Sky-Watcher

Versatile, Lightweight and Astonishingly Accurate

Our AZ-EQ5 hybrid mount epitomizes Sky-Watcher’s commitment to innovation.  Part AZ mount, part equatorial, the AZ-EQ5 is Sky-Watcher’s most versatile mount, capable of aligning in either Alt-Az, Equatorial or dual-OTA mode.  Thanks to it’s flexibility, the AZ-EQ5 mount is perfect for the beginning astronomer looking to get into astrophotography, the seasoned astrophotography buff or educators passionate about astronomy outreach.

Unlike Any Other Mount on the Market

Unique to Sky-Watcher’s AZ-EQ5 is a patented dual-encoder motor system, Freedom-Find™, which allows users to move the mount manually without losing alignment.  While most mounts lose their alignment once moved by hand, the AZ-EQ5 uses a proprietary slip clutch system that keeps your alignment whether you slew by hand or using the hand controller.  After moving to the new object (electronically or manually), the mount will start tracking automatically. 

42,000 Object Database

Using our proprietary SynScan hand controller, the AZ-EQ5 provides a user-friendly interface with automatic slewing to over 42,000 objects in the night sky.  The hand controller can also connect to a computer using the supplied RS232 cable (USB adapter available), enabling computer control with most astronomy programs, including The SkyX, Stellarium, and Starry Night.

Whisper Quiet Motors

  Sky-Watcher’s belt drive system has a few advantages over mounts using traditional stepper gearing.  Belt drive systems deliver nearly silent slewing and tracking, making for an evening free of obnoxious motor noises while delivering spot on accuracy.  Sky-Watcher’s belt drive also features minimal backlash, smoother tracking, and less periodic error than mounts using servo motors.  For users looking to improve the accuracy of their tracking, the AZ-EQ5 also features built in Periodic Error Correction firmware, allowing users to fix periodic error in the field.

Periodic Error Correction Made Easy!

For the astrophotographers looking to reduce Periodic Error, the SynScan hand controller has built in PEC training that can be configured while in the field!  Periodic Error is best described as tiny back-and-forth oscillations of target stars.  This motion is not notable during visual observation, but during a long photographic exposure, can turn pinpoint stars to small streaks.  Using Sky-Watcher’s built-in PEC training, astrophotographers can cut down on the problems caused by Periodic Error to get smoother tracking and better performance from an autoguider.

A Photographer’s Best Friend

The AZ-EQ5 mount has built in DSLR interface with the ability to control two cameras at once.  Using a built in intervelometer timer, the SynScan hand controller can setup exposure length, number of frames taken and a ‘cool down’ period between each frame.  Additionally, the SynScan hand controller has the ability to select up to 8 different exposure combinations.  No need to purchase an expensive cable release when Sky-Watcher includes everything you’ll need to start shooting deep sky objects out of the box.

Use at Any Latitude

Thanks to the pier extension that sits between the mount head and tripod, the AZ-EQ5 can be polar aligned at almost any latitude.  Most equatorial mounts have difficulty with polar alignment at lower latitudes due to the counterweight bar interfering with the tripod. The AZ-EQ5 bypasses this completely, using a beefy pier extension to elevate the mount head away from the tripod legs.  The pier extension creates enough clearance between the counterweight bar and tripod legs that the mount can be polar aligned at virtually any latitude, from Alaska to Ecuador to Tierra del Fuego.

Ready to Go, Out of the Box!

While most mounts leave you high and dry to purchase accessories on your own, Sky-Watcher includes plenty of accessories to get you started.  In addition to the SynScan hand controller and the pier tripod, the AZ-EQ5 mount comes with two 7.5lb counterweights and a counterweight extension bar, as well as an extra saddle for mounting a second scope for viewing in dual-OTA mode.  The mount also includes two Canon EOS trigger cables for connecting your camera to the mount (Nikon and Sony cables available separate).  A polar finderscope is also included to assist with setup.  The AZ-EQ5 has a built in USB port for firmware updates, but also allows computer control using various astronomy software.

