Collapsible Dobson
Showing 21–21 of 21 resultsSorted by popularity
Showing 21–21 of 21 resultsSorted by popularity
Collapsible Dobsonian: large mirror, small trunk
A collapsible Dobsonian solves the biggest drawback of the Dobsonian: the length of the tube. With Sky-Watcher's FlexTube series, the upper tube slides down over three rods. With truss models from Explore Scientific, Omegon, and GSO, you take the tube apart into a mirror box and an upper ring. This gives you 200 to 400 mm of aperture in a size that fits in the trunk of a car.
FlexTube or truss?
- FlexTube (Sky-Watcher Heritage and Skyliner): retracts in seconds, no loose parts, collimation is usually retained. Available from 130 mm to 400 mm, also with SynScan GoTo.
- Truss (Explore Scientific Ultra Light, Omegon ProDob Truss, GSO): lighter per millimeter of aperture and more compact when stowed. Assembly takes five to ten minutes and you collimate every evening. For the largest apertures, truss is the only practical option.
Our recommendations by format
- Sky-Watcher Heritage-150P FlexTube150 mm table model that collapses to backpack size. Our bestseller in this segment.
- Sky-Watcher Skyliner-200P FlexTube: 200 mm on a full-size floor mount. The size at which most galaxies and nebulae first show structure.
- Sky-Watcher Skyliner-250P FlexTube254 mm, the jump to globular clusters that resolve into loose stars.
- Explore Scientific 305/1525 Ultra Light Gen II305 mm truss of around 25 kg total. For those who regularly drive to a dark location.
For 300 to 400 mm with automatic control you are looking at the Skyliner-300P FlexTube SynScan and the other models in GoTo Dobson.
What you keep in mind
An open tube catches stray light and dew. A light shield (included with FlexTube or available separately) and a dew heater for the secondary mirror are far from a luxury on humid Dutch and Belgian nights. An laser collimator is for every collapsible Dobson the first accessory you buy with it. From an 200 mm aperture onwards, we recommend a 2-inch moon filter.
Learn more about the differences between Dobson telescope types? Read the buying guide on the main category Dobson telescopes.