Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store my telescope?

It is unnecessary to separate the optical tube and the mount when storing the telescope. It can be stored in one unit in a clean, dry, and dust-free environment. If it has to be stored outdoors, cover it with a heavy-duty plastic cover to prevent it from getting wet. Make sure that the dust cap for the front of the telescope and the cover for the rear opening are on. Accessories should be stored separately in a box, with all their caps on. Some people do store the reflecting telescope in two parts, leaving the telescope tube upside down on the ground to prevent dust from settling down on the primary mirror. However, it is not proven that it really helps.

How do I safely transport my telescope?

The telescope can be transported in 2 main parts: telescope tube and mount. Loosen the thumbscrews on the tube rings and remove the telescope tube from the mount. We suggest removing the accessories (finderscope and bracket, and the eyepiece) from the optical tube. Cover the telescope tube and the eyepiece with their caps. It is also convenient to remove the fine-adjustment control cables and counterweight rod/counterweights. The accessory tray should be removed in order to transport with the 3 tripod legs closed. The telescope can be transported in a vehicle without a problem. Padded insulation can prevent scratches on the tube but it is not necessary. The mirrors may go out of collimation after a bumpy ride, but collimation would be required after transportation anyway, with or without padding.

Should I use colour filters?

Colour filters, which usually thread into the eyepiece barrel, are almost a necessity for viewing planetary detail. By using an appropriate colour, you can highlight a specific planetary feature. This often allows you see two to three times as much detail as in an unfiltered view.

Should I get a motor drive with my equatorial mount?

A motor drive is necessary for many types of astrophotography, but it is more than just a convenience for visual observation as well. At 200x magnification, the Earth's rotation will move an object out of your field of view in about two seconds. A Right Ascension motor drive will keep an object in the centre of the field where the image is the best without producing the objectionable vibrations experienced with manual tracking. Adding a Declination motor drive and a hand controller allows you to guide for astrophotography.

What is the advantage of a large aperture telescope?

The larger the aperture, the higher the practical magnification limit. Since more light is collected and brought to focus by a larger aperture telescope, fainter objects can be seen with it than with smaller apertures. Under good seeing conditions when air is not turbulent, a larger aperture objective gives higher resolution, letting you see finer details.

I’m trying to collimate my reflector but all I see at the back of my telescope is 3 Phillips-head screws. Where are the 2 sets of screws?

Your optical tube is probably covered with a metal back plate. The 3 Phillips-head screws are there to hold the metal plate in place. Loosen them and remove the metal plate. You should be able to see the back of the primary mirror and 2 sets of screws around it.

Which mount should I buy for my telescope?

If your instrument is for land use only, select the alt-azimuth mounting, but if it’s for astronomical or dual use, the equatorial mounting is the best choice. Make sure that the mounting you select is strong enough to carry the telescope you've chosen. Heavier or longer telescopes need stronger mounts to be stable at high magnifications. When in doubt, over-mount the instrument; choose the mount one size up if you want extra stability.

The image with my low power eyepiece is clear, but my high power is fuzzy. What's wrong with it?

There's probably nothing wrong with the eyepiece: you have probably exceeded the resolving power of your telescope. A television set looks clear 10 metres away, but up close, you can see the imperfections.

Which eyepiece design is best?

This often asked question is quite irrelevant, as different designs' performance varies with different telescopes. Different eyepiece designs have various characteristics. For example, an expensive widefield design is not required for planetary viewing, where the only important thing is maximum contrast. A Plossl or Orthoscopic would probably be best, but almost all designs are good performers on-axis for any f/ratio. Telescopes with F/ratios>10 are quite tolerant of simple low-element eyepieces up to 55 deg. A.F., but telescopes <6 are a different matter. Off-axis performance requires powerful correction to properly image the highly convergent beam. Each eyepiece and telescope performs as a system, and their image can only be evaluated as much.

How much power does my telescope have?

A telescope has three types of power, and they are measured against the performance of a normal human eye. They are magnifying power, light-gathering power, and resolving power. All three are important, but the most important is resolving power. The longer the focal length of a telescope, the more a particular eyepiece will magnify the image. However, there is a practical magnification limit of 2x per mm of telescope aperture. Using an eyepiece that gives a magnification beyond that limit is normally of little use. The amount of light that a telescope can gather depends on the size of the aperture, and the more light that can be gathered, the better the resolution. What you will see through your telescope will then depend on these three powers.

Where can I find prices for Sky-Watcher telescopes?

We at Pacific Telescope are only able to provide the MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail price) to the public. E-mail our customer service with the telescope units you are interested in to obtain the suggested retail prices. To receive more accurate pricing information, or prices on parts and accessories, we suggest that you contact our dealers directly.

How do I become a Sky-Watcher dealer?

We always welcome new dealers and independent sales representatives to join us in promoting the Sky-Watcher product line. If you are in Canada or Asia, e-mail our sales department and we will take it from there. If you are in Europe, please contact our European distributor nearest you.

Where can I buy Sky-Watcher telescopes in the U.S.?

Please contact Sky-Watcher USA:

Sky-Watcher USA
475 Alaska Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503
phone: +1 310-803-5953 x 306
fax: +1 310-803-5953 x 306
website: http://www.skywatcherusa.com/
e-mail: JSimon@skywatcherusa.com

Can I buy direct from you?

We at Pacific Telescope do not sell direct to the public, with only one exception: the floor model sale. The floor model sales are not held often and will be announced on our website.

I live in Europe, where can I buy Sky-Watcher telescopes?

You can buy Sky-Watcher products through our European distributor in your area.

What can I see with my telescope?

