Orion 12.5" Deep Space Explorer Dobsonian

Specifications and Features of the Orion 12.5" DSE Dobsonian Optical Design: Newtonian Aperture: 317.5mm (12.5") Focal Length: 1524mm (60") Focal Ratio: f/4.8 Maximum Practical Visual Power: 600x Optical Tube: Sonotube Telescope Mounting: Dobsonian Primary Mirror: Soda-lime glass Secondary Mirror Mount: 4-vane spider Focuser: Low profile helical focuser accepts 1.25" and 2" eyepieces Finder Scope: 9 x 50 achromatic finder scope Illuminated Reflex Sight: Telrad ® Total Net Telescope Weight: 98 lbs.

The Orion 12.5" DSE is an outstanding telescope. I hated to sell it but when my back started giving me trouble from lugging this light bucket around I decided it was time to scale back a bit. The telescope fully assembled with base and optical tube weighed almost 100 lbs. The weight of the scope was one reason for selling it, the other was portability. The DSE's large size made it difficult to transport and after selling my pickup truck I really had no way to haul this BIG scope around.

I purchased the telescope new from Orion Telescopes & Binoculars in 1996. It was one of the last "early model" DSE's to be made. I know this because I remember the scope being delivered to my house and then a few days later receiving the new Orion catalog with the "all new and improved" 12.5" Premium DSE on the cover. I kept telling myself that if I just would have waited a month to place my order I could have had the new premium DSE. That sulking lasted only until I got the scope under a dark sky. The views this scope provided under dark sky conditions were truely amazing. I have to admit there are times when I wish I hadn't sold the old scope but it's usually about that same time that my back starts aching. While this telescope was sold by/under the Orion brand name, the scope was actually manufactured and the mirrior figured by Discovery Telescopes. Sadly Orion no longer sells the 12.5" DSE. They presently make a SkyQuest XT12 IntelliScope but it's not the same thing as the old DSE.