203mm (8-inch) Newtonian Reflector 1200mm Focal Length Fast f/5.9 Focal Ratio Collapsible OTA Extends from 33" to 44" 94% Reflectivity Radiant Aluminum Quartz (RAQ)™ Coatings 2" Crayford-style Focuser Description FAQ Specifications In the Box Downloads Warranty Sky-Watcher Flextube 200P Collapsible Dobsonian The Sky-Watcher Flextube 200P delivers the light-gathering power of a 203mm primary mirror and a 1200mm focal length for resolving deep-sky structure. Its f/5.9 focal ratio provides a wide field of view, while the Radiant Aluminum Quartz (RAQ)™ mirror coatings ensure 94% reflectivity for bright, high-contrast images. This innovative design collapses the optical tube from 44 inches to just 33 inches for transport, combining the large aperture of a traditional Dobsonian with the portability required for dark-sky excursions. 203mm Aperture with 94% Reflectivity Coatings At the heart of the Flextube 200P is a parabolic primary mirror made from low-expansion borosilicate glass. With a 203mm aperture, this telescope gathers 78% more light than a 6-inch model, allowing you to resolve faint details in distant galaxies and nebulae. The mirror is coated with Sky-Watcher's proprietary Radiant™ Aluminum Quartz (RAQ™), achieving 94% reflectivity across the visual spectrum for brighter images and improved contrast. Collapsible Flextube Design: From 44" to 33" The key innovation of the Flextube series is its collapsible truss-tube optical tube assembly (OTA). This design allows the 44-inch-long tube to retract to a compact 33 inches, making it easy to transport in a standard vehicle. The robust truss system maintains collimation between sessions, minimizing setup time once you arrive at your observing site. The entire OTA, with accessories, weighs only 24.2 lbs, making it manageable for a single person to set up. Stable Dobsonian Base with Tension Control The Dobsonian base provides a simple, stable, and intuitive platform for navigating the night sky. The Flextube 200P's 26 lb base uses Teflon bearings for smooth, effortless motion in azimuth. For altitude adjustments, Sky-Watcher's patented tension control handle allows you to vary the friction, providing precise control and locking the tube in place to accommodate eyepieces of different weights. This system ensures the telescope remains balanced and steady, even when using heavier 2-inch eyepieces with the included adapter. 2" Crayford Focuser and Included Accessories The Flextube 200P features a single-speed 2" Crayford-style focuser for smooth, precise adjustments without image shift. It includes a 2" to 1.25" adapter, allowing you to use a wide range of eyepieces. The package comes ready to observe with two 1.25" eyepieces (20mm and 12.5mm) providing 60x and 96x magnification, and a high-quality 8x50 Right-Angle Correct-Image (RACI) finderscope that makes locating objects comfortable and intuitive. Is the Sky-Watcher Flextube 200P good for viewing planets? Yes, the Flextube 200P's 1200mm focal length and 203mm aperture make it an excellent instrument for planetary observing. It can easily resolve details like Jupiter's cloud bands and Great Red Spot, the rings of Saturn, and polar ice caps on Mars. For higher magnification, you will want to supplement the included eyepieces with a higher-power 1.25" eyepiece or a 2x Barlow lens. How portable is the Flextube 200P Dobsonian? The Flextube 200P is designed for portability. The optical tube collapses from 44" to 33", allowing it to fit across the back seat of most cars. The OTA weighs 24.2 lbs and the base weighs 26 lbs, so the two components can be moved separately and assembled in minutes at your observing site. Do I need to collimate the Flextube 200P every time I use it? While the Flextube's truss system is designed to hold collimation well, all Newtonian telescopes require occasional alignment. It is good practice to check collimation before each session, especially after transport. However, you will likely find that only minor adjustments are needed, if any, after extending the tube. What deep-sky objects can I see with the Flextube 200P from a dark-sky site? From a dark location, the 203mm aperture of the Flextube 200P will reveal a vast range of deep-sky objects. You can expect to see intricate dust lanes in the Orion Nebula (M42), resolve individual stars in the Hercules Cluster (M13), and identify the spiral structure of brighter galaxies like the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51). What is the advantage of the Flextube 200P's f/5.9 focal ratio? An f/5.9 focal ratio is considered relatively "fast" for a Dobsonian. This provides a wider true field of view compared to a longer f/ratio telescope, making it easier to locate objects and view large star clusters and nebulae in their entirety. It also makes the telescope more forgiving of minor collimation errors than faster f/4 or f/5 systems. Can I use 2-inch eyepieces with the Sky-Watcher Flextube 200P? Yes. The Flextube 200P comes with a 2" Crayford focuser and a 2" to 1.25" adapter. This allows you to use both standard 1.25" eyepieces and larger 2" wide-field eyepieces. The base's tension control handle helps manage the extra weight of heavy 2" eyepieces to keep the telescope perfectly balanced. UPC 050234117005 Optical Design Newtonian Primary Aperture 203mm (8") Focal Length 1200mm Focal Ratio f/5.9 Mirror Coatings Radiant Aluminum Quartz (RAQ)™ coatings with 94% reflectivity Glass Type Borosilicate Secondary Diameter 48mm Secondary Obstruction (by diameter) 24% Secondary Obstruction (by area) 6% Dawes Limit 0.57 arc-seconds Rayleigh Limit 0.69 arc-seconds Limiting Magnitude 14 Maximum Magnification 400x Minimum Magnification 29x Focuser 2" Crayford OTA Length (Retracted) 33" OTA Length (Extended) 44" OTA Outer Diameter 9.375" OTA Weight (with accessories) 24.2 lbs Dobsonian Base Weight 26 lbs Dobsonian Base Dimensions 29.5" x 20" Zenith Eyepiece Height 44.5" Included Finderscope 8x50 RACI Included Eyepieces 20mm, 12.5mm (1.25") Magnification with Eyepieces 60x, 96x Flextube 200P OTA × 1 Dobsonian Base × 1 8x50 RACI Finderscope × 1 20mm 1.25" Eyepiece × 1 12.5mm 1.25" Eyepiece × 1 2" to 1.25" Eyepiece Adapter × 1 Dust Caps × 1 Download Sky-Watcher Flextube Collapsible Dobsonian Manual Download SynScan Pro App Sky-Watcher 2-Year Warranty
