If Nebulas and Galaxies Excite You, So Will This “Space-Efficient” Deep-Sky Scope!
Orion SkyView™ Deluxe 8 EQ Newtonian
The newest addition to our popular SkyView Deluxe series is a deep-sky lover’s delight. Designed with abundant aperture, a modest focal length, a conveniently brief tube, and a solid equatorial mount, the SVD 8 is causing a buzz among those who have been looking for a portable, affordable, equatorially mounted instrument that can really “go deep.” With as much light-grasp as an 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain, and nearly as compact, the SVD 8 sells for several hundred dollars less, making it a very attractive value.
Optimized for Deep-Sky Observation
The combination of a 200mm aperture and relatively short, 800mm focal length makes this big SkyView a fast (f/4), wide-field system designed for deep-sky observation. Picturesque expanses of scattered clusters and nebular regions are its forte. If you have ever been tantalized by the diaphanous majesty of the Lagoon Nebula, or yearned for better clarity of the Rosette with its embedded cluster, or been intrigued by the twin splashes of the Double Cluster, you’re in for a treat. While this rich-field telescope excels on “faint fuzzies,” you won’t be disappointed by the crisp resolution it delivers on solar system subjects in a medium- or high-power eyepiece.
The SVD 8 uses a 200mm f/4 parabolic mirror meticulously ground and polished to meet the theoretical threshold for resolution. (As with any “fast” Newtonian, collimation is critical to achieving optimum images, but the procedure is easy with the SVD 8.) It collects 73% more light than a 6" mirror, so the step up in size yields noticeably better deep-sky performance. The elliptical flat secondary mirror is held in a fully adjustable three-vane “spider.”
Unusual Portability for an 8" Newt
The SVD 8 is “space-efficient” in more ways than one. While a typical 8"-class Newtonian might run 4-1/2' or 5' long, this one measures just 2' 5" end to end. Its reduced bulk and weight make it easier to transport to your favorite observing site, not to mention more space-efficient to store in the closet on cloudy nights. Another advantage is that it doesn’t require a behemoth of an equatorial mount to solidly support it: the SkyView Deluxe mount does the job admirably. The mount accommodates optional single- or dual-axis AccuTrack DC electronic drives for automatic star tracking and guiding, too.
The SkyView 8’s optical design and mount are optimized for visual applications. However, a camera body can be coupled to the focuser, with the addition of optional camera adapters.
The SVD 8 features a 1.25" aluminum rack-and-pinion focuser, lined with Teflon for extra-smooth motion. As with other SkyView Deluxe telescope models, the 8" comes with great accessories, including a 6x30 achromatic finder scope with aluminum, dual-ring bracket, Moon filter, and a pair of fully coated Orion Plossl eyepieces (1.25"): 25mm (32x) and 9mm (89x).
If the idea of a very portable rich-field telescope with space-penetrating aperture sounds like fun to you (it does to us!), then the SkyView Deluxe 8 EQ is your scope. Weighs 45 lbs. total. One-year limited warranty.
*NOTE: Only when ordered at same time as telescope.
Due to unprecedented demand, the AccuTrack elecronic drive will not be available until April 25, 2002. We will ship your telescope now, and ship the AccuTrack drive as soon as it becomes available. We will not charge your credit card for the AccuTrack drive until it ships.