Orion Optics
Orion Optics UK manufactures made-to-order high-performance telescopes and precision optical components in Staffordshire, UK, serving amateur astronomers, professional researchers, and government/defence clients through direct UK e-commerce and a 20+ country dealer network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersNewcastle Under Lyme, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Orion Optics does
Orion Optics UK Ltd. is a privately held, family-owned (Pemberton family) precision optical manufacturer incorporated in England (company number 05924501) in 1988, headquartered at Lymedale Industrial Estate, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire. The company designs, hand-finishes, and assembles high-performance telescopes and precision optical components in the UK, organised across seven product families: AG Astrograph Newtonian series (200-400mm), ODK Optimised Dall Kirkham series (250-500mm), OMC Maksutov Cassegrains, CT Ultra Newtonians, IDEAL Newtonians, VX Newtonian reflectors, and Dobsonian models, plus standalone mirrors, elliptical flats, and CNC aluminium components (mirror cells, tube cradles, focusers). Technical differentiation rests on proprietary Hilux high-reflectivity mirror coatings, a 4-element ED AG Wynne corrector, carbon fibre sandwich tube construction for thermal and collimation stability, an OMC aspherical primary with cantilever micrometer focusing, and 9-point CNC-machined suspension cells, with every optic verified by Zygo interferometry to Lambda/6 PV wavefront standards.
The revenue model is hardware-dominant with a built-to-order manufacturing approach: complete telescopes are made to order with no stock, priced from £343.44 (VX6) to £23,760 (ODK20), with standalone mirrors from £201.20 to £4,267 and accessories spanning dew heaters at £22 to mounts at £4,482. A secondary services stream covers mirror recoating (Hilux coating application), Zygo interferometric optical testing, and telescope servicing for both Orion-built and competitor equipment. Customers comprise three segments: serious amateur astronomers and astro-imagers (primary), professional researchers and UK universities (Cardiff, LJMU, Durham, Keele), and UK defence/government buyers including GCHQ, MoD Porton Down, BAE Systems, plus space imagery collaborator Satellogic and fusion research customer CCFE.
Distribution is hybrid: direct e-commerce via the UK website (orionoptics.co.uk) for B2C and research sales, supplemented by an international network of 20+ authorised dealers across Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, China (two), Denmark, Finland, France (two), Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan (three), Lithuania, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea (two), and Spain. The company carries 12-month product warranties, derives a meaningful share of brand credibility from independent validation (OMC140 won first prize in the Sky at Night Maksutov competition), and has no disclosed external funding, parent company, or subsidiaries, with three Pemberton-family directors as the sole registered leadership.
Orion Optics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Orion Optics
- Legal name
- Orion Optics UK Ltd.
- Website
- https://orionoptics.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Orion Optics UK manufactures made-to-order high-performance telescopes and precision optical components in Staffordshire, UK, serving amateur astronomers, professional researchers, and government/defence clients through direct UK e-commerce and a 20+ country dealer network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Orion Optics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newcastle Under Lyme
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Orion Optics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Telescope Sales: Orion Optics manufactures and sells high-performance telescopes including AG Astrograph series, ODK Optimised Dall Kirkhams, VX Newtonian reflectors, CT Ultra Newtonians, IDEAL series, OMC Maksutovs, and Dobsonian models. Telescopes range from £518.40 (VX6) to £23,760 (ODK20). All products are made to order with no stock of complete models.
- Optical Components: Standalone telescope mirrors and optics sold with various quality grades (Professional, Research, Ultra) and focal ratios. Mirror prices vary from £201.20 to £4,267 depending on aperture and quality grade.
- Accessories and Components: Accessories including dew heaters, dew shields, mirror cells, focusers, finders, adaptors, corrector lenses, tube cradles, and mounts. Items range from £22 cooling fans to £4,482 mounts.