• German Equatorial/Alt-Az/dual-OTA mode.
• Permanent periodic error correction (PPEC).
• Belt drive – Super smooth PE curve. Low backlash, silent slewing.
• +/- 5 arc seconds native periodic error.
• Dual shutter release control for batch exposures of astrophotography.
• Motor controller with high torque and accuracy.
• Includes two V-style saddles for mounting dual OTAs
• Secure-fit power supply connections.
• Polar alignment with optional polarscope.
• Dual Encoders
• Counterweight extension bar included.
• Retractable counterweight bar.

 Specifications:

Building on the legacy of Sky-Watcher’s popular EQ8 mount, the EQ8-R introduces a variety of upgrades and enhancements that make observatory-class astrophotography easier than ever.

Whisper-quiet dual belt drives greatly reduce Periodic Error while providing enhanced tracking and guiding. The fully realized cable management system eliminates cable drag and makes remote set-ups ridiculously convenient.

SW EvoStar 100ED APO Refractor: When You Demand the Best!

Sky-Watcher is a leader in the design and manufacturer of ED-APO systems. Sky-Watcher offers one of the most extensive lines of ED-APOCHROMATIC refractors in the world.  Using only the finest fabrication materials available, Sky-Watcher APO refractors are manufactured to painstakingly rigorous, exacting standards of optical and mechanical quality to insure the amateur astronomer peak performance and a great experience each and every time a Sky-Watcher ED-APO is taken into the field.  We know the amateur astronomer has very high expectations regarding astronomical equipment purchases.  Sky-Watcher has been delivering consistent satisfaction for decades.  This telescope is designed for a lifetime of astronomical enjoyment!

Observing with the Sky-Watcher EvoStar 100ED 100mm Refractor

Turning the telescope to the first quarter Moon, the Apennine Mountains snap into focus revealing a cornucopia of jagged mountain ridges, canyons, and numerous small craters in razor-sharp detail.  Not far removed, reaching skyward the crater wall of Archimedes pops into view in bold relief against the smooth flatlands that transverse the distance between it and the Apennine Mountains.  This is lunar observing at its best – HD style.  The gas giant Jupiter displays its swirling equatorial bands in high-definition with festoons, and tonality within the bands.  The great spot is clearly visible, discreetly contrasted from the surrounding Jovian landscape.  Saturn’s storied surface phenomenon is simply stunning.  Hunt down double stars like Epsilon Lyrae, the “double-double" in Lyra.  A 100mm refractor will provide a crisp well defined image superior to even a larger reflector.  Always a star-party favorite, Alberio located in the tail of Cygnus never fails to please as it is a beautiful double.  Alberio appears like a gold sparkler and its companion looks blue-green.  It is a perfect refractor object.  Compact globular star clusters lend themselves well to a refractor. Located outside our galaxy the globular M2 will probably resolve more stars in a 4" refractor than a 6" reflector.  M4, M10 and many other globular cluster can be seen well with a 100mm refractor.  M13, the fantastic globular in Hercules is a stunning sight in a 100mm refractor.  The bright central cores of prominent nebulae can be seen and the brightest stars can be resolved.  This is just the beginning of an incredible journey of exploration possible with a SW ED-APO 100mm refractor. As an astrograph, the SW EvoStar 100ED APO performs superbly delivering crisp, high-fidelity imaging of planetary, lunar and aperture appropriate deep-space phenomenon.

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 being suspended in the optical path (central obstruction) as is the case with reflectors.

Sky-Watcher ED-APOs—the Ultimate Refractors

Sky-Watcher ED-APO refractors provide the finest images obtainable—bar none—in their design class.  If you are on a quest for the ultimate in pristine, near textbook-perfect astronomical imaging, look no further!  Sky-Watcher ED apochromatic refractors deliver dramatic coal-back skies and faithful, contrast-rich views of planetary and deep-space phenomenon that are second to none.  Sky-Watcher ED-APO refractors are the logical choice as an investment in advanced instrumentation for exceptional viewing or photography.

Virtually Eliminates Residual Chromatic Aberration

The Sky-Watcher ED-APO design assures virtual elimination of residual “false color" (i.e. chromatic aberration) normally present in 2-element achromatic lens designs which utilize standard crown and flint glasses. Sky-Watcher APO refractors utilize the finest extra-low dispersion (ED) glass available, FPL-53. This results in the best color correction for an ED doublet lens.

