GSO Dobsonian GSD 200 C

Aperture 200mm / Focal Length 1200mm

Why should you sacrifice quality only because you want to save money? The GSO C-line was created to offer Dobsonian telescopes as cheap as possible without reducing the quality of the optics. In our opinion the result is an excellent telescope at an exceptional value for money.

Optical Performance ...
The telescope is equipped with a high quality GSO parabolical primary mirror. We guarantee a diffraction limited performance.

As a result you get sharp and contrasty images of the moon and the planets as well as impressive views of countless deep sky nebulae and galaxies. Many details can be seen in these nebulae.

94% enhanced coating for a brighter image!

High Quality Focuser ...
The GSD doesn't have a cheap rack and pinion focuser, but uses a high quality Crayford focuser. Even at high magnifications focusing is easy and smooth. The focuser is compatible with 2" and 1.25" accessories.

High Mechanical Quality ...
The metal tube is very sturdy. The primary and secondary mirror cells hold the optical elements securely in place. As a result the GSO Dobsonians do not easily lose collimation.

Simple Operation ...
The telescope is operated with ease by a single person. The weight and dimensions are small enough to be handled by one person as well. The tube will fit on the back seats of most cars.

Using a Dobsonian is very simple. The telescope is moved manually around a horizontal (azimuth) and vertical (altitude) axis. An azimuth roller bearing and an altitude Teflon friction bearing are used to offer good smoothness of operation.

Quality Control ...
We do careful tests of all shipments so that we can guarantee a constantly high level of quality.

Excellent Visual Performance of the GSD 200 C:

Galaxies and Gas Nebulae in Detail
With this telescope you will be able to see fine details in planetary nebulae - remnants of old, dying stars. You will see the spiral arms in many galaxies. Large nebulae like the Veil nebula in Cygnus can be seen with many beautiful details.

The Moon and the Planets
Sharp images of the moon and the planets require excellent optics. The GSO Dobsonian has a precisely figured parabolical primary mirror for superb images. The small secondary mirror and the four thin secondary spider vanes bring along even sharper and more detailed images than would be possible with a large secondary mirror that is held by three thick spider vanes.

Grab-And-Go Setup
The simple and intuitive way to use this telescope makes it much easier for beginners to spend their first joyful hours under the starry sky. Set-up is as easy as you can imagine: Just put the rocker box on the ground, insert the telescope tube and put the springs in position and you're ready to go!

Image Quality

For best possible image quality you need high quality optics as well as optimized mechanics. The GSO Dobsonian has both. The thin spider vanes (see left image) improve contrast and image sharpness compared with a simpler spider with thick vanes.

Tracking Objects With The GSD 200C

The mount of a Dobsonian telescope is called "Rocker-Box", a fitting name for the uniquely simple and well-working design. The rocker allows you to point the telescope at any point in the sky and allows for comfortable, intuitive movement.

Moving the telescope is very simple, just push the telescope into the right direction – no need to use clamps or motors, it doesn't get more simple than this!

Since you need to move the Dobsonian manually it is particularly important that the movement be as smooth as possible. The GSD has an azimuth teflon bearing for smooth operation. With a little experience 250x is no problem at all.

Advantages of the Crayford focuser in the GSD 200 C:

=> Much smoother focus motion compared with simpler focusers
=> secure and scratch-free grip on the eyepieces through use of a brass compression ring (both 1.25" and 2")
=> no image shift. This means that the object will remain precisely in position while you focus. Simpler focusers tend to be shifted a little bit out of alignment, resulting in a relative movement of the object. This somewhat annoying effect does not occur in the Crayford focuser.
=> no play when you reverse the focusing direction. The focuser will reverse the direction in which it moves instantaneously when you change the direction in which you turn the focus knobs. In rack-and-pinion type focusers there is always a certain amount of play which causes a delay in reversing the direction.

Thin 4-Vane Spider - More Contrast

The less diffraction the better the contrast. Thin secondary spider vanes improve contrast compared with cheap three vane or thick four vane spiders - important for the moon and the planets.

Spring Tension System

The spring tension system prevents the telescope from moving on its own when exchanging eyepieces.

2" Crayford Focuser

The GSO Dobsonian uses a 2" Crayford focuser for a very precise and smooth focusing motion. Even at high magnifications you will precisely find focus. The focuser is compatible with 2" and 1.25" accessories.

Complete Dobsonian Telescope with Alt-Azimuth Mount (Rockerbox)

-- Optical Tube with 2" Crayford focuser
-- Rockerbox with azimuth teflon bearing
-- 25mm Plössl eyepiece
-- 8x50 finderscope - multi-coated
-- Fan for faster cooling
-- English or German manual