Search  for anything...

Sky Watcher Sky-Watcher Classic 250 Dobsonian 10-inch Telescope – Solid-Tube – Simple, Traditional Design – Easy to Use, Perfect for Beginners (S11620)

  • Based on 219 reviews
Condition: New
Checking for the best price...
$995.00 Why this price?

Buy Now, Pay Later


As low as / mo
  • – Up to 36-month term if approved
  • – No impact on credit
  • – Instant approval decision
  • – Secure and straightforward checkout

Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout.

Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay, Apple Pay, and PayTomorrow. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Selected Option

Free shipping on this product

30-day refund/replacement

To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.


Availability: Only 1 left in stock, order soon!
Fulfilled by Adorama

Arrives Friday, Feb 27
Order within 19 hours and 12 minutes
Available payment plans shown during checkout

Protection Plan Protect Your Purchase
Checking for protection plans...

Style: Traditional 10" Dobsonian


Features

  • LARGE APERTURE: Get a bright, bold viewing experience at a fraction of the cost of other optical designs.
  • PROPRIETARY TENSION CONTROL HANDLES: These patented handles allow for accurate movement without the need for perfect balance.
  • 94 percent REFLECTIVE MIRRORS: Fully multi-coated borosilicate primary and secondary mirrors deliver exceptional views.
  • TEFLON BEARINGS: Proprietary Teflon bearings ensure smooth azimuth movement.
  • COMES COMPLETE: All accessories such as, 2-inch Crayford-style focuser with 1 1/4-inch adapter, two super wide-angle eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), and 9x50 straight-through finder scope are included with purchase.
  • STURDY AND LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN: When fully assembled, the Dobsonian weighs only 53 pounds fully assembled (28 pound tube, 25 pound base)

Description

High-Quality Light Buckets with Old School Charm Featuring large apertures and easy functionality, Sky-Watcher’s Traditional Dobsonian telescope makes the perfect beginner scope. Developed in the 1970s, the Dobsonian-style telescope is an inexpensive solution for bright, detailed visual observing using a simple design. The name ‘Dobsonian’ comes from the telescope’s inventor, John Dobson, a Vedantan monk and sidewalk astronomer who dedicated his life to astronomy outreach. Dobson was notorious for constructing large aperture reflecting telescopes capable of deep sky viewing, using low cost materials. These were often made with found materials, heavy cardboard tubes, recycled porthole glass and plywood mounts. Dobson encouraged other astronomers to assemble their own telescopes and taught workshops on telescope making. Sky- Watcher carries on the legacy Dobson left behind with our Traditional Dobsonian telescope. Often referred to as ‘light buckets’, Dobsonians provide users with the highest possible aperture for their money when compared to telescopes of a similar size, such as Schmidt-Cassegrains or refractors. Dobsonians use a simple, yet effective design, optimized for visual observation of faint objects, such as nebulae, star clusters and galaxies. At Sky-Watcher, we stay true to the traditional John Dobson design, using just two mirrors, a metal tube and a simple rocker box. Although we love computerized telescopes, using a star chart to find objects by hand can be far more fulfilling and will improve your knowledge of the night sky. Unplug your electronic devices, step outside and become immersed in the wonders of the universe. Not your Father’s Dobsonian Don’t let this simple design fool you! Dobsonian-style telescopes utilize their large aperture to give users bright, vivid detail. Both primary and secondary mirrors deliver 94% reflectivity, using borosilicate mirrors coated with quartz, titanium and silicon dioxide. With a finely-crafted parabolic primary mirror and coatings this bright, you’ll be viewing just as John Dobson intended. Sky-Watcher Innovation Unlike other models on the market, Sky-Watcher Dobsonians feature a patented Tension Control Handle which allow for easy tension adjustment, enabling the telescope to move freely around the sky. The Tension Control Handle also provides stability when using large eyepieces. Steel ball bearings provide smooth movement even when the handle is tightened. The simple rocker box mount with azimuth Teflon™ bearings is easy and straightforward enough for any beginner. The use of Teflon™ ensures smooth movement, yet creates enough friction to prevent any unintentional movement of the telescope. Accessories and Other Goodies While most telescopes limit the astronomer to 1.25” eyepieces, Sky- Watcher provides users with a beefy 2-inch Crayford-style focuser. Using the supplied 1.25 inch adapter you can take advantage of virtually any eyepiece on the market. Also included is a 9x50 finderscope and two eyepeieces (10mm & 25mm), perfect for the beginning astronomer!

