Sky-Watcher Dobson 14" Flex Tube Telescope (SW-1313)

Sky-Watcher Dobson 14" FlexTube Telescope (SW-1313)

The Sky-Watcher Dobson 14" FlexTube is a premium large-aperture Newtonian reflector designed for serious visual astronomy. Featuring a 356 mm (14-inch) primary mirror, a collapsible FlexTube optical tube, and a stable Dobsonian mount, it delivers outstanding performance for observing deep-sky objects, the Moon, and the planets.

Sky-Watcher is recognized worldwide for producing high-quality Dobsonian telescopes that combine excellent optics with robust mechanical construction. The FlexTube series maintains the classic simplicity of the Dobsonian design while adding a retractable optical tube for easier transport and storage.

With its large aperture, the Dobson 14 gathers an enormous amount of light, allowing spectacular views of nebulae, galaxies, globular clusters, and planetary detail. Under good atmospheric conditions, the telescope is limited primarily by the Earth's atmosphere rather than its optical capabilities.

Key features

• Large 356 mm (14-inch) Newtonian reflector.

• 1650 mm focal length.

• Fast f/4.6 focal ratio.

• Parabolic Pyrex primary mirror.

• Quartz-protected aluminum mirror coatings.

• FlexTube collapsible optical tube.

• Stable Dobsonian mount.

• 2-inch Crayford focuser.

• Compatible with Sky-Watcher autofocus motors.

• Designed for both deep-sky and planetary observing.

• Vixen-compatible accessories supported.

• Large secondary mirror providing excellent field illumination.

Parabolic Newtonian optical system

The telescope uses a precision parabolic primary mirror manufactured from Pyrex, a low thermal expansion glass that reaches thermal equilibrium more quickly than conventional optical glass.

The mirror features durable aluminum reflective coatings protected by a quartz overcoat for increased resistance to oxidation and scratches.

The optical system includes:

• 356 mm Pyrex parabolic primary mirror.

• Large secondary mirror.

• Aluminum mirror coatings with quartz protection.

The fast f/4.6 optical system produces bright, wide-field views, making the telescope particularly well suited for observing nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters.

FlexTube collapsible design

Sky-Watcher's FlexTube system allows the optical tube to be collapsed for transport and storage without requiring complete disassembly.

The extension mechanism:

• Operates without tools.

• Deploys in only a few seconds.

• Reduces storage space.

• Preserves optical alignment after extension.

The precision construction minimizes the need for collimation after opening the telescope.

Lightweight conical Pyrex mirror

The primary mirror uses a lightweight conical design with reinforcing ribs.

This construction offers several advantages:

• Reduced overall weight.

• Faster cooling.

• Improved thermal stability.

• Simplified mirror support system.

The large secondary mirror provides full illumination across a wide image field, making the telescope suitable for premium wide-angle eyepieces such as 31 mm ultra-wide designs.

Stable Dobsonian mount

The telescope is supplied with a manually operated Dobsonian mount featuring smooth altitude and azimuth movement.

The low center of gravity and rigid construction provide excellent stability while allowing effortless manual tracking of celestial objects.

Compared with large equatorial mounts, the Dobsonian design offers exceptional stability with straightforward operation.

Precision Crayford focuser

The telescope is equipped with a 2-inch Crayford focuser designed for smooth, backlash-free focusing.

The focuser includes:

• 2-inch extension tube.

• 2-inch to 1.25-inch adapter.

• Compatibility with Sky-Watcher autofocus motors.

The supplied extension tubes should be used individually rather than stacked together.

Deep-sky observing performance

The 14-inch aperture provides remarkable views of deep-sky objects.

Under dark skies, observers can enjoy spectacular views of:

• The Orion Nebula (M42).

• The Double Cluster in Perseus.

• The Hercules Globular Cluster (M13).

• Numerous planetary nebulae.

• Hundreds of open star clusters.

• Hundreds of globular clusters.

• Hundreds of galaxies.

Large globular clusters begin to resolve into thousands of individual stars, while bright emission nebulae reveal intricate structural details.

Experienced observers can also locate faint galaxies and globular clusters beyond the Messier, NGC, and IC catalogs.

Planetary observing

Although optimized for deep-sky observing, the Sky-Watcher Dobson 14" also excels as a planetary telescope thanks to its large aperture and high resolving power.

Under favorable atmospheric conditions, observers can see:

• Fine lunar surface details.

• Jupiter's cloud bands and atmospheric structures.

• The Great Red Spot.

• Saturn's rings and the Cassini Division.

• The subtle Encke Gap under excellent seeing conditions.

• Uranus and Neptune as resolved planetary disks.

• Mercury's disk.

• Fine lunar crater and mountain structures.

Its planetary performance rivals significantly more expensive Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes.

Eyepiece recommendations

Because of its fast f/4.6 optical system, the telescope performs best with high-quality eyepieces designed for fast Newtonian optics.

Suitable premium eyepiece series include:

• Tele Vue Nagler.

• Tele Vue Delos.

• Tele Vue Ethos.

• Vixen LVW.

• Pentax XW.

• Baader Planetarium Morpheus.

For both visual observing and astrophotography, the use of a coma corrector is recommended to reduce off-axis coma.

Important safety information

When using a solar filter with a Sky-Watcher FlexTube telescope, a light shroud must always be installed around the open section of the optical tube.

Failure to block stray sunlight entering through the sides of the tube may damage the solar filter, the telescope, or cause serious eye injury.

Always follow proper solar observing safety procedures.

Primary mirror installation

For transportation safety, the primary mirror is supplied separately from the optical tube.

The mirror is factory-mounted in its mirror cell and is ready to be installed into the telescope tube before first use.

Included accessories

• Super Plössl 25 mm eyepiece.

• Super Plössl 10 mm eyepiece.

• 9×50 finder scope.

Technical specifications

General

• Catalog number:

  • SW-1313.

• Product series:

  • Sky-Watcher Dobson FlexTube.

• Optical design:

  • Newtonian reflector.

• Mount type:

  • Dobsonian.

• Mount operation:

  • Manual.

Optical specifications

• Aperture:

  • 356 mm.

• Focal length:

  • 1650 mm.

• Focal ratio:

  • f/4.6.

• Limiting stellar magnitude:

  • 15.4.

• Maximum useful magnification:

  • 712×.

• Rayleigh resolution:

  • 0.40 arcseconds.

• Dawes resolution:

  • 0.33 arcseconds.

• Light-gathering power:

  • 2586×.

Optical tube

• Tube weight:

  • 24 kg.

• Tube length:

  • 1510 mm.

Mount

• Mount type:

  • Dobsonian.

• Mount weight:

  • 20 kg.

• Total system weight:

  • 44 kg.

• Manual operation:

  • Yes.

Focuser

• Type:

  • Crayford.

• Diameter:

  • 2 inches.

• Fine-focus reduction:

  • No.

Secondary mirror

• Diameter:

  • 93 mm.

Warranty

• Manufacturer's warranty:

  • 60 months.