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Orion Telescopes
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Build-A-Scope 12" IntelliScope Truss Dobsonian Telescope
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  • Start with this 12" aperture, 1500mm focal length truss reflector optical tube and ultra-stable Dobsonian base with push-to IntelliScope computerized object locator
  • Add the Orion-brand finder scope, and initial eyepiece that YOU want
  • Add additional Orion-brand telescope eyepieces
  • Accessorize even further with any Orion-brand filters, collimating tools, Barlow lenses, padded cases, Scope Cloak covers, and more
  • Get the 12" SkyQuest Truss Tube Intelliscope Dobsonian of your dreams and SAVE BIG compared to purchasing the telescope and accessories separately!


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Why Choose A Build-A-Scope Dobsonian Telescope?

If you're just starting out in the hobby, our standard Dobsonian configurations (either Classic or IntelliScope) may meet your needs and are available for fastest shipping. But, if you want the telescope that you've always wanted, customized the way you'd like it — then an Orion Build-A-Scope is for you!

It's easy to Build-A-Scope and save money, so get started building that dream telescope now!

Start Building Your Telescope Select required components and optional accessories to create your perfect telescope, add all items to your cart and save!

PLEASE NOTE: If you leave this page before adding your configured Build-A-Scope to your shopping cart, the details of your configuration will not be saved. In addition, if you add a Build-A-Scope to your wish list, the components you have chosen will not be included on your wish list. To save a configuration, add all items to your cart using the button above. Your configured Build-A-Scope will be saved in your shopping cart for 30 days. You will then be able to return to your configuration by visiting your shopping cart and clicking on the Build-A-Scope product title.

Once we receive your order, we will build your telescope! That takes a little more time to ship than a standard order. In-stock orders placed by 1:00 pm Eastern Time will ship 2-3 business days after your order is placed. The expected shipping date for your customized Build-A-Scope will update to reflect the availability of the components you choose and the time needed to build your telescope. Before you know it, you will have your very own customized Classic Dobsonian to show off to your friends!

Maybe the idea of a big-aperture telescope appeals to you, but the portability issue has kept you on the fence. Well you can hop off it now because we've got the perfect solution - the "space-saving" Orion Build-A-Scope 12" IntelliScope Truss Dobsonian Telescope. It's a deep-sky observer's dream telescope, offering jumbo 12" (305mm) Pyrex parabolic optics of 1500mm focal length (f/4.9); a stylish, reduced-weight base outfitted with computerized IntelliScope object locating technology; and a sturdy, eight-truss tube design that disassembles in about a minute into compact, easily portable components. And at its price, it ranks as the #1 killer telescope deal of the year!

Truss Tube Dob Chart

Finally, a deluxe, large-aperture Dobsonian that fits comfortably into a compact car for transport to your favorite observing site! Credit the it's traditional truss tube design, which utilizes eight aluminum trusses (four captive pairs) that attach and detach quickly with oversized hand knobs - no tools required! This design provides a more rigid structural support than other designs in this category. And all assembly knobs are captive, so you won't lose any in the dark! When removed, the trusses in each captive pair align in parallel, which saves space when transporting and storing them. Disassembly of the 56"-long optical tube yields two sections, the largest measuring just 26" in length.

The Orion Build-A-Scope 12" IntelliScope Truss Dobsonian Telescope improves on the already stellar features and performance of our standard XT12 IntelliScope Dobsonian and its Build-A-Scope cousin. We outfitted this telescope with larger, 8" altitude bearings for smoother tube motion. The side-reinforced base sports stylish cutouts that minimize weight without sacrificing stability. EbonyStar laminate glides on non-stick PTFE material to give the azimuth motion the feel of silk. Fine features carried over from the XT12 include adjustable altitude tension, an open 9-point flotation primary mirror cell, and a "navigation knob" for easy slewing.

Although the primary mirror cell is extremely well ventilated, the Orion Build-A-Scope 12" IntelliScope Truss Dobsonian Telescope comes with a Cooling Accelerator Fan, which attaches to the back of the cell and facilitates faster equilibration of the mirror to ambient temperature. The secondary mirror has a 70mm minor axis and is held in a four-vane spider with very thin (0.7mm thick) vanes to minimize diffraction effects.

The acclaimed IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator comes standard on this telescope, allowing manual slewing to any of 14,000 celestial objects in just seconds, using its illuminated pushbutton keypad. It lets you spend your time viewing celestial objects instead of hunting for them. What's more, with this telescope's 305mm of light-grabbing aperture, your favorite "faint fuzzies" won't look nearly so faint or fuzzy! The deep-sky views will simply dazzle you.

It's the big Dobsonian you've dreamed of owning, and now you can take it with you wherever dark skies beckon! Get the practical and amazingly affordable Orion Build-A-Scope 12" IntelliScope Truss Dobsonian Telescope and hit the road to astronomical adventure.

With the Build-A-Scope 12" IntelliScope Truss Tube Dobsonian from Orion, you decide which finder scope, eyepiece, and other accessories come with the telescope. You can choose between magnified achromatic finder scopes, red-dot reflex sights, or more deluxe right-angle correct-image or illuminated crosshair finder scope models to be included with the SkyQuest XX12i IntelliScope Truss Tube Dobsonian. You also get to select which telescope eyepiece is included from Orion's wide variety of quality oculars. Choose from low focal length, high magnification 1.25" eyepieces, or go after the bigger picture with a wide-angle 2" eyepiece to view a large swath of sky through the telescope.

