Sky-Watcher Startravel 150 with EQ5 150/750 Achromatic Refractor

The Sky-Watcher Startravel 150 with EQ5 is a short-focal-length 150 mm achromatic refractor designed for wide fields and extended targets. Its 750 mm focal length at f/5 frames broad star fields, open clusters, comets and bright nebulae particularly well. The manual equatorial EQ5 supports the tube and allows fine tracking; this version does not include motors or GoTo.

Wide-field optics

The air-spaced, two-element objective is multi-coated and combines substantial aperture with a compact tube. Its short focal length produces a wide field, making the telescope useful for large deep-sky objects, star fields and imaging the Moon or solar eclipses with proper filters. As an achromat, it can show visible colour fringing around very bright objects, so it is less colour-corrected for high-power planetary observing than an ED or apochromatic refractor. An optional Amici prism can provide an upright image for terrestrial viewing. The 2-inch focuser accepts both 2-inch and 1.25-inch accessories.

Manual EQ5

After polar alignment, the equatorial EQ5 allows convenient tracking along one axis. Slow-motion controls, setting circles and altitude and azimuth adjustments assist accurate alignment. The stainless-steel tripod includes an accessory tray and level. Optional right-ascension or dual-axis tracking motors and a SynScan controller can be added later.

Included

150 mm Startravel refractor, manual EQ5 mount, stainless-steel tripod with accessory tray, 9x50 finder, 1.25-inch diagonal, 10 mm and 25 mm eyepieces, focuser with 2-inch and 1.25-inch connections, direct DSLR camera connection and counterweights. Power supply and batteries are not included.

Specifications

The 6.8 kg tube remains within the EQ5’s stated 10 kg visual payload. Balance the telescope carefully before observing. Solar observation requires a securely fitted full-aperture solar filter; never look at the Sun without a suitable filter.