Astro-Physics

Astro-Physics, Inc. is a manufacturer of amateur telescopes, mounts, and accessories. Founded in 1975 by former Sundstrand Corporation engineer Roland Christen,[1] the company is noted for its line of apochromatic refractors.[2][3][4] The company is located in Machesney Park, Illinois.[1]

This article is about the telescope maker. For the scientific discipline, see Astrophysics.

The company is owned by Roland and Marjorie Christen.[3] Author and Astronomy magazine contributing editor Philip S. Harrington wrote in his 2011 book Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories that Astro-Physics is "a name immediately recognizable to the connoisseur of fine refractors on rock-steady mounts".[3]

Astro-Physics was profiled by Travel Channel's Made in America, a TV program hosted by John Ratzenberger, on October 25, 2006.[5] In 2006, the company employed 18 people.[6] The company's finished telescopes, which include mounting and lens, cost between $10,000 and $25,000.[1]

References
  1. Gary, Alex (2006-10-26). "High-end telescope maker goes under microscope". Rockford Register Star. Archived from the original on 2014-12-26. Retrieved 2014-12-26.
  2. Mollise, Rod (2009). Choosing and Using a New CAT: Getting the Most from Your Schmidt Cassegrain or Any Catadioptric Telescope. New York: Springer Science+Business Media. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-387-09772-5. Retrieved 2014-12-31. Astro-Physics (A-P) is almost legendary in the amateur astronomy community, mainly because of the outstanding apochromatic refractors this Illinois company produces.
  3. Harrington, Philip S. (2011-02-05). Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories (4 ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. p. 96. ISBN 978-0471750635. Retrieved 2014-12-26.
  4. English, Neil (2012-08-30). Classic Telescopes: A Guide to Collecting, Restoring, and Using Telescopes of Yesteryear. New York: Springer Science+Business Media. pp. 184–185. ISBN 978-1461444237. Retrieved 2014-12-26.
  5. "Astro-Physics to be profiled on TV show". Rockford Register Star. 2006-10-25. Archived from the original on 2014-12-26. Retrieved 2014-12-26.
  6. "Get a closer look at the heavens with telescope made here". Rockford Register Star. 2006-07-20. Archived from the original on 2014-12-26. Retrieved 2014-12-26.
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