- Servicing and Mirror Recoating: Mirror recoating services and telescope servicing for both Orion Optics products and other manufacturers' equipment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | AG Astrograph Series - 200mm to 400mm aperture |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VX Dobsonian Series - 150mm to 500mm aperture |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ODK Optimised Dall Kirkham Series - 250mm to 500mm aperture |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | CT Ultra Newtonian Series - 200mm to 400mm aperture |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | IDEAL Newtonian Series - 150mm to 400mm aperture |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | OMC Maksutov Cassegrain Series |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wynne Corrector and Upgrades |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Orion Optics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Orion Optics UK manufactures high-performance telescopes and precision optical components made to order at their Staffordshire facility. The portfolio includes AG Newtonian Astrographs, ODK Optimised Dall Kirkhams, CT Ultra Newtonians, IDEAL Newtonians, VX Dobsonian reflectors, and OMC Maksutov Cassegrain telescopes, plus standalone telescope mirrors, elliptical flats, CNC-machined accessories, and optical coating/recoating services. All optics are hand-finished and Zygo-tested.
Product overview
Orion Optics UK manufactures high-performance telescopes and precision optical components. The product portfolio centres on multiple telescope series: AG Series (Newtonian Astrographs for deep sky imaging with carbon fibre tubes and 4-element Wynne correctors), ODK Series (Optimised Dall Kirkham designs with multi-element correctors for flat field photography), CT Series (Ultra Newtonians for visual and photographic use), IDEAL Series (entry-level Newtonians), VX Series (Dobsonian reflectors for transportable observation), and OMC Series (Maksutov Cassegrains for compact planetary viewing). The company also produces precision telescope mirrors, optical coatings, CNC-machined mechanical components (mirror cells, tube cradles), dew management systems, focusers, and mounts. Services include optical testing using Zygo interferometry, mirror recoating with Hilux coatings, and telescope servicing. All products are manufactured to order in the UK at their Staffordshire facility, with over 35 years of experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AG8 Astrograph 200mm Newtonian Astrograph with carbon fibre tube, f/3.8 focal ratio, Hilux mirror coatings, and 4-element ED Wynne corrector for deep sky imaging.
- AG10 Astrograph 250mm Newtonian Astrograph with 50% more light grasp than AG8, featuring 4-element ED Wynne corrector for flat field imaging up to 50mm.
- AG12 Astrograph 300mm Newtonian Astrograph, the most popular model in AG range, portable carbon fibre tube design with 3 controllable fans for mirror cooling.
- AG14 Astrograph 350mm Newtonian Astrograph with truss design, requires heavy mounting and recommended for deep sky imaging.
- AG16 Astrograph 400mm Newtonian Astrograph with truss design, largest transportable model, requires permanent observatory mounting.
- ODK10 Optimised Dall Kirkham 250mm Optimised Dall Kirkham telescope with 3-inch Crayford focuser, carbon fibre sandwich tube, and multi-coated 3-lens corrector for flat field up to 50mm.
- ODK12 Optimised Dall Kirkham 300mm Optimised Dall Kirkham telescope with f/6.8 focal ratio and honeycomb CNC machined aluminium mirror cell.
- ODK14 Optimised Dall Kirkham 350mm Optimised Dall Kirkham telescope, approximately 26kg tube weight with carbon fibre sandwich construction.
- ODK16 Optimised Dall Kirkham 400mm Optimised Dall Kirkham telescope, approximately 36kg tube weight for high-power imaging and planetary observation.
- ODK20 Optimised Dall Kirkham 500mm Optimised Dall Kirkham telescope, the largest model in the ODK series for professional astronomical imaging.
- CT8 Ultra Newtonian 200mm Ultra Newtonian telescope with aluminium tube and 9-point CNC mirror cell suspension.
- CT10 Ultra Newtonian 250mm Ultra Newtonian telescope with focuser and reduction gearing.
- CT12 Ultra Newtonian 300mm Ultra Newtonian telescope with fan cooling for primary mirror.
- CT16 Ultra Newtonian 400mm Ultra Newtonian telescope for advanced astronomical observation.
- IDEAL 8/8L Newtonian 200mm Newtonian telescope, introductory model in IDEAL series with aluminium tube construction.
