Sky-Watcher BK1206 AZ Pronto 120/600 telescope

Sky-Watcher BK1206 AZ Pronto – an achromatic refractor telescope with a 120 mm objective diameter and 600 mm focal length. This design offers a wide field of view, making it ideal for observing large open clusters, vast nebulae, and extensive sections of the Milky Way.

With its lightweight structure and compact size, this telescope is portable and convenient for storage. It's a great choice for beginners, providing a generous field of view that simplifies locating celestial objects.

Included Components
The kit includes a Star Pointer finder and a dovetail clamp system for secure mounting. Perfect for lunar, solar (with a proper filter), and planetary observations, this telescope excels at viewing wide star fields, entire Milky Way sections, and even comet tails. For variable star observations, it’s highly effective using the visual method. Short-focus eyepieces enable lunar surface observations, while basic planetary viewing is possible—though Maksutov-type or longer focal length refractors are recommended for more detailed planet studies. Its design also makes it useful for terrestrial observations.

Optical System
This model features a classic two-element achromatic refractor system, offering excellent image brightness. With about 290 times the light-gathering power of the human eye, it enables viewing of objects up to nearly 12.5 magnitudes (naked eye limit is 6 magnitudes). Its 120 mm aperture allows for an optical resolution capable of distinguishing stars 1.2" apart.

Mounting
The Sky-Watcher AZ PRONTO features a lightweight, portable altazimuth mount constructed from aluminum, supporting telescopes up to 3 kg. It includes micro-motion controls on both axes and telescopic tripod legs adjustable to various heights with secure locking. This mount allows for smooth vertical and horizontal adjustments and can also be manually rotated, enabling effortless tracking of moving celestial objects.

Eyepiece Extension
Equipped with a 2" eyepiece extension tube and a 1.25" reducer, the telescope includes a 1.25" 45-degree prism diagonal. It accommodates standard 1.25" accessories, and with an additional 2" diagonal attachment, it can use 2" eyepieces for enhanced image quality. The rack and pinion extension is compatible with electronic Sky-Watcher focusers.

Astronomical Observations

• Solar System – To reduce chromatic aberration when observing bright objects, an aperture cap is recommended:

  • Lunar surface features down to 2 km.
  • Sunspots (solar filter required).
  • All planets.
  • Mercury and Venus phases.
  • Mars with visible polar caps and continent outlines during opposition.
  • Jupiter’s equatorial belts and Galilean moons.
  • Saturn’s rings and Titan.
  • Uranus and Neptune as star-like points.
  • Tracking asteroids.
  • Bright comets.

• Stars

  • Approx. 1.1 million stars up to 12.8 magnitude.
  • Double and multiple stars with separations beyond 1.2".
  • Star colors.

• Nebulae and Deep Sky Objects

  • Most Messier catalog objects.
  • Hundreds of globular and open clusters.
  • Bright nebulae with structural details.
  • Bright galaxies with visible spiral arms in dark skies.

• Terrestrial Observations

  • Ideal for ground viewing with a prism diagonal, turning it into a high-quality spotting scope. Suitable for nature photography with given focal length adjustments.

Equipment

• Diagonal prism 1.25" 45°
• Finder: Star Pointer
• Smartphone adapter
• Eyepieces: 1.25" - Photo 20, Photo 10

Technical Specifications

• Catalog Number: SW-2110
• Optical System: Refractor
• Mount Type: Azimuth
• Aperture: 120 mm
• Focal Length: 600 mm
• Focal Ratio: f/5.0
• Limiting Magnitude: 14.1
• Max Magnification: 240x
• Resolving Power: 1.17"
• Light Gathering Power: 294x
• Tube Weight: 4.1 kg
• Tube Length: 640 mm
• Stand Material: Aluminum
• Manual Control: Yes
• Eyepiece Type: Rack and Pinion
• Focuser Diameter: 2"
• Focuser Micro Adjustments: No
• Mounting Rail: Vixen
• Warranty: 60 months