Skywatcher 150mm 6" Pro Series Maksutov Scope

[Matt2011]

Hello, I am Matt from Torquay England and own a Skywatcher 127 5" Supatrak Skymax Maksutov Scope and would like to update it to a 150mm Skywatcher Pro Series Skymax Maksutov Scope so basically an extra inch from the one i have which is a 5" Mak but would there be a lot of difference between a 5" Maksutov and a 6" Maksutov as far as what i will be able to see as i am a moon and planet person and will there be a difference with 1 extra inch in aperture. Thanks

[Nimon]

Hello and welcome from me. Sadly I can't help you personally as I'm very new not only to this forum but in general. Everyone is is very helpful and I'm sure someone will be able to reply with a response soon!

All the best!

[Ags]

I hope to go from a 102mm mak to the same 150mm mak you are contemplating. I think if I already had 127mm I would look for a bigger jump - the 180mm mak or a C8 / C9.25.

Another reason is that the 150mm mak will need a fairly good mount - probably able to carry one of these larger scopes instead.

Wecome to the forum!

[GazOC]

I agree with Ags. I don't think the extra inch in aperture is worth the upgrade in terms of views it will give or the new mount it will probably require.

[Matt2011]

I probably would do better then to wait and upgrade to a bigger scope like the 180mm Pro Series Skywatcher Maksutov and these scopes look great in there black and white finishings and the mounting I use is a Az Goto mount with Synscan but I have not mastered the Synscan as I am having difficulties trying to set it up so I am using my standard Skywatcher handset that came with the 127 Skywatcher Skymax Auto Track Scope until I have another go but I have managed to get the bubble level on the mount and type in the date/time and set the long/lat as well and even though its pointing in the right direction object of the objects I am wanting to see its quite far off to be honest. Thanks

[Matt2011]

I am gonna save up and get the Skywatcher 180mm 8" Pro Series Maksutov Scope I think and there nice looking scopes and like the black and white colour. Would a Refractor though of say 4" or more give better images and results for planets and the moon as i tend to look at them more than anything else but I like the look of the Skywatcher Refractors and are they better than the Skywatcher Maksutov for moon and planetary work as my just invest in one but would a 4" Refractor give better results for planet and moon observations! Many Thanks:)

[GazOC]

I have a ED120 (a 5" refractor) which I love but my 180mm Mak gives noticably better views on the planets.

[GazOC]

BTW Matt I'm going to move this thead to the Equipment forum where it'll probaby get more replies.

[Matt2011]

Thanks, No Problem and also the mount I have for my Skywatcher 127 is a AZ Goto mount and have the Synscan also but would a Skywatcher 180mm Pro Series Skmax Maksutov fit on to this mount as obviously the 180mm 8" is bigger than the 127mm 5" scope that fits on to the AZ Goto mount but would I need to invest in another mount for a bigger aperture Maksutov. Thanks:)

[Matt2011]

I love watching The Sky at Night and Patrick Moore is a legend and love the work that Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel does on the show and when there observing in Patrick Moore's garden in Selsey. Think the show needs to be on for 45mins rather than 20 mins and see more night time observing and invite other astronomers like Ninian Boyle and Brian Cox on to it:)

[GazOC]

I think you'd need at least an EQ5 for the 180mm Mak, preferably a HEQ5.

[Matt2011]

Thanks GazOC and I am gearing towards that 180mm Mak but was thinking that as I mainly view the moon and planets I would like to ask if a Refractor would be better than a Mak and what size would be perfect if i wanna upgrade from a 127 5" Mak. Many Thanks

[brantuk]

Hi Matt and welcome to SGL

I agree with the others - a 1" upgrade will barely be worth the extra expense. Wait untill you can afford a better scope/mount combination with a larger apperture. I would add that you can never spend too much on a good quality mount large enough to take a variety of ota types/sizes.

[appalachik]

Hi Matt, unless you are concerned about portability, always get the most solid mount you can first. Seems like a mount upgrade will enable you to wait until a good deal on an OTA comes along... and in the meantime, improved stability means better hi magnification views with the scope you already have. Also, it becomes a better imaging platform if that is something you are interested in.

Jenna

[todd8137]

hi and welcome

[Whippy]

I think you'd need at least an EQ5 for the 180mm Mak, preferably a HEQ5.

As it happens Gaz I gave my Skymax 180 and EQ5 it's first light on Tuesday and it was pretty sturdy, it just about balanced with one counterweight .

Tony..

[Macavity]

It's a difficult one. I can (obviously!) convince myself that my MAK150 is "better" than my MAK127. But such is subjectivity. I look on it as a "BIG MAK 127"

[nightfisher]

As it happens Gaz I gave my Skymax 180 and EQ5 it's first light on Tuesday and it was pretty sturdy, it just about balanced with one counterweight .

Tony..

thats interesting, im looking into getting a skywatcher mak, and wondered how the eq5 could handle a 180

[Macavity]

I suspect I could convince myself that my (deliberately purchased) MAK150 is "better" than my previous MAK127. <G> And I DO sense it does have a bit more "oomph" on e.g. galactic clusters. But it shares many of the 127's (general purpose) characteristics. The MAK180 as a definitive step into slower (F15) "planetary / lunar" specialisation - Narrowed field, extra weight, cool-down time etc.

The MAK127 sits well on a Synscan GoTo. Both the others are (quite a bit!) heavier, so a bigger mount is obligatory. The MAK150 is often paired with an EQ5. The MAK180 would need an HEQ5... A bit of "brawn", in the handling too!

[GazOC]

As it happens Gaz I gave my Skymax 180 and EQ5 it's first light on Tuesday and it was pretty sturdy, it just about balanced with one counterweight .

Tony..

I thought it might mate but I've only ever used mine on a HEQ5 so thought I'd err on the side of caution.

[Whippy]

No worries mate, I was quietly confident it'd work and it was even a bit gusty on Tuesday but it stood firm. Well chuffed with it too .

Tony..

[Matt2011]

Basically I have this Skywatcher 127 5" Maksutov Supa Trak Scope and I like this scope as I like the portability and that is very important and keep it in my room. The mount is a Skywatcher AZ Goto Mount and was aiming to get the 6" version 150mm to what I got in the Skywatcher Pro Series but being that its only 1" more it may not show much more on the moon and planets as these are objects I look at the most and a few star clusters and double stars like mizar but i like some deep sky objects also but planets and moon are what I observe mostly. Would it be worth my while in investing in a Skywatcher Refractor that is portable like my Mak and what would anyone recommend from a upgrade from my Skywatcher 127mm 5" Mak and would a Refractor give even better views and images that my 127mm 5" Mak Scope but there is a 4" Skywatcher I also have my eye on and would that out perform my Skywatcher 127mm 5" Mak in looking at planets and the moon. Appreciate any opinions and thanks for your help:)

[Matt2011]

I meant 4" Skywatcher Refractor in that I have seen one and would that be a gr8 upgrade from a Skywatcher 127mm 5" Supa Trak Skymax Scope for moon and planetary observing! Many Thanks

[Matt2011]

As far as observing the moon and planets is concerned which performs better a maksutov or a refractor!

[GazOC]

Bang for buck its a Mak IMHO. For moon/ planets a 4" refractor isn't really an upgrade over your 127mm Mak. You'd want a 5", 6" refractor to see a difference but for that money you can get a 7" Mak which would be better again...