Maksutov OTA

Maksutov OTA: a planetary tube for your existing mount

A Maksutov OTA is the bare tube with a focuser and dovetail, without a mount. You buy it if you already have an AZ-GTi, EQ5, or other mount and want to add a compact planetary scope alongside your refractor or Newtonian. Its weight is low relative to the brand focal length: a Skymax-127 weighs around 3.5 kg at a 1500 mm brand focal length.

Which telescope tube for which mount?

• Skymax-90 OTA and Skymax-102 OTAon any mount from an AZ-GTi or EQ2. Also suitable as a large finder scope or as a travel scope on a photographic tripod.
• Skymax-127 OTA: on an AZ-GTi, EQ3-2 or EQ5. The best-selling standalone Maksutov.
• Skymax-150 PRO OTA and iOptron 150/1800: on an EQ5 or heavier. Around 6 kg, 2-inch focuser.
• Skymax-180 PRO OTA: on an HEQ5 Pro or EQ6-R. 180 mm and 2,700 mm focal length, the largest Maksutov we carry.
• Sky-Watcher Starlux 190MNnot a Maksutov-Cassegrain but a Maksutov-Newton, f/5.3, intended for deep-sky astrophotography with a flat field without coma.

What you keep in mind

A Maksutov needs to cool down: 30 minutes for the 90 and 102, an hour for the 150 and 180. A dew shield is mandatory. The large models (150 PRO and 180 PRO) have a 2-inch focuser and a Losmandy or Vixen dovetail; check which clamp your mount has. Complete sets with mount can be found at GoTo Maksutov and manual Maksutov. You can find the assembly instructions at accessories. Brand pages: Sky-Watcher and iOptron.