Orion Telescopes & Binoculars SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian

My experience with my Skyquest XT6

I received my XT6 in 2 boxes. 1 is the OTA and the other is the base assembly. The OTA is pre-assembled except for the finder scope. The base assembly is a very straight-forward process. I made sure I was familiar with all the supplied hardware before I began and read the instructions thoroughly. I found identifying the hardware the easiest going by the count of the screws instead of the actual spec. Once it was all assembled I found collimation very easy, although it was almost dead-on centered even though the box looked like it went through hell, but collimating is very well explained in the manual. The whole scope when standing completely vertical on its base measures at 53.5". I stand at a towering 61", so I was a bit worried that I got myself into something I may not be able to handle, but at 35 lbs, it is quite manageable - even for a girl. It can be a bit tricky going through narrow doors or hallways only because of the length of it, but with care I am finding this no huge problem. But I know that if I had went with anything heavier I wouldn't have been able to get very far with it. I have to carry this from a room on the second floor of my house through a narrow hallway, then down a flight of stairs and around some narrow corners so in this respect I am glad I didn't go for the bigger XT8. I prefer to move the scope as one unit, but it is very easy to take apart. There are 2 tension springs that hold the tube to the base and once you release the springs you can lift the tube off the base. The springs are permanently mounted on the tube, so you won't have to worry about dropping them in the dark. 

The next clear night where I could finally test it out was painfully 2 days after I got it. My first target was Saturn (of course). I wasn't expecting to see much because of where my observing point was. I know this is a huge mistake and I don't want to get into the details of why I did this - but I just pointed it out from my bedroom window. The supplied eyepiece is great but by no means I was able to start counting cloud bands or seeing the cassini division because Saturn is very small in a 25mm eyepiece. I fortunately ordered a 10mm eyepiece at the same time as the scope so as soon as I had Saturn in my view I changed to the 10 mm. It was such a beautiful moment to see it with my own eyes. The realization that I was looking at Saturn with my own eyes in real time and not just from a magazine was a thrill. Saturn was crystal clear and I could see 3 of the 4 large moons. And this coming from viewing out of a window. The next night was clear as well, but this time I took to my backyard. Saturn again was a beautiful sight. The rings are almost edge on right now but I could still clearly see the rings and slight shades of cloud bands through all the light pollution and hints of daylight left in the sky. Of course, the darker the skies - the better the views, but I have to get up pretty early for work, so I couldn't hang out until the sky was completely dark. Now I find myself actually looking forward to nights getting longer. The XT6 is quite easy to get the hang of too, although I find it a bit tricky to navigate when I'm looking through it because of it being a reflector. But once I get use to the upside down and reversed image while observing it should be no problem. I just have to remember that with it being a reflector up is down and left is right. 

Then I started looking at stars. I just saw something with my unaided eyes and then just pointed the scope to it. It brought out more stars hidden from view because of suburban city lights, but the clarity of the stars I saw with my scope was breathtaking. It was just me and my scope and the night sky at that moment. As I gain more experience with the XT6, I hope to seek out galaxies and nebulas and star clusters, but for now I'm just taking it one night at a time, one star or planet at a time. Now that I have a capable scope with me at all times, whenever there is something interesting going on "up there" I can observe most of these things beside all the other ameteur astronomy nerds.


I am very glad I decided on getting the XT6 instead of the next size down or up. I'm quite comfortable with this middle size. When I first started looking at buying a dob, I was all set to order the XT4.5. But at the very last moment I changed my mind and went the next size up just so I could have that much more aperature. Then when I was impatiently waiting for the arrival of my scope I started to have regrets about not getting the XT8. I was in full fledged aperature fever and I didn't even have my first scope yet. But once I got to see the XT6 and know my own capabilities with transporting, I came to the conclusion that I made the right choice. For someone in better shape than me or with less obstacles to navigate around to get it out, the XT8 or XT10 would be the better choice, but for me, the XT6 is just right. Its still enough of a scope that when I bring this to star parties, I won't get picked on.