Orion SkyQuest XT8g Computerized GoTo Dobsonian Telescope
by Orion
Our Price: $999.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Digital Camera
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Customers in the UK,
buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: OrionProduct features:
- Innovative GoTo Dobsonian reflector telescope with fully motorized object location and automatic tracking of over 42,000 celestial wonders!
- 8" aperture reflector optics reveal detailed views of the planets and Moon, as well as deep-sky objects such as nebulas, galaxies, and sparkling star clusters
- All GoTo motors, gears, and encoders come pre-installed on the Dobsonian base boards so assembly is quick and easy
- Requires 12V power supply (sold separately) for motorized operation
- Includes 2" dual-speed (11:1) Crayford focuser, 28mm 2" DeepView eyepiece, 12.5mm 1.25" illuminated crosshair Plossl eyepiece, EZ Finder II reflex sight, eyepiece rack, collimation cap, Starry Night software, and more!
- Orion AC-to-DC Power Adapter
- Orion Dynamo Pro 12 Ah Rechargeable 12V DC Power Station
- 1.25" Orion 13% Transmission Moon Filter
- Orion LaserMate Pro Laser Collimation Kit
- Orion LensPen Mini Pro Cleaning Tool
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Orion SkyQuest XT8g Computerized GoTo Dobsonian Telescope
Customer Review: Great telescope for the serious amatuer - great value for the price.
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are serious about exploring the sky at night, you will love this telescope.
I had previously purchased a simple reflector at a local warehouse store and was not satisfied with the quality of the optics or the construction of the scope and mount. I returned it and did a lot of research before ordering this one.
You should be aware of a few things if this is your first telescope.
It is NOT small. Pay attention to the size comparison chart. It is fairly portable, but without two people it will take you some time and a few trips to set it up. It weighs just over 50 lbs when assembled. but you can remove the tube and carry the base out first. The tube can be easily removed and replaced from the base since it slips into the base with a dovetail fitting and screws down. The base is sturdy and the motor drives add to the experience. You can get the basic Orion Dobsonian 8Tg for about half the price of this one, but the drives make this a class act. The database really helps you navigate the night sky. The handset display is easy to see in the dark and the controls are well thought out.
The unit is powered by an automotive type cig-lighter 12 volt plug. Do yourself a favor and get a 12 volt power supply and small table to work on when you are out there. This unit will synch with a laptop and it helps if you have a sturdy work surface to place the laptop and any accessories you may need.
This is NOT a kids toy. You MUST do the two star Alignment so that the "Go-To" feature works well. It takes some practice to get used to it. Get the moon filter(s) so that you don't mess up your night vision. A "Barlow" will be your next purchase.
Colliminate it before you the telescope for the first time. Even though it is well packaged, shipping can shake things out of alignment and the outer box will have a few dings and dents. This is especially true for the box that the disassembled base comes in. It is the heavier of the two boxes that this unit comes in. Sometimes the padding is just not enough. We had a minor problem with the shipping and the motor side of the Dobsonian base arrived with a small crack. I called Orion and they shipped out a replacement part to swap the broken one. The return was prepaid and replacing it was easy. The Orion folks were very helpful.
This is a great unit and it opens up the night sky like never before.
Description of Orion SkyQuest XT8g Computerized GoTo Dobsonian Telescope
Orion Dobsonians have always been known for superb optical and mechanical quality, wonderful ease of use, and remarkably affordable prices. One other thing they - and almost all other Dobs on the market - have had in common: you pushed the telescope to your observing target by hand. Until now. Orion is pleased to herald another giant leap in Dobsonian evolution with the introduction of the SkyQuest XTg series of fully motorized GoTo Dobsonians. Now, pointing a Dob to even the most elusive of NGC curiosities is as easy as pushing a button or two on the XTg Dobsonians' illuminated hand controller. High-torque servo motors guided by two pairs of high-resolution encoders then slew the telescope right to your object of interest - any of over 42,000 objects in the GoTo controller's database. No more nudging the telescope tube continuously to keep the object from drifting out of the field of view, either. The XTg automatically tracks the object's motion, keeping it centered in the eyepiece while you savor the view. What's more, the closed-loop electronics of the XTg let you move the telescope manually - or endure the accidental bump - without losing orientation for accurate, automated GoTo pointing!Reflectors
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