Schott Glass Used in Selected Models for Crown Element

Select models of ED-APO refractors will benefit from the inclusion of Schott glass being 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 only 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.

Pride and Perfection in Optical Manufacturing

Every lens element is individually inspected for purity and absence of striae and other image-degrading imperfections.   Every lens is pitched polished to exacting standards of optical fabrication and performance by highly skilled opticians utilizing state-of-the-art methodology and rigidly controlled optical testing procedures.  The result is high-quality, diffraction-limited optics performing to the theoretical limits of their respective aperture sizes.  All lenses are uniformly air-spaced in their cell housings.

Metallic High-Transmission Lens Coatings 

Each air-to-glass lens surface has exotic anti-reflection metallic coatings applied to ensure optimum light through-put.  The proprietary Sky-Watcher “Metallic High-Transmission Coatings" (MHC) are the finest photon anti-rejection coatings in their class.

Light-Baffled Optical Systems

The objective lens cell is light-baffled to reject stray, unfocused light.  The draw tube is likewise baffled to insure optimum contrast.  The tube interior is flat blackened to help prevent unfocused internal light reflections from reaching the focal plane.

Precision 2" Crayford-style Focuser is Standard

Optical focus is achieved by means of a mechanically ultra-smooth, backlash-free, precision 2" Crayford-style focuser-assembly with 1.25 adaptor.  This focuser operates at 2 speeds for fine and ultra-fine focusing adjustments.

Tube Materials

The optical tube material is aluminum, powder-coated reflective gloss black with gold fleck accent. The front and back cells are cast-aluminum painted white, or black.

Telescope Tube Attachment Hardware

The Sky-Watcher APO optical tubes come with attachment hardware that allows them to be securely fastened to compatible mounts. The quick-release tube rings provided with SW ED-APO models 80ED, 100ED and 120ED are cast-aluminum, painted white.

Included Components for Selected Models

All Sky-Watcher USA EvoStars come with 2-speed backlash-free 2” Crayford-style focusers and quality foam-lined metal carrying cases as standard equipment. EvoStars are also supplied with right-angle 8x50mm viewfinder with bracket; 2” dielectric diagonal; two 1.25” LE (Long Eye relief) eyepieces (LET20mm and LET5mm); 1.25” focuser adaptor; and tube ring attachment hardware that works with compatible mounts.

• 100 mm apochromatic Refractor with Schott BK-7 and FPL-53 ED glass
• 900 mm focal length (f/9)
• Dual-speed 2″ Crayford-type focuser with 1.25″ adaptor
• 8×50 RA erect-image finderscope
• 2″ dielectric diagonal
• 20 mm and 5 mm 1.25″ eyepieces
• Tube-ring attachment hardware n Aluminum carry case

Specifications:

The Sky-Watcher 10" DOB: The Sweet-Spot for Aperture and Value!

This is a big, friendly horse of a telescope you can ride off into the sunset with, and then thrill to well resolved celestial views when twilight fades. The SW 10" DOB is an very satisfying telescope to own, an instrument that will provide a lifetime of continuing exploration of the heavens. This telescope will hit the sweet-spot for many amateurs, providing all the capability and value you are seeking in a large aperture telescope. Sky-Watcher's revolutionary truss-support concept allows the optical tube's front and back cells to collapse together, aligning on the truss support rods which can then be locked down for easy and secure telescope transport. This one piece, low-hassle OTA design is mechanically simple and results in a large aperture telescope that can be reasonably handled and transported by one individual. This innovation gives Sky-Watcher users tremendous functional ease-of-transportability.

