Tabletop Dobson

Tabletop Dobsonian: a large mirror on a small base

A tabletop Dobsonian is a Newtonian reflector telescope on a compact swivel base that you place on a table, garden bench, or sturdy crate. No tripod, no counterweights, no electronics. You aim by hand and look. For most beginners, this is the best entry-level model available, and it is also the category from which two of our best-selling telescopes come: the Sky-Watcher Heritage-130P FlexTube and the Heritage-150P FlexTube.

What to look for in a tabletop Dobsonian telescope

• Opening. The mirror diameter determines what you see. 76 mm shows the moon and bright planets. 100 to 114 mm brings Saturn's rings and bright nebulae into view. 130 to 150 mm shows galaxies and globular clusters from a dark location.
• Focal length. Tabletop models are short (f/4 to f/5). This provides a wide field of view, but requires good collimation and reasonably high-quality eyepieces at high magnifications.
• Collapsible or closed tube. The FlexTube models from Sky-Watcher collapse to about half of their length. Convenient for the closet or the car. A closed tube keeps stray light and dew out better.
• Subsoil. A tabletop model needs a stable, low surface. A garden table will do, a wobbly camping table will not.

Our three recommendations

• Sky-Watcher Heritage-130P FlexTube130 mm parabolic mirror, collapsible tube, just over 6 kg. This is the telescope we most often recommend to beginners.
• Sky-Watcher Heritage-150P FlexTube: 150 mm aperture in a base that's almost the same size. Over 30% more light output than the 130P, yet still portable enough to hold with one hand.
• Sky-Watcher Heritage-100P100 mm, closed tube, the smallest one we still consider serious for planets. Also a good choice as a second telescope for on the go.

If you want the telescope to find objects by itself, take a look at the Heritage-150P Virtuoso GTi in the category GoTo Dobson.

For whom yes and for whom no

Good for: beginners who want to observe visually, families, anyone with little storage space or a balcony. Not for: those who want to take pictures with a camera on the telescope (look at smart telescopes or astrophotography), and who wants to watch from a lawn without a table.

Useful accessories

A laser collimator keep the mirrors aligned, a moon filter dims the bright moonlight and a 6 mm eyepiece gets the maximum useful magnification out of a 130 or 150 mm mirror. If you are in doubt between models, use our telescope selection aid. We ship all table models throughout Europe; Belgian customers can pay with Bancontact.