Sky-Watcher TelescopesSky-Watcher is a global leader in astronomical instrumentation for the serious amateur astronomer. Are you searching for a fine instrument for astronomical pursuits? Look no further! Sky-Watcher offers the equipment you need at a value that makes sense in today’s economy.
Sky-Watcher 150AR EQ5 PRO Refractor
Was $1295.00 Now $1245.00The razor sharp resolution of this heroic size refractor will perform on par with a reflector of up to 9-inches in diameter. The generous 150mm (6") of light gathering will deliver breathtaking clarity and unrivaled richness of detail in solar system gems, and vividly express the rich subtle nuisances of intriguing phenomena in deep space. This large aperture refractor will become your valued companion for backyard observation and remote excursions to view the primordial sky where bewilderingly rich star fields blanket the firmament. This dream machine will deliver pristine panoramas of massive aggregations of stars forming clusters, brighter galaxies, and nebulae contrasted against the deepest-darkest sky imaginable. It conjures a feeling the very voids in space are palpable. In an astronomical sense, it is very moving experience. For most of us, observing the heavens with this caliber of instrument profoundly touches our soul.
Refractors—the Ultimate Imaging Instruments: In a given aperture size, refractors will always exhibit sharper images than other optical designs because the refractor concentrates more light into the central airy-disk and first diffraction rings. There is no diffraction pattern interference caused by a diagonal mirror, or secondary mirror in the optical path (central obstruction) as is the case with reflectors.
Sky-Watcher's Crown (BK7) and Flint (F2) achromatic lenses use the highest optical glass free of striae and other image-degrading imperfections. Each lens set is individually pitch-polished, and hand figured by a master optician ensuring diffraction-limited premium optical performance that is second to none worldwide. All lenses are uniformly air-spaced. This attention to detail and striving for perfection ensures the amateur astronomer peak performance.
Select models of large refractors benefit from the inclusion of Schott glass used for the positive front Crown element in the objective. Schott is the recognized world leader in glass utilized for precision optical lens systems, including medical instrumentation, and famous-brand camera lenses. While Schott glass is used in selected models, all other models utilize top-quality, Grade-A glass from perhaps less famous but, nonetheless, highly respected, high-quality glass manufacturers.
Each optical lens surface is coated with exotic anti-reflection metallic coatings (fully coated) to ensure the optimum light transmission. Four layers are applied to each surface (Magnesium Fluorite, MgF2, and Hafnium Dioxide, HfO2). The proprietary Sky-Watcher "Metallic High-Transmission Coatings" (MHC) are the finest light anti-rejection coatings in their class.
The objective lens cell is light-baffled to reject stray, unfocused light. The drawtube is likewise baffled to insure optimum contrast. The tube's interior is flat blackened to help prevent unfocused internal light reflections from reaching the focal plane. The optical tube is aluminum, powder-coated reflective gloss black with gold fleck accent. The front and back cells are cast-aluminum painted black. Optical focus is achieved by means of a mechanically ultra-smooth, backlash-free, precision 2" Crayford rack & pinion focuser-assembly that includes course and fine focusing controls.
Quality Accessories: include Super Plossl 32mm and 10mm 1.25" eyepieces, 8x 50 optical Right Angle Viewfinder with bracket, and 2" mirror diagonal.
Observing with the Sky-Watcher 150AR EQ5 PRO Refractor
The capabilities of the SW 120AR provide performance approximating a 9" reflector on lunar, planetary, double-stars, globular star clusters, and depending on your ranking of unobstructed high-contrast as a necessary attribute, perhaps even the brighter nebulae will look better to you in a SW 150AR. These objects will stand out in bold relief contrasted against a very dark velvet-black sky background. Many advanced amateur astronomers feel the refractor experience is astronomy's richest.
Are Refractors Optically Superior to Reflectors?
Yes, when the comparison is between well-made refractors vs. reflectors in a given aperture size. Refractors will always exhibit sharper, near text-book perfect images. Why? The refractor concentrates more light into the airy-disk and first diffraction rings. There is no diffraction pattern interference caused by a diagonal mirror, or secondary mirror suspended in the optical path (central obstruction) as is the case with Newtonian and mirror-lens Cassegrain reflectors.
