Orion SkyQuest XT10 Dobsonian Reflector Telescope

by Orion

Product Details

Product Manual [1.00mb PDF]

• ASIN: B00018QJ2E
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #419,506 in Office Products (See Top 100 in Office Products)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 1, 2003

Product Description

If you've never probed the heavens with an instrument of this size before, then you ain't seen nothin' yet! The XT10's 254mm parabolic mirror gulps in 56% more light than an 8" scope. The sheer number of objects visible in this telescope is staggering, and its prodigious resolving power reveals intricate structure in nebulas and galaxies. The mirror is precision figured from low-expansion Pyrex glass for superior thermal stability and is center marked for precise collimation. Aiming is wonderfully easy. You just slew and view. Orion's CorrecTension Friction Optimization ensures silky smooth, controlled motion, and superior balance control. Includes a 2" rack-and-pinion focuser which accepts both 1.25" and 2" eyepieces, navigation knob, 9x50 finder scope, two 1.25" Sirius Plossl eyepieces, eyepiece rack, quick-collimation cap, and hard dust cap. One-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Does Everything Right, April 30, 2007

By 

Matachen "Space Tragic" (TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Orion SkyQuest XT10 Dobsonian Reflector Telescope (Office Product)

The Orion SkyQuest XT10 Classic Dobsonian Reflector Telescope is a chance to own a powerful telescope with good optics for relatively little money. The optics are good (mine turned out to be considerably better than just "good") and the materials are rugged: a steel tube and a well made, metal focuser are just the start. The Pyrex primary is held in place by a tough metal cell, and the collimating screws are just as sturdy -- and a snap to use: you can literally collimate this scope in seconds. The finder scope aligns just as quickly, and is an appropriate finder for a scope of this size (9x50.)

One of my favorite things about this scope is the overall finish: little extras like a handle next to the aperture, a four vane spider, and its usable right out of the box without any mods; moreover, I've yet to do any real work on it, despite fairly heavy use (up and down a flight of stairs each time I use it), one move, a gazillion trips to friends and relatives (they always want you to bring the telescope) and a few dozen trips to dark sky sites down four wheel drive only desert "roads". Though well used and dirty, this scope still shows few signs of wear.

One warning, this is a pretty large telescope, and it gets to be a handful after a while. Don't be surprized if you find yourself shopping for something much smaller and more portable for everyday use, and then dragging out the SkyQuest for special nights or events. Also, this is not an expensive, hyperprecision instrument, and your images will break down well before you hit the theoretical limit (Orion places that limit at 600X, my calculations are slightly lower); however, I routinely hit 400X without image breakdown -- the images at that level are crystal clear and stunning.

With a 254mm aperture and 1200mm focal length, this scope is more of a fast, deep sky specialist than one optimized for planetary viewing. That said, This is one of the better telescopes I've used for the planets: Mars is detailed, with Syrtis Major clearly defined and brilliant and detailed polar ice caps. Jupiter is practically glowing with detail, multiple bands, razor sharp eclipses, and a decent Red Spot. Saturn is a wonder in this telescope: the Cassini Division is as clear as the rings themselves, and like Jupiter's eclipses, it is as sharply defined as a razor. Expect to see the C Ring regularly, plus multiple bands on Saturn itself in subtle shades of yellow (you would not believe the exclamations I've heard from people looking at Saturn through this scope, watching their joy and wonder at the sight of this one object is worth the price of the telescope.) The Trapezium normally resolves into six stars, and the colors of the nebula are lovely in shades of green and blue (and sometimes I could swear pink.) Galaxies are a snap, and the scope is easily pointed and holds position well.

This scope is not perfect, but it does nothing poorly, and does everything well. For the price it is an incredible bargain that will serve you well for many years.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ideal amateur telescope--if you can carry it, January 6, 2007

By 

Doug Rice (Twin Falls, ID USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Orion SkyQuest XT10 Dobsonian Reflector Telescope (Office Product)

This is enough of an instrument to show you new things in the sky for years to come. It is sturdy and simple to operate. It has enough light-gathering power (more important than magnification) to reveal dim star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies and good enough optics to show you the surface of planets like Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars.

