Sky-Watcher Dobson 12" Flex Tube Go-To telescope (SynScan controller) SW-1322

Sky-Watcher: A Global Leader in Telescope Manufacturing

Sky-Watcher is a world leader in manufacturing telescopes, especially Newtonian models on Dobsonian mounts. The company has long been dedicated to providing the highest quality optics, which is evident in the stunning images and numerous positive reviews from users worldwide. With experience dating back to 1990, Sky-Watcher’s Dobsonians are crafted in a classic, elegant design that combines quality with affordability. Though many brands try to imitate, none match Sky-Watcher's ability to produce telescopes that are both optically superior and accessible.

This large Newtonian telescope features a 305mm (12-inch) primary mirror and a 1500mm focal length. Its substantial optical capabilities make it an excellent choice for beginners and experienced astronomy enthusiasts. The 305mm mirror and high light-gathering power make it ideal for observing planetary details within our Solar System and, under dark skies, for finding hundreds of deep-sky objects like star clusters and galaxies. This aperture reveals numerous details that are often beyond the reach of smaller telescopes.

Go-To System

The telescope is equipped with a Go-To system for automatically locating and tracking thousands of celestial objects. Controlled through two rotational axes on the Dobsonian base and powered by high-precision stepper motors, the Go-To system enhances observation comfort. Users can select objects from a list and adjust the telescope precisely with electronic micro-movements. Dual-axis encoders allow for manual repositioning without losing tracking. Once locked on a new object, the telescope automatically follows its movement.

Power Supply Not Included

Please note that a power adapter or battery must be purchased separately.

Optical System

This telescope utilizes the classic Newtonian design, featuring a parabolic primary mirror with a 305mm (12-inch) diameter and a 1500mm focal length, offering an f/5 focal ratio. These specifications make the telescope manageable in length, allowing for low magnifications suited for observing subtle nebular objects while also supporting high magnifications for detailed planetary and lunar views.

Flex-Tube Collapsible Design

Sky-Watcher’s unique design allows large Dobsonian telescopes to collapse for easy storage, significantly reducing their footprint. This mechanism uses retractable elements in the optical tube, requiring no tools or disassembly. The telescope is ready for observation within seconds, and precision construction ensures that re-collimation is not necessary after setup.

Pyrex Mirror

All Sky-Watcher Dobsonians 8" and larger come standard with a Pyrex mirror, a low-expansion thermal glass providing higher image quality than standard glass mirrors.

Mount

The telescope sits on an alt-azimuth Dobsonian mount, a simple and stable structure that allows easy rotation in both altitude and azimuth. The telescope is held securely on both sides in a fork mount, with the upper part rotating at the base. The low center of gravity and rigid materials ensure far greater stability than equatorial mounts.

Focuser

The telescope includes a 2" Crayford focuser with a 1.25" adapter, operating smoothly and free of play. It also features a 2" extension and a 1.25" adapter, which should be used separately. This focuser is compatible with Sky-Watcher's autofocuser drives.

Astronomical Observations

• Solar System

  • Surface features on the Moon down to 1 km
  • Sunspots and solar granulation
  • All planets of the Solar System
  • Phases of Mercury and Venus
  • Mars’ disk, polar caps during opposition, surface details
  • Multiple bands on Jupiter and Galilean moons
  • Saturn’s rings, Cassini Division, atmospheric bands, smaller moons
  • Uranus and Neptune as distinctly blue stars
  • Movement of many asteroids
  • Numerous faint comets and visible cometary structure

• Stars

  • Approximately 2.7 million stars down to about 16th magnitude
  • Double and multiple stars with separations greater than 0.6"
  • Colors of various stars

• Nebular Objects

  • All Messier objects
  • Dozens to hundreds of globular clusters, with many resolved into stars
  • Hundreds of open clusters with structural differences
  • Dozens of nebulae with rich details
  • Dozens of galaxies with visible structural details
  • Detailed structure in many planetary nebulae, with enhanced contrast using nebular filters
  • Visible supernova remnants

With a mirror diameter of 30cm, objects appear sharper and more detailed than in telescopes with 150mm or 200mm apertures. However, large telescopes are more affected by artificial light pollution, atmospheric stability (seeing), air quality, and optical collimation. Please consider these factors to achieve optimal sky views with 20cm and larger telescopes.

Terrestrial Observations

This type of optical setup is less suited for terrestrial observations. A correcting lens is required to produce an upright image. With a correcting lens and suitable mount, the telescope can be used for terrestrial viewing. The Dobsonian mount’s ease of movement in vertical and horizontal axes, combined with its rigidity and vibration dampening, also allows for observing airplanes at high altitudes.

Included Equipment

• Mount: Collapsible Dobsonian
• Eyepieces: Super PL 10mm, Super PL 25mm
• Hand Controller: AZ SynScan
• Finder Scope: 9x50
• Focuser: 2" with 1.25" adapter

Specifications

• Catalog Number: SW-1322
• Optical Design: Newtonian
• Mount Type: Dobsonian
• Aperture: 305mm
• Focal Length: 1500mm
• Focal Ratio: f/4.9
• Stellar Limit Magnitude: 15.9
• Maximum Useful Magnification: 610x
• Maximum Resolving Power (Rayleigh): 0.47"
• Maximum Resolving Power (Dawes): 0.38"
• Light Gathering Power: 1898x
• Tube Weight: 21.0 kg
• Mount Weight: 24.0 kg
• Tube Length: 1400mm
• Tripod Height: 740mm
• Mount Control: SynScan Go-To
• Focuser Type: Crayford
• Focuser Diameter: 2"
• Secondary Mirror Diameter: 70mm
• Warranty: 60 months