Orion · Dobsonian · 10 inches and up · Late 2008 until Orion closed in 2024
Orion SkyQuest XX12i
The XX12i is a 12-inch Dobsonian that comes apart for the car. Orion introduced it in late 2008 with a truss tube: the upper cage holding the small mirror and focuser rides on eight aluminum poles in four pairs, which detach so the scope packs smaller than a solid 12-inch tube. Optically it matches the XT12, a 305 mm Pyrex mirror at f/4.9. The i stands for IntelliScope, Orion's push-to system. Encoders on both axes feed a handheld controller running on a 9 volt battery, which tells you which way to push to find more than 14,000 objects. It also came with a cooling fan, a dual-speed focuser and a 2-inch eyepiece. Orion closed in 2024, so a working IntelliScope controller matters.
XX12i IntelliScope Truss DobsonianXX12g (GoTo version, not covered here)
Spec at a glance
- Brand
- Orion
- Type
- Dobsonian
- Made
- Late 2008 until Orion closed in 2024
- Aperture
- 305 mm (12 in)
- Focal length
- 1,500 mm
- Focal ratio
- f/4.9
- Design
- Truss-tube Dobsonian, eight aluminum poles in four pairs; Pyrex primary
- Push-to
- IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator, 14,000+ objects, 9 V battery
- Focuser
- Dual-speed 2-inch Crayford
- Weight
- Tube 49.5 lb assembled, base 34 lb
- Also listed as
- Orion XX12i, XX12i, SkyQuest XX12i IntelliScope, Orion 12 inch truss Dobsonian
The full kit
What should come with it
- Lower tube, upper cage and all four two-pole truss assemblies
- IntelliScope controller, its cable and the encoders
- Cooling fan and its battery pack
- 9x50 finder
- Eyepieces (a 35 mm 2-inch and a 10 mm were supplied)
- Collimation cap
Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. Plenty of listings are the tube alone or the mount alone, and a missing hand controller, power supply or counterweight should come off the price.
What to check
Missing truss poles, knobs or the IntelliScope controller are the common problems, and none of them can be ordered from Orion now. A truss tube needs collimating each time it's assembled. The mirror coating dulls with age like any reflector.
- 01Truss poles: Count the truss assemblies in the photos. There should be four pairs, eight poles in all, with their knobs.
- 02IntelliScope: Check the controller, its cable and both encoders are there. Ask for a photo of it switched on.
- 03Mirror: Ask for a photo of the main mirror with a flashlight. It should be bright and even, without peeling.
- 04Collimation: Check the collimation knobs and the collimation cap are included. You'll use them every night.
- 05Base: Look at the base and bearings in the photos. They should be solid, with no swelling.
- 06Pickup: Plan for a lower tube of about 34 lb plus a 34 lb base. Local pickup lets you see it assembled.
New to used telescopes? How to check a used telescope covers optics, mounts, power and shipping, and what a complete kit looks like helps with tube-only and mount-only listings.
Find one on eBay
We haven’t been through this model’s listings yet. Search eBay and run every listing through the checklist above. Ask for a photo looking into the optics with a flashlight and one of everything included, and pass on any seller who won’t send them.
Search “Orion XX12i” on eBay ↗eBay searchCompare with
Orion
DobsonianOrion SkyQuest XT12 Classic
- Years made
- By 2007 until Orion closed in 2024
- Key spec
- 305 mm · f/4.9
Specs and what to check →
Sky-Watcher
DobsonianSky-Watcher Flextube 12 GoTo
- Years made
- Key spec
- 305 mm · f/4.9
Specs and what to check →
Orion
DobsonianOrion SkyQuest XT10 Classic
- Years made
- Until Orion closed in 2024
- Key spec
- 254 mm · f/4.7
$850–$850 typical ask