This is the most complete 8-inch Dobsonian that Sky-Watcher makes. The Deluxe Edition combines the retractable FlexTube tube with borosilicate mirrors and a dual-speed focuser, and throws in a generous set of accessories on top. For those who want to get it right the first time and do not want to buy a better focuser or finderscope within a year.
The FlexTube design is the most convenient feature of this telescope: you extend the tube in seconds over three sturdy rods, without assembly and without losing collimation. Retracted, it is compact enough to stand upright in a closet or trunk, and the tube can be detached from the base for transport.
The mirrors are made of borosilicate glass (similar to Pyrex), which expands very little in response to temperature changes. As a result, the telescope reaches operating temperature more quickly, and the primary mirror retains its shape better as it cools, so you’ll get a sharp image sooner. The parabolic optics feature Sky-Watchers’ RAQ coating with 94% reflectivity, and the secondary mirror is mounted on extra-thin 0.5 mm vanes to minimize diffraction spikes.
What sets this Deluxe model apart from the Enhanced Standard Edition is the 2-inch dual-speed Crayford focuser with 10:1 fine adjustment. When observing planets or binary stars at high magnifications, this makes focusing much more comfortable: with the fine-tuning knob, you can achieve razor-sharp focus without the image shaking. Otherwise, the equipment is the same: a 9×50 diagonal finder (90 degrees, upright image, more comfortable than the standard straight finder), two 70-degree wide-angle eyepieces (12.5 mm and 20 mm), a 1.25-inch adapter with a brass clamping ring, and a universal smartphone adapter.
With a 203 mm aperture and f/5.9, this is a telescope that will last you for years: plenty of detail on the moon and planets, and enough light output for star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies. You find objects yourself using a star chart; the Dobson mount turns smoothly and the tension knobs keep the tube in balance, even with heavy eyepieces.
Specifications
- Opening: 203 mm (8 inch)
- Focal length: 1200 mm (f/5.9)
- Primary mirror and secondary mirror: parabolic, borosilicate glass (low-expansion)
- Coating: RAQ (Radiant Aluminum Quartz), 94% reflectivity
- Secondary mirror: 47 mm (minor axis), 0.5 mm vanes
- Focuser: 2-inch dual-speed Crayford with 10:1 fine adjustment, with 1.25-inch adapter and brass compression ring
- Finder: 9x50 right-angle finder (90 degrees), erect image, with crosshairs
- Eyepieces: 12.5 mm and 20 mm, 70-degree field of view (60x and 96x)
- Maximum useful magnification: 400x
- Tube length: 1115 mm extended, 835 mm retracted
- Weight: tube approx. 11 kg, mount approx. 12.1 kg
- Base diameter: 520 mm
- Includes universal smartphone adapter (for phones 54-90 mm wide)
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