Skywatcher Explorer 130 & 130p Telescopes

[FLO]

The 2013 BBC Stargazing Live series begins tonight at 8pm on BBC2. Last year after watching the series I wrote a short article for our website discussing one of the telescopes shown. I shall be doing the same again this year, meanwhile here is last year's article again

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We kept a keen eye on the telescopes mentioned in tonight’s episode of Stargazing Live hosted by Professor Brian Cox and Dara O’Brian. The BBC were of course careful not to endorse a particular brand or product but the Skywatcher Explorer 130p SupaTrak was easy to identify. This is good as it is an excellent choice for someone starting out in amateur astronomy. The program also mentioned what looked like a 3 or 4-inch achromat refractor on a German Equatorial Mount and another on a computerised GOTO mount. Of the three telescopes the Skywatcher is most capable so is the one discussed here.

Why this telescope?

The Skywatcher Explorer 130p SupaTrak is a Newtonian reflecting telescope that uses a 5-inch parabolic mirror to gather light then focus it onto another smaller mirror which reflects it out of the tube and into the eyepiece. Mirrors are easier to manufacture than lenses so are cheaper to buy in large apertures and because they ‘reflect’ light they do not suffer from the 'false colour' fringing around bright targets. All things considered Newtonian reflecting telescopes offer more performance per £ than any other design so are popular with beginners looking for a capable but affordable telescope.

What will I be able to see?

The 130p’s 5-inch (130mm) aperture will comfortably reveal a number of Jupiter’s weather bands and moons. Saturn’s ring’s will also be clearly visible and a number of it’s moons. Mars will appear as an orange disk with subtle shading. The lunar surface will show a wealth of detail and at times it will feel like you can reach out and scratch plaster! The telescope also gathers enough light to reveal a number of deep sky objects that are outside our solar system such as nebulae, globular star clusters and the brighter galaxies.

Which mount?

The Skywatcher 130p SupaTrak shown on Stargazing Live features a motorized mount that tracks the target as it moves across the sky. Motorized tracking is particularly useful if you observe with family or friends because they can take their time at the eyepiece without you intervening to re-centre the target.

The Skywacher Explorer 130p AZ GOTO takes things a step further. The AZ GOTO mount not only tracks the object, it will also find it via a computerised 'GOTO' handset. The GOTO function was mentioned in the Stargazing Live program. Essentially, after an alignment routine that includes entering your location, date and time you type in a targets name or number then at the press of a button the telescope slews across the sky then beeps when it has centred the target in the eyepiece field of view. It sounds Sci-Fi but it does work.

That is more than I want to spend.

No problem. Motorized and computer GOTO mounts are convenient but they are not necessary and they do not improve the view. The 130p is available as the Skywatcher Explorer 130p which features a more affordable manual mount. Optically it is the same and the manual mount includes slo-mo control cables for manual centring and tracking of the target. Manual tracking is not as difficult as it sounds and after some practice is something you will do instinctively, without thought.

That is still more than I want to spend.

The Skywatcher Explorer 130 and Skywatcher Explorer 130m (motorized) have the same 130mm aperture but cost less because their longer tube length permits the use of a spherical mirror which is more easy (cheaper) to manufacture. Some say parabolic mirrors are made to a higher quality but that isn’t true. Where a telescope’s tube length is long enough to permit a spherical mirror there is no benefit to having a parabolic mirror. The 130p with it's short tube 'needs' a parabolic mirror, the 130 doesn't. (Beware however of short-tube telescopes with spherical mirrors, they are not good!).

All the above offer the same optical quality, only the tube length and mount type vary. If you have room to store the longer tube then the more affordable 130 or 130M are an excellent choice and there is no reason to feel you have compromised.

Consider also the compact Skywatcher Heritage 130p Flextube with 130p optics on a portable quick to setup Dobsonian base.

What about collimation?

When the mirrors in a Newtonian reflecting telescope are aligned on the optical axis the light is focused precisely at the eyepiece. The mirrors will have been aligned at the factory but they might have drifted by the time the telescope reaches you. For optimum performance you will need to periodically re-align (collimate) the mirrors. Collimation is much easier to do than to explain, you need only a Cheshire collimating eyepiece. One of our customers offers this useful how to collimate a Newtonian article on her website.

