{"product_id":"sky-watcher-skymax-102-maksutov-cassegrain-ota","title":"Sky-Watcher Skymax 102 Maksutov-Cassegrain OTA","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Skymax 102 is a 102 mm Maksutov-Cassegrain optical tube working at 1300 mm of focal length and f\/12.7. The Maksutov layout folds that long focal length into a tube 12.25 inches long and 4.625 inches across, weighing 4.6 pounds - so a focal length that would need a five-foot refractor fits under one arm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis listing is the optical tube assembly. It is not the Skymax 102 AZ-GTi, which is the same optics sold as a bundle with Sky-Watcher's motorised AZ-GTi mount and tripod. What ships here is the tube with its visual accessories and a V-style dovetail plate; the mount and tripod are chosen separately, which is what most buyers want when they already own an AZ mount, a photo tripod head, or a small equatorial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a good match if the Moon, the planets and double stars are what you want to look at, and you want an instrument that lives in a shoulder bag rather than a corner of the garage. The 1300 mm focal length is roughly five to seven times longer than a typical small Newtonian or refractor, so useful planetary magnification arrives with ordinary eyepieces instead of a Barlow stack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt also suits anyone already carrying a mount. If you own an AZ-GTi, a Star Adventurer with a counterweight, an AZ5, or a sturdy photo tripod with a V-style saddle, the 4.6 pound tube slots straight in and you have a long-focal-length scope without buying another mount.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTravellers and balcony observers get the most out of it: the sealed tube means no collimation ritual before a session and no open tube to catch wind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e102 mm Maksutov-Cassegrain at 1300 mm f\/12.7:\u003c\/strong\u003e long focal length in a 12.25 inch tube, which is where the contrast on planetary detail comes from.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBorosilicate mirrors with Radiant Aluminum Quartz (RAQ) coatings:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sky-Watcher publishes 94% reflectivity for these coatings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFull-aperture meniscus corrector with MHTC coating:\u003c\/strong\u003e the corrector plate at the front seals the tube and carries Sky-Watcher's Metallic High-Transmission Coatings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInternal primary mirror focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e focusing moves the primary mirror inside the sealed tube, so nothing protrudes and the focuser cannot sag under an eyepiece.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSealed optical tube:\u003c\/strong\u003e the closed design keeps dust off the mirrors and holds collimation, so there is nothing to align before observing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eV-style dovetail plate fitted:\u003c\/strong\u003e mates directly with Vixen-style saddles, which covers the large majority of small alt-azimuth and equatorial mounts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded per Sky-Watcher's product page:\u003c\/strong\u003e two 1.25-inch eyepieces, red dot finder, 1.25-inch star diagonal, V-style dovetail and a soft carrying case.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGlossy black diamond metal-flake finish\u003c\/strong\u003e on the aluminium tube.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical \/ Mechanical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Maksutov-Cassegrain starts with a thick, full-aperture meniscus lens - the corrector plate - at the front of the tube. Light passes through it to a borosilicate primary mirror at the back, reflects forward to a secondary spot aluminised directly onto the inner face of the corrector, and then back out through a hole in the primary to the eyepiece. Folding the path that way is how 1300 mm of focal length fits inside a 12.25 inch tube.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe optical consequence is the reason people buy Maksutovs. Sky-Watcher describes the design as generally regarded as producing a sharper image than a Schmidt-Cassegrain, and the mechanism is the meniscus itself: it is a spherical, easily figured element, and the secondary is a coating on its back surface rather than a separately mounted mirror, so there is no secondary support structure and no diffraction spikes. The corrector also reduces chromatic aberration and, being full aperture, seals the tube against dust and tube currents.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFocusing works by moving the primary mirror along the optical axis inside the tube. There is no external drawtube to flex and no focuser to rebalance, and back focus is effectively adjustable across a wide range - which is what makes the tube tolerant of diagonals, extension tubes and cameras of different depths.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe f\/12.7 focal ratio is the trade. A long, slow cone delivers high contrast and a well-corrected central field at high power, and it means the exit pupil at any given eyepiece is small - excellent on the Moon and planets, less suited to sweeping large faint nebulae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLunar observing:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1300 mm puts crater walls and rille detail at high scale with a mid-focal-length eyepiece.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanetary observing:\u003c\/strong\u003e the unobstructed-looking contrast of a small central obstruction on Jupiter's belts, Saturn's rings and Mars at opposition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDouble stars:\u003c\/strong\u003e long focal length and a sealed, stable tube make close pairs a natural target.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLunar and planetary imaging:\u003c\/strong\u003e a planetary camera at native focal length gives a large image scale straight out of the visual back.