However, incremental increases in aperture begin to neutralize the refractor's advantage due to the increased resolution larger aperture provides. A refractor can earn a handicap of about half its aperture compared to a reflector when used for lunar, planetary, double-star, and bright globular star applications. Considering refractors are generally more expensive than Newtonian or mirror-lens designs, the amateur astronomer optimizing their purchasing power must weigh the higher cost, lower resolution, and superior contrast of a refractor against the much lower cost, and higher resolution of a reflecting design. Many first time purchasers optimizing their budget buy a reflector because seeing more with very respectable quality makes more sense than viewing a perfect image that potentially offers less detail. Having said this, there is nothing like the wow-factor of viewing through a well-made refractor, like the SW ED and AR refractors. The second telescope acquired by most amateur astronomers is a refractor, and often an ED-APO refractor.
This is where the practical beauty of the Sky-Watcher mounting system becomes so powerful. As an amateur astronomer with potentially changing wants and needs as to use of reflective and refractive optical systems, the Sky-Watcher EQ5PRO Mount allows the purchaser to buy a complete computerized telescope of their optical choice, and later have the option of buying a different optical tube system that will fit on the very same mount. A mount they have come to appreciate for its quality and sophistication, plus perhaps extensive experience operating. No need to buy two or more complete telescopes to get the versatile performance desired.
Telescope Tube Attachment Hardware: The optical tube comes with attachment hardware that allows it to be securely fastened to the SW EQ5 PRO mount. These quick-release tube rings are cast-aluminum, power coated white.
The SW EQ5 PRO Computerized Mount is Standard-Equipment
The Sky-Watcher EQ5 PRO equatorial mount is a premium-grade observing platform utilizing quality mechanical and electronic component materials throughout:
Equatorial Body. The elegantly appointed equatorial body is cast from virgin aluminum and powder coated in classic scientific instrument white. The professional fit & finish of the SW EQ5 PRO mount is abundantly obvious from the very first minute the mount is uncrated. The large polar and declination castings provide large, stable thrust bearing surfaces with tight tolerances. Setting-circles are provided in both RA and Dec. axes. All gears, motors, and electronics are internalized within the equatorial body or separate motor-controller chasse box. The counterweight shaft is made from solid stainless steel. The provided two 11 lb. counterweights are cast iron, powder coated white. (Note: All SW EQ5 PRO Series telescope models come with optical tube mounting rings and/ or dovetail attachment brackets of cast aluminum)
Motors, Gears, & Bearings. Sky-Watcher EQ5 PRO computer models utilize high-torque DC stepper motors yielding resolution of 0.28764 arc-seconds. The advanced Allegro IC-driver is a DMOS dual full-bridge micro-stepping PWM motor driver with power savings feature. A 12vDC car plug adapter provides connection to a user supplied power supply (Power requirement: 12V DC-power 2000mA mini w/2.1mm tip positive plug). Bronze-metal worm-gear control systems enable precise, incremental mechanical movement with minimal gear backlash in RA and DEC. Gear size in R.A. and DEC. is a robust 72mm (2.83") with 144 teeth. Sealed ball bearings are used on load-bearing surfaces in RA and DEC. Mount tracks celestial objects in R.A. axis when equatorially aligned.
Mechanical Surface Controls. Thumb-locks provided in RA and Dec. allows swift manual orientation of the optical tube assembly. Micrometric elevation and azimuth controls provided help to achieve precise polar alignment. For manually operated SW telescope models, deluxe spring-steel cable control knobs provide R.A. and Dec. control to enable precise manual tracking of sky objects.
Rock-Solid Tripod and Payload. Every SW EQ5 PRO mount includes a metal tripod commensurate in rigidity and load-bearing capacity to the EQ5 PRO mount itself. Tripod legs are made of industrial strength tubular steel of 1.75" diameter, except for the SW 250N EQ5 PRO, and SW 11" SCT EQ5 PRO which are supplied with 2" diameter legs. The tripod head is rigid cast aluminum. A spreader-bar with tension-lock is integral to the tripod to help insure optimum rigidity. The mount and tripod support a hefty payload of up to 25 lb.
Computer Operation. Sky-Watcher GO-TO telescope models include the revolutionary SynScan Computer Controller. The SynScan's remote hand-controller plugs into the software motor-control panel. The easy-to-read, 2-line, 16-character backlit LCD display will operate to approximately minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Astronomical object location has never been easier or more fun. The telescope responds instantly to keypad commands at the touch of a fingertip. Serial PC connector/ Hand-controller phone-jack plug computer interface cable included.
