Orion 8944 SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope

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Product Specifications

Item may ship in more than one box and may arrive separately
Perhaps the best beginner Dobsonian reflector telescope you can buy - big 6” aperture at an amazing price
A beginner may use a 60mm telescope for a few months or years before deciding they need to upgrade to a better telescope - a 6” Dobsonian will give you a lifetime of wonderful views
Simple navigation and no need to polar align makes this Dobsonian reflector telescope extremely ease to use for the whole family
The 6” diameter f/8 parabolic mirror is fantastic for Moon and planetary views, and also has enough light grasp for deep-sky viewing of nebulas, galaxies, and star clusters
The stable Dobsonian base provides a vibration free image even when viewing at a high powers, and features smooth enough motions to make tracking of celestial objects a breeze

Product Description

Product description It’s no wonder customers heap 5-star ratings on this gentle giant. For not only does its jumbo-sized optics and uncomplicated design bring a “new level of joy to simple observing,” raved Astronomy magazine, but it’s also one of the most affordable quality Dobs on the market. The SkyQuest XT6 Classic isn’t just good bang for the buck, it’s a supernova of telescope value! The XT6 Classic gives you the deep-space thrills without the deep-pocket frills. We’ve kept it lean and mean to keep its price low for tight budgets. But rest assured, it comes fully equipped for adventure, whether you’re a beginning stargazer or are graduating to a more capable instrument. It features an expertly figured parabolic mirror housed in an enameled steel optical tube. The tube rides on a stable Dobsonian base that allows easy point-and-view navigation and has a convenient carrying handle. A 2” Crayford focuser, EZ Finder II aiming device, 25mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece (1.25”), and quick-collimation cap are all standard equipment. Setup takes only a minute, leaving the rest of the evening to marvel at the planets, the Moon, and a myriad of deep-sky treasures. Enjoy the fantastic views - and savings! One-year limited warranty.

From the Manufacturer Classic entry-level scope at an amazing price. Crisp images from the craters of the moon to the edge of the galaxy. Big-aperture optics + point-and-view ease of use = out-of-this-world value. 150mm aperture and 1200mm focal length provides ample light grasp and resolution. One-year limited warranty

Product Reviews

Good bargain on a good telescope.

We have their SpaceProbe 3 telescope already, so I may have been expecting a bit much out of this as it is 2x the aperture. It was easy to setup, if not a bit heavy to lug around. We got stunning views of the moon, and were able to see more detail with saturn (more moons than before) .I was hoping for a little more detail on Jupiter but was left a little short there. Where I want to try it most is in my hunt for the Messier catalog, but haven’t had enough clear good seeing nights to try that out. We will be trying it as soon as we can.Long story short, I’ve been impressed with Orion and their products, this is the second telescope I’ve purchased from them and it is well built, was columnated from the factory (yes I checked) and is simple to setup and use.

I enjoy this telescope and with out a doubt it is …

I enjoy this telescope and with out a doubt it is my favorite. I have other telescopes but i get the most details of what i am looking at with this one.

really like this unit

Got this to replace a 4 inch that was stolen, used it for the eclipse with a filter and it worker very well, really like this unit.

looking at guides for newbies and reading reviews online for the best starter telescope in my price range

We are brand new to the stargazing world and this is our very first telescope. I researched for months before buying: looking at guides for newbies and reading reviews online for the best starter telescope in my price range. I searched on backyard astronomer websites, other telescope site reviews, etc. I decided on this 6” Dobsonian and when it arrived in two very large and heavy boxes I was intimidated.I thought this would be too difficult to assemble and I was overwhelmed. I searched on YouTube and was thankfully able to find 2 video tutorials that went thru the set up of this telescope and highly recommend you do as well. The YouTube videos (from Orion) were easier to follow than the printed directions included. I was able to get it set up within about 1 hour - so I am confident that any beginner can assemble it too. The boxes were packed well and securely - nothing was damaged in shipping.Overall I’m glad I purchased this one, but if we ever have to downsize or move to a smaller place I have no idea where we will store it: it’s pretty big. Also, it’s not really practical to pack up and take places. I am attaching photos from the last time we went on an evening picnic and brought the telescope - so it’s definitely possible - but it’s an undertaking. I recently went on a roadtrip and we wanted to be able to use the telescope because of the visibility, but we didn’t have enough space and didn’t want to carry this thing around: so if you’re a beginner and want to bring your telescope with you I’d recommend a different model. While I really do like this one, I am bummed that it’s not more portable.One pleasant surprise: although all the reviews and guides said this model isn’t ideal for photos I have still been able to get some pretty cool shots with my iPhone (also attaching these to my review) - it’s not easy or ideal but you can get some neat pictures!

HUGE bang for buck

It is unbelievable to me that a scope this good can be had for this price. Six inches is a LOT of aperture. Forget those little blue rigs with the computerized pointing–you don’t need a computer to find stuff, you need aperture so you can actually see it. Download some free planetarium software (like Stellarium), buy a sky atlas, and get a nice fat telescope like this one. You’ll enjoy it more because the views will actually be good enough to linger over, and you can take pride in finding observing targets on your own. If you want a computer to do all the work, why even buy a telescope? Stay on the couch and surf for some Hubble images.The scope is rock solid, it was in nearly perfect collimation right out of the box, and I put it together in about an hour while I watched TV. Then it was out the back door and BAM! The moon looks so good you may get stuck there for a while. Cloud belts on Jupiter are a breeze, as are the rings of Saturn. Star clusters look like diamonds scattered on black velvet. Galaxies and nebulas seduce your eyeballs until you realize that it’s well past midnight and you’re frozen half to death.One warning: the best scope for you is the one you will use the most. At 35 lbs assembled this is about as much scope as I want to be moving by myself. So think about the weight. If you decide it would keep you from using this scope very often, get a smaller one. Orion’s XT4.5 is this thing’s little brother, it weighs half as much, and it has gotten uniformly good reviews just about everywhere.One last thing: Dobsonians are not useful for most kinds of astrophotography but I have taken some stunning pictures of the moon just by holding my digital camera up to the eyepiece of this telescope. Give it a try–you may end up decorating your entryway with moon photos you took yourself.

Awesome beginner telescope! Mount just needs some improvements…

Awesome starter telescope. You can clearly see the profile of Saturn with it and it is great for looking at the moon.

The dobsonion was always my favorite because it screams serious business

I have always been a fan of Orion telescopes. Have looked through several different models as a kid. The dobsonion was always my favorite because it screams serious business.

Works very well

Fairly simple setup, great views (Saturn’s rings, Jupiter, ridges on Earth’s moon, many others, and clear images.

awesome purchase

Using the lens it comes with saw Saturn and it’s rings. so cool..can see craters on the moo super clearly.

Awesome first time telescope

Great telescope for the money. A bit clunky to move around but have taken it out of state without too much trouble. Great way to get kids interested in astronomy and science.

… out of it due to weather but I’m very pleased with what l saw the few times l used …

Haven’t gotten much use out of it due to weather but I’m very pleased with what l saw the few times l used it! The moon is like you’re right there!

awesome starter scope

This is a great starter telescope. Assembly is easy and comes with all the tools you need to assemble.

Five Stars

Great price for a beginner/amateur explorer.

I felt like I was buying a camera

When my daughter asked for a telescope for Christmas, I was not thinking this would be complicated. It took me about 2 minutes of research to realize not all telescopes are…