Sky-Watcher BKMAK 127 OTAW Telescope + GEQ5 PRO Equatorial Mount (SW-3004 + SW-4152)

The Sky-Watcher BKMAK 127 OTAW with GEQ5 PRO equatorial mount is a compact and precise telescope set, ideal for observing the Moon and planets. The 127 mm Maksutov optical tube delivers sharp, detailed images, while the robust GEQ5 PRO mount ensures excellent stability and smooth tracking of objects across the night sky.

The MAK 127 is a great choice for astronomy enthusiasts who want a small, easy-to-handle instrument that still offers outstanding performance on the Moon and Solar System planets. Maksutov telescopes feature reduced coma and only minimal chromatic aberration, which results in very sharp, high-contrast images. Their main advantages are short tube length, compact construction, and relatively low weight. Despite its size, the MAK 127 has a long 1500 mm focal length, allowing the use of high magnifications needed to study fine details on planetary disks and the lunar surface.

This type of design works especially well under urban skies, where faint nebulae are difficult to see due to light pollution. The telescope is equipped with a 2" eyepiece holder, a 2" diagonal, and an LE 28 mm eyepiece providing 54× magnification. Contrary to common belief, the MAK 127 also performs very well on deep-sky objects, particularly the brightest and most compact ones such as the Orion Nebula, the Hercules Cluster (M13), or Bode’s Galaxies (M81 and M82) in Ursa Major.

Optical System

The telescope uses a spherical meniscus corrector (a negative meniscus lens made of crown glass), a primary mirror, and a secondary mirror mounted on the inner surface of the meniscus. This design reduces coma and astigmatism and shows only residual chromatic aberration. It provides exceptionally sharp and contrasty images. Thanks to the long focal length and relatively slow focal ratio, it is perfectly suited to lunar and planetary observing.

The telescope collects about 235 times more light than the human eye at night, allowing observations of objects down to about magnitude 12.1 (with naked-eye limiting magnitude around 6). The mirror size also determines optical resolution: in this instrument it allows the separation of stars spaced more than 1.1 arcseconds apart.

Mounting Options for the Optical Tube

The optical tube itself can be used without a dedicated equatorial mount. It includes a suitable connection that allows it to be attached to a photographic tripod. However, due to the long focal length, at minimum an AZ4-class alt-azimuth mount or an EQ3-2 equatorial mount is recommended for comfortable observing. In this set, the telescope works together with the more advanced GEQ5 PRO equatorial mount.

Astronomical Observations

1. Solar System

• lunar surface details larger than 1.5–2 km
• sunspots and their structure (with a proper solar filter)
• all planets of the Solar System
• phases of Mercury and Venus
• Mars, including polar caps and dark surface regions in good conditions
• Jupiter’s equatorial belts, the Great Red Spot, Galilean moons, their shadows during transits, and occultations by the planet
• Saturn’s rings with the Cassini Division, the shadow of the rings on the planetary disk in good conditions, Titan and several smaller moons
• Uranus and Neptune
• motion of asteroids against the background of stars
• observations of bright comets

2. Stars

• about 1.8 million stars across the whole sky, down to about magnitude 12.1
• double and multiple stars with angular separations greater than 1.1"
• color differences of the brightest stars

3. Nebulae and Deep-Sky Objects

• nearly all Messier catalog objects
• hundreds of globular clusters
• hundreds of open clusters
• brighter nebulae
• dozens of galaxies

Terrestrial Observations

This optical design is not particularly well suited for daytime terrestrial viewing. To obtain a correctly oriented, upright image, a prism diagonal is required. With the appropriate diagonal and a suitable mount, the telescope can be used as a simple instrument for terrestrial observations.

GEQ5 PRO Equatorial Mount with NEQ5 Tripod

Sky-Watcher offers the GEQ5 PRO as a practical solution for users who want to equip their telescope with a GoTo system without moving up to the heavier HEQ5 or EQ6 mounts. The EQ5 SynScan system uses similar technology to HEQ5/EQ6 and provides a database of more than 40,000 objects. Compared to HEQ5 and EQ6, it offers slightly lower resolution but maintains the convenience of object locating and tracking at a significantly lower overall weight.

With a payload capacity of about 10 kg, the mount can carry a wide range of instruments—from small refractors to larger models such as an ED120, a Mak180, or even an 8" Newtonian or SCT. This makes it a very flexible platform for both visual observing and basic astrophotography.

Because the set is designed for portable use, it is not supplied with a mains power adapter. Only a car power adapter is included. A compatible AC adapter is the ESPE 12V/3A model.

Sky-Watcher BKMAK 127 OTAW Optical Tube – Specifications

• Catalog number: SW-3004
• Optical system: Maksutov-Cassegrain
• Mount type: none (optical tube only)
• Aperture: 127 mm
• Focal length: 1500 mm
• Focal ratio: f/11.8
• Limiting magnitude: 13.1
• Maximum useful magnification: 254×
• Resolution (Rayleigh): 1.13"
• Resolution (Dawes): 0.91"
• Light-gathering power: 329×
• Tube weight: 3.4 kg
• Tube length: 330 mm
• Tube diameter: 140 mm
• Focuser type: SCT/MAK
• Focuser size: 2"
• Focuser micro adjustment: no
• Mounting dovetail: Vixen
• Warranty period: 60 months

Included with the Optical Tube

• dovetail
• 2" 90° diagonal with 1.25" reducer
• 2" 28 mm eyepiece
• 6×30 finder
• 2" eyepiece holder

GEQ5 PRO Equatorial Mount with NEQ5 Tripod – Specifications

• Catalog number: SW-4152
• Power requirements: DC 11–15 V / 2 A
• RA gear: 144 teeth
• Mount type: equatorial
• Maximum payload: 10 kg
• Tripod height: 85–121 cm
• Tripod weight: 5.6 kg
• Counterweights: 2 × 5.1 kg
• Motors: stepper motors
• Counterweight shaft diameter: 20 mm
• Drive resolution: 4,512,000 microsteps per revolution
• Tracking accuracy: 0.288"
• Maximum slewing speed: 3.4°/s
• Autoguiding speeds: 0.25×, 0.5×, 0.75×, 1×
• PEC correction: software-based
• GoTo system: SynScan
• Object database: 42,000+
• Object catalogs: Messier, NGC, IC, Caldwell, double stars, variable stars, named stars, planets, user-defined objects
• Control: hand controller
• Power input: DC 11–15 V / 2 A
• Tracking mode: R.A. (right ascension axis)
• Ports: ST-4
• Electronics warranty: 24 months
• Total warranty period: 60 months