Sky-Watcher StarQuest DX130P Newtonian reflector set

A quality set for beginners, delivering heaps of value for the price

- WORDS: STEVE TONKIN

Any beginner telescope kit should be easy to use and come complete, with no need for extra purchases.

Sky-Watcher's latest addition to its StarQuest line, the DX130P, offers new astronomers exactly that: a novice-friendly all-in-one solution that turned out to be a genuine pleasure to review.

Unpacking the boxes, we discovered a smart metallic black optical tube assembly, tubular steel tripod with accessory tray, Sky-Watcher's new StarQuest DX equatorial mount with counterweight and bar, and a box of accessories that included a red dot finder, two eyepieces, a smartphone adaptor kit and a crosshead screwdriver.

Also included in the package were comprehensive illustrated instructions that show you how to set up the mount and balance the telescope. However, these could bear a little copy-editing; there were several typos, descriptions of the red dot finder that segued between an older version and this newer one, mislabelled components in diagrams, and polar alignment instructions that could leave users looking for crosshairs in the red dot finder.

Nevertheless, our immediate impression was how simple the setup process was, and how tidy and robust the DX mount is compared to other equatorial mounts aimed at beginners.