More about the series Skyliner Classic...
Dobsonian telescopes are among the most practical instruments in astronomy. They are of simple construction and yet a brilliant idea. They essentially consist of two parts: firstly the optics, which in most cases is a solid tube or truss tube design; and secondly the mount, a wooden box (also called a 'rocker box') which sits on the ground and into which the telescope is inserted. This design allows you to begin observing sessions immediately without first having to spend time setting up and aligning a complicated mount. The basic idea of the Dobsonian design came from the wish to have a big telescope at a low price, a wish that has succeeded brilliantly. A true fan base has developed since the invention of the Dobsonian telescope which is dedicated to these instruments and their fascinating simplicity and to the idea of 'high performance at low price'.
The N 254/1200 optics:
This Dobsonian has a diameter of 254 mm (10") and a focal length of 1200 mm. This gives it an aperture ratio of f/4.8. Such optics offer very high light gathering power (1275x). In a reasonably dark sky, you can observe stars down to a magnitude of 14. With an aperture of 254 mm, you can get a lot out of deep sky objects that was not possible with smaller instruments. The secondary mirror struts are very thin and therefore low in diffraction. Due to the diameter of the secondary mirror (58 mm), the obstruction of the optics is 23%.
The 2" focuser is smooth and comes provided with a 1.25" reducer. The finder scope has a fine crosshair, allowing easy location of even the somewhat fainter objects.
The Skywatcher rocker box is very easy to use. The telescope can be pointed in azimuth and altitude easily and smoothly by using only a couple of fingers. The telescope moves on slide and pivot bearings. It remains stable in any position, allowing highly enjoyable observing. And observing still remains a joy even at higher magnifications. The Tension Control System also lets you easily adjust the friction setting and so the amount of resistance when moving the optics on the rocker box. This allows you to always have the appropriate resistance set.
It not only matters which telescope you buy but also where you buy it. Our additional services:
- We are a leading telescope dealer and know the devices we sell. Our customer service team will gladly help you after your purchase if you have problems with assembly or operation.
- We provide a copy of the 80-page Telescope ABC beginners handbook with every telescope.
Our expert comment:
Dobsonian telescopes offer a lot of telescope for the money. They are often purchased by beginners due to their simple design and ease of use. Tracking is done manually.
These instruments are primarily designed for visual observing. Their relatively large apertures mean you can resolve globular clusters and also see some structure in nebulae. Photography of the Moon and Sun are also possible with the appropriate accessories. Photography of other celestial objects requires a mount with tracking capabilities. This mount can be retrofitted later.
To be able to get the most out of the instrument, we recommend purchasing at least 2 more eyepieces with 5mm and 14.5mm focal lengths as well as a Barlow lens.
Another very useful addition is a UHC-Filter. The telescope also has a 2" Crayford focuser, which runs on ball-bearings and is backlash-free. This is optimal for very accurate, shift-free focusing.
(Marcus Schenk)
