Orion SkyQuest XX12 42-300x 305 Truss-Tube Dobsonian Reflector Telescope with Light Shroud, 1500mm f/4.9, 0.38arc sec Power, 2" Dual-Speed Crayford

The Orion XX12's jumbo 12" (305mm) Pyrex parabolic optics of 1500mm focal length (f/4.9); and a sturdy, eight-truss tube design that disassembles in about a minute into compact, easily portable components for transport to your favorite observing site! The XX12's traditional 8-pole truss tube design let's you break the tube down into portable "bite-size" pieces - no tools required! This 8-pole design provides a more rigid structural support than other designs in this category. All tube assembly knobs are captive, so you won't lose any in the dark!

The XX12 focuser is a dual-speed (11:1) 2" Crayford with 1.25" adapter, metal focus knobs, and adjustable drawtube tension to ensure excellent, non-slip motion for any size of eyepiece used. The manufacturer outfitted the XX12 with larger, 8" altitude bearings for smoother tube motion. The side-reinforced base sports stylish cutouts that minimize weight without sacrificing stability. EbonyStar laminate glides on non-stick PTFE material bearings to give the azimuth motion the feel of silk. Other fine features include adjustable altitude tension, an open 9-point flotation primary mirror cell, and a "navigation knob" for easy slewing.

Although the primary mirror cell is extremely well ventilated, the Orion SkyQuest XX12 Truss Dobsonian comes with a Cooling Accelerator Fan, which attaches to the back of the cell and facilitates faster equilibration of the mirror to ambient temperature. The secondary mirror has a 70mm minor axis and is held in a four-vane spider with very thin (0.7mm thick) vanes to minimize diffraction effects.

The XX12 Truss Tube Dobsonian telescope comes fully loaded with great accessories, including a 9x50 finder scope, aluminum telescope eyepiece rack, two telescope eyepieces: a low-power 35mm (43x) DeepView 2" and a high-power 10mm (150x) Sirius Plossl 1.25", dust caps for the top and bottom optical tube sections, and a "collimating cap" to insure optical alignment of the mirrors. A convenient carrying handle is provided for the base.

The included XX12 Light Shroud, custom designed for the SkyQuest XX12 optical tube, is made of a stretchy nylon blend material that fits like a glove over the truss poles of the telescope, fastening with thick elastic bands on both ends. A Light Shroud is vital for optimizing visual performance in any area afflicted with light pollution or peripheral light sources like street and house lights. The water-resistant, opaque black fabric blocks stray light from entering the optical path, greatly improving image contrast. It's also breathable, which minimizes unwanted vibration of the scope in breezy conditions.