What Stellarvue does

Stellarvue is a privately held American manufacturer of handcrafted apochromatic refractor telescopes, founded in 1998 by Vic Maris and headquartered at a single facility in Auburn, California (11802 Kemper Road). The company designs, hand-figs, and assembles SVX-series doublet and triplet apochromatic refractors ranging from 90mm to 180mm aperture, using super-low dispersion glasses (Ohara S-FPL53/S-FPL55, Hoya FCD100) matched with borosilicate crown and lanthanum elements. Precision optical testing is performed in-house using a Zygo Phase-Shifting Laser Interferometer and Double Pass Autocollimator, with each SVX objective shipped alongside its own Zygo interferometric test report. Production of a flagship SVX objective takes approximately one year, and the company operates one year in advance in continuous production.

The product portfolio spans ten SVX telescope models priced from $2,495 (SVX090T) to $22,995 (SVX180T-2), Raptor variants with Moonlite focusers for astrophotography, a growing ecosystem of accessories (Optimus and Ultra Wide Angle eyepieces, field flatteners, focusers, dew heaters, finders, filters), and native Stellarvue hardware including the M002C mount. A Certified Pre-Owned program sells retested returns at 15–30% discounts. Revenue is generated almost entirely through direct-to-consumer channels — the stellarvue.com e-commerce site, phone sales, mail orders — supplemented by authorized dealers and bank-wire international orders, with free shipping to the lower 48 US states on SVX orders.

Stellarvue serves hobbyist astronomers and astrophotographers as its primary segment, with secondary outreach to educational institutions (schools, colleges, educators via a special discount program personally handled by the founder) and veterans. The company maintains a community-driven marketing motion through the Stellarblog, Stellar Shot of the Week, monthly newsletters, active social channels, and presence at NEAF and American Astronomical Society events. Media partnerships with Sky & Telescope and prior national television coverage (H2M) reinforce brand authority. The business remains founder-owned and founder-operated, with no disclosed external investment, institutional ownership, or subsidiaries.

Name

Stellarvue

Legal name

Stellarvue Inc.

Website

https://stellarvue.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stellarvue is a privately held, founder-owned American manufacturer of handcrafted apochromatic refractor telescopes (90mm–180mm, $2,495–$22,995), serving hobbyist astronomers, astrophotographers, and educational institutions through direct-to-consumer sales from its Auburn, California facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Astronomy Equipment

NAICS

Optical Goods Retailers (45613)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Binoculars, Scopes & Sport Optics Retail (CRACAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wildlife Viewing & Optics (Binoculars, Spotting Scopes) Retail (CRAMAAAK)

Keywords

• Apochromatic refractor telescopes
• Handcrafted telescope optics
• Astro-imaging accessories
• Precision optical instruments
• Astronomy equipment manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Auburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Telescope Sales: Direct sales of handcrafted refractor telescopes ranging from $2,495 to $22,995. Products include SVX series apo triplets (SVX090T through SVX180T-2), doublet apos, and Raptor variants. One-time hardware purchases with free shipping on SVX orders to lower 48 states.
2. Accessories and Astro-Imaging Products: Sales of complementary products including eyepieces (70-degree, 82-degree, 100-110 degree Optimus), filters, diagonals, dew heaters, focusers, guidescopes, finder scopes, mounting accessories, cases, and field flatteners/reducers designed for SVX refractors.
3. Certified Pre-Owned Telescopes: Returned and trade-in telescopes are retested and sold as Certified Pre-Owned at discounted prices (typically 15-30% off new). These carry the same warranty coverage as new products since they are extensively evaluated to ensure original specifications are met.
4. Surplus and Special Offer Items: Occasional sales of surplus inventory, blem telescopes, and special promotional offers at discounted prices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Stellarvue handcrafts apochromatic refractor telescopes in Auburn, California, ranging from 90mm to 180mm aperture SVX-series doublet and triplet models, with each objective hand-figured over months using a Zygo Phase-Shifting Laser Interferometer and shipped with an individual interferometric test report. The company also sells a full ecosystem of complementary astronomy and astro-imaging accessories including eyepieces, field flatteners, focusers, mounts, finders, guidescopes, dew heaters, and certified pre-owned telescopes.

