SkyWatcher Telescope Skyliner 200P FlexTube™ (Enhanced Standard Edition)

203mm (8") f/6 Collapsible Parabolic Dobsonian (with Low-Expansion Borosilicate Glass)

Superb 203mm Sky-Watcher parabolic optics, crafted from low-expansion borosilicate glass. Offers faster cool-down times and excellent thermodynamic optical properties! Features a convenient collapsible FlexTube truss-tube design!

This is the "Enhanced Standard Edition" of the Sky-Watcher 200P FlexTube Dobsonian. It is identical to the fully equipped Deluxe Edition, except that it comes with a precision Crayford focuser instead of a dual-speed focuser. It combines outstanding optical performance, high portability, and convenience with a unique design, high build quality, and excellent standard features. Equipment includes: a precision 2" Crayford focuser, a 90° 9x50 erect-image finder scope for comfortable viewing, 12.5mm and 20mm 70° Super Wide-Angle eyepieces, a 1.25" adapter with a brass compression ring to prevent eyepiece damage, and a universal smartphone adapter for capturing your first images of celestial objects.

For visual astronomy, a large, light-gathering Dobsonian is hard to beat. The only downside is that as they get larger, they become increasingly awkward to transport and store. Traditional truss-tube designs require a time-consuming assembly process. Sky-Watcher’s clever, patented collapsible FlexTube™ truss-tube design is a true game-changer, as it requires no assembly. The tube simply extends, locking into place on three sturdy struts in seconds. There is no lateral movement or flex when extended, so re-collimation is not necessary. For the ...there is a second locking position for binoviewer use. When collapsed, the tube is easy to transport and can be stored upright. The tube can be easily detached from the rocker box by simply removing the side handles, making transport even easier.

The Sky-Watcher Skyliner 200P FlexTube Dobsonian, featuring impressive parabolic optics, is an excellent all-rounder; it offers truly stunning views of the Moon and planets, as well as deep-sky objects such as galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. Our Skyliner FlexTube Dobsonian telescopes are extremely popular—and perfect for beginners thanks to their high performance and ease of use—often serving as the only telescope an observer ever needs. Of course, we at Sky-Watcher love computerized telescopes too, but using a star chart to manually locate objects in the night sky can be far more rewarding and expands your knowledge of the cosmos. Leave your electronic devices behind, step outside, and let yourself be awestruck by the wonders of the universe. Enjoying a real-time view of the wonders of the night sky through an eyepiece is a truly worthwhile experience.

Often referred to as "light buckets," traditional Dobsonian telescopes offer the largest possible light-gathering aperture for your budget compared to other telescope types. You get the best value for money because the majority of the budget is invested in the optics. The Dobsonian mount, introduced by John Dobson in the 1970s, is a simple yet efficient method of mounting a Newtonian telescope using an alt-azimuth design. It is quick and easy to set up. The Dobsonian mount consists of a "rocker box" that allows the telescope to be adjusted in altitude within its cradle while the box itself rotates in azimuth. The secret to the design lies in the precise balancing of the optical tube and the use of low-friction bearing materials; this enables the tube to be slewed smoothly and effortlessly, yet allows it to hold its position once released. The mount is designed primarily for manual slewing.

The heart of every Dobsonian telescope is the quality of its mirror optics. The precision of the figuring, the material used, and the coating all play a significant role in the telescope's performance. Sky-Watcher is renowned for its expertise in manufacturing high-quality telescope mirrors—a reputation built over decades. Parabolic mirrors feature a complex surface profile and therefore require meticulous manufacturing. A perfectly shaped parabolic primary mirror eliminates spherical aberration and brings all light rays to a single focal point. Sky-Watcher’s diffraction-limited parabolic primary mirrors produce sharp, high-contrast images rich in detail. The primary and secondary mirrors of the Skyliner Flextube 200P (Enhanced Standard Edition) are crafted from special low-expansion borosilicate glass—similar to the well-known Pyrex—which exhibits extremely low thermal expansion compared to standard glass types like BK7 or window glass. In practice, this means shorter cool-down times to reach thermal stability without the need for a cooling fan; furthermore, the mirror retains its shape better during the cooling process, preventing image distortion and allowing observation to begin sooner.

Both the primary and secondary mirrors feature Sky-Watcher’s high-quality RAQ™ (Radiant Aluminium Quartz) coating, consisting of layers of aluminum, dielectric tantalum pentoxide (for enhanced reflectivity and protection), and silicon dioxide. This combination delivers brilliant performance and durability, offering 94% reflectivity that lasts for years.

The secondary mirror is supported by four specially designed vanes that are just 0.5 mm thick yet highly rigid. They minimize obstruction in the light path and reduce diffraction spikes around stars to a minimum.

The mount of the Skyliner 200P Flextube (Enhanced Standard Edition) is more than just a simple rocker box. The base utilizes special friction pads for smooth, effortless azimuth movement and features cleverly designed, patented friction control handles; these ensure you always have the right level of resistance for precise movement and stability. The resistance can be intuitively adjusted in seconds—for instance, when using heavy eyepieces or when you need to lock the telescope in place. Additionally, the handles double as convenient carrying grips, while an accessory tray keeps your gear securely in place. The telescope tube can be quickly and easily detached from the rocker box for easier transport.

Skyliner Flextube Dobsonians feature a beautiful "Black Diamond" metallic finish complemented by contrasting white surfaces—a design choice that serves a practical purpose beyond aesthetics. The white finish makes the telescope easier to see at night, preventing people from accidentally bumping into it.

Features:

Magnifications (with included eyepieces): 60x & 96x
Maximum useful magnification: 406x
Primary mirror diameter: 203mm
Telescope focal length: 1200mm (f/5.91)
Eyepieces (1.25"): 12.5mm & 20mm, 70° super wide-angle
1.25" eyepiece adapter with brass compression ring
2" precision Crayford focuser with 1.25" and 2" eyepiece adapters
Parabolic primary mirror & secondary mirror with Radiant™ Aluminum Quartz (RAQ™) coating, offering up to 94% reflectivity, optimal durability, and long-term stability
0.5mm secondary mirror spider vane
203mm parabolic primary mirror (low-expansion borosilicate glass)
47mm secondary mirror diameter (minor axis)
90° 9x50 right-angle finder scope with image-erecting optics
SLR camera connection
Universal smartphone adapter (for smartphones 54–90mm wide)
3-point locking system
OTA material: rolled steel
Wooden rocker box with accessory tray
Base diameter: 520mm
OTA weight: 11kg
Rocker box weight: 12.1kg
77% more light-gathering power than a 150mm telescope
OTA length (extended): 1115mm
OTA length (collapsed): 835mm
77% more light-gathering power than a 150mm telescope

Scope of delivery:

203mm Newtonian telescope tube
Dobsonian mount Mount with accessory tray
Focuser with 2" and 1.25" connections
Direct connection for DSLR camera
9x50 right-angle finder scope with upright, correctly oriented image
Eyepieces: 12.5mm & 20mm 70° wide-angle eyepieces
Parabolic primary mirror and secondary mirror coated with Radiant™ Aluminum Quartz (RAQ™) coating, offering up to 94% reflectivity as well as optimal durability and long-term stability



General
Shipping weight
28.0 kg
Shipping dimensions
91x40x49 cm / 76x67x11.5 cm
Optics
Type
Newtonian / Reflecting telescope
Focal length (mm)
1200
Aperture (mm)
203
Focal ratio
f/5.91
Focuser
Crayford
Tube weight (kg)
11
Mount
Total mount weight (kg)
12.1