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Private company

Astro-Physics

Telescope manufacturer

Astro-Physics, Inc. is a manufacturer of amateur telescopes, mounts, and accessories. Founded in 1975 by former Sundstrand Corporation engineer Roland Christen, the company is noted for its line of apochromatic refractors as well as high-end mounts. The company is located in Machesney Park, Illinois.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1975Founded1

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

Products and brands

Early models

4" f/6 Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

4" f/10 Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

5" f/6 Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

5" f/8 Standard Christen Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

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5" f/12 Christen Super Planetary Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

6" f/8 Standard Christen Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

6" f/9 Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

6" f/12 Christen Super Planetary Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

Star series

Star 12 ED Doublet Apochromatic Refractor

Star 130 Super ED Doublet Apochromatic Refractor

Star 155 Super ED Doublet Apochromatic Refractor

StarFire series

102mm f/8 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

127mm f/8 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

142mm f/7 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

152mm f/9 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

152mm f/12 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

175mm f/9 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

178mm f/9 StarFire Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

StarFire EDT series (extra low dispersion triplet)

130mm f/8 StarFire EDT Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

130mm f/8.35 StarFire EDT Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

155mm f/7.1 StarFire EDT Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

155mm f/9 StarFire EDT Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

180mm f/9 StarFire EDT Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 2.7" Focuser

StarFire EDF series (extra low dispersion flat field)

130mm f/6 StarFire EDFS Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

130mm f/6.3 StarFire EDF "Gran Turismo" Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 2.7" Focuser

140mm f/7.5 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 2.7" or 4" Focuser

152mm f/7.5 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 2.7" or 4" Focuser and Field Flattener

155mm f/7 StarFire EDFS Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 2.7" Focuser

155mm f/7 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 4" Focuser and Field Flattener

160mm f/7.5 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 4" Focuser

175mm f/8 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 4" Focuser and CCD Field Flattener

180mm f/7 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 4" Focuser

206mm f/7.9 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 4" Focuser

StarFire GTX series

110mm f/6 StarFire GTX Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 3.5" Focuser

130mm f/6.3 StarFire GTX "Gran Turismo" Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 3.5" Focuser

Traveler series

105mm f/6 Traveler EDT Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

105mm f/6 Traveler EDFS Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

Stowaway series

90mm f/5 Stowaway EDFS Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

92mm f/6.65 Stowaway Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

92mm f/7 Stowaway EDFS Triplet Apochromatic Refractor

Others

180mm FASTMAX f/4.5 Maksutov-Newtonian

254mm f/14.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain

10" f/14.6 High-Resolution Maksutov-Cassegrain

305mm f/3.8 Riccardi-Honders Astrograph

From Wikipedia’s article on Astro-Physics, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 1975Founded Founded1

Funding

Where the company's money came from, by calendar year: private offerings filed with the SEC, federal grants, loans, contracts and other assistance from USAspending.gov, and PPP loans from the SBA. Each bar links to the records below.

Money received by year$292.0K 2020–2020
Money received by yearMoney received by year, 2020–2020: $292.0K in all. PPP loans $292.0K.$0$100K$200K$300K2020 · PPP loans: $292.0K2020
Figures by year
YearPPP loansTotal
2020$292.0K$292.0K

PPP loans

Paycheck Protection Program loans of $150,000 and up, approved April 2020 to July 2021, from the SBA4. Matched to this company by name and state.

  1. Apr 9, 2020$292.0K PPP loan (first draw) from First Mid Bank and Trust National Association4To ASTRO-PHYSICS, INC., Machesney Park IL; $294.5K forgiven Feb 24, 2021

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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