Dobsonian telescopes are among the most practical instruments in astronomy. They are of simple construction and yet a brilliant idea. They essentially consist of two parts: firstly the optics, which in most cases is a solid tube or truss tube design; and secondly the mount, a wooden box (also called a 'rocker box') which sits on the ground and into which the telescope is inserted. This design allows you to begin observing sessions immediately without first having to spend time setting up and aligning a complicated mount. The basic idea of the Dobsonian design came from the wish to have a big telescope at a low price, a wish that has succeeded brilliantly. A true fan base has developed since the invention of the Dobsonian telescope which is dedicated to these instruments and their fascinating simplicity and to the idea of 'high performance at low price'.
The N 304/1520 telescope: This Dobsonian has a diameter of 304mm (12") and a focal length of 1520mm. This means an aperture ratio of f/5 is achieved. A telescope like this is capable of collecting large amounts of light! In a more or less dark sky, you can see stars up to a limiting magnitude of 14mag.
Starting at an aperture of 304mm, you can pick out many deep sky objects which would not be possible to observe with smaller instruments. The secondary mirror’s braces are very thin and, therefore, create little diffraction.
It not only matters which telescope you buy but also where you buy it. Our additional services:
- We are a leading telescope dealer and know the devices we sell. Our customer service team will gladly help you after your purchase if you have problems with assembly or operation.
- We provide a copy of the 80-page "Telescope ABC" beginners handbook with every telescope.
