Sky-Watcher BKMAK 180 OTAW optical tube (SW-3006)

Sky-Watcher SkyMax BKMAK 180 OTAW Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical Tube (SW-3006)

The Sky-Watcher SkyMax BKMAK 180 OTAW is the largest Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope in the Sky-Watcher lineup. Designed for advanced lunar and planetary observation, it combines excellent optical performance with a compact and portable design. Its long focal length, high contrast, and minimal optical aberrations make it an outstanding choice for experienced observers seeking exceptional image quality.

The Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design consists of a meniscus corrector plate, a primary mirror, and a secondary mirror mounted on the inner surface of the corrector. This configuration significantly reduces coma and astigmatism while virtually eliminating chromatic aberration, producing exceptionally sharp, high-contrast images.

Despite its large 180 mm aperture, the telescope remains relatively compact thanks to its folded optical path, making transportation and setup much easier than with comparable long-focus instruments.

Key features

• Largest Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope in the Sky-Watcher range.

• 180 mm aperture.

• 2700 mm focal length.

• f/15 focal ratio.

• Compact optical tube design.

• High-contrast planetary and lunar performance.

• Reduced coma and astigmatism.

• Minimal chromatic aberration.

• 2-inch visual back.

• 2-inch 90° mirror diagonal included.

• LET 28 mm eyepiece included.

• 9×50 finder scope included.

• Vixen-style dovetail rail.

Advanced Maksutov-Cassegrain optical system

The telescope uses a classic Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design featuring:

• Meniscus corrector plate.

• Primary mirror.

• Secondary mirror mounted on the inner surface of the corrector.

This optical configuration provides excellent correction of off-axis aberrations while producing highly detailed and contrast-rich images.

The telescope collects approximately 661 times more light than the unaided human eye, allowing observation of celestial objects down to approximately magnitude 13.9 under dark skies.

Its resolving power enables separation of double stars with angular separations greater than approximately 0.64 arcseconds (Dawes).

Optimized for planetary observation

The combination of a long 2700 mm focal length and an f/15 focal ratio makes the SkyMax 180 particularly well suited for observing:

• The Moon.

• Jupiter.

• Saturn.

• Mars.

• Venus.

• Mercury.

• Uranus.

• Neptune.

With an optional long focal length eyepiece (40–50 mm), the telescope can also provide brighter views and a wider field for observing selected deep-sky objects.

Focusing system

The telescope features a 2-inch visual back compatible with standard astronomical accessories.

Focusing is achieved by moving the primary mirror using the rear focus knob, allowing precise focus adjustment across a wide range of accessories.

A 2-inch LET 28 mm eyepiece is included, providing approximately 96× magnification.

Recommended mount

This optical tube is supplied without a mount.

For optimal performance, Sky-Watcher recommends using a stable equatorial mount with a minimum capacity equivalent to the EQ5 class.

Astronomical observing capabilities

Solar System

The telescope is capable of observing:

• Lunar surface features larger than approximately 1 km.

• Sunspots and their structure (only with a suitable certified solar filter).

• All planets of the Solar System.

• Phases of Mercury and Venus.

• Surface details on Mars.

• Jupiter's equatorial cloud belts and Galilean moons.

• Saturn's rings and several of its moons.

• Uranus and Neptune.

• Asteroid movement against background stars.

• Bright comets.

Stars

The telescope allows observation of:

• Approximately 2.7 million stars down to about magnitude 13.9.

• Double and multiple stars separated by more than approximately 0.8 arcseconds.

• The colors of the brightest stars.

Deep-sky objects

The SkyMax 180 is capable of observing:

• All Messier catalog objects.

• Hundreds of globular clusters, including structural detail.

• Hundreds of open star clusters.

• Numerous nebulae.

• Hundreds of galaxies.

Terrestrial observation

Although primarily designed for astronomy, the telescope can also be used for terrestrial viewing when equipped with an appropriate erecting prism diagonal.

With the proper accessories and a suitable mount, it can serve as a high-magnification terrestrial spotting instrument.

Included accessories

• Vixen-style dovetail rail.

• 2-inch 90° mirror diagonal.

• LET 28 mm eyepiece.

• 9×50 finder scope.

Technical specifications

General

• Catalog number:

  • SW-3006.

• Product series:

  • Sky-Watcher SkyMax.

• Optical design:

  • Maksutov-Cassegrain.

• Mount:

  • Optical tube only (no mount included).

Optical specifications

• Aperture:

  • 180 mm.

• Focal length:

  • 2700 mm.

• Focal ratio:

  • f/15.

• Limiting stellar magnitude:

  • 13.9.

• Maximum useful magnification:

  • 360×.

• Rayleigh resolution:

  • 0.79 arcseconds.

• Dawes resolution:

  • 0.64 arcseconds.

• Light-gathering power:

  • 661×.

Optical tube

• Tube weight:

  • 7.8 kg.

• Tube length:

  • 500 mm.

• Tube diameter:

  • 216 mm.

Focuser

• Type:

  • SCT/MAK.

• Eyepiece holder diameter:

  • 2 inches.

• Fine-focus reduction:

  • No.

Mounting

• Dovetail standard:

  • Vixen.

Warranty

• Manufacturer's warranty:

  • 60 months.