Product overview

Stellarvue is a handcrafted refractor telescope company offering a comprehensive astronomy product portfolio. The core products are SVX apochromatic refractor telescopes ranging from 90mm to 180mm aperture, including doublet and triplet designs featuring hand-figured optics using super-low dispersion glass. The product line spans: SVX090T and SVX127D doublets for visual use; SVX102T, SVX130T, SVX140T, SVX152T, and SVX180T-2 triplet apo refractors for visual and imaging; Raptor series variants with Moonlite focusers for advanced astrophotography; and a full ecosystem of accessories including Optimus and Ultra Wide Angle eyepieces, field flatteners/reducers, focusers, filters, finder scopes, guidescopes, and mounts. Certified Pre-Owned telescopes offer factory-certified used options at discounted prices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stellarvue Doublet Apo SVX127D 127mm aperture doublet apochromatic refractor telescope with hand-figured optics priced at $2,995, intended for visual observation by amateur astronomers.
• SVX090T 90mm f/6 apochromatic triplet refractor telescope with 2.5-inch dual-speed rack and pinion focuser, priced at $2,495, aimed at beginners and wide-field imaging enthusiasts.
• SVX102T 102mm aperture apochromatic refractor with hand-figured SVX optics and high-Strehl performance, priced at $3,095, for serious amateur astronomers and astrophotographers.
• SVX102T-RA Raptor Raptor-series 102mm apochromatic refractor with enhanced focuser and bundled accessories for visual and imaging use, priced at $3,195.
• SVX130T 130mm aperture apochromatic triplet refractor using super-low dispersion glass and hand-figured optics, priced at $5,995, for advanced visual and photographic use.
• SVX130T-R Raptor Raptor-series 130mm apochromatic refractor equipped with a Moonlite focuser and premium accessories for astrophotography, priced at $6,195.
• SVX140T 140mm aperture apochromatic triplet refractor with hand-figured SVX optics and enhanced optical performance, priced at $7,195, for advanced astrophotographers.
• SVX140T-R Raptor Raptor-series 140mm apochromatic refractor equipped with a Moonlite Nitecrawler WR35 focuser for precision astrophotography, priced at $7,395.
• SVX152T 152mm (6-inch) apochromatic triplet refractor positioned as Stellarvue's most consistently accurate 6-inch refractor, priced at $9,995, for advanced astrophotography and visual use.
• SVX180T-2 180mm aperture flagship apochromatic refractor telescope taking approximately one year to produce, priced at $22,995, for advanced astrophotography and visual observation.
• Optimus Eyepieces 100-110 degree apparent field of view eyepieces for wide-field astronomical observation and immersive viewing, sold as standalone eyepiece products.
• 82 Degree Ultra Wide Angle Eyepieces Wide-angle eyepieces with 82-degree apparent field of view for immersive astronomical viewing, sold as standalone eyepiece products.
• 55 Degree Planetary Eyepieces High-power eyepieces designed for lunar and planetary observation with 55-degree apparent field of view, sold as standalone eyepiece products.
• 70 Degree Flat Field Eyepieces Flat-field eyepieces providing edge-to-edge sharpness for photographic and visual use, sold as standalone eyepiece products.
• Field Flatteners for SVX Refractors Optical accessories that flatten the field for astrophotography with SVX refractors, sold as standalone optical accessories.
• SFFRX-130/140 Reducer Flattener Reducer flattener designed for SVX130T and SVX140T telescopes providing 750mm focal length at f/5.4 for astrophotography, sold as a standalone accessory.
• M002C Mount Alt-Azimuth mount designed to pair with the Denali tripod for smooth and stable tracking, sold as a standalone Stellarvue mount product.
• Certified Pre-Owned Telescopes Factory-certified pre-owned Stellarvue telescopes (typically 15-30% below new) that have been extensively evaluated with advanced test equipment and carry the same warranty as new products, sold as a standalone pre-owned product line.