- IDEAL 10/10L Newtonian 250mm Newtonian telescope in IDEAL series, available in standard and long (L) focal length variants.
- IDEAL 12/12L Newtonian 300mm Newtonian telescope with optional long focal length variant.
- VX6 Dobsonian Newtonian 150mm Dobsonian Newtonian reflector with f/5 focal ratio and 4.5kg tube weight.
- VX10 Dobsonian Newtonian 250mm Dobsonian Newtonian with f/4.8 focal ratio, 11kg tube weight, suitable for transportable use.
- VX12 Dobsonian Newtonian 300mm Dobsonian Newtonian with f/4 focal ratio and 14kg tube weight.
- VX16 Dobsonian Newtonian 400mm Dobsonian Newtonian with f/4 focal ratio, 29kg tube weight, providing over 7 times brighter image than VX6.
- VX20 Dobsonian Newtonian 500mm Dobsonian Newtonian with truss tube design, 40kg tube weight for professional astronomical observation.
- OMC140DX Maksutov Cassegrain 140mm Maksutov Cassegrain with ellipsoidal primary mirror larger than corrector, carbon fibre tube, and zero image shift micrometer focusing.
- OMC200 Maksutov Cassegrain 200mm Maksutov Cassegrain telescope with compact design for planetary and deep sky observation.
- Wynne Corrector 3" for AG Series 4-element ED Wynne corrector providing flat, false colour free focal plane up to 60mm diameter, using rare earth glass types for enhanced optical performance.
- Telescope Mirrors Precision optical mirrors in various focal ratios (f/4 to f/8) and quality grades (Professional, Research, Ultra) for Newtonian telescopes, priced from £201.20 to £4,267 depending on aperture and grade.
- Elliptical Flats Secondary mirror blanks and elliptical flats for Newtonian telescope configurations.
- Telescope Accessories Range of standalone accessories including CNC machined aluminium mirror cells (9-point suspension, 150mm–600mm), tube cradles, carbon dew heaters and shields, Crayford focusers, Dobsonian mounts, SkyWatcher and Celestron mounts, TeleVue eyepieces and diagonals, finders, and adaptors.
- Mirror Recoating Service Aluminising and recoating service for customer mirrors, including Orion Optics products and other manufacturers' equipment, with quality inspection via Zygo interferometer testing.
- Optical Testing Service (Zygo) Interferometric optical testing using Zygo equipment to verify optical quality and surface accuracy to Lambda/6 PV standards for customer optics and telescopes.
- Optical Coatings (Hilux) High-reflectivity Hilux mirror coatings applied to telescope optics for enhanced image brightness and contrast.
- Telescope Servicing Telescope servicing and maintenance for both Orion Optics products and other manufacturers' equipment.
Quantifiable outcome
- AG12 produces images comparable (not quite equalled) with professional telescopes of several metres aperture
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Orion Optics
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Orion Optics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Orion Optics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered regional.
- North Down Telescopes (Northern Ireland)regionalUK regional dealer for Northern Ireland market, located at 4 Ailsa Park, Bangor, Co. Down BT19 1EA.
- Astronomy Alive (Australia)regionalAustralian dealer for Orion Optics products, located in Bentleigh, Victoria 3204.
- ASToptics/Astromarket (Belgium)regionalBelgian dealer operating from Nieuwpoort, serving Dutch and French-speaking markets.
- Optiek Van Grootven (Belgium)regionalBelgian optical products dealer located in Aartselaar.
- Teleskop-Service Ransburg (Germany)regionalGerman dealer for Orion Optics telescopes and accessories.
- L'Astronome (France)regionalFrench astronomy equipment retailer located in Lorient.
- Optique Unterlinden (France)regionalFrench optical products dealer in Colmar.
- K C Astro (China)regionalChinese dealer located in Zhejiang Province.
- Beijing Skyline Technology (China)regionalChinese dealer also operating Sky Explorers Telescopes brand.
- Astra Nova Lab Srl (Italy)regionalItalian dealer located in Bologna.
- Televue Japan (Japan)regionalJapanese dealer for Orion Optics products.
