{"product_id":"sky-watcher-skymax-127-maksutov-cassegrain-ota","title":"Sky-Watcher Skymax 127 Maksutov-Cassegrain OTA","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Skymax 127 is a 127 mm Maksutov-Cassegrain optical tube working at 1540 mm of focal length and f\/12.1. The folded Maksutov path puts that focal length into a tube 15 inches long and 5.75 inches across, weighing 9.7 pounds - roughly a five-inch aperture with the reach of a scope three times its length.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis listing is the optical tube assembly. It is not the Skymax 127 AZ-GTi, which is the same optics sold as a bundle with Sky-Watcher's motorised AZ-GTi mount and tripod. Here you get the tube, a 2-inch visual train and a V-style dovetail plate; the mount and tripod are separate choices - which is the point for buyers who already own a mount and want the optics on their own terms.\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 you have outgrown a small refractor on planetary detail and want more aperture without moving to a long tube or an open Newtonian. The step from 102 mm to 127 mm is a 55% increase in collecting area, and at 1540 mm the image scale on Jupiter, Saturn and lunar features is noticeably larger.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt also fits observers who want a 2-inch visual train. Unlike the 102, the Skymax 127 ships with a 2-inch star diagonal and a 2-inch 28 mm eyepiece, so wide-field eyepieces work at their full field stop and the low-power end of the range opens up considerably for a scope of this focal length.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you own a mount in the AZ-GTi, AZ5, EQM-35 or HEQ5 class, the 9.7 pound tube is a comfortable load and this is a straightforward way to add long focal length to a kit you already have.\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\u003e127 mm Maksutov-Cassegrain at 1540 mm f\/12.1:\u003c\/strong\u003e long focal length folded into a 15 inch tube, which is where the planetary contrast 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 seals the tube and carries Sky-Watcher's Metallic High-Transmission Coatings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2-inch visual train:\u003c\/strong\u003e supplied with a 2-inch star diagonal and a 2-inch 28 mm eyepiece, so 2-inch wide-field eyepieces reach their full field.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSealed optical tube:\u003c\/strong\u003e the closed design holds collimation and keeps dust off the mirrors, 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 across small alt-azimuth and equatorial mounts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded per Sky-Watcher's product page:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 2-inch 28 mm eyepiece, a finderscope, a V-style dovetail and a 2-inch diagonal.\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 begins with a thick, full-aperture meniscus lens at the front of the tube. Light passes through it to a borosilicate primary at the back, reflects forward to a secondary spot aluminised directly onto the inner face of the meniscus, and returns through a central hole in the primary to the eyepiece. That three-bounce fold is how 1540 mm of focal length lives inside a 15 inch tube.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe design's advantage on planets follows from its geometry. The secondary is a coating on the corrector rather than a mirror on a spider, so there is no support structure in the light path and no diffraction spikes; the central obstruction is small relative to a Schmidt-Cassegrain of similar aperture. Sky-Watcher describes Maksutovs as generally regarded as producing a sharper image than Schmidt-Cassegrains, and this is the mechanism behind that. The meniscus is also spherical and therefore easier to figure accurately than an aspheric corrector, and being full aperture it seals the tube against dust and internal air currents.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Skymax Series product sheet lists a 2-inch dual-speed Crayford-style focuser with a 1.25 inch adapter for the 127 mm column, giving fine control at the magnifications this focal length reaches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt f\/12.1 the cone is long and slow. That produces high contrast and a well-corrected central field at high power, with a correspondingly narrow field of view - the reason this is a Moon, planets and double stars instrument rather than a wide-field one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanetary observing:\u003c\/strong\u003e 127 mm of aperture at 1540 mm resolves belt structure on Jupiter, the Cassini division on Saturn and surface albedo on Mars.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLunar observing:\u003c\/strong\u003e high image scale on crater floors, rilles and the terminator.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDouble stars:\u003c\/strong\u003e a sealed, thermally stable tube and long focal length suit close pairs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLunar and planetary imaging:\u003c\/strong\u003e a planetary camera at native focal length gives large image scale without a Barlow.