Sky-Watcher Dobson 16" Flex Tube Telescope (SW-1314)

Sky-Watcher is a global leader in telescope production, especially Newtonian telescopes on Dobsonian mounts. For many years the company has placed special emphasis on delivering the highest optical quality, which results in stunning views of the Universe and consistently positive reviews worldwide. With experience dating back to 1990, Sky-Watcher Dobsonians have reached a mature, elegant, and classic form while remaining highly affordable. Although many competitors offer similar products, none match Sky-Watcher’s ability to create Dobsonian telescopes that are both optically excellent and accessible in price.

The Dobson 16 Telescope
The Dobson 16 is a powerful reflecting telescope and a dream instrument for many astronomy enthusiasts. Its 40-centimeter aperture enables spectacular observations of all types of celestial objects. Due to its large size, the telescope is more often limited by atmospheric stability than by its optical capabilities. Its tremendous light-gathering power reveals distant nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters with exceptional clarity when used under dark skies.

Optical System
The telescope is built using the Newtonian optical design. The parabolic primary mirror, made from Pyrex, has a diameter of 406 mm and a focal length of 1800 mm. It is coated with aluminum and protected by a quartz layer, making it resistant to oxidation and scratches. The secondary mirror is made using the same approach. With a focal ratio of f/4.4, the telescope delivers very bright images at low magnifications and offers a relatively wide field of view, making it an outstanding choice for observing nebulae and galaxies.

Flex-Tube Collapsible Design
Sky-Watcher’s collapsible construction is unique on the market. Large Dobsonian telescopes can be compacted for storage, significantly reducing the required space. The telescope is folded by retracting sections of the tube without the need for tools or disassembly. It can be ready for observing within seconds, and the precise mechanism means collimation is usually not required after extension.

Pyrex Mirror
All Sky-Watcher Dobson telescopes of 8 inches and larger come standard with a Pyrex primary mirror. Pyrex has a low thermal expansion coefficient, which results in better image quality compared to mirrors made from ordinary glass.

The primary mirror in this model uses a modern conical design with structural ribbing. This approach reduces weight, accelerates cooling, and removes the need for a mechanically complex floating cell. The large secondary mirror ensures 100% illumination for wide fields of view, such as those seen in a 31 mm Nagler eyepiece.

Mount
The telescope is supported by an azimuthal Dobsonian mount with azimuth-axis bearings. This simple and very stable design allows the telescope to rotate smoothly in both altitude and azimuth. It is held from both sides in a fork-style cradle while the upper section of the mount rotates at the base. A low center of gravity and the use of rigid materials contribute to greater stability than many equatorial mounts provide.

Focuser
The telescope is equipped with a 2-inch Crayford focuser with a microfocusing mechanism and a 1.25-inch adapter. It includes a 2-inch extension tube and a 1.25-inch extension/adapter, which should be used individually rather than combined. The focuser is compatible with Sky-Watcher autofocusing drives.

Astronomical Observations
The Sky-Watcher Dobson 16" is a powerful observational tool not only because of its size but also because of the quality of the views it produces. Bright deep-sky objects such as the Orion Nebula (M42), the Double Cluster in Perseus, or the globular cluster M13 in Hercules appear spectacular and unforgettable. Under dark skies, objects like M42 and various planetary nebulae reveal subtle pinkish, greenish, and bluish hues, typically seen only in photographs. Even under moderate skies, many objects remain surprisingly well defined. Under truly dark skies combined with a large aperture, the telescope provides extraordinary views.

Deep-Sky Objects
Messier globular clusters break into thousands of individual stars. Emission nebulae such as the Veil Nebula or M42 reveal delicate, cirrus-like structures. Galaxies show not only bright cores but also extended spiral arms. Double and multiple stars separate cleanly into components, and Albireo shines vividly with its orange and blue pair. An experienced observer can use this telescope to detect hundreds of galaxies, clusters, and nebulae, including targets from the Caldwell, Herschel, Abell, and Sharpless catalogues.

Solar System Observations
The telescope’s large aperture provides exceptional angular resolution, enabling breathtaking views of the planets and the Moon. Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn appear not as pale disks but as richly detailed and colorful worlds. Under excellent seeing conditions, atmospheric bands on Jupiter, the structure of the Great Red Spot, moon shadows, Saturn’s rings with the Cassini Division and even the elusive Encke Gap may become visible. Mars can show polar caps, surface structure, and changes during global dust storms.

The disks of Uranus, Neptune, and Mercury can also be observed, along with atmospheric detail on Venus and extensive lunar formations hidden from smaller telescopes. Even Pluto is within reach of the instrument. The Sky-Watcher Dobson 16" excels not only at deep-sky observing but is also a true planetary performer, rivaling far more expensive 14-inch SCT telescopes.

Recommended Accessories
Because of the telescope’s fast focal ratio of f/4.4, high-quality eyepieces capable of handling steep light cones are strongly recommended. Suitable examples include Tele Vue Nagler, Delos, Ethos, Vixen LVW, Pentax XW, and Baader Morpheus eyepieces. These complement the optical performance of the instrument very well.
Due to the presence of coma in fast Newtonians, a coma corrector is recommended for both astrophotography and visual use. Nebula filters such as UHC and narrowband filters like OIII and H-beta are also highly beneficial, particularly when observing planetary nebulae at high magnification.

Safety Warning
When using solar filters with Sky-Watcher Dobson Flex-Tube telescopes, a light-blocking shroud must always be used to prevent sunlight from entering the tube from the side. Without it, the filter, telescope, or—most importantly—the observer’s eyesight may be damaged. Safety is paramount when observing the Sun.

Additional Note
The telescope does not come with the primary mirror installed in the tube. Because of its size and for safety reasons, the mirror is delivered in a separate box. It is already mounted in its cell and ready to be installed.

Included Equipment
– 2" adapter
– Dobsonian mount
– Super PL 10 mm eyepiece
– Super PL 25 mm eyepiece
– 9x50 finderscope

Technical Specifications
Catalog number: SW-1314
Optical design: Newtonian
Mount type: Dobsonian
Aperture: 406 mm
Focal length: 1800 mm
Focal ratio: f/4.4
Stellar limiting magnitude: 15.6
Maximum useful magnification: 812x
Angular resolution (Rayleigh): 0.35"
Angular resolution (Dawes): 0.29"
Light-gathering power: 3364×
Tube weight: 31 kg
Mount weight: 28 kg
Total weight: 59 kg
Tube length: 1680 mm
Tripod type: Dobsonian base
Tripod height: 850 mm
Mount control: manual
Focuser type: Crayford
Focuser diameter: 2"
Focuser micro-adjustment: no
Secondary mirror diameter: 100 mm
Warranty: 60 months