New Skywatcher kit at Astrofest

[Mark at Beaufort]

This appeared on the Astronomy Now blog for the show.

On display at the Optical Vision Ltd stand at this year's Astrofest will be the following new Skywatcher products:

Skyliner-400P 16" Flextube Go-To Dobsonian, a prototype of the forthcoming EQ8 Synscan Go-To mount, the SkyTee-2 Dual Alt-Azimuth mount, the new QUATTRO-series f/4 Carbon-Fibre Imaging Newtonians and ED150 3/5 Element Apochromatic Refractor.

Could be interesting!

Mark

[russ]

Looking forward to seeing all those. Would like to walk away with the ED150 refractor.

[Ludd]

Phew, that ED150 looks mighty cool in the flesh. I didn't dare ask any of the OVL people what sort of price they expect it to sell for but it gives me some hope that, as kit continues to improve, I might be able to get something like that when I retire. And that flextube is a real beast - how on earth would you move that around?

[Phil Fargaze]

Back from astrofest, that 16" dob is massive

[brianb]

that flextube is a real beast - how on earth would you move that around?

Wheely bars?

Incidentally the Meade 16" Lightbridge is pretty portable, it will easily go in a small hatchback though the "mirror housing" lump is heavy and the assembly time is not trivial.

[geoff_k]

I didn't go to Astrofest, but was wondering if they had any indication of a price for the ED-150 refractor. Might be very competitive knowing Skywatcher.

Geoff

[airprox]

Hmmm... I wonder if, once the EQ8 comes out, there'll be a glut of EQ6's on the secong hand market? I think I should start svaing my pennies!