- LARGE APERTURE: Get a bright, bold viewing experience at a fraction of the cost of other optical designs..
- INNOVATIVE COLLAPSIBLE DESIGN: Unique strut design allows for optical tube to collapse for ease of portability while keeping collimation.
- PROPRIETARY TENSION CONTROL HANDLES: These patented handles allow for accurate movement without the need for perfect balance..
- 94% REFLECTIVE MIRRORS: Fully multi-coated borosilicate primary and secondary mirrors deliver exceptional views..
- TEFLON BEARINGS: Proprietary Teflon bearings ensure smooth azimuth movement..
- COMES COMPLETE: All accessories such as, 2-inch Crayford-style focuser with 1 1/4-inch adapter, two super wide-angle eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), and 8x50 right-angle finder are included with purchase..
- STURDY AND LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN: When fully assembled, the Dobsonian weighs only 40 pounds fully assembled (33 pound tube, 26.5 pound base).
For years, Dobsonian teles have provided astronomers with
the most bang for their buck using a large aperture and simple
design. Viewing with a large aperture can provide a stellar
experience, however the size of large reflector teles can
pose problems for users looking to either store or transport
their tele from one location to another. The Sky-Watcher
Collapsible Dobsonian solves this problem with a unique
collapsible design using three retractable steel struts, allowing
for easy storage and transit. Transport Anywhere, Anytime
Dobsonians are known for giving users a large aperture reflecting
tele at a low price, however they often lack portability.
Sky-Watcher has innovated this classic tele design by
integrating a collapsible tube system, addressing users’
portability concerns. Sky-Watcher Collapsible Dobsonians feature
a strut system carefully designed to ease setup time in the field
while delivering consistent optical performance. Each strut has
preset indentations which place the optics in the same position
time after time, maintaining collimation. Unlike Dobsonians using
a truss-tube system, Sky-Watcher’s Collapsible Dobsonian does not
need to be disassembled. The strut system is comprised of three
1” steel poles, joining the bottom and top portion of the optical
tube. When extended, three chrome locking screws hold the
instrument in place. Unlike truss tube Dobsonians, Sky-Watcher’s
Collapsible Dobsonian holds collimation extremely well, forgoing
the need to collimate each time it’s used. The retracting design
can shorten the optical tube up to 36%, making storage and
transit much easier. Borosilicate? Gesundheit! At the heart of
any Sky-Watcher tele are observatory-grade optical
components. The Collapsible Dobsonian is no exception, using
components that yield exceptional contrast, 94% reflectivity and
minimal vignetting. Mirrors are constructed with borosilicate
glass, then coated with quartz, titanium and silicon dioxide to
ensure an unparalleled viewing experience. Combining these superb
optics with a large Dobsonian aperture helps ensure you’ll have
bright, bold views of faint deep sky objects. To ensure
Sky-Watcher Dobsonians remain easy to use, all Collapsible
Dobsonians include a base that is so smooth, it can be
rotated with the push of a finger. 8” and 10” models come
complete with Teflon bearings, while the larger 12”, 14” and 16”
models use steel needle bearings to ensure smooth and easy
movement. Upgraded Pro Models Sky-Watcher’s 14” and 16”
Collapsible Dobsonian Pro models offer a few additional upgrades.
Pro models also use a conical parabolic mirror to help reduce the
weight of the primary and for faster cool-down time.
Additionally, a 10:1 dual-speed Crayford-style focuser offers
users a more precise method for focusing and needle bearings
produce smoother, quieter movement. Pro models also include
Sky-Watcher’s premiere collapsible which uses an
easy-breakdown base for enhanced portability. Normally, these
larger aperture s would be extremely difficult to transport
but with Sky-Watcher’s innovative design these teles can be
used anywhere. Accessories and More At Sky-Watcher, we want you
to feel confident in your purchase, knowing that your tele
will come with all required accessories to start using your
tele. All Sky-Watcher Dobsonian teles include a 2”
Crayford focuser and a 1.25” adapter, allowing you to utilize
both 2” and 1.25” eyepieces. Also included, are two 1.25”
eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), a 8x50 finder and eyepiece tray.