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTerrestrial and daytime spotting\u003c\/strong\u003e with an erecting diagonal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTravel and grab-and-go:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4.6 pounds of tube, a soft case, and no setup ritual.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tube arrives on a V-style (Vixen-format) dovetail plate. That is the saddle standard on the AZ-GTi, AZ5, Star Adventurer GTi, EQM-35 and most small equatorial heads, so mounting is a matter of dropping it in and tightening the clamp. At 4.6 pounds it is well inside the payload of any of those.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe visual train is 1.25-inch: the supplied star diagonal and both eyepieces are 1.25-inch, and any 1.25-inch eyepiece, filter or camera nosepiece works directly. Because focusing moves the primary mirror rather than a drawtube, the tube reaches focus with a wide variety of accessory depths - a binoviewer, a longer diagonal, or a camera with a T-adapter will all come to focus without spacers in most cases.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor imaging, a standard 1.25-inch nosepiece planetary camera drops into the diagonal or straight into the visual back. If you are planning a specific camera or a T-thread connection, send us the model and we will confirm the adapter you need.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you want this scope with a mount and tripod as one package, the Skymax 102 AZ-GTi bundle is the version to look at, and we stock it separately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThis is the optical tube assembly, not a complete telescope package.\u003c\/strong\u003e Eyepieces, diagonal, finder, dovetail and soft case are included; no mount and no tripod. The Skymax 102 AZ-GTi bundle is the mounted version, sold as its own product.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocal ratio is f\/12.7.\u003c\/strong\u003e That is a long, slow cone - excellent for the Moon, planets and double stars, and a narrow field for large deep-sky objects. A 1.25-inch eyepiece at 1300 mm gives roughly a one-degree field at the low end.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSky-Watcher publishes tube weight as 4.6 pounds.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shipping weight is higher once the case and accessories are boxed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe finder specification differs between Sky-Watcher's two publications.\u003c\/strong\u003e Their product page lists a red dot finder for the Skymax 102; their Skymax Series product sheet lists a 6x30 straight-through finder. We confirm which finder is in the carton before shipping, and will tell you which one your unit has if you ask.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaksutovs need cooldown.\u003c\/strong\u003e The sealed tube and thick corrector reach ambient temperature more slowly than an open tube; the sharpest planetary views come after the optics have settled outdoors.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFree shipping applies to this item\u003c\/strong\u003e per Sky-Watcher's listing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is about as simple as a telescope gets. The tube is sealed and collimated at the factory, so there is no mirror alignment to perform - now or later. Setup is: slide the dovetail into your mount's saddle, tighten the clamp, drop the diagonal and an eyepiece into the back, and aim with the finder. At 4.6 pounds the whole thing goes up one-handed. The only thing that takes patience is cooldown, and that happens while you are setting up the rest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is this different from the Skymax 102 AZ-GTi we also sell?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSame optical tube. The AZ-GTi version adds Sky-Watcher's motorised, app-controlled AZ-GTi mount head and a tripod. This listing is the tube on its own, for people who already have a mount.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat mount does it need?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnything with a Vixen-style (V-format) saddle rated for 4.6 pounds plus eyepiece - an AZ-GTi, AZ5, Star Adventurer GTi with counterweight, or a small equatorial all work. Tell us what you own and we will confirm the fit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I photograph with it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLunar and planetary imaging works well at 1300 mm with a planetary camera. The f\/12.7 ratio makes long-exposure deep-sky imaging a slow proposition, so it is not the tube people choose for nebulae and galaxies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy a Maksutov instead of a Schmidt-Cassegrain of similar size?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSky-Watcher's position is that Maksutovs generally produce a sharper image. The design has a smaller central obstruction and a secondary mirror coated onto the corrector rather than mounted on a spider, which lifts contrast on planetary detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA sealed 102 mm Maksutov-Cassegrain optical tube that delivers 1300 mm of focal length in a 12.25 inch, 4.6 pound package, supplied with two 1.25-inch eyepieces, a diagonal, a finder, a V-style dovetail and a soft case. It is the tube-only version of the Skymax 102 - pair it with a mount you already own, or ask us and we will match one to it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sky-Watcher","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53896781856879,"sku":"S11510","price":490.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/RS1333_S11510_Skymax102_OTAOnly_LeftFront_NoBackground-scr.jpg?v=1785253935","url":"https:\/\/ontariotelescope.com\/products\/sky-watcher-skymax-102-maksutov-cassegrain-ota","provider":"Ontario Telescope and Accessories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}