Jump to content

Banner.jpg.b89429c566825f6ab32bcafbada449c9.jpg

Skywatcher Explorer 300P NEQ6 PRO

FLO

Recommended Posts

FLO

FLO

Posted
Posted

The Skywatcher Explorer 300P and NEQ6 PRO has arrived :D

This new model was announced sometime before Xmas and not a week has gone by without someone enquiring after it - very frustrating!

Anyhow, it is here and available for overnight delivery.

NB: This is a BIG setup not suited to casual observers or the feint-hearted! Otherwise it is an excellent telescope and mount that will deliver stunning lunar, planetary and deep-sky views. Checkout the BBC Sky at Night magazine review below.

300PEQ6PRO.jpg

“Compared to our own 250mm f/5 Newtonian reflector, the extra light gathered by the Explorer-300P was obvious. We got impressive views of a wide range of celestial objects. Galaxies such as M65 & M66 in Leo were wonderful, with strong hints of subtle detail along their spiral discs. The nearby galaxy NGC 3628 also stood out well. Nebulae shone against the background sky. M1, the Crab Nebula, showed varying degrees of mottling and scalloped edges – very satisfying indeed. The Orion Nebula, M42-43, was awash with nebulosity and we found we could easily get lost amongst the detail.. At its centre, the Trapezium group of stars sparkled and, at the highest magnifications , we spotted several of its fainter mag. +10 stars, even though the atmosphere wasn’t as steady as we would have liked for such high-magnification views.

Detail Explosion: Late into the night we selected the globular cluster M13 from the hand-controller. As it swung into the field of view it was breathtaking, with swarms of stars looking like bees around a honey pot. The view was so good that we noticed a dark feature, commonly known as the Propeller, superimposed on one side of the cluster. It was easily the best view of the cluster we’ve ever had….For crystal clear views of deep space, this is hard to beat!” BBC Sky At Night Magazine

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 42
  • Created
  • Last Reply
SteveL

SteveL

Posted
Posted

Using my super spidey senses and telekinesis skills of an elite ninja, I can tell you the setup is £1389.00

(OK, OK, so I just followed the link that Steve posted, it wasnt that hard really)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SteveL

SteveL

Posted
Posted

I believe Peonic had a 300P at September's Kelling... it was MAAAASIVE. You remember the supergun they stopped from export many years ago? Well, this is what Skywatcher have done with all the left over bits from that :D

(I believe Peonic may actually have a 300P for sale... not sure if he has got rid of it already)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Andrew*

Andrew*

Posted
Posted

Does it come with a step ladder and oxygen mask? And that counterweight had better be made of something pretty dense of balance that OTA!!

Get with it Tony, this is the latest technology. That's white-dwarf material there!

But seriously, they must be extracting the urine selling that set-up with only one counterweight!

Looks good though

Andrew

Link to comment
Share on other sites
FLO

FLO

Posted
  • Author
Posted

But seriously, they must be extracting the urine selling that set-up with only one counterweight!

I think its just that the photographer only fitted one, the picture also shows a regular EQ6 PRO, not the NEQ6 with new Losmandy type saddle.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Andrew*

Andrew*

Posted
Posted

But seriously, they must be extracting the urine selling that set-up with only one counterweight!

I think its just that the photographer only fitted one, the picture also shows a regular EQ6 PRO, not the NEQ6 with new Losmandy type saddle.

Good stuff!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Astro_Baby

Astro_Baby

Posted
Posted

Just thought I'd mention the weights. S @ N magazine review pic shows 4 weights but apparantly the weight bar is much longer than normal to allow it all to balance.

The tech spec in the review is 4 x 5kg ( 11 lb ) weights with an OTA wight of 25kg ( 55lb ). WOW ! thats HEAVY.

It looks an absolute monster though and I'd love something like that if I had a garden. I always wanted to own a HUGE newt.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
FLO

FLO

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Any price on the OTA only yet Steve?

No, not yet, I'm speaking with the importers Monday - I'll ask them and report back.

Officially, the Explorer 300P is still unavailable as an OTA. That isn't to say that a friendly dealer can't separate a mount/scope and sell them separately.... Please phone if interested :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites
FLO

FLO

Posted
  • Author
Posted

From Ade Ashford's review of the Skyliner 300P:

“The Sky-Watcher Skyliner range offers some of the best-equipped instruments of this type….Cools down surprisingly rapidly for such a large instrument….Jupiter displayed a wealth of detail despite its low altitude….The Moon surface was replete with sharply defined rille, craterlet and mountain detail….The Skyliner-300P really showed its mettle on the deep-sky. The Hercules globular cluster M13 was a magnificent sight….At 300x the scope clearly showed even diffraction rings around all four components of Epsilon Lyrae….This instrument offers a staggering specification for the money with an optical performance that would be the envy of many a manufacturer. With equipment like this available at such reasonable cost, observers truly have never had it so good.”

And his conclusion of the 300P Flextube:

"It would be easy to pigeonhole the 305mm FlexTube as an innovative, transportable Dobsonian for the deep-sky enthusiast, but it's much more than that. Its stunning planetary prowess will have many observers redefining what larger aperture, short focal ratio Newtonians are capable of. In short, it's a precision instrument that breaks the stereotypical Dobsonian mold to deliver stunning planetary and deep-sky performance in a compact, readily transportable package."

"Like it? I love it!"

Links to his full reviews are on our website.

A point I'd like to 'carefully' make is that some will try to convince you that you need to pay extra to achieve this level of optical performance - it isn't true!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Carl

Carl

Posted
Posted

Using my super spidey senses and telekinesis skills of an elite ninja, I can tell you the setup is £1389.00

(OK, OK, so I just followed the link that Steve posted, it wasnt that hard really)

:laughing3:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 4 years later...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.