 from a third-party seller.
Figures as Keepa reported them on the day this page was last updated. Stock and pricing shift without warning.
Prices quoted in this text were read on November 7, 2026. The live price is at the top of the page.
Same aisle, closest price — what the same spend else shows.
| Aperture | 50 mm (1.97 in) |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 8x |
| True field of view | 6°, stated · reticle scale marks at 1.5°, 3.0° and 4.5° |
| Image orientation | Straight-through · roof prism gives an upright, left-to-right correct image |
| Bracket fitting | Bracket included · fits the Hybrid Finder Scope Base or the original standard or T-shaped base |
| Reticle illumination and eye relief | Deep red illuminated open-center reticle, continuously variable brightness, two AAA batteries (not included) · 55° apparent field · 16 mm eye relief · 7 mm exit pupil · EMD coatings · focus for both objective and reticle eyepiece · 15.9 oz (451 g) |
| Amazon reference | B00IDO7OFE |
| EAN | 0812257011971 |
A plain crosshair covers the object you are centering. An open center leaves it visible, and Explore Scientific's scale marks at 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 degrees let you judge distances across the 6-degree field.
Black crosshairs vanish against a dark sky. A dim red reticle, adjustable in brightness, stays visible without ruining dark adaptation.
It comes with a bracket that fits Explore Scientific's Hybrid Finder Scope Base and the standard or T-shaped finder bases. Check your telescope's shoe.
8.4/ 10
The best-specified finder on this shelf: field, reticle scale, eye relief, exit pupil and weight all published, and an illuminated reticle that does not hide the target.
This model is listed on Amazon.com, at ≈ $180 at the last reading. Listed is not the same as in stock: availability changes daily, and the buy box shows the live price.
Details checked on November 7, 2026.
Centering faint objects, where a dark crosshair on a dark sky is unusable
Specifications: the manufacturer sheet for telescopes and observing optics and the matching Amazon product page. Prices and availability: Keepa. Every figure on this page names its source.
9x50 · right angle, correct image · fully multi-coated · crosshair reticle · Synta-style dovetail bracket
Astromania's 9x50 right-angle correct-image finder: fully multi-coated, with a crosshair reticle, objective focusing, two-screw-and-spring alignment and a Synta-style dovetail bracket.
Best for: Star-hopping from a printed chart on a telescope that points near the zenith
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Best for: A telescope that regularly points high, where a straight finder is painful to use
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