The Sky Watcher 10" Dobsonian is an instrument that will provide a lifetime of continued exploration of the cosmos. This telescope will hit the sweet-spot for many amateurs, providing all the capability and value you are seeking in a large aperture telescope. Sky-Watcher's revolutionary truss-support concept allows the optical tube's front and back cells to collapse together, aligning on the truss support rods which can then be locked down for easy and secure telescope transport. This one piece, low-hassle OTA design is mechanically simple and results in a large aperture telescope that can be reasonably handled and transported by one individual. This innovation gives Sky-Watcher users tremendous functional ease-of-transportability.
In viewing deep-space, aperture mattersĀ - big time! With this telescope you have tremendous light gathering power. Prominent deep-space objects seen well in the 10" Sky-Watcher Dobsonian, such as diffuse emission nebulae in the summer sky like the Lagoon (M8), Trifid (M20), and Swan (M17); the stunning globular star clusters M13 and M92 in Constellation Hercules; the awesome winter sky's Great Orion Nebula (M42) in Constellation Orion, and our enormous local galaxy group companion the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) in Constellation Andromeda, to name a very few, will appear more spectacular, brilliant, and wider in extension in a Sky-Watcher 10" DOB.
Many challenging objects for an 8" aperture now come into their own with the SW 10" DOB: the planetary nebula the Crab (M1), a supernova remnant, requires a 10" aperture to truly begin to appreciate the several subtle, gaseous filamentary structures. M33 the spiral galaxy in Constellation Triangulum exhibits significantly more open arm structure. The Rosette Nebula in Monoceros begins to show the discernable pattern of a blooming rose. M51, the fascinating spiral Whirlpool Galaxy, displays remarkable greater structural detail in a 10" aperture vs. 8" diameter size telescope.
There is no question the incremental resolving power of a 10-inch aperture is visually impressive when compared to an 8-inch. Therefore, it is no wonder then that the 10" aperture is overtaking the 8" as the serious amateur astronomer's aperture of choice in a Dobsonian telescope. Sky-Watcher's compact, collapsible optical tube design makes the decision to step up in aperture to a 10" even easier.
Sky-Watcher Dobsonians Epitomize Ease-of-Use
Observing with a Dobsonian has been described akin to shooting ducks in a barrel because it is so easy to find your target. Just swing your Sky-Watcher Dobsonian to the quadrant of sky to be searched, and scan the vicinity. The included 8 x 50mm right angle optical viewfinder provides both magnification and light-gathering to help narrow your search. The standard-equipment backlash-free 2" Crayford Focuser insures ultra smooth focusing adjustments, and the multi-coated, 4-element Plossl eyepieces (25mm and 10mm) provide a spacious 52 degree Apparent Field of View.
To ensure mechanical ease-of-use, Sky-Watcher USA uses a high-performance Teflon bearing system in both axes, combined with tension adjustment in altitude to facilitate setting the appropriate amount of friction, assuring smooth vertical and horizontal manual movement without free-play from small bumps or gusts of wind. This also eliminates the need to have a balanced optical tube as in an equatorial mount. Sky-Watcher's Teflon bearing system is preferable to the use of ball-bearings. Ball-bearings make unintended movement of the optical tube more difficult to control. Fortunately, at low power, deep-space objects leisurely drift through the field of the Sky-Watcher 10" Dob, so constant mechanical adjustment of the telescope's orientation isn't needed to keep objects in the field of view.
Sky-Watcher's revolutionary truss-support concept allows the optical tube's front and back cells to collapse together, aligning on the truss support rods which can then be locked down for easy and secure telescope transport. This one piece, low-hassle OTA design is mechanically simple and results in large aperture telescopes that can be reasonably handled and transported by one individual. This innovation gives Sky-Watcher users tremendous functional ease-of-transportability.
The Sky-Watcher Dobsonian Telescope Uses Quality Components Throughout
The Sky-Watcher 10" Dobsonian utilizes quality components throughout. Pride of workmanship manifests itself in high quality standards of optical and mechanical fabrication. The polishing process for primary and diagonal mirror yields smooth mirror surfaces ensuring good contrast, and properly corrected optics show minimum alterations to the optical wave-front.
Aluminum is vacuum-deposited to the front glass surface on each primary mirror and elliptical diagonal mirror and then over-coated with hard quartz (SiO4). Additional layers of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) and (SiO4) are then applied. Dust covers help keep your telescope clean when not in use.
The mechanical and structural components of the OTA exhibit rigid construction and outstanding stability. The mount construction is sturdy and rigid. Mount design, while simple, facilitates smooth motions about both axes. Quality accessories enhance the observer's viewing experience.