Quantifiable outcome

• Each SVX telescope comes with individual Zygo interferometric test report documenting optical accuracy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LosmandyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLosmandy is listed as a mount and tripod option sold through Stellarvue's distribution channels. Stellarvue offers Losmandy-style dovetail brackets and mounting rails compatible with Losmandy standards.
• ParamountminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParamount mounts are offered as premium mounting options for Stellarvue telescopes. The Paramount MyT mount is featured in customer astrophotography setups.
• Rowan AstronomyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRowan AZ75 and AZ100 mounts are offered as mounting solutions for Stellarvue telescopes.
• Celestron-SkywatcherminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCelestron and Skywatcher mounts and tripods are offered as compatible mounting solutions for Stellarvue telescopes.
• Sky & Telescope MagazinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSky & Telescope magazine has produced multiple features on Stellarvue including a behind-the-scenes factory tour video hosted by Dennis DiCicco. The magazine continues to feature Stellarvue products and customers at events like NEAF.
• American Astronomical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStellarvue participates in American Astronomical Society meetings and events. The company was featured at the 247th AAS meeting. Videos from these events are shared through company channels.
• H2M (National Television)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerStellarvue was featured on national television as one of the world's top telescope manufacturers through H2M media coverage.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Takahashi: Japanese manufacturer of premium apochromatic refractor telescopes (e.g., FSQ-106, TOA-150). The closest direct competitor to Stellarvue in the high-end hand-finished apo triplet segment, with overlapping customer base of serious amateur astronomers and astrophotographers, similar price tiers, and similar emphasis on individual optical certification.
• Astro-Physics: US manufacturer of premium apochromatic refractors (Stowaway, Traveler, Mach1 mounts), small-batch hand-figured optics, and observatory-class instruments. A direct peer in business model and customer profile to Stellarvue — both are boutique American refractor makers serving the same high-end amateur and educational astrophotography market.
• Explore Scientific: Manufacturer and distributor of apochromatic refractors (ED102, ED127), eyepieces, and accessories sold direct-to-consumer and through dealers. An emerging-to-direct competitor with overlapping product categories (apos, eyepieces, accessories) and similar DTC e-commerce-led GTM motion.
• William Optics: Manufacturer of apochromatic refractor telescopes (GT81, Z73, RedCat series) and premium wide-field eyepieces. Competes with Stellarvue in the apo triplet segment with broader product breadth and stronger digital/social media marketing reach, particularly in the astrophotography community.
• TeleVue Optics: US manufacturer of premium apochromatic refractors (NP101, NP127is) and highly regarded eyepieces (Ethos, Nagler). A direct peer competing in the same high-end apo refractor category and ecosystem of premium eyepieces/accessories that Stellarvue also sells.

Broad incumbents

• Celestron: Mass-market telescope manufacturer with broad product portfolio across Schmidt-Cassegrains, Maksutovs, and entry-level refractors, plus extensive mount/eyepiece ecosystems. A broad incumbent whose entry-level refractors overlap with Stellarvue's beginner segment but whose premium refractor capability is much narrower.
• Sky-Watcher: Global manufacturer of mass-market and mid-tier telescopes, mounts, and accessories (also sold through Stellarvue's distribution). A broad incumbent whose apochromatic refractor offerings (Esprit, Evostar) compete with Stellarvue's entry-level apos but lack the hand-figuring and per-unit certification differentiation.
• Meade Instruments: Long-established US telescope manufacturer with broad portfolio of Schmidt-Cassegrains, refractors, and computerized mounts. A broad incumbent in the broader consumer astronomy space that competes for the same hobbyist entry-level budgets but operates at a fundamentally different price and quality tier than Stellarvue's SVX line.

Emerging players

• Askar (Sharpstar Optics): China-based manufacturer of apochromatic refractor telescopes (FRA, FMA, 65PHQ) increasingly targeting the premium astrophotography segment. A fast-improving emerging player with aggressive pricing that competes for the same serious amateur astrophotographer budget that Stellarvue addresses.
• APM Telescopes: Germany-based manufacturer/distributor of high-end apochromatic refractors (LZOS optics, Riccardi designs) and large-aperture apos. Comparable to Stellarvue in premium refractor optics but with broader catalog including imported LOMO/LZOS objectives — partial overlap rather than direct US-only competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/svtelescopes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCs5jDGc94rAp8h_He_2B8Pg
• Facebookfacebook.com/svtelescopes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stellarvue
• Instagraminstagram.com/stellarvue_telescopes/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stellarvue