Sky-Watcher 250mm f/5 Dual Speed ​​Telescope on AZEQ6 Pro Go-To BD

Among the largest telescopes in the range, the The 254mm SkyWatcher Newtonian impresses with its size and performance With a 254 mm primary mirror It captures 57% more light than a 200mm telescope And it promises years of valuable discoveries for both beginners and amateur astronomers. Enjoy a large telescope not only for observing deep-sky objects, but also for examining them in detail.

Its Newtonian design offers several advantages over other types of instruments (refractors and Cassegrain telescopes). Mirror manufacturing is more economical for the same diameter, and its focal ratio is usually very low. Therefore, at an attractive price, you get a bright telescope that provides a wide field of view (in this case, f/4.7) The central obstruction is also less than in Cassegrain telescopes.

Unlike very economical models or small diameter Newtonian telescopes, the Sky-Watcher Newtonian telescopes of 150, 200, 250 and 300 mm They have a parabolic primary mirror The mirrors are polished spherically and then reshaped to achieve a paraboloid shape (a more expensive and complex process). This is an essential selection criterion for instruments larger than 130 mm and with a short focal ratio (f/D) .

Focusing is achieved using a dual-speed Crayford focuser. This allows a precise focus thanks to the 1:10 reduction ratio, A significant advantage for high-magnification observations and images. Supports heavy loads (e.g., a digital SLR camera) A 31.75 mm adapter is included as standard for using eyepieces of the same format with a 50.8 mm exit. A locking screw on the bottom of the focuser allows the focus to be maintained regardless of the orientation of the optical tube.

To minimize blockages, The secondary mirror's mounting bracket (flat) features four thin arms of Each lens is 0.5 mm wide. Their sufficient rigidity limits diffraction peaks on bright stars and prevents excessive light loss. A 9x50 achromatic finder scope is also included as standard, along with a 28 mm LET eyepiece (55° field of view) for wide-field observations at low magnification. A short focal length eyepiece is recommended for planetary observations at high magnification.

Everything you need to know about the Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ6 mount

An evolution of the renowned EQ6, This mount is available in two modes: equatorial for astrophotography and altazimuth for visual observation The AZ-EQ6 can support very heavy loads, such as Schmidt-Cassegrain or Newtonian telescopes up to 280 mm. This offers greater versatility and ease of use In fact, nothing replaces equatorial mode for astrophotography (single-axis tracking to compensate for the Earth's rotation). Converting Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes with fork mounts to equatorial mode using a platform is neither efficient nor accurate. At the same time, altazimuth mode (simple movement: up, down, left, right) is the easiest to set up for enjoying a visual observing session.

Thanks to its new design, the AZ-EQ6 offers the advantages of both visual observation and astrophotography, without their drawbacks. This is a significant advantage for amateur astronomers interested in both visual observation and photography. Polar alignment (adjusting the mount with the polar scope for a few minutes) is not required when observing the sky simply through an eyepiece. The altazimuth 3-star alignment procedure is fast and efficient enough to center the object in the field of vision with each movement.

The enormous AZ-EQ6 mount head weighs only 15.4 kg, ensuring excellent stability even at high magnifications. Tracking quality has been improved compared to the EQ6/NEQ6 versions thanks to several innovations The EQ6-R allows for long-exposure astrophotography sessions, even with the faintest objects. It includes a standard autoguiding port to significantly reduce periodic error in right ascension (RA).

A framework for visuals and images

For those on a budget, the AZ-EQ6 is a very attractive solution, compatible with telescopes that were previously only compatible with much more expensive mounts. It allows beginners to get started in astrophotography using a PC and a second instrument in parallel when autoguiding is enabled. Visual observers will appreciate the SynScan GOTO autopointing system, controlled by an easy-to-use hand controller. In fact, It is not necessary to know the position of the stars Nor of distant deep-sky objects; the EQ6-R will automatically move the instrument to the desired target. After polar alignment with the Polaris polar scope, select mount alignment to one, two, or three stars. The database contains over 42,000 objects, including the major catalogs (Messier, NGC, IC, as well as the planets, the Moon, and the Sun).

The AZ-EQ6's dual operating mode offers several new features. First, switching modes is simple thanks to the 90° rotation of the AR/DEC block using the large latitude adjustment screw. Second, an additional dovetail can be attached to the opposite side of the counterweight bar to connect a second instrument. This instrument acts as a counterweight, allowing the telescope to point at the same object while observing through two instruments.

New products

The drive system has been modified with the incorporation of a belt drive The result is significant: a smoother periodic error curve, less slack, and less noise during GoTo tracking. Patented optical encoders are included To prevent loss of positioning during manual movement, this provides the user with considerable freedom by eliminating the need to repeat the initialization process from scratch. Finally, the weight of the mount has been reduced (compared to the NEQ6) from 20 kg to 15.4 kg , which makes it more portable.

Automated Go-To Time Control System

After polar alignment with the Polaris polar telescope, select the mount alignment with one, two, or three stars. More than 49,200 objects, including those from the main catalogs (Messier, NGC, IC, as well as the planets, the Moon and the Sun), are stored in the database For maximum convenience, the mount moves rapidly, up to 3.4°/s, using the hand controller. Easy to use, it helps you quickly point the instrument at any galaxy, nebula, cluster, or object in the solar system. Discover in detail the famous Andromeda Galaxy, the fabulous mantles surrounding the heart of Orion, the Hercules cluster M13 and its core, rich with thousands of stars. Saturn, Jupiter, and the Moon are also wonders that can be explored without restrictions.

The display of the date, time, and observation location on the handheld controller, combined with The "Tour" function allows you to point the AZ-EQ6 mount at the most interesting objects throughout the night. Enjoy a guided tour of the sky from your observation location by clicking the "Enter" button and selecting an object from the drop-down list. Aiming accuracy can reach up to 1 arcminute by compensating for mechanical errors of the mount This procedure, called "backlash," requires measuring the time between two opposing movements of the mount. The operation is simple and, especially in astrophotography, saves valuable time. The object you want to photograph is usually centered on the sensor... a real pleasure!

Tube Specifications

Mount specifications

Items delivered

Sky-Watcher Newton 254mm f/4.8 optical tube

• 1 Sky-Watcher 254mm f/4.8 optical tube
• 1 Sky-Watcher 50.8mm Crayford focuser with microfocuser (dual speed 1:10) and 31.75mm adapter
• 1 Vixen-style dovetail joint, 33 cm
• 2 fixing collars
• 1 Piggyback camera mount with Kodak thread on the top of one of the mounting collars
• 1 x 50.8mm eyepiece: LET 28mm
• 1 9x50 search engine

Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ6 Pro GoTo Mount

• 1 German AZ-EQ6 Pro Go-To equatorial mount
• 1 SynScan Go-To handheld controller
• 2 counterweights of 5 kg
• 1 integrated polar telescope
• 1 height-adjustable tubular steel tripod (from 85 cm to 147 cm)
• 1 accessory shelf
• 1 power cable with cigarette lighter plug
• 1 female dovetail joint, Vixen and Losmandy type

1 additional 5 kg counterweight