ORION SKYQUEST CLASSIC DOBSONIANS
In
the late 1960's, John Dobson and the
San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers had the mission to encourage
Astronomy and to bring large aperture and affordable telescopes to the
masses. John Dobson designed a telescope made from easily
available materials that was portable and inexpensive. That
telescope, now called the Dobsonian telescope was a Newtonian
Reflecting Telescope on a short, swivling base. From its creation
in the 1960's, Dobsonian telescopes became extremely popular and went
through many changes in materials and configuration but the basic
Dobsonian is still the simplest and most "bang for the buck" telescope
on the market today. Enter the Orion, a thirty plus year old
company. Orion refined the Dobsonian design and manufacturing
process and produced what today is called the SKYQUEST XT CLASSIC
Dobsonian. These telescopes are easy to use with no bells and
whistles. They
are based on the "classic" design" created by Dobson but they are so
much more with superior mirrors and the ultimate in mechanical
simplicity...and they are extremely affordable. In many books
about beginning Astronomy, the 8 inch dobsonian has been called the
"perfect beginner scope." Most often, if there is a photo
included, it is a photo of the 8 inch Orion SkyQuest XT!
1-866-598-4406sales@astronomyshop.org
 Orion
SkyQuest XT 4.5 ClassicThis is a small telescope designed for children but irresistable for adults. It features a 4.5 inch mirror (114mm) and a focal length of 910mm (f/8). The telescope tube is only 35 inches long and the total assembled weight is just 17.5 pounds! What a GREAT way to introduce a child to Astronomy without the frustration of a flimsy department store telescope! |
$189.95 2 eyepieces 6 x 26 finder Rack and pinion focuser Starry Nights computer software |
 Orion
SkyQuest XT 6 ClassicAstronomy Magazine calls the Orion SkyQuest XT 6 Classic "an excellent entry-level telescope". This telescope features a 150mm (6 inch) mirror with a focal length of 1200 mm (f/8). The entire package is extremely portable with a 45 inch long tube and weighs in at less than 35 pounds! |
$249.95 2 eyepieces EZ finder II reflex sight Rack and pinion focuser Starry Nights computer software and more! |
 Orion
SkyQuest XT 8 ClassicThis is the telescope called "the perfect beginner's scope"! With a 203 mm mirror and a 1200 mm focal length (f/5.9) this telescope can keep you busy for a long, long time! Assembled weight is just 41.6 pounds! You can take this telescope easily to those dark sites, like our Observatory! |
$329.95 25mm Plossl Eyepiece EZ finder II reflex sight 2 inch Crayford focuser Starry Nights computer software and more! |
 Orion
SkyQuest XT10 ClassicThis telescope is BIG! The XT10 features a 254mm mirror and a focal length of 1200mm (f/4.7). The reach of this telescope is amazing and it's still portable, too! This is the "nirvana" of affordable amateur telescopes. Astronomy Magazine calls this telescope "a new level of joy to simple observing!" |
$499.95 25mm Plossl eyepiece 9 X 50 Right Angle finder 2 inch Crayford Focuser Starry Nights Computer software TELRAD and more! |
 Orion
SkyQuest XT12 ClassicThis telescope features a giant 305mm mirror, a 1500mm focal length tube (f/4.9) with the stability and simplicity of the acclaimed dobsonian base. With a 4 foot ten inch long tube and a total weight of 81 pounds, this telescope is not for the weak of heart but will reward you with outstanding views of truly deep sky objects! |
$749.95 2 eyepieces 9 x 50 Right Angle finder 2 inch Crayford Focuser Starry Nights Computer software TELRAD plus
a LaserMate Collimator DeepSky star map |