Review and Test of the Skywatcher N 130/900 Explorer EQ2 Telescope
Excellent Performance at a Reasonable Price
The Skywatcher N 130/900 Explorer EQ2 is the perfect telescope for children aged 10 and above who want to get started in astronomy. This beginner-friendly reflector is a very popular choice among amateur astronomers. At Telescope For Kids, this telescope holds a special place in our hearts, as it was our very first telescope—the one that ignited our passion for astronomy!
Our Review of the Skywatcher 130/900 EQ2
The Skywatcher 130/900 EQ2 is an ideal choice for children and beginners passionate about astronomy. It combines excellent image quality at an affordable price while remaining user-friendly and reliable. Whether you want to observe the Moon, planets, or deep-sky objects, this telescope allows you to discover the wonders of the universe with precision and ease.
Pros
Excellent value for money
Great for deep-sky objects such as distant galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters
Very low optical aberration, producing bright and clear images
Strong planetary observation performance
Cons
Requires specific maintenance like all Newtonian reflectors (e.g., collimation adjustments)
Slight light loss due to secondary mirror obstruction
Technical Specifications
- Type: Reflector (Newtonian)
- Design: Mirror-based optics
- Aperture: 130 mm
- Focal Length: 900 mm
- Focal Ratio (f/): 6.92
- Resolution: 0.92 arcsec
- Limiting Magnitude: 13.1
- Light Gathering Power: 169
- Maximum Magnification: 260x
- Eyepiece Connection: 1.25 inches
- Design: Optical tube with primary mirror
- Mount Type: EQ2 (Equatorial Mount)
- Tripod Height: Adjustable from 71 cm to 123 cm
- Material: Aluminum tripod
- Total Weight: 13 kg
Optics of the Skywatcher N 130/900 Explorer EQ2
This telescope offers magnification up to 180x simply by using the standard eyepieces provided, which allows for detailed planetary observations. If you’re not used to stargazing with the naked eye, you’ll surely be amazed by what you see through the eyepiece!
Here’s a video example of what you can observe with this telescope:
With its 130 mm aperture and 900 mm focal length, the Skywatcher N 130/900 EQ2 captures about 30% more light compared to a 114 mm telescope. This means better performance when observing deep-sky objects, such as the Orion Nebula.
Its bigger sibling, the Skywatcher 150/750 EQ3, delivers even more impressive performance—a perfect telescope for beginners starting from age 14!
Mount
The brand’s expertise is clearly reflected in the build quality of this Skywatcher model. The sturdy aluminum tripod adjusts from 71 to 123 cm to suit the observer’s height.
The EQ2 equatorial mount is stable and well-balanced, enabling fine adjustments for smooth and accurate targeting. This ensures precise focusing while minimizing vibrations for distortion-free observations.
On the downside, the total weight of about 15 kg makes it less portable, especially if you plan on stargazing away from urban light pollution. This is why we don’t recommend it for children under 10 years old. For kids between 6 and 10, a smaller refractor telescope is a better choice.
The equatorial mount also requires learning polar alignment—aligning the telescope with Earth’s rotational axis. While this may take practice and patience, trust us: the reward of observing deep-sky objects is absolutely worth it!
Le savoir-faire de la marque se ressent dans la qualité de fabrication de ce télescope Skywatcher. Les matériaux utilisés sont de haute qualité, offrant robustesse et fiabilité. Son trépied en aluminium peut se déplier de 71 cm jusqu’à 123 cm afin de s’adapter à la taille de l’observateur.
Observable Objects
With the Skywatcher N 130/900 Explorer EQ2, you’ll be able to explore a wide range of celestial treasures, including:
✨ The Moon’s craters
✨ Planets of the Solar System (like Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars)
✨ Deep-sky objects such as:
- Galaxies: Andromeda (M31), Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), Sombrero Galaxy (M104)
- Nebulae: Orion Nebula (M42), Lagoon Nebula (M8), Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237)
- Star clusters: Hercules Cluster (M13), the Pleiades (M45), Omega Centauri (NGC 5139)
Accessories
Included with the telescope:
- 25 mm eyepiece (36x magnification)
- 10 mm eyepiece (90x magnification)
- 2x Barlow lens (doubles magnification power)
- 5×24 finder scope
Shipped with two eyepieces (25 mm and 10 mm), the telescope achieves theoretical magnifications up to 180x, which is excellent at this price point! The included 2x Barlow lens further expands magnification options.
That said, even though the provided eyepieces are decent, we strongly recommend upgrading with additional eyepieces if you intend to pursue more advanced stargazing—otherwise, you may quickly feel limited when observing faint or distant objects.
Finally, the telescope comes with a tripod tray, a practical accessory holder so you can keep everything within easy reach during your observation sessions.
✅ In summary: The Skywatcher N 130/900 Explorer EQ2 is a brilliant beginner’s telescope, offering a fantastic balance of optical performance, build quality, and price. It’s an excellent choice for young astronomers aged 10+, as well as adults getting into amateur astronomy.
If you’d like to make stargazing even more fun at home for kids, don’t miss our range of star light projectors to bring the night sky indoors!