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# Astro-Tech AT6RC
- URL: https://macobservatory.com/astro-tech-at6rc/
- Published: 2018-09-14T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-10T16:00:40.000Z
- Author: Andrew Burwell
- Tags: Reviews

## Hubble at Home

The Astro-Tech AT6RC is probably the most economically viable Ritchey-Chrétien telescope money can buy at roughly $350\. Its dual-hyperbolic mirror design eliminates coma and delivers a flat, well-corrected field — the same optical design used in the Hubble Space Telescope, scaled down to a manageable 6-inch aperture.

### Optical Specifications

At native f/9 the AT6RC has a focal length of 1370mm. With an Astro-Physics CCDT67 telecompressor, it operates at approximately f/6 with a \~915mm focal length — a much faster system for deep-sky imaging on the Celestron AVX mount.

- **Aperture:** 6 inches (152mm)
- **Native focal length:** 1370mm at f/9
- **With AP CCDT67:** \~915mm at f/6
- **Weight:** \~13 lbs (18–20 lbs with full imaging gear)
- **Optical design:** Ritchey-Chrétien (dual hyperbolic mirrors)

### Imaging Equipment

The full imaging configuration includes:

- Celestron AVX mount (30 lb max payload)
- Orion 60mm guide scope
- ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool (primary imaging camera)
- ZWO ASI224MC (guiding)
- Astro-Physics CCDT67 telecompressor
- ZWO 8-position electronic filter wheel
- Astrodon LRGB and narrowband filters
- Moonlite CSL focuser with stepper motor

### Achieving Proper Polar Alignment

At these focal lengths, precise polar alignment is crucial. Even small alignment errors become visible in long exposures at 1370mm. The Celestron AVX's built-in polar alignment routine combined with plate-solving through EKOS provides reliable results.

### Sample Images

![NGC 7331 and the Deer Lick Group captured with the Astro-Tech AT6RC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc-7331-sm-format-original-1.webp)

The AT6RC proved to be an exceptional value for deep-sky astrophotography. Its Ritchey-Chrétien design delivers sharp, well-corrected images across the field — remarkable for a telescope at this price point. It served as my primary imaging scope before upgrading to the Celestron EdgeHD 11".