SkyWatcher Esprit 150ED on EQ8-R Refractor Telescope with Pier Tripod Kit

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Evostar 150ED

As the largest quality refactor in its price range, the eagerly awaited Sky-Watcher 150/1200 Evostar OTA means a big jump in light gathering power with the same resolution as the rest of the Sky-Watcher Evostar telescopes.  Observe fainter details of the Moon and the fine structures of Saturn, Jupiter and Mars.  Jewels of the southern skies like the thousands of stars in the globular cluster Omega Centauri and the wispy details of the Eta Carina nebula will be memorable sights for visual observers.

Combined with a suitable tracking mount such as the Sky-Watcher EQ6-R, the large 150mm aperture will let astrophotgraphers capture high contrast images of the planets and deep sky objects.

150/1200 Evostar Refractor OTA

• Suitable for Astrophotography
• View Solar System in High Definition
• Metallic High-Transmission Coatings
• Compact & Portable
• Comes with An Aluminium Case
• 5 Years Sky-Watcher Limited Warrant

Metallic High-Transmission Lens Coatings (MHC)
Each air-to-glass lens surface has been coated by Sky-Watcher’s proprietary MHC. An anti-reflection metallic coatings which ensure optimum light-transmission approaching 99.5%.

Light-Baffled Optical Systems
The objective lens cell of this Sky-Watcher 150/1200 Evostar OTA is light-baffled to reduce stray & unfocused light to insure optimum contrast. The interior of the tube is flat blackened to prevent unfocused internal light reflections from reaching the focal plane.

Precision 2” Crayford Focuser
This precision 2″ Crayford Focuser is mechanically ultra-smooth and backlash-free, offers you a fine and ultra-fine focusing adjustments.

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

Telescope Tube Attachment Hardware
The optical tube comes with attachment hardware that allows it to be securely fastened to any Sky-Watcher Mount. The quick-release tube rings provided with Evostar ED150 are cast-aluminum, painted white.

In the Box:

• 150/1200mm OTA
• Aluminium Carrying Case
• Supplied with Tube Rings & 45mm Dovetail Mounting Bar

A solid workhorse!

The Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Pro is an evolutionary progression of the popular EQ8 Pro.

An extra heavy-duty, observatory class German Equatorial Mount with a payload capacity of up to 50kg.

Quiet in operation, the EQ8-R is supplied with the Synscan Go-To handset that can automatically find and track over 42,900 celestial objects from its extensive computer database.

Available either complete with pier tripod or as the mount head only, to install onto a static pier.

Two 10kg counterweights and the Synscan computerised handset are supplied with both options.

The mount is also compatible with the optional Synscan Wi-Fi adaptor and Synscan Pro Apps which can control the mount wirelessly. 

Comes with a 5-year warranty. 

Improvements over the previous EQ8 model include:

• Cable management system for reduced tangling.
• Improved Connectivity.
• Improved installation position of motors for improved balance.
• The improved clutch mechanism provides more holding strength.
• Improved dovetail groove knob for added comfort and increased locking power.
• Belt drive on the RA and DEC axes for quiet slewing (previously only the RA axes was belt driven).

Permanent Periodic Error Correction

The EQ8 mount is equipped with an index on its R.A. worm thus the motor controller can keep tracking the current position of the worm. After a proper PEC training routine, in which the training data is stored in the motor controller permanently, a user can start the periodic error correction (PEC) at any time to improve the tracking performance for short focal length astrophotography. A training process is not required in the next observing session (assuming that the polar alignment is always accurate), thus this is a Permanent Period Error Correction (PPEC). A user can train the mount with manual guiding or auto-guiding. For detailed instructions,

Batch Exposures Function

The EQ8 mount is equipped with a SNAP port which can control the shutter release of a camera. Working with the SynScan hand control’s “Camera Control” function, a user can take batch exposures when doing astrophotography. Up to 8 groups of “Exposure-time & Frames” combinations can be set on the SynScan hand controller. For detailed information, refer to the SynScan hand control’s instruction manual.

Auto-Home Function

The EQ8 mount is equipped with two home position sensors. Working with the SynScan hand controller, the mount can be placed to the same home position after turning on the power. For detailed information, refer to the SynScan hand control’s instruction manual.  

The diagram below will be useful to those wanting to mount an EQ8 head to an existing pier. 

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. Upgrades include a more streamlined design with balanced motor positioning, a sleek thru-mount cable management system and repositioned power hub with a more ergonomic feel to your setup and workflow. Also included are a powered USB 3.0 hub extension, an internal USB hub, larger saddle knobs for ease of use in cold weather, homing sensors to keep your mount oriented, physical hard stop to prevent cable snap, larger locking levers for ease of use, thread-on aircraft power connector for a secure connection, PC direct control, PPEC training for tack sharp images, and more!

Whisper-quiet dual belt drives greatly reduce periodic error while providing enhanced tracking and guiding. Gears measuring over eight inches in diameter help handle large payloads and provide smooth tracking. The fully realized cable management system eliminates cable drag and makes remote setups ridiculously convenient.

For users already familiar with previous Sky-Watcher mounts, the EQ8-R is a substantial upgrade, but with familiar features that will help dampen the learning curve. This is an observatory-class mount designed to be controlled PC Direct or even completely remote and yet, the EQ8-R can still be run by the tried-and-true SynScan V5 hand controller with a 42,000+ object database. Two large carrying handles make set up and takedown less awkward. Other features include a super sturdy adjustable portable pier tripod, D-style dovetail saddle, two 22-pound counterweights, DC power cord, and built-in USB PC control.