Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTi MAK 127 WiFi Telescope (SW-3207)

The new Virtuoso GTi telescope from Sky-Watcher is an excellent combination of convenience, versatility, and light-gathering power — now with built-in Wi-Fi. It is ideal for beginners searching for their first telescope as well as for experienced observers who want a compact option for quick backyard sessions or camping trips under dark skies.

Virtuoso GTi Mount

The Virtuoso GTi mount automatically slews the telescope to a selected object and keeps it within the field of view. It creates its own WLAN wireless network, allowing control from a smartphone or tablet. With the free SynScan app for iOS and Android, the mount can be operated wirelessly, and once the app is installed, no internet connection is required. The mount can be powered by eight 1.5 V AA batteries or a 12 V DC power supply.

Optical System

The MAK 127 telescope is an excellent choice for astronomy enthusiasts looking for a compact instrument with impressive capabilities for observing the Moon and planets. Maksutov telescopes have reduced coma and only minimal chromatic aberration, providing very sharp and high-contrast images. Their compact length, solid construction, and relatively low weight make them extremely convenient. Despite its small size, the MAK 127 has a long focal length of 1500 mm, allowing for high magnifications.

This optical design performs well in urban locations, where faint nebulae are difficult to observe. The telescope includes a 1.25" eyepiece holder, a diagonal, and two eyepieces. For deep-sky observing, it is recommended to add an eyepiece with a focal length of 30–35 mm.

The telescope consists of a spherical meniscus corrector (a negative crown-glass meniscus lens), a primary mirror, and a secondary mirror. This design reduces coma and astigmatism and exhibits only slight chromatic aberration. The long focal length and slow focal ratio make it particularly suitable for lunar and planetary observation.

The telescope gathers about 235 times more light than the human eye, allowing observation of objects down to magnitude 12.1. The mirror size also determines the optical resolution, enabling this telescope to resolve stars separated by more than 1.1 arcseconds.

Focusing

The telescope uses a 1.25" eyepiece port. Focusing is adjusted via a knob near the mirror. Two eyepieces of this size are included in the set.

Astronomical Observations

1. Solar System

• Moon, sunspots, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

• Observation of polar caps, atmospheric bands, rings, Galilean moons, Titan

• Comets and asteroids

2. Stars

• Approximately 1.8 million stars

• Double and multiple stars, star colors

3. Deep-sky objects

• Messier catalog objects

• Globular clusters, open clusters, galaxies, nebulae

Terrestrial Observations

This type of optical system can also be used for terrestrial viewing, but the image must be corrected. A prism diagonal is required to obtain an upright image. With the appropriate mount, the telescope becomes a powerful instrument for observing distant landscapes at higher magnifications.

Included Accessories

• 1.25" eyepieces: Super 10 and Super 25

• Red Dot finder

Specification

• Catalog number: SW-3207

• Power supply: 12 V DC, 5.5/2.1

• Optical design: Maksutov-Cassegrain

• Mount type: Dobsonian

• Aperture: 127 mm

• Focal length: 1500 mm

• Focal ratio: f/11.8

• Limiting magnitude: 13.1

• Maximum useful magnification: 254×

• Maximum resolution (Rayleigh): 1.13"

• Maximum resolution (Dawes): 0.91"

• Light-gathering power: 329×

• Tube weight: 3.4 kg

• Mount weight: 5 kg

• Total weight: 9 kg

• Tube length: 330 mm

• Tube diameter: 140 mm

• Tripod type: Dobsonian

• Mount control: SynScan Go-To

• Focuser type: SCT/MAK

• Focuser size: 1.25"

• Focuser micromovements: No

• Mounting dovetail: Vixen

• Electronics warranty: 24 months

• Overall warranty: 60 months