Brand: Sky-Watcher


Model Name: Sky-Watcher Traditional Dobsonian 10" (254mm)


Optical Tube Length: 10 Inches


Eye Piece Lens Description: 25/10 Super


Objective Lens Diameter: 254 Millimeters


Telescope Mount Description: Altazimuth Mount


Product Dimensions: 49"D x 27"W x 20"H


Focus Type: Manual Focus


Power Source: Adapter


Finderscope: Reflex


Product Dimensions: 49 x 27 x 20 inches


Item Weight: 40 pounds


Item model number: S11620


Date First Available: May 21, 2015


Manufacturer: Sky-Watcher


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Friday, Feb 27

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

  • Klarna Financing
  • Affirm Pay in 4
  • Affirm Financing
  • Afterpay Financing
  • PayTomorrow Financing
  • Financing through Apple Pay
Leasing options through Acima may also be available during checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Top Amazon Reviews


  • So far I am pleased with my new telescope
Style: Traditional 10" Dobsonian
Bought a 10" Dobsonian Sky-Watcher. Came in yesterday at 6:00 pm; two days ahead of schedule. Also bought a Shorty 1.25 2X Barlow lens, a 2X 2" Focal Extender, and a LaserMate Deluxe II Telescope Laser Collimator. I'm thinking about the Q70 (70 degrees) set of three eyepieces or the Explore Scientific 82 degree 2" eyepiece. I'm leaning toward the 82 Degree 2" eyepiece. So far I am pleased with my new telescope. It was easy to assemble, and everything went together perfectly. I was intending to adjust my finder scope today, but it is raining. Maybe tomorrow? This scope is quite an upgrade from my 4" I bought over 15 years ago. It came with a 1.25 wide angle 25mm lens, and a 1.25 super 10mm lens. I can't wait to get my 2" wide angle. I gave this scope 5 stars because it is so well made. After I actually use it, I will either leave it a 5 stars or downgrade it. ************************************************************************************************************************************************************ Well, after a week of rain and/or cloudy skies, I finally used my scope. I collimated it with my laser collimator and tried to focus on Venus. The best view I could get was a big unfocused white ball. I tried recollimating the scope to no avail. In fact. the only thing I could focus on were the leaves on a tree 60 meters away.. Anything beyond that was hopeless. I order a Solomark Chesire Collimating Eyepiece which will come in two days. I hope this solves the problem. I hate to think I paid $600.00 to look at leaves. I'm leaving my rating at 5 stars because I'm thinking my problem is human error and/or the laser collimator. I'll try again in a few days to collimate my scope and hopefully see a wonderful view of the stars and planets. *********************************************************************************************************************************************************** Well, I received my Solomark Chesire Collimating Eyepiece. However, again it is raining. I collimated my scope to see if I could further the distance beyond 60 meters, but it was still not focusing properly. I would say when all else fails to go to the instructions, but the instructions in the manual are lacking. One thing caught my eye in the parts list; something I didn't notice the first time. And that is: the focuser has a 2" inch adapter, not a built-in 2" lens holder. Duh! All this time I thought the focuser was one piece. I have been stacking the 1.25 adapter on top of the 2" adapter. I took out the 2" adapter, inserted the 1.25 adapter the 25mm wide angle lens, and the focus was perfect. I notice that someone else was/is having the same problem as I, and he gave this scope a bad rating. I bet he was doing the same thing; double stacking adapters. If anyone else is having a problem with focusing their Dobsonian reflector, try taking out the 2" adapter and insert the 1.25". My rating for this scope stays at five stars. *************************************************************************************************************************************************** About two weeks after receiving my scope, I finally was able to use it last night. The craters on the moon were awesome. The stars jumped out at me. I plan to view the Orion nebula and Andromeda galaxy at the end of December, when Andromeda will be directly overhead one hour after sunset. There will be less atmosphere to see through. This scope deserves 5 stars, and that is where I'm leaving it. There may be those who have larger scopes and are no longer impressed with a ten inch, but, until I can afford a bigger scope, I'm happy with this one. The problems I had, at the beginning, are no reflection on the scope itself; the problems arose from poor instructions and description. When it says the scope has a 2" focuser and a 1.25" adapter, it is understandable that you would assume the focuser is one piece and cannot be separated, and that you would insert the 1.25" adapter into the 2" focuser to use a 1.25" lens. That was why I could not focus on anything more than 60 meters away. The laser collimator wasn't part of the problem, either. So, I have nothing bad to say about it. For those who can afford this scope, it is a great buy. *********************************************************************************************************************************************************** Well, here it is; December 31, and between the rain and cloudiness, I've only viewed the moon and Jupiter, and stars. The mountains on the moon's rim are impressive against the black background of space, and the bands of Jupiter are fantastic. At 167 million miles away, Mars only looks like a red star. I'll have to wait until July 2018, when Mars is 38 million miles away. Maybe then I'll be able to see it's polar caps. Saturn will be in the night sky this June. Soon as I catch a clear night, I'm going to try and locate the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy. This scope is everything it claims to be. I built a 9 inch high portable wooden base to raise the scope at a more comfortable level. I also keep the scope in my 12X16 tool shed so it is ready for use without having to wait long for it to acclimate. I have noticed the price went up on the scope. I'm glad I bought it when I did. Still, at the current price, it is a good buy. ******************************************************************************************************************************************************* 3-13-17 The price has gone down more. Buy this scope; i.e. unless you can afford a larger primary mirror. Two weeks ago I finally bought a 2 inch SF 18mm eyepiece to use with my 2 inch SF Barlow. I viewed the Orion Nebula and Pleiades star cluster. They are fantastic. Yesterday I received a set of four Gosky (red, green, yellow, blue) planetary filters, which can be stacked. I hope they bring out more detail when viewing. I'm already yearning for a bigger scope with a tracking system so I can use a camera. Still, I am not sorry I bought this scope. It is a great telescope for the money. June 28, 2017: It is a good time to view Saturn and its rings. With my 10" (using a 2" 18mm eyepiece coupled with a 2" 2x focal extender) I can see one slight division in Saturn's ring making two large rings. Also, Titan can be seen. Jupiter's bands are clearly noticeable, and it's four largest moons are like bright stars. I watched Io pass Europa in orbit (over a period of 1.5 hours). I'm waiting for Mars to be its closest in 2018. The more I use this scope, the more I feel it is money well spent. July 31, 2018: Well, I finally took a look at Mars tonight. It is as bright as Venus, though only two-thirds as big. I could make out light grey areas in the bright red color. You need a bigger scope if you want to see any details. I'm still pleased with this scope. It is a great starter scope, but I'm ready for an upgrade. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2016 by Jon Dorian

