Focusing Mask Bathinov 100mm

The focusing mask according to Pavel Bahtinov facilitates precise focusing, which is particularly important in astrophotography. The mask is attached to the front of the tube or lens. When looking at a star, it produces a pattern of rays. When the long ray intersects the two slightly shorter rays symmetrically in the middle, the focus is correct. Thanks to its many opening slits, the Bahtinov mask can also be used with relatively dim stars. This is an advantage over the classic Scheiner mask.

A Bahtinov mask should actually be calculated separately for each aperture ratio. However, experience shows that one mask can be used very effectively for an entire aperture range.

How to attach the mask to the telescope: Each mask is supplied with a pair of bolts and fitting plastic covers. Just push the bolts through the holes in the mask and slide the covers onto the bolts from the other side. Now the mask can be simply hinged onto the dewcap or the telescope tube. This adaptation is very universal and fits for widely varying tube diameters.

This Bahtinov mask is of particularly high quality: it is made of aluminium with strips only 0.3 millimetres thick. It can be adjusted by about 0.5 centimetres using the pins.