With the largest aperture in the series, the Sky-Watcher 180mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope is a powerful astronomical tool that remains manageable and portable. The Maksutov design exchanges the conventional front corrector plate of a Schmidt with a convex meniscus lens, resulting in a smaller secondary mirror that limits obstruction and increases contrast, while eliminating the need for periodic collimation. This modified optical path results in a slower focal ratio and narrower field of view versus a similar Schmidt, but the optical benefits, when coupled with the larger aperture and fully multicoated optics, make this an ideal scope for making detailed solar, lunar, and planetary observations, while being able to resolve deep-sky objects like stars, clusters, galaxies, and nebulae.

The scope is outfitted with a large 2" visual back. To get users started, Sky-Watcher includes a 28mm long eye relief eyepiece that produces 96x magnification and a 90° star diagonal for viewing with the optical tube assembly (OTA) pointed at or near the celestial zenith. The OTA is offered here without a mount or tripod for users who have a reliable support system or want to use it as part of a dual-OTA setup for star parties or observation/imaging rigs. It is outfitted with a Vixen-style dovetail plate for use with compatible mounts. This OTA's compact form factor belies its observation power and resolution and is ideally suited as a grab-and-go option for quick observation sessions or heading out to remote locations.