Skywatcher Dobsonian 8 Pyrex FlexTube 200/1200 Telescope

For visual astronomers who crave deep-sky detail without the bulk, the Skywatcher Dobsonian 8 Pyrex FlexTube 200/1200 delivers an 8-inch aperture in a collapsible tube that fits in a compact car. The Pyrex primary mirror holds its figure through temperature swings, giving you crisp views of lunar craters, Jupiter's cloud belts, and faint nebulae from a dark site.

Who is it for

Amateur astronomers ready to step up from a small refractor or beginner reflector. It suits backyard observers who want serious light grasp, star-party goers who need quick setup, and anyone who values a stable Dobsonian mount over complex equatorial tracking.

Main features

• 200mm (8") parabolic primary mirror made of Pyrex borosilicate glass for thermal stability
• Collapsible FlexTube design: three segments extend to full 1200mm focal length, collapse to 740mm for transport
• f/6 focal ratio balances wide-field views with high magnification capability
• Smooth 2-inch Crayford focuser with 1.25-inch adapter accepts both eyepiece sizes
• 9x50 straight finderscope aids in locating faint objects
• Includes Super 25mm (48x) and Super 10mm (120x) eyepieces
• Dobsonian alt-azimuth mount with Teflon bearings for buttery-smooth manual tracking

Specifications

• Optical design: Newtonian reflector
• Aperture: 200mm (8 inches)
• Focal length: 1200mm
• Focal ratio: f/6
• Highest useful magnification: 400x
• Lowest useful magnification: 29x
• Limiting stellar magnitude: 14.2
• Resolution (Dawes' limit): 0.58 arc-seconds
• Light gathering power: 816x the human eye
• Tube diameter: 240mm
• Tube length collapsed: 740mm
• Tube length extended: 1120mm

Tips

Let the mirror cool for 30–60 minutes before high-power viewing to reduce tube currents. Use a collimation cap or laser to align the optics after transport. For deep-sky work, start with the 25mm eyepiece to locate targets, then switch to the 10mm for detail. A light shroud for the open truss section improves contrast under light-polluted skies.