Steve Richards writing for BBC Sky @ Night Magazine
"The Sky-Watcher Heritage 150P Virtuoso GTi was a lot of fun to use, and beginners and youngsters would particularly appreciate its presentation, compact size, easy-to-set-up design and its control via a smartphone. Being able to manually locate objects without losing the electronic alignment is a real bonus, and the 150mm aperture allows observations of a wide range of objects.
Sky-Watcher's tabletop Dobsonian designs breaks the mould, bringing the solid and reliable Dobsonian mounting method within the reach of those desiring a smaller, more manageable telescope.
The tabletop design reduces the size and weight of the mount although it does, of course, assume that a suitable table is also available.
However, if you don't want to use it on a table, the mount also incorporates a standard 3/8-inch tripod bush in its base so the mount and telescope can be installed on a suitable tripod instead.
The conversion to Go-To adds the icing on the cake and the Virtuoso's Go-To system, using a free app compatible with the most popular smartphones, brings the Dobsonian concept right up to date. The ease of locating objects using this intuitive feature made it an absolute pleasure to use, and its quiet operation meant that it was also very neighbour-friendly. The SynScan app uses your smartphone's GPS to collect your location and time, calculating the correct pointing angles following a simple alignment process at the start of each observing"
About this product
Model: skywatcher_10997
Part Number: 10997
The highly portable Sky-Watcher Heritage-150P VIRTUOSO GTi is controlled wirelessly with your Smartphone or Tablet using the free SynScan App for iOS or Android.
With its built-in WiFi module, the Virtuoso GTi mounting creates its own Wi-Fi network, so the mount can be used anywhere without any reliance on other WiFi or mobile networks. After entering your coordinates into the App and following a simple alignment procedure, you can explore the universe using the App’s intuitive touchscreen menu.
The Virtuoso GTi and SynScan App provide full computerised GO-TO control, allowing the telescope to be automatically slewed to any of the objects in the App’s extensive database of 10,000+ celestial objects.
Incorporates Sky-Watcher’s Freedom-Find patented Dual-Encoder Technology, which enables the telescope to be moved manually in either axis without the mount losing its positional information. This gives the user enormous freedom, convenience and flexibility during observational sessions.
Featuring the same superb Parabolic Primary Mirror as our highly-renowned Explorer-150P, the Heritage-150P telescope is an excellent and capable all-rounder which will provide wonderful views of both the Moon and planets as well as Deep-Sky Objects.
The collapsible patented FlexTub system has been incorporated, making it even more convenient to transport and store.
The telescope can be removed, and another suitably sized one fitted (requires a regular Vixen-type dovetail).
Designed for convenient use on a tabletop, it is also equipped with a 3/8" standard tripod bush, so it can be used with a suitable photo tripod.
The Sky-Watcher AZ5 Stainless Steel Tripod (code 20316) is also available for use with this telescope.
Size Comparison:
Specification
Telescope Focal Length: 750mm (f/5)
Diameter of Primary Mirror: 150mm
Finder: Red Dot Finder
Eyepieces Supplied (1.25"): 10mm & 25mm
Magnifications (with optics supplied): x30 & x75
Highest Practical Power (Potential): x300
Controller: Free SynScan App for iOS and Android mobile devices or Synscan Hand Controller (available separately)
SynScan App Database: Total 10,000+ Objects. Deep Sky Objects: 10759, including Messier, NGC, IC, Caldwell Catalogues, Named DSOs, Named Stars: 305, Double Stars: 55, Solar system objects: 7 planets, Sun, Moon. (Unlimited objects when working with a 3rd party planetarium software).
SynScan App Alignment Method: 1-star Alignment, 3-star Alignment, Brightest Star Alignment, North-Level Alignment
SynScan App's Other Features: Tonight's Best Sky Tour, Point and Go with a mobile device, Identification of Celestial Objects, Remote control over the Internet, User defined objects, Pointing Accuracy Enhancement (PAE)
Resolution: 1.5 arc-second
Resolution of Aux. R.A./Dec. Axis Encoders: 1068 Counts/Rev., approx. 20 arc-minutes
Tracking Rates: Sidereal, Lunar, Solar, Alignment-Free Solar Tracking
Tracking Mode: Dual Axis Tracking
Slewing Speeds: 0.5X, 1.0x, 8.0x, 16x, 32x, 64x, 128x, 400x, 600x, Max
Motor: DC Servo Motor
Interface: SynScan Hand Control Port, DSLR Shutter Release Port (optional cables available separately), Built-in Wi-Fi Module
Connectivity: ASCOM platform for Windows PC, Mobile planetarium App for iOS and Android ( SkySafari Plus/Pro, Luminos, Stellarium, and more are coming)
Power Requirement: 8 AA-size batteries (not supplied) or External Power Supply (DC 7.5~14V, 1A) Tip Positive.
Overall Height of Telescope (unextended OTA pointing vertically): 600mm
Base diameter: 330mm
Total Weight: 9kg
Customer reviews
| Average Rating (1 Review): | |
11 March 2023 | Jonathan
This is a good scope for the money. I use it on an old Manfrotto tripod at the lowest extension and its just the right height. Its easy to collimate with the supplied collimation cap.
The 25mm eyepiece supplied is fine although the 10mm is "basic" but thats the norm with bundled eyepieces.
I power this with a Talentcell battery and it works very well and is nowhere near empty after 2 nights observing.
I made a shroud with 3mm black EVA foam as my garden is surrounded by stray light.
The Synscan GoTo app works but does tend to crash if you lock the phone. I couldnt get the Synscan Pro app to work at all. The GoTo accuracy seems to wander a bit. I found slewing to a bright star near the chosen object and then to the object works better.
The focuser is a weakness of this telescope. Wrapping the thread in a little PTFE tape removes the slop enough to make it acceptable at the price.
I have successfully used this for EAA with my ASI 585 and 2 second exposures but full blown DSO astrophotography is out.
With some minor effort to overcome its limitations thid is a good OTA with a solid GoTo mount. The annoyances of the SynScan app do lead my to consider getting a hand controller.
Its a shame no one sells a proper shroud for it but making on is easy Astro La Vista has some good instructions on Youtube.
5 stars for the service and delivery from FLO.
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