Sky-Watcher Capricorn-70 EQ1

Sky-Watcher Capricorn-70 EQ1: The Classic Learner Telescope

The Sky-Watcher Capricorn-70 EQ1 is a 70/900mm (f/12.9) achromatic refractor on an EQ1 equatorial mount: the telescope with which generations learned to stargaze. The very long focal length provides a steady, color-pure image, and the mount teaches you to track with a single knob. Includes Barlow lens.

What do you see through this telescope?

The moon is the main stage: craters, mountain ranges, and the play of shadow along the terminator are different every night. Jupiter shows its four large moons, Saturn reveals its rings, and Venus its phases. Bright star clusters like the Pleiades round out the program. Don't expect faint nebulae: those require more aperture, and that's appropriate for this price point.

Slow glass, calm image

At f/12.9, chromatic aberrations are virtually nonexistent, and simple eyepieces perform at their best: the Moon appears sharp and high-contrast, and bright planets reveal their finest details without any distortion. Once you’ve mastered the equatorial principle, you’ll be able to handle any larger mount later on.

This is how to get the most out of this telescope

• Start with the lowest power eyepiece (the largest number): first find, then enlarge.
• Align the mount roughly with Polaris: then you follow with one fine-tuning knob.
• Magnification: the 10mm eyepiece gives 90x; with the barlow on the 25mm eyepiece (72x) the image remains the steadiest.
• Never look directly at the sun without protection., not even for a moment: only with a certified solar filter on the front.

For whom yes and for whom no

Hello For the beginner who wants to start classically and with true color and learn to track the equatorial.

Not For those who already know the hobby will become serious, it's better to start one size bigger right away: for deep-sky ambitions, a 114 to 130 mm mirror offers much more. Our Telescope Buying Guide for Beginners and the PLP with telescopes for children Help with the choice.

Featured accessories

These accessories add the most after purchase:

• Moon Filter 25%: the Omegon Moon Filter 25% (1.25 inches) dampens the bright moonlight and increases the contrast. More explanation in our Moon filter guide.
• Smartphone adapter: Align your phone with the eyepiece for your first moon photos. The Sky-Watcher SmartPhoto+ adapter comes with a special 20 mm photo eyepiece.

Technical specifications

Included in the box

• Sky-Watcher Capricorn-70 Optical Tube
• EQ1 Mount with Counterweight and Tripod
• Included eyepieces, Barlow lens, and finderscope (see specifications)

Honest advice from observers

We sell and use the Sky-Watcher line ourselves. In our Sky-Watcher merk Guide We'll explain which series are strong and which you'd rather skip. View the full range on our Sky-Watcher merk Page. Order before 11:59 PM for fast delivery, in the Netherlands and Belgium.