Sky-Watcher Mercury-707: more lens, same simplicity
The Sky-Watcher Mercury-707 is a 70/700 mm (f/10) achromatic refractor on an AZ-2 altazimuth mount. The 70 mm lens collects about 100 times more light than the naked eye, and the slow f/10 design keeps the image stable and color-pure. The logical step up from the 60 mm entry-level model.
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.
Start worry-free
A refractor requires nothing: no significant cool-down time, no mirror alignment, no maintenance. Set it up, point it, and observe. For anyone who wants to explore the moon and planets primarily during their first year, this is the most relaxed route.
This is how to get the most out of this telescope
- Start with the lowest power eyepiece (the largest number): first find, then enlarge.
- Magnification: the 10 mm eyepiece gives 70x; a 6 mm eyepiece (117x) is the useful upper limit for 70 mm.
- 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 the beginner who wants a little more light than the entry-level model, without adding complexity.
Not anyone who already knows the hobby will become serious had better start one size larger right away: for deep-sky ambitions, a 100 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.
- A 6mm planetary eyepiece: the Sky-Watcher 6mm Planetary UWA Eyepiece gives 117x for more detail on the moon and planets. If you want to go a step higher, there is also the 5 mm version (140x).
- Smartphone adapter: clip your phone onto the eyepiece for your first moon photos. The Sky-Watcher SmartPhoto+ adapter comes with a special 20 mm photo eyepiece.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Optical design | Achromatic refractor |
| Opening | 70 mm |
| Focal length | 700 mm (f/10) |
| Mount | AZ-2 (azimuthal) on tripod |
| Light output | Approximately 100 times more than the naked eye |
| Maximum useful magnification | Around 140x |
Included in the box
- Sky-Watcher Mercury-707 optical tube
- AZ-2 mount with tripod
- Included eyepieces and finder scope
- Free: Stargazer's Handbook by Telescoop.nl (16 pages, Dutch language)
Free Stargazers' Handbook
Every Sky-Watcher telescope from Telescoop.nl comes with our own Stargazer’s Handbook in the box. It’s a 16-page booklet that helps you get started on your first few nights: how to align the finder scope, what magnification to start with, why the image sometimes wobbles, and when a telescope does or doesn’t need to be collimated. It’s not a thick book—just the essentials you really need when you’re starting out.
Honest advice from observers
We sell and use the Sky-Watcher line ourselves. In our Sky-Watcher brand guide We'll explain which series are strong and which you'd rather skip. View the full range on our Sky-Watcher brand page. Order before 11:59 PM for fast delivery, in the Netherlands and Belgium.
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