Dobson telescopes

Buying a Dobson telescope: the most mirror for your money

A Dobson is a Newtonian reflector telescope on a simple, sturdy wooden or metal base. No complicated mount, no electronics needed: you push the tube toward the object and look. Because the money is in the mirror and rather than the mount, you see more with a Dobson than with an equally expensive telescope on a tripod. This is the type that most stargazers in the Netherlands and Belgium start with and most stick with.

Choose for opening

76 to 150 mm, benchtop model. The Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P and Heritage 150P are our best-selling Dobsons. They sit on a table or garden chair, fit in a closet, and show the moon, Saturn, Jupiter, and bright nebulae. If you are hesitating between the two, read Heritage 130P vs 150P or our Heritage 130P review. All tabletop Dobsonians.

200 mm (8 inch), the standard. The Sky-Watcher Skyliner 200P Classic is the telescope found at every stargazing night. Plenty of aperture for galaxies and globular clusters, still manageable to lift by one person. Comparison with the main alternative: Skyliner 200P vs Omegon Advanced X 203.

250 to 400 mm. For those who have a dark sky and a car to transport the telescope. From 10 inches and up, we recommend a FlexTube (collapsible) and a cart or bag. All collapsible Dobsons.

Manual, push-to, or GoTo

A classic Dobson operate by hand; you get to know the sky. A GoTo Dobson such as the Heritage 150P Virtuoso GTi finds and follows objects via your phone and is the choice if you have little time or are watching with children. Push-to caught in the middle: the app points, you push.

What you look out for

• Realistic magnification: 2 times the aperture in mm. A 200 mm Dobson therefore does up to 400 times, in practice 150 to 250 times through the atmosphere.
• Collimation: A Newtonian telescope needs to be collimated from time to time. A laser collimator is the first accessory you buy. See accessories for your Heritage 130P and 150P.
• Cooling down: put the telescope outside for half an hour before viewing at high magnification.
• Shipping: Dobsons from 8 inches and up are shipped in two boxes. We ship them insured throughout Europe.

Why Choose Telescoop.nl

We have Sky-Watcher, Omegon, and Bresser Dobsons side by side and honestly advise which aperture suits your sky and your back. In Burgum, you can see the Heritage and the Skyliner side by side. Belgian customers pay with Bancontact; see buy telescope in Belgium.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Dobson suitable for astrophotography? For the moon and planets with a phone or planetary camera yes. For long exposures of nebulae not; for that you choose a smart telescope or a telescope on an equatorial mount.

Which Dobson for a beginner? Heritage 130P or 150P if budget and space are limited, Skyliner 200P if you want to get it right from the start. See the Beginner's Guide.