Viewing with the SW 10"—Size Does Matter

In viewing deep-space, aperture matters—big time! With this telescope you have tremendous light gathering power. Prominent deep-space objects seen well in an 8" SW DOB, such as diffuse emission nebulae in the summer sky like the Lagoon (M8), Trifid (M20), and Swan (M17); the stunning globular star clusters M13 and M92 in Constellation Hercules; the awesome winter sky's Great Orion Nebula (M42) in Constellation Orion, and our enormous local galaxy group companion the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) in Constellation Andromeda, to name a very few, will appear more spectacular, brilliant, and wider in extension in a SW 10" DOB. Many challenging objects for an 8" aperture now come into their own with the SW 10" DOB: the planetary nebula the Crab (M1), a supernova remnant, requires a 10" aperture to truly begin to appreciate the several subtle, gaseous filamentary structures. M33 the spiral galaxy in Constellation Triangulum exhibits significantly more open arm structure. The Rosette Nebula in Monoceros begins to show the discernible pattern of a blooming rose. M51, the fascinating spiral Whirlpool Galaxy, displays remarkable greater structural detail in a 10" aperture vs. 8" diameter size telescope. There is no question the incremental resolving power of a 10-inch aperture is visually impressive when compared to an 8-inch. Therefore, it is no wonder then that the 10" aperture is overtaking the 8" as the serious amateur astronomer's aperture of choice in a Dobsonian telescope. Sky-Watcher's compact, collapsible optical tube design makes the decision to step up in aperture to a 10" even easier.

Sky-Watcher 10" DOB – a Class Act!

The Sky-Watcher 10" DOB utilizes quality components throughout. Pride of workmanship manifests itself in high quality standards of optical and mechanical fabrication. The polishing process for primary and diagonal mirror yields smooth mirror surfaces ensuring good contrast, and properly corrected optics show minimum alterations to the optical wave-front. On each parabolic primary mirror, and elliptical diagonal mirror aluminum is vacuum deposited to the front glass surface and then over coated with hard quartz (SiO4). Additional layers of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) and (SiO4) are then applied The mechanical and structural components of the OTA exhibit rigid construction and outstanding stability. The mount construction is sturdy and rigid. Mount design, while simple, facilitates smooth motions about both axes. Quality accessories enhance the observer's viewing experience.

Sky-Watcher Dobsonians Epitomize Ease-of-Use

Observing with a Dobsonian has been described akin to shooting ducks in a gallery because it is so easy to find your target. Just swing your SW DOB to the quadrant of sky to be searched, and scan the vicinity. An 8x50mm Right Angle optical viewfinder provides both magnification and light gathering to help narrow your search for those elusive fuzzies when star-hopping. The standard-equipment backlash-free 2" Crayford Focuser insures ultra smooth focusing adjustments. Multi-coated, 4-element Plössl eyepieces (25mm and 10mm) provide a spacious 52° Apparent Field of View. To ensure mechanical ease-of-use, SW uses a high-performance Teflon bearing system in both axes combined with tension adjustment in altitude to facilitate setting the appropriate amount of friction, assuring smooth vertical and horizontal manual movement without free-play from small bumps or gusts of wind. This also eliminates the need to have a balanced optical tube as in an equatorial mount. Sky-Watcher's Teflon bearing system is preferable to the use of ball-bearings. Ball-bearings make unintended movement of the optical tube more difficult to control. Fortunately, at low power, deep-space objects leisurely drift through the field of the SW 10" DOB, so constant mechanical adjustment of the telescope's orientation isn't needed to keep objects in the field of view.

Specifications:

Sky-Watcher SynScan mounts have been designed for use by novices and experts alike. These mounts provide extremely high precision tracking and have built in autoguider ports. This heavy-duty HEQ5 Pro mount is a smaller version of the sturdy EQ6 Pro mount. It is specially designed for observers who need the steadiness of the EQ6 Pro mount but finds the EQ6 Pro mount too physically demanding.

For novice users the user-friendly menu allows automatic slewing to 42900+ objects. Even an inexperienced astronomer can master its variety of features in a few observing sessions. The SynScan Hand Control also has the ability to connect to a computer via an RS-232 cable. Once the connection has been established between the computer and SynScan Hand Control, many commercially available planetarium software programs can be used to control the HEQ5 PRO Mounts, They also come with features that advanced astronomers can appreciate.

• HEQ5 GoTo equatorial head
• Adjustable 1.75" diameter rolled steel tripod
• SynScan GoTo telescope mount wit 42,900+ object database
• Metal accessory tray
• V-style dovetail saddle
• SynScan V5 hand controller
• 30lbs payload capacity