Skywatcher Dobson 8" Pyrex Flex Tube telescope

A large-aperture telescope, built in the Newton system and mounted on a Dobson mount, equipped with a 200 mm mirror. A perfect choice for both beginners and more advanced astronomy enthusiasts. The 203 mm aperture and moderate focal ratio allow for detailed observation of the Solar System planets as well as hundreds of deep-sky objects like star clusters and galaxies.

The optical system is based on the traditional Newton design. The primary mirror, parabolic in shape, has a diameter of 200 mm and a focal length of 1200 mm. The f/6 focal ratio reduces coma effects at the image edges, which is a significant advantage in this type of telescope. The limited coma and moderate secondary obstruction provide clear images, making 8-inch Dobsons great for observing both nebulae and planets. Sky-Watcher Dobson 8" models and larger ones come standard with a pyrex mirror with low thermal expansion.

Thanks to its telescopic design, the telescope can be collapsed for storage. Assembly and disassembly are tool-free thanks to the extending tube elements, eliminating the need to break the telescope into separate parts. Ready to observe in just seconds, and the precise mechanism ensures no re-collimation is needed after setup.

The design is based on an azimuthal Dobson mount, providing stability and intuitive handling. The telescope rotates around the azimuth and altitude axes, with the entire mount freely rotating on the base. The fork mount on both sides of the tube ensures solid support.

The model is equipped with a 2" focuser with a reduction to 1.25". It is a precise Crayford focuser that operates smoothly and without play. The set includes two extensions: one for 2" and a reduction to 1.25". Each should be used separately. The focuser is compatible with Sky-Watcher autofocusers.

Observational Capabilities:

Solar System:

• Observation of objects on the Moon's surface larger than 1 km,
• Clear sunspots and photosphere granulation,
• Observation of all the planets of the Solar System,
• Phases of Mercury and Venus,
• Visible Mars disk during opposition with first surface details,
• Atmospheric bands of Jupiter and Galilean moons,
• Saturn's rings with Cassini's gap and its atmospheric bands and smaller moons,
• Uranus and Neptune visible as blue dots,
• Tracking asteroids against the starry background,
• Observation of many faint comets with visible structures.

Stars:

• Observation of about 2.7 million stars up to magnitude 12.5–13,
• Distinction of double and multiple stars with angular separation over 0.7–0.8",
• Visibility of the color of many stars.

Nebular Objects:

• All objects from the Messier catalog,
• Hundreds of globular clusters, some resolved into individual stars,
• Hundreds of open clusters with diverse structures,
• Tens of nebulae with visible details,
• Tens of galaxies where disk structures are visible,
• Planetary nebulae with visible details after using nebula filters,
• Supernova remnants.

The image quality in large telescopes depends on light pollution, atmospheric conditions (seeing), air quality, and optical collimation precision. To achieve the best results, these factors should be taken into account.

In a limited range, the telescope can also be used for terrestrial observations. A corrector lens is required for natural orientation imaging.

In the set:
- 9x50 finder,
- eyepiece Super PL 10 mm,
- eyepiece Super PL 25 mm,

Technical data
Telescope optics: Newton
Mount type: Dobson 
Eyepiece Extractor: Crayford
Telescope control: manual
Lens diameter: 203 mm
Lens focal length: 1200 mm 
Focal length: 5.9
Focal length of eyepiece 1: 25 mm 
Focal length of eyepiece 2: 10 mm
Highest usable magnification: 305x
Smallest useful magnification: 29x
Magnification with eyepiece 1: 48x
Magnification with eyepiece 2: 120x
Stellar range: 13.8 mag 
Resolution (Dawes): 0.57 angular seconds
Collective capacity (compared to the unaided eye): 841 
Tube length: 1120 mm
Resolution capacity: 0.58" 
Main mirror diameter: 203 mm 
Secondary mirror diameter: 47 mm
Tripod height: 74 cm 
Extractor diameter: 2" with 1.25 "reduction
Manufacturer: Sky-Watcher, Canada