Astronomically, you can see the Moon, the Sun if correctly filtered, all of the planets except perhaps Pluto, some surface details on Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, multiple stars, globular and open clusters, bright nebulae, galaxies, and nearby galaxy clusters. Terrestrially, there are wildlife, sports, etc., but remember that daytime viewing is often over areas that may radiate heat, so very distant subjects may shimmer.

Where can I buy Sky-Watcher telescopes in Canada?

We have dealers in most provinces in Canada.

Will I see objects as they appear in photographs?

Yes and no. Bright objects like the Moon, some planets, and some star clusters will show colours and features just like photographs, but faint objects are more difficult. The eye is not sensitive enough to detect colour at low light levels, so even bright nebulae appear as shades of gray in small telescopes.

Will a telescope work without an eyepiece?

Not for visual purposes, as the eye cannot process the real image made by the objective. The telescope may be used without an eyepiece for camera and other instruments.

How much magnification can I use with my telescope?

Every telescope is different, but a rough rule of thumb is 30-50X per inch diameter of the objective. A good refractor may, however, use 100X/inch on bright objects, so this is not a hard rule.

How do I choose the alignment stars for Two Star Alignment?

Generally speaking, choose an object close to the meridian line as the first alignment star. If you have performed manual mount calibration and are sure that your mount is free of cone error, select any star that SkyScan recommends as the second star.

How do I choose the alignment star for One Star Alignment?

Objects with smaller DEC are better suited for One Star Alignment.

How do I find objects using the setting circles?

Periodicals like "SkyNews", "Sky&Telescope" and "Astronomy" will tell you where the moon and planets are, and the location of all other objects can be found in Star Charts. The quickest way to find objects is to learn the Constellations and use the finderscope.

How do I find objects in the sky?

The sky is mapped out in a spherical coordinate system similar to the system of Latitude and Longitude on the surface of the Earth. On the imaginary celestial sphere, the coordinates are Declination and Right Ascension.

How do I polar align my telescope?

For visual use, only a rudimentary alignment of the polar axis of your equatorial mount is required. First, the finderscope should already have been aligned to the telescope by centering a distant fixed object in the telescope's field.

What is polarscope? How do I use it?

A polarscope is a specialized finderscope which is used to align an equatorial mount with the celestial pole.

How do I take photographs through my telescope?

Most telescopes can be adapted to act as lenses for single lens reflex (SLR) cameras. For the basic technique of "prime focus" photography, all you generally need are a camera body, a T-ring specifically made for your camera body, and sometimes a combination T-adapter designed for your telescope.

I am observing Jupiter but I only see a shimmering disk. What am I doing wrong?

Astronomers must be patient; you must optimize your observing site and times, as well as your equipment.

Is there a difference between the EQ4 and EQ5 mount?

There are small differences in mechanical designs of the two mounts. The functions and performances of the two, however, are the same.

What is the difference between the EQ3 and EQ3-2 mount?

The EQ3 and EQ3-2 are identical. EQ3 is the former model name for the EQ3-2 mount.

My new Sky-Watcher telescope only came with an assembly instruction, shouldn't I get a complete manual?

We sincerely apologize for this. We are currently working on more complete telescope operation manuals.

I clicked on the link to download the manual but all I see is page 1 out of 9 pages, and it is incomplete. What is wrong?

Some of the instructions may take a while to download.

How do I collimate my Sky-Watcher reflector?

In order for your reflecting telescope to produce proper images, the primary mirror must reflect light directly back up the tube to the secondary mirror which directs the beam at 90° to the eyepiece.

How do I adjust the secondary mirror of my 10" Dobsonian?

You will need a 2mm Allen wrench.

I cannot open the manual I downloaded.

You will need either the Adobe Acrobat Reader or Adobe Acrobat to open the instruction files.

How do I choose my eyepiece?

For standard eyepieces with a 50-degree apparent field of view, Plössl eyepieces are a good choice if your telescope's focal ratio is f7 or less.

Is high magnification better?

Only for some objects, although undermagnification is often a problem, even for experienced observers.

Why are some eyepieces more expensive than others?

When you pay more for an eyepiece, you are usually paying for: Field of view, Eye relief, and Coatings.

Why is the image better at the center of the field?

All commercial eyepieces are made with spherical elements, as these are the only type that are easily mass-produced.

What is the black spot I see in a low-powered eyepiece in my reflector during daylight?

A low-powered eyepiece in a reflector produces a large exit pupil with a large image of the secondary mirror obstruction.

Which works better? An eyepiece or a Barlow+eyepiece giving the same magnification?

Optically, for all other uses, the eyepiece+barlow outperforms the eyepiece working alone.

How important is it to get a parfocal series of eyepieces?

Parfocal eyepiece sets reduce the amount of refocusing when changing powers, but it is rare when no refocusing is required.

Do anti-reflection coatings improve light transmission?

Yes.

When I'm observing a bright object like a planet, I see an opposing ghost image. What causes that?

The ghost image is caused by internal reflections inside the eyepiece.

How many eyepieces should I have?

Eyepieces are the most critical factor concerning the performance of your telescope, excepting a dark sky.

How do I choose the alignment stars for Three Star Alignment?

The first alignment star should be an object close to the meridian line.

What is the appropriate magnification for alignment?

High magnification is recommended for any type of alignment procedure.

What is Cone Error and how do I correct it?

"Cone" error is a common inaccuracy found on all German equatorial mounts.

I don't see a Date Circle Pointer on my EQ6 mount. What do I do?

It is easy to make an indicator that you can use as a pointer for your date scale.

What is the privacy policy of the mobile apps (SynScan app, SA Console app)?

Location data: If you choose to allow it, the apps can access the location of your device. The location information does not leave your device.