Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 EQ3 Pro SynScan – 127/1500 Maksutov-Cassegrain

Sky-Watcher SkyMax-127 EQ3 Pro SynScan: The Portable GoTo Planetarium

The well-known 127/1500 mm Maksutov-Cassegrain (f/11.8) on the computerized EQ3 Pro SynScan mount. The tube is 33 cm long and weighs 3.4 kg, making this the most portable equatorial GoTo set in the Maksutov line: automatic searching and tracking of over 42,900 objects, in a package that simply fits in the car.

What do you see through the SkyMax-127?

Bands of clouds on Jupiter with structure within, the Cassini Division in Saturn's rings, polar ice caps on Mars, and a moon worth a walk at 150x magnification. Double stars and bright, compact deep-sky objects like globular clusters complete the program. With automatic tracking, all of this stays in view.

EQ3 Pro: Equatorial GoTo in a lightweight form

The EQ3 Pro is Sky-Watcher's lightest SynScan GoTo mount, and it's a perfect match for this compact telescope tube. Once aligned with Polaris, the mount tracks precisely, and the hand controller guides you to celestial highlights. It's also suitable as a first step into short lunar and planetary imaging.

This is how to get the most out of this telescope

• Give the thick correcting lens plenty of time to cool down. 45 to 60 minutes with these larger lenses. A Maksutov rewards patience with a silent image.
• Protect against dew The front meniscus lens fogs up faster than a mirror. A dew shield is the most useful first upgrade for this type.
• Align the mount to Polaris: For visual use, roughly north and the correct pole height are sufficient; after that, you can follow objects effortlessly.
• Use a power tank: The SynScan mount runs on 12V and cold nights drain battery capacity.
• Magnification: The 10mm eyepiece gives 150x, the optimum for this optics.
• Plan with the moon: Around the first quarter you see the most detail along the terminator. Our lunar calendar have the best nights in a row.

For whom yes and for whom no

Hello The moon and planet specialist, double star enthusiast, and urban observer: bright targets don't care much about light pollution. Unsure about the type? Our Telescope Buying Guide for Beginners List the considerations.

Not For wide deep-sky fields, the field of view of this long focal length is too narrow. If you want more aperture in the same format, the SkyMax-150 PRO EQ5 SynScan is the next step. Long exposure deep-sky photography is best suited for smart telescopes or a bright Newtonian; moon and planetary shots are precisely a specialty of this optics.

Featured accessories

These accessories add the most after purchase:

• Moon Filter 25%: at this long focal length, the moon is the main course, and bright. The Omegon Moon Filter 25% (1.25 inches) dims the light and increases the contrast. More explanation in our Moon filter guide.
• Smartphone adapter: Maksutov telescopes, with their long focal length, are particularly good for impressive moon photos taken with a phone. The Sky-Watcher SmartPhoto+ adapter comes with a special 20 mm photo eyepiece.
• Carrier bag There is a suitable bag for the EQ3 mount. Check out the carrier bags.

Technical specifications

Included in the box

• Sky-Watcher SkyMax-127 Optical Tube
• EQ3 Pro SynScan GoTo Mount with Hand Controller and Tripod
• 20 mm eyepiece (75x) and 10 mm eyepiece (150x)
• Red dot viewfinder

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 within the Netherlands and Belgium. Unsure about assembly or version? Call or email us; we're happy to help you with these systems.