Motor Speeds, Tracking Modes, and Alignment Types:
The operating versatility of SynScan provides guiding speeds of .25x, .5x, .75x, and 1x. Slewing speeds include 1.25x, 1.5x, 1.75x, 2x, 8x, 16x, 32x, 64x, 400x, 500x, 600x, 800x, or 3.4? per second. Software tracking modes offer Lunar, Solar and Sidereal rates. Sky alignment choices are One-star, Two-star, and Three-star. Mount is compatible with operations in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Astrophotography:
Sky imagers will appreciate the auto-guider port for guiding using a PC via the RS-232 port (if the software supports ASCOM). SW firm-wear includes a programming algorithm for periodic error correction (such error is common to all worm gears). In addition, programming is provided for RA and Dec worm-gear backlash compensation to keep slewing and tracking response prompt and uniform. SW can also be controlled remotely by PC using popular planetarium software via a RS232 connection on the hand-controller. There is even a GPS upgrade option to facilitate entering precise time, date, and location.
Database: The SynScan computer includes a celestial database of over 30,000 objects, including all the crowd pleasers like planets, the Moon, Messier objects, and interesting double stars. In addition, the library includes objects for advanced studies cataloged within the CNGC, IC, Caldwell, and other lists, plus 25 user-defined celestial favorites.
Advantages of the Sky-Watcher EQ5 PRO
Equatorial Telescope Mounting SystemThe equatorial mount is the most versatile telescope platform ever designed. Without question, it is the most popular and most utilized mounting system favored by amateur astronomers today worldwide. There are several important reasons for its popularity:
Versatility. In the process of becoming serious amateur astronomers, observers at some point often desire to vary their viewing routine. More often than not, this involves changing the optical configuration used for observing between reflective, refractive, or compound systems. It is a well-established fact that no one optical design serves every situation perfectly. The SW EQ5 PRO mount, for instance, will hold a large SW 6" refractor offering pristine, text-book-like images of subtle planetary surface phenomena. It will also carry a SW 10" Newtonian reflector with huge light-gathering capability for observing faint, gaseous filamentary structure in galaxies and nebulas. The versatile SW EQ5 PRO mount will also house a SW 11" Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube assembly. In contrast, fork-mounts typically work with one telescope optical configuration only – there is no flexibility for changing optical tubes based on observing needs or preferences.
Portability. Equatorial mounts, like the Sky-Watcher EQ5 PRO, also offer great convenience to observers seeking portable equipment that disassembles into manageable components that can be easily lifted and carried. This is especially helpful with larger aperture optical systems. In contrast, one-piece optical tube/ mount configurations can be surprisingly heavy to lift and awkward to transport by one individual.
Stability and Balance. The equatorial mount is renowned for stability, and ease-of-use in achieving mechanical balance of the optical tube and mount. The SW EQ5 PRO is mechanically rigid, and mechanical motions are smooth and inherently vibration-free. An industrial strength tubular steel tripod is standard equipment.
Computer Operation. The SW EQ5 PRO Series offers manual or computerized operation. The revolutionary SW SynScan computer works seamlessly with the SW EQ5 PRO mount to facilitate effortless, automatic tracking and object location of over 30,000-objects.
Astrophotography. The equatorial mount is also the preferred platform for astrophotography. Why? An equatorial alignment facilitates astronomical tracking in just one axis, which is the best physical orientation for imaging the sky. Computerized altazimuth mounts track the sky in two axes, but this introduces undesirable field rotation. Field de-rotators have not proven to be particularly practical. Serious amateurs who own fork-mounted altazimuth telescopes, for instance, buy equatorial wedge adaptor plates to place between the tripod and mount. They then switch the telescope's tracking mode to equatorial. If you are seriously contemplating astrophotography, an equatorial mount is your best bet for insuring quality results.
Details
- Shipping Weight 92.00 lbs
- Optical Design achromatic refractor
- Lens Material Crown & Flint
- Aperture (Diameter) 150mm
- Focal Length 1200mm F-Ratio F/8
- Highest Practical Power 264x
- Faintest Stellar Magnitude 13.4
- Finderscope 8x50 Viewfinder
- Focuser Diameter 2"
- Diagonal 2", 1.25" adapter
- Eyepiece(s) 1.25" Super Plossl 32mm and 10mm
- Mount Type: Equatorial
- Slow-Motion Control Computer micro-slewing
- Counterweight(s) 2 x 11 lb
- Piggyback Bracket Standard
- Accessory Tray Standard
- Motor Drive Micro-step stepper
- Go-To SynScan
- Tube Weight 14 lbs
- Tube Dimension (dia. x length) 50.5" long
- Tripod Height 34" to 48"
Was $1295.00 now $1245.00
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