Hhmm, so what else will I need?

Useful accessories include a 0.9x 1.25" Moon filter, a Planisphere and a red light torch. The telescopes are supplied with two eyepieces but at some point you will need others. Most astronomers own three or four eyepieces. We suggest you become familiar with what you have before before buying additional eyepieces but are happy to advise if you are in a hurry. You will also need a warm coat, thick socks and a hat!

We hope this article has been useful.

For further information please contact us via our helpdesk

[Barijohn]

Just ordered the Heritage 130P from you guys! Looking forward to the rain stopping and seeing the sky!

Decided the portability and simplicity of the dobsonian would mean I will use it more, as it is much more of a grab and go scope. Plus I can carry it up to the Pennines a lot easier to get some dark sky viewing.

Bari.

[FLO]

Just ordered the Heritage 130P from you guys! Looking forward to the rain stopping and seeing the sky!

You are going to have a lot of fun

[Naemeth]

Just ordered the Heritage 130P from you guys! Looking forward to the rain stopping and seeing the sky!

Decided the portability and simplicity of the dobsonian would mean I will use it more, as it is much more of a grab and go scope. Plus I can carry it up to the Pennines a lot easier to get some dark sky viewing.

Bari.

Excellent choice!

[Rmmbags]

Hi,

lovely piece.

I am in a quandry- I was about to hit the order button on a 130m but then felt that the 150p (no motor) might be more useful as it will take a DSLR.

IF MY BUDGET WILL STRETCH, WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE ADDED EXPENSE??

If so ,briefly, why?

looking forward to turning on the telly,

yours,

RM

[FLO]

Hi,

lovely piece.

I am in a quandry- I was about to hit the order button on a 130m but then felt that the 150p (no motor) might be more useful as it will take a DSLR.

IF MY BUDGET WILL STRETCH, WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE ADDED EXPENSE??

If so ,briefly, why?

looking forward to turning on the telly,

yours,

RM

Welcome to SGL

Comparing the Skywatcher 130M and Skywatcher 150p. The Skywatcher 150p lacks the motor (it can be added later, GOTO too) but offers a larger aperture (33% more light gathering) a more sturdy mount and a focuser that will accept both 1.25" and 2" eyepieces. But the 150p is 75% more expensive. If you are starting out I'm inclined to say go for the more affordable 130M and spend the money saved on a Moon filter, Cheshire collimator and an additional eyepiece. Astrophotography can wait, it is best that you spend your first year simply enjoying the views

HTH,

Steve

[swag72]

My mum has decided that she'd like a telescope. On account of the fact that I've looked through mine less than a dozen times, I am seriously wondering about one of those Heritage Flextubes. But as I've never tried to do anything without goto and she thinks I'm a bit of an expert to hold her hand and show her the ropes I'm really at a loss what to do! I'll keep my eye on this thread!

[Naemeth]

The Heritage 130P is a brilliant scope, it's easy enough to find your way around the sky, especially with Stellarium .

[Dodge]

The Heritage 130P is a brilliant scope, it's easy enough to find your way around the sky, especially with Stellarium .

Couldn't agree more. I wish Skywatcher would put the 130PDS OTA on the Heritage base, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

[Rmmbags]

On the basis that I will be less likely to need add-ons and/or an upgrade too soon if I spend more now, I have chosen the explorer 150p to which I can attach a DSLR as and when I am ready.

I'll let you know if there are problems

Rxx

[Rmmbags]

Oh!

I get the impression that it is customary for anyone who buys a new scope to apologise to the community for the terrible weather for the next 2weeks or so - so, my apologies to you all.

R.

[dougcoull]

Thinking of buying one but would like to be able to take photographs.

Budget is of course important and this fits the bill.

Not sure if I've fully understood but can this model have a camera - DSLR or otherwise connected.

I think DSLR would be my choice.

A total newbie here BTW.

TIA.

Dougie.