151mm Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical Design 1800mm Focal Length f/12 Focal Ratio 94% Reflectivity Radiant Aluminum Quartz (RAQ)™ Coatings 31% Secondary Obstruction by Diameter 14 lb. Optical Tube Weight Description FAQ Specifications In the Box Warranty Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope The Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 delivers high-contrast planetary and lunar views through its 151mm Maksutov-Cassegrain optical system. Its 1800mm focal length and f/12 focal ratio produce high-magnification images, resolving detail down to the 0.77 arc-second Dawes limit. The optical tube weighs just 14 lbs, making it a portable instrument for serious visual observation. 1800mm Focal Length for High-Power Observation The Skymax 150's long 1800mm focal length is engineered for detailed views of solar system objects. This design naturally produces higher magnification with any given eyepiece compared to standard Newtonians or refractors, allowing you to easily resolve features like Jupiter's cloud bands, Saturn's Cassini Division, and the subtle crater chains on the Moon without requiring complex Barlow lens setups. 31% Secondary Obstruction for Enhanced Contrast A key advantage of the Maksutov design is its small secondary mirror. The Skymax 150 features a 47mm secondary, resulting in a central obstruction of only 31% by diameter. This minimizes diffraction effects and boosts image contrast, producing the sharp, refractor-like views that make Maksutov-Cassegrains the preferred instrument for planetary observers. 94% Reflectivity RAQ™ Mirror Coatings The primary mirror is coated with Sky-Watcher's Radiant™ Aluminum Quartz (RAQ™) coatings, achieving 94% reflectivity for brighter images. Combined with fully multi-coated corrector lens optics, the system maximizes light transmission to ensure faint planetary details and subtle deep-sky structures are not lost. The result is a brighter, more detailed image at the eyepiece. Borosilicate Primary Mirror: Provides thermal stability, reducing the time needed for the telescope to acclimate to ambient temperatures for sharp, stable views. Primary Mirror Focuser: Moving the primary mirror to focus eliminates the image shift common with external Crayford focusers, especially when using heavier 2" accessories. Included 28mm LET Eyepiece: The supplied 2-inch eyepiece yields a magnification of 64.3x, perfect for locating objects and enjoying wide-field views before increasing power. Skymax 150 vs. a 6" Schmidt-Cassegrain While both designs are compact, the Skymax 150 Maksutov-Cassegrain holds a distinct advantage for planetary viewing. A comparable 6-inch SCT often has a larger secondary obstruction, which slightly reduces contrast. The Maksutov's optical design inherently produces sharper, higher-contrast views, making it a specialist for resolving fine detail on bright objects. However, the trade-off is a slower f/12 focal ratio, which means the Skymax is less suited for wide-field, deep-sky astrophotography compared to a faster f/10 SCT. How does the Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 perform on Jupiter with its 1800mm focal length? The Skymax 150's 1800mm focal length makes it an exceptional instrument for observing Jupiter. This long focal length allows you to easily achieve the high magnifications (over 200x with the right eyepiece) needed to resolve the planet's main atmospheric features. You can expect to clearly see the primary equatorial belts, distinguish color variations, and spot the Great Red Spot when it is visible. The high-contrast optics will also help in resolving the four Galilean moons as distinct disks during transits. Is the Skymax 150 a good choice for observing globular clusters like M13? Yes, the Skymax 150 is a great telescope for globular clusters. Its 151mm aperture gathers enough light to resolve the dense cores of bright clusters like the Hercules Cluster (M13) into individual stars. The f/12 focal ratio provides a dark sky background that makes the cluster stand out, and at high power, you can begin to see the "star dust" effect across the entire object. What kind of mount do I need for the Sky-Watcher Skymax 150? With an optical tube weight of 14 lbs, the Skymax 150 is manageable for a wide range of mounts. For visual use, a sturdy alt-azimuth mount like the Sky-Watcher AZ5 or a computerized AZ-GTi would be sufficient. For astrophotography, a robust German equatorial mount with a payload capacity of at least 20-25 lbs, such as a Sky-Watcher HEQ5-R or EQ6-R, is recommended to handle the telescope and additional imaging gear while maintaining tracking accuracy. Can I use the Skymax 150 for deep-sky astrophotography? While possible, the Skymax 150 is not optimized for deep-sky imaging. Its long f/12 focal ratio requires much longer exposure times to capture faint nebulae and galaxies compared to faster instruments like a Newtonian or refractor. It excels at planetary, lunar, and solar imaging where its long focal length is a significant advantage. What is the advantage of the 31% secondary obstruction on the Skymax 150? The small 31% central obstruction is a primary reason for the Skymax 150's high-contrast views. A smaller secondary mirror blocks less of the incoming light path, which reduces diffraction and improves the transfer of fine detail. This results in sharper images with darker sky backgrounds, which is especially noticeable when observing the Moon and planets. Does the Skymax 150 come with everything I need to start observing? The Skymax 150 optical tube assembly includes several key accessories to get you started. It comes with a 9x50 finderscope for locating objects, a 2-inch star diagonal for comfortable viewing, and a 2-inch 28mm LET eyepiece that provides a 64.3x magnification. You will still need to provide a compatible mount and tripod to use the telescope. Optical Design Maksutov-Cassegrain True Aperture 151 mm Focal Length 1800 mm Focal Ratio f/12 Primary Aperture 166 mm Mirror Coatings Radiant Aluminum Quartz (RAQ)™ with 94% reflectivity Lens Coatings Fully Multi-Coated Glass Type BK7/Borosilicate Secondary Obstruction (by diameter) 31% Secondary Obstruction (by area) 10% Secondary Diameter 47 mm Dawes Limit 0.77 arc-seconds Rayleigh Limit 0.93 arc-seconds Limiting Magnitude 13.4 Maximum Magnification 295x Minimum Magnification 21x Focuser Primary Mirror Adjustment OTA Weight (with accessories) 14 lbs OTA Length 17.5 inches OTA Outer Diameter 7.5 inches Included Eyepiece 28mm LET (2-inch) Magnification (with included eyepiece) 64.3x Included Finder 9x50 Optical Finder Included Diagonal 2" Star Diagonal Mounting Dovetail V-style Rail UPC 050234115308 Skymax 150 Maksutov-Cassegrain OTA × 1 9x50 Finderscope with Bracket × 1 2" Star Diagonal × 1 28mm LET Eyepiece (2") × 1 V-style Dovetail Rail × 1 Dust Caps × 1 Sky-Watcher 2-Year Limited Warranty
