Skywatcher N 250/1200 PDS Explorer BD OTA

Description

Low thermal expansion borosilicate optical glass treated with 94% reflective coatings powers the Skywatcher N 250/1200 PDS Explorer BD OTA dual-speed parabolic Newtonian imaging optical tube assembly. Designed with an f/4.7 focal ratio, this 254mm (10.00 in) aperture telescope features a 1200mm focal length, delivering 0.46 arcseconds Dawes resolving power and reaching magnitude 14.7 for high-performance deep-sky astrophotography.

The Skywatcher N 250/1200 PDS Explorer BD OTA incorporates a precision parabolic primary mirror paired with an enlarged 60mm secondary mirror (23.6% obstruction by diameter) to optimize sensor illumination on DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Its 1120mm rolled steel tube features a 2-inch dual-speed Crayford focuser with 1:10 micro-reduction and 55mm of extended backfocus travel. Weighing 14.38 kg (31.70 lbs), it mounts onto heavy equatorial saddles via included tube rings and a 75mm Losmandy-style dovetail bar.

Key Features of Skywatcher N 250/1200 PDS Explorer BD OTA

Built for high-performance deep-sky astrophotography, prime-focus DSLR imaging, and high-resolution visual observation, this 10-inch Sky-Watcher Explorer PDS OTA pairs parabolic optics with an oversized secondary mirror. Its 2-inch dual-speed Crayford focuser delivers pinpoint star fields across APS-C sensors.

• 254mm (10.00 in) aperture with 1200mm focal length and fast f/4.7 optical speed
• Precision parabolic primary mirror made from low-expansion borosilicate glass
• 94% reflective aluminum optical coatings with protective silicon dioxide overcoat
• Enlarged 60mm secondary mirror obstruction (23.6% diameter, 5.6% area) for full sensor coverage
• 2-inch dual-speed Crayford focuser with 1:10 micro-gear reduction and 1.25-inch compression adapter
• Extended in-focus travel providing 55mm backfocus clearance for coma correctors
• Losmandy-style 75mm dovetail bar with heavy-duty tube mounting rings
• High-aperture 9×50 optical finderscope and 28mm 2-inch LET eyepiece included

Parabolic Borosilicate Optics & Enlarged Secondary Mirror

The 254mm parabolic primary mirror brings all light rays to a sharp focus without spherical aberration, while the enlarged 60mm secondary mirror prevents edge vignetting across imaging sensors. This Sky-Watcher imaging OTA supports visual and photographic magnifications from 36.3x up to 508x.

2-Inch Dual-Speed Crayford Focuser & Extended Backfocus

Precise focus adjustments are crucial when imaging with dedicated cooled cameras or DSLRs. The Explorer 250PDS features a 2-inch dual-speed Crayford focuser with 1:10 micro-reduction for smooth, backlash-free focusing. Its shortened tube assembly provides extended backfocus travel, allowing cameras to reach focus with coma correctors attached.

• 2-inch dual-speed Crayford focuser with 1:10 precision micro-focus reduction
• Shortened optical tube body providing 55mm backfocus clearance for coma correctors
• Heavy-duty tube rings fastened to a rigid 75mm Losmandy-style dovetail bar

Sky-Watcher Explorer PDS Series Warranty

The Skywatcher N 250/1200 PDS Explorer BD OTA is backed by a 2-year limited warranty against material and manufacturing defects. The complete factory package contains the 250/1200 PDS optical tube assembly, hinged tube mounting rings, Losmandy dovetail bar, 9×50 optical finderscope, 28mm 2-inch LET eyepiece, and a 1.25-inch adapter.