- Tanaka Koukagaku Kougyou K.K. (Japan)regionalJapanese optical products company.
- Sightron (Japan)regionalJapanese optical dealer.
- Robtics (Netherlands)regionalDutch astronomical instruments and accessories dealer.
- Astromarket.pl (Poland)regionalPolish online astronomy equipment retailer.
- Sky39 Optics (South Korea)regionalSouth Korean dealer for astronomy equipment.
- SL LAB INC (South Korea)regionalSouth Korean astronomy technology company.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Orion Optics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Astro-Physics: US-based premium refractor and mount maker with strong reputation among astrophotographers and visual observers. Comparable in bespoke craftsmanship, premium pricing, and customer overlap with high-end Orion Optics buyers.
- Takahashi: Japanese premium telescope and astrograph manufacturer known for high-end apochromatic refractors and FSQ astrographs. Closely comparable to Orion Optics in premium positioning, hand-crafted optics, and serious amateur/astrophotography customer base.
- Stellarvue: US-based premium apochromatic refractor and astrograph maker serving serious amateur astronomers and imagers. Directly comparable to Orion Optics' premium, hand-finished positioning and astrograph focus.
- Vixen Optics: Japanese telescope and mount manufacturer with broad amateur astronomy portfolio including refractors, Newtonian/SCT, and mounts. Comparable breadth of product lines and international dealer coverage to Orion Optics.
- Officina Stellare: Italian manufacturer of premium astrographs, Ritchey-Chrétien and corrected Dall-Kirkham telescopes for astrophotography and research. Comparable premium astrograph positioning and precision optical manufacturing to Orion Optics' ODK and AG series.
- PlaneWave Instruments: US manufacturer of observatory-class CDK (Corrected Dall-Kirkham) telescopes, mounts, and observatory systems. Directly comparable to Orion Optics' ODK Optimised Dall-Kirkham line in corrected astrograph technology.
- Explore Scientific: US/global telescope and eyepiece maker serving amateur astronomers with a portfolio spanning refractors, Newtonians, and Dobsonians. Comparable mid-to-premium tier product overlap with Orion Optics' VX, IDEAL, and AG lines.
- TeleVue Optics: US premium eyepiece and small-aperture apochromatic refractor manufacturer serving the same high-end amateur astronomer segment as Orion Optics with a similar premium, craftsmanship-led brand.
Broad incumbents
- Sky-Watcher (Synta): Global mass-market telescope and mount brand of Synta, with broad dealer distribution across the same 20+ countries Orion Optics reaches. Provides aggressive price competition especially at Orion's entry-level VX and IDEAL ranges.
- Celestron: Largest mass-market amateur astronomy equipment maker, offering telescopes, mounts, and accessories across entry-level to advanced segments. Sets competitive pricing pressure on Orion Optics across multiple product tiers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Orion Optics social profiles
Digital presenceOrion Optics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Orion Optics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Orion Optics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Orion Optics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Orion Optics
What does Orion Optics do?
Orion Optics UK manufactures high-performance telescopes and precision optical components made to order at their Staffordshire facility. The portfolio includes AG Newtonian Astrographs, ODK Optimised Dall Kirkhams, CT Ultra Newtonians, IDEAL Newtonians, VX Dobsonian reflectors, and OMC Maksutov Cassegrain telescopes, plus standalone telescope mirrors, elliptical flats, CNC-machined accessories, and optical coating/recoating services. All optics are hand-finished and Zygo-tested.
Is Orion Optics a public or private company?
Orion Optics is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Orion Optics founded?
Orion Optics was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Orion Optics based?
Orion Optics is headquartered in Newcastle Under Lyme, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Orion Optics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Telescope Sales are the primary driver. The others are optical Components, accessories and Components and servicing and Mirror Recoating.
Who are Orion Optics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Astro-Physics, Takahashi, Stellarvue, Vixen Optics, Officina Stellare, PlaneWave Instruments, Explore Scientific and TeleVue Optics. Broad incumbents are Sky-Watcher (Synta) and Celestron.
Does Orion Optics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Orion Optics.