Some advice on selection. Dobsonians like this one come in a range of sizes. A 114mm (4 ½") is a bit on the small side but still a fine instrument, especially if your ability to carry large objects is limited. A 150-200mm (6-8") scope is right in the middle of the recommended range. A 250mm (10") like this one is on the big side, and you should buy one only if you are able-bodied.

Some advice on use. Viewing through a telescope is less like playing a CD and more like playing a guitar. Finding objects takes a little bit of practice. The 9x50mm "crosshair" finder supplied with this scope is great for fine searching, but I recommend supplementing it with a red-dot finder to aid in initial pointing. You will also need to buy an atlas (Sky & Telescope's Pocket sky Atlas is the best available), a red flashlight to view the charts without blowing out your badly-needed night vision, and a guidebook to lead you to interesting objects. These investments will greatly add to your enjoyment.

What more can I say? This is the kind of scope that experienced observers have been trying to steer novices towards for decades. Although, I recommend that you do your homework before buying any scope--learn the sky and get to know experienced stargazers who can advise you--when it comes time to purchase, you could hardly do better than this scope.

For more advice, see my encyclopedic guide here on Amazon, "So you want to buy a telescope."

5.0 out of 5 stars Does Everything Right, April 30, 2007

By 

Matachen "Space Tragic" (TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Orion SkyQuest XT10 Classic Dobsonian Telescope Plus 3 Free (Electronics)

The Orion SkyQuest XT10 Classic Dobsonian Reflector Telescope is a chance to own a powerful telescope with good optics for relatively little money. The optics are good (mine turned out to be considerably better than just "good") and the materials are rugged: a steel tube and a well made, metal focuser are just the start. The Pyrex primary is held in place by a tough metal cell, and the collimating screws are just as sturdy -- and a snap to use: you can literally collimate this scope in seconds. The finder scope aligns just as quickly, and is an appropriate finder for a scope of this size (9x50.)

One of my favorite things about this scope is the overall finish: little extras like a handle next to the aperture, a four vane spider, and its usable right out of the box without any mods; moreover, I've yet to do any real work on it, despite fairly heavy use (up and down a flight of stairs each time I use it), one move, a gazillion trips to friends and relatives (they always want you to bring the telescope) and a few dozen trips to dark sky sites down four wheel drive only desert "roads". Though well used and dirty, this scope still shows few signs of wear.

One warning, this is a pretty large telescope, and it gets to be a handful after a while. Don't be surprized if you find yourself shopping for something much smaller and more portable for everyday use, and then dragging out the SkyQuest for special nights or events. Also, this is not an expensive, hyperprecision instrument, and your images will break down well before you hit the theoretical limit (Orion places that limit at 600X, my calculations are slightly lower); however, I routinely hit 400X without image breakdown -- the images at that level are crystal clear and stunning.

With a 254mm aperture and 1200mm focal length, this scope is more of a fast, deep sky specialist than one optimized for planetary viewing. That said, This is one of the better telescopes I've used for the planets: Mars is detailed, with Syrtis Major clearly defined and brilliant and detailed polar ice caps. Jupiter is practically glowing with detail, multiple bands, razor sharp eclipses, and a decent Red Spot. Saturn is a wonder in this telescope: the Cassini Division is as clear as the rings themselves, and like Jupiter's eclipses, it is as sharply defined as a razor. Expect to see the C Ring regularly, plus multiple bands on Saturn itself in subtle shades of yellow (you would not believe the exclamations I've heard from people looking at Saturn through this scope, watching their joy and wonder at the sight of this one object is worth the price of the telescope.) The Trapezium normally resolves into six stars, and the colors of the nebula are lovely in shades of green and blue (and sometimes I could swear pink.) Galaxies are a snap, and the scope is easily pointed and holds position well.

This scope is not perfect, but it does nothing poorly, and does everything well. For the price it is an incredible bargain that will serve you well for many years.