  • Pros and Cons
Style: Traditional 10" Dobsonian
Pros and Cons Assembly: It arrived intact with all the parts accounted for. I managed to assemble it easy enough with the tools provided except for the screwdriver which does not have a rubber grip and is therefore very difficult to use. Size: The scope was actually smaller than I anticipated and moving it around is not that difficult. Keep the scope's shipping box if you want to transport it in a vehicle. Quality of lenses: The lenses that came with it are of an inferior quality, especially the 25mm, which showed a blurred image along the edges. I was able to compare it to better quality lenses which I had, and with the quality lenses the image was crisp and clear. Hence the main optics of the scope is very good. As this is a fast scope with a short focal length ratio the quality of the lenses become a factor. Focuser: The focuser is solid and smooth but as it is a single speed focusing at high magnification is a challenge. One can upgrade it or use a micro focuser. Finder scope: The finder scope provides a good crisp image but at zenith is very difficult to use. One can upgrade it to a right angle finder scope (I have already ordered one) This scope has good optics for the price but you should be prepared to spend a bit on quality lenses, a quality barlow and some essential upgrades if you really want to enjoy it to its fullest. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2018 by Juan Reynolds

  • Came completely unusable
Style: Traditional 8" Dobsonian
Tube is bent, mount is shattered. Buy from the manufacturer.
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2018 by Gene Cunningham

  • Spiral Galaxies with DOB 8 Inches
Style: Traditional 8" Dobsonian
First photo is spiral galaxy M83. Second photo is Saturn with subtle division ring. Third is galaxy NGC5238 (at the left of the center). I manage to capture the M83 with my iPhone 6 and spiralCam app. It takes about a minute to see the spiral arm. Overall the telescope is great. The thing to improve on will be the sight scope. It fall off a few times and hit my feet once. It is inserted into the telescope from the bottom up so it has the tendency to drop off after several use and storage. The 2 feature-tension control handles are not necessary for my use and scratch my leg when I walk past the scope. In the end, I remove them and store away. I use the Dobsonian in a very small balcony. I have also add a planter plate with wheels which I get from Ikea for US$5. It is almost perfect for the big scope. The assembly is not as easy. It takes me about 2 hours with lots of strength to tighten the screws into the wood. It should be designed to be assembled easily like Ikea furniture. For design it is not as good looking as the Meade dobsonian. Skywatcher could have make their product look better. Most of the time, 99%, the telescope is not in use and displayed as a "furniture" in the home so it is very important on how it looks. It is definitely the most practical and accurate scope that I have. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2019 by Yong54321 Yong54321

  • Best price on a full size telescope.
Style: Traditional 8" Dobsonian
Arrived well and set up fairly easily in about 45 minutes. Had a little trouble understanding the rotating base, so be careful when you do the silicone pieces. More probably operator error so just a note from me to you. My son is enjoyed this outside many many times in the last year since Christmas. Takes in tons of light and allows you to see deeper planets and galaxies. Not all that portable, but easy enough for my son to carry outside on the back deck, or in the front yard by himself. We’ll take some time for a week or so to get everything aligned just right. Definitely doable. But it for the functionality at the best price point. Great to learn how to follow and find stars. Next upgrade would be a motorized system, but that will cost at least another $500. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2025 by Bruce B

Can't find a product?

Find it on Amazon first, then paste the link below.
Checking for best price...