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGlobular clusters and planetary nebulae:\u003c\/strong\u003e the extra aperture over the 102 puts these within comfortable reach at moderate power.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTerrestrial and long-range spotting\u003c\/strong\u003e with an erecting diagonal.\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 is supplied on a V-style (Vixen-format) dovetail plate, which is the saddle standard on the AZ-GTi, AZ5, Star Adventurer GTi, EQM-35 and HEQ5 heads. At 9.7 pounds it sits comfortably within the payload of any of those with room for a diagonal and eyepiece on top.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe visual train is 2-inch, and the supplied diagonal accepts 2-inch eyepieces directly. A 1.25 inch adapter is listed with the focuser, so the existing 1.25-inch eyepieces and filters in your case work without buying anything.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor imaging, a planetary camera goes into the diagonal or straight into the visual back. Because focus is achieved inside the tube rather than through a limited drawtube travel, the scope tolerates accessories of varying optical depth without spacer arithmetic. If you have a specific camera or a T-thread connection in mind, send us the model and we will confirm the adapter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you would rather have this scope with a mount and tripod as one package, the Skymax 127 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 The eyepiece, diagonal, finder and dovetail are included; no mount and no tripod. The Skymax 127 AZ-GTi bundle is the mounted version, sold as its own product.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocal ratio is f\/12.1.\u003c\/strong\u003e Long and slow: excellent contrast at high power, a narrow field for large deep-sky objects, and a slow proposition for long-exposure deep-sky imaging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSky-Watcher publishes tube weight as 9.7 pounds.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shipping weight is higher once accessories and packaging are added.\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 6x30 finderscope for the Skymax 127; their Skymax Series product sheet lists a 9x50 straight-through finder for the 127mm column. 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 equalise with ambient temperature more slowly than an open tube, and at 127 mm that takes longer than it does on the 102. The sharpest views come once the optics have settled.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo carrying case is listed for this model\u003c\/strong\u003e in Sky-Watcher's published accessory list, unlike the Skymax 102.\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\u003eNo. The tube is sealed and collimated at the factory, so there is no mirror alignment to perform when it arrives or later. Setup is: dovetail into the mount saddle, clamp, diagonal and eyepiece into the back, aim with the finder. At 9.7 pounds it is a comfortable one-handed lift onto a saddle. Cooldown is the only part that takes time, and it runs while you set up everything else.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is this different from the Skymax 127 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 alone, for people who already have a mount.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the step up from the Skymax 102 worth it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e127 mm gathers about 55% more light than 102 mm, and the focal length goes from 1300 mm to 1540 mm. The other real difference is the visual train: the 127 comes with a 2-inch diagonal and a 2-inch 28 mm eyepiece where the 102 is 1.25-inch throughout. The trade is weight - 9.7 pounds against 4.6.\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 saddle carrying 9.7 pounds plus accessories - AZ-GTi, AZ5, EQM-35, HEQ5 and similar. 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 1540 mm with a planetary camera. At f\/12.1 long-exposure deep-sky imaging is slow, so this is not the tube people choose for nebulae and galaxies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA sealed 127 mm Maksutov-Cassegrain optical tube delivering 1540 mm of focal length in a 15 inch, 9.7 pound package, supplied with a 2-inch star diagonal, a 2-inch 28 mm eyepiece, a finderscope and a V-style dovetail. It is the tube-only version of the Skymax 127 - pair it with a mount you already own, or send us your setup and we will match one to it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sky-Watcher","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53896788574319,"sku":"S11520","price":850.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/RS1357_S11520_Skymax127_OTAOnly_LeftFront_NoBackground-scr.jpg?v=1785254027","url":"https:\/\/ontariotelescope.com\/products\/sky-watcher-skymax-127-maksutov-cassegrain-ota","provider":"Ontario Telescope and Accessories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}