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Explore Scientific
Explore Scientific 16" Dobsonian
A serious light bucket that turns ambitious deep-sky observing into manageable reality.
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Top targets reported by owners
What you'll see
Saturn
rings and Cassini division clearly visible, multiple cloud bands on globe, moon shadows on rings
Jupiter
Great Red Spot visible, four Galilean moons easily resolved, festoon detail and storm systems
M13 (Hercules Globular Cluster)
fully resolved into thousands of stars at low power, 'breathtaking' at 150x-250x magnification
M31 (Andromeda Galaxy)
dust lanes visible in spiral structure, extends across field of view, companion galaxies M32 and M11…
Worth knowing before you buy
The primary mirror can develop zones or turned edge after a few years, requiring recollimation more frequently than expected for a scope at this price point.
The focuser drawtube can slip under the weight of heavier eyepieces or diagonals, requiring periodic tightening of the set screws to maintain focus stability.
The secondary mirror holder vibrates noticeably after bumps or when moving the telescope, taking 10-15 seconds to settle and affecting observing consistency.
Head to head
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Full Specifications
Optics
| Aperture | 406mm |
| Focal Length | 1826mm |
| Focal Ratio | f/4.5 |
| Optical Design | Dobsonian |
| Coatings | Parabolic primary mirror, fully coated |
Mount & Tracking
| Mount Type | Dobsonian |
| GoTo (Computerised) | No |
| Tracking | No |
Focuser
| Focuser Size | 2" |
| Focuser Type | Dual-speed Crayford (10:1 reduction) |
Physical
| OTA Weight | 45kg |
| Total Weight (with mount) | 72kg |
| Tube Length | 1826mm |
| Tube Material | Steel (truss-tube construction) |
Included Accessories
| Eyepieces | 25mm eyepiece |
| Finder Scope | 8x50 right-angle finder |
| Diagonal | No |