Assembled weight (including accessories): 86.5 lbs. Assembled optical tube, 56"L x 14"W, 49.5 lbs. Bottom tube section, 26"L x 14"W, 34.3lbs; top tube section, 8"L x 14"W, 9.6 lbs. Truss poles (8), 22"L x 1"W. Total weight of 4 Truss pole pairs and captive assembly knobs: 5.6lbs. Base, 25"W x 30"H, 34lbs. 12V battery pack included (requires 8 D-cells: not included) to power Cooling Accelerator Fan.

Meets or exceeds all California State Environmental Quality & Safety Regulations (CARB 93120 Phase 2 Compliant).

WARNING! When using a truss tube Dobsonian telescope for solar observing, always use a Light Shroud and a properly sized solar filter. When you install the Light Shroud make certain there are no gaps between the Shroud and the telescope where direct sunlight can reach the telescope mirror. When a truss tube telescope (equipped with a solar filter but no Light Shroud) is pointing near (not at) the Sun, direct sunlight can hit the mirror and focus on the solar filter or other portions of the telescope. This can lead to eye injury or damage to the telescope. Using a Light Shroud protects your telescope from peripheral sunlight.

Before using any telescope for solar observing, make sure to install all dustcaps or other protective covers on all optical components such as finder scopes to keep sunlight from passing through them. Glancing through an uncovered optical system, even for an instant, can cause permanent eye damage. Always install protective caps on all optical instruments if left out during daylight hours. 

Warranty

Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact us at 800-447-1001.

Warning

Please note this product was not designed or intended by the manufacturer for use by a child 12 years of age or younger.

Product Support
Visit our product support section for instruction manuals and more
  • Best for viewing
    Fainter deep sky
  • Best for imaging
    Lunar & planetary
  • User level
    Advanced
  • Optical design
    Reflector
  • Optical diameter
    305mm
  • Focal length
    1500mm
  • Focal ratio
    f/4.9
  • Optics type
    Parabolic
  • Glass material
    Low thermal expansion borosilicate glass
  • Eyepieces
    Choose an Orion eyepiece mm ()
  • Resolving power
    0.38arc*sec
  • Lowest useful magnification
    42x
  • Highest useful magnification
    300x
  • Highest theoretical magnification
    610x
  • Limiting stellar magnitude
    15.1
  • Optical quality
    Diffraction limited
  • Finder scope
    Choose an Orion finder scope
  • Focuser
    2" dual-speed Crayford
  • Secondary mirror obstruction
    70mm
  • Secondary mirror obstruction by diameter
    23%
  • Secondary mirror obstruction by area
    5%
  • Mirror coatings/over-coatings
    Aluminum & Silicon Dioxide
  • Mount type
    Dobsonian
  • Astro-imaging capability
    Simple moon shots
  • Computerized compatibility
    Intelliscope included
  • Alignment procedure
    2-Star Alignment
  • Number of objects in database
    14,000+
  • Bearing material
    AZ: Ebony Star/PTFE, ALT: UHMW/ABS
  • Power requirement
    9-volt battery
  • Setting circles
    Electronic, via the hand controller
  • Available ports
    RS-232
  • Tube material
    Steel
  • Tripod material
    Wood
  • Length of optical tube
    58.3 in.
  • Weight, optical tube
    49.5 lbs.
  • Weight, mount/tripod
    34.0 lbs.
  • Weight, fully assembled
    86.5 lbs.
  • Additional included accessories
    Collimation cap, Eyepiece rack
  • Other features
    CorrecTension system, Navigation knob, Integral carry handle
  • Warranty
    One year

Orion SkyQuest XX12" f/4.9 Truss-Tube Dobsonian Reflector Telescope w/ parabolic primary optics
9-point flotation primary mirror cell with spring loaded thumbscrew collimation adjustments
70mm minor-axis secondary mirror on 4-vaned (0.7mm thick vanes) secondary holder
4 groups of two-pole rotatable truss assemblies with captive assembly knobs
Dual-Speed (11:1) 2" Crayford focuser w/ 1.25" telescope eyepiece adapter and adjustable focusing tension
Orion unique new base design with side braces for increased stability
Base outfitted with EbonyStar on non-stick PTFE azimuth bearings for optimized motion
Large 8" diameter ABS plastic altitude bearings with adjustable CorrecTension knobs 
Navigation knob
Orion IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator system
9-volt battery (for IntelliScope Object Locator)
Base handle
Telescope eyepiece rack (holds one 2" eyepiece and three 1.25" eyepieces)
Cooling Accelerator Fan
12V battery pack for Cooling Fan (requires 8 D cell batteries: not included) 
Dust covers for top and bottom tube sections
Collimation Cap
Base assembly hardware 
Orion Starry Night Special Edition software
Instruction manual

And of course, the finder scope, eyepieces, and other accessories you choose!

Orders received by 1pm Eastern Standard Time for in-stock items ship the same business day. Order received after noon will ship the next business day. When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available. You have the option in check out to request that your order ship complete, if you'd prefer.

A per-item shipping charge (in addition to the standard shipping and handling charge) applies to this product due to its size and weight. This charge varies based on the shipping method.

Standard Delivery: $0.00
Standard Delivery to Canada: $115.00
3 Day Delivery: $282.00
2 Day Delivery: $282.00
Next Day Delivery: $340.00

SHIPPING RESTRICTIONS APPLY FOR THIS PRODUCT

This product is available to ship Standard delivery within the 50 US states and US territories/protectorates address. Delivery is not available to APO/DPO/FPO addresses . Delivery is available to Canada.

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