Celestron CGEM 800 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope
Item#: HN-CELE309
Price:
$2,199.00
Product Summary
Get close to the stars in a way you never imagined with this high-end Celstron CGEM-800 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Integrated All-star technology allows you to focus on any star while the included software automatically brings your telescope into polar alignment while others are left fumbling with knobs and dials. The included 2-foot steel tripod and accessory tray allow for maximum portability while the CGEM mount doesn't compromise on quality and comes complete with a 40,000-object pre-programmed database giving you amazing functionality.
For help and guidance, call our optics specialists at 1-800-303-5877.
Description
Celestron's CGEM-800 features our high-end 8" Schmidt Cassegrian OTA with XLT coatings mounted on our brand new CGEM™ mount.
The Celestron CGEM™ mount has a fresh, attractive, bold appearance and is capable of carrying Celestron’s higher-end SCT optical tubes (up to 11") securely and vibration free which is ideal for both imaging and visual observing.
Ergonomic Design - CGEM was designed to be ergonomically friendly with large Altitude and Azimuth adjustment knobs for quick and easy polar alignment adjustment. The internal RA and DEC motor wiring provides a clean look and an easy and trouble free set up.
Innovation - The CGEM series has a new innovative Polar alignment procedure called All-Star™ (patent pending). All-Star allows users to choose any bright star, while the software calculates and assists with polar alignment. Another great feature of the CGEM, sure to please astroimagers, is the Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PEC) which will allow users to train out the worm gears periodic errors, while the mount retains the PEC recordings.
Performance - For objects near the Meridian (imaginary line passing from North to South), the CGEM will track well past the Meridian for uninterrupted imaging through the most ideal part of the sky. The CGEM mount has a robust database with over 40,000 objects, 400 user defined programmable objects and enhanced information on over 200 objects.
Celestron's CGEM mount is the perfect fit between the Advanced Series and CGE Series. Offering the portability of the Advanced Series and the precision of the CGE.
Features:
- CGEM Computerized Equatorial Mount
- Ultra sturdy 2" steel tripod with Accessory Tray
- 40,000 object database with 400 user-definable objects and expanded information on over 200 objects
- Proven NexStar computer control technology
- Flash upgradeable hand control software and motor control units for downloading product updates over the Internet
- New "All-star" Polar alignment uses any bright star for a quick and accurate Polar alignment
- 6x30 Finderscope for easy centering of objects
- Software Features include: Mount Calibration, Database Filter Limits, Hibernate, five Alignment Procedures, and user-defined slew limits
- Custom database lists of all the most famous deep-sky objects by name and catalog number; the most beautiful double, triple and quadruple stars; variable star; solar systems; objects and asterisms
- Permanent programmable periodic error correction (PEC) - corrects for periodic tracking errors inherent to all worm drives
- Flash upgradeable hand control software and motor control units for downloading product updates over the Internet
- Custom database lists of all the most famous deep-sky objects by name and catalog number; the most beautiful double, triple and quadruple stars; variable star; solar systems; objects and asterisms
- Steel worm gear and 90mm pitch diameter brass worm wheel
- Drive Motors - Low Cog DC Servo motor with integrated optical encoders offer smooth, quiet operation and long life. The motor armatures are skewed to minimize cogging which is required fro low speed tracking.
- Internal Cable wiring for trouble-free setup and transportation
- Designated six-pin RJ-12 modular jack, ST-4 compatible guide port
- Double line, 16-character Liquid Crystal Display Hand Control with backlit LED buttons for easy operation of goto features
- Autoguide port and auxiliary ports located on the electronic pier for long exposure astrophotography
- RS-232 communication port on hand control to control the telescope via a personal computer
- Includes NexRemote telescope control software, for advanced control of your telescope via computer
- GPS-compatible with optional CN16 GPS Accessory
Specifications
- MOUNT: Computerized Equatorial
- TRIPOD: Adjustable, Stainless Steel
- CD ROM: NexRemote control software with RS232 cable
- POWER SUPPLY: Car battery adapter
- TRIPOD WEIGHT: 17 lb (7.71 kg)
- MOUNT WEIGHT: 41 lb (18.6 kg)
- COUNTERWEIGHTS: 1 x 17 lb
- MOTOR DRIVE: Low cog DC Servo motors with encoders, both axes
- COMPUTER HAND CONTROL: Double line, 16 character Liquid Crystal Display; 19 fiber optic backlit LED buttons
- SLEW SPEEDS: Nine slew speeds: 4 °/sec, 2 °/sec, .5 °/sec, 64x, 16x, 8x, 4x, 1x, .5x
- TRACKING RATES: Sidereal, Solar and Lunar
- TRACKING MODES: EQ North and EQ South
- ALIGNMENT PROCEDURES: AutoAlign, 2-Star Align, Quick Align, 1-Star Align, Last Alignment, Solar System Align
- SOFTWARE PRECISION: 24bit, 0.08 calculation
- DATABASE: 40,000+ objects, 400 user defined programmable objects. Enhanced information on over 200 objects
- POWER REQUIREMENTS: 12 VDC 1.5 Amp
- GPS: Optional CN-16 GPS Accessory
Dimensions & Specifications
Aperture
203mm
Brand
Celestron
Eyepiece 1
25mm (81x)
Features
Equatorial Mount, GoTo
Finderscope
6x30
Focal Length
2032mm
Focal Ratio
f/10
Highest Useful Magnification
480x
Limiting Magnitude
14
Mount Design
Equatorial
Object Database
40000 objects
Optical Coating
StarBright XLT
Optical Design
Schmidt-Cassegrain
Recommended Usage
Astrophotography, Viewing Galaxies/Star Clusters, Viewing Nebulae, Viewing the Moon, Viewing the Planets
Star Diagonal
1.25 diagonal prism
Telescopes Series
Celestron CGEM Telescopes
User Level
For the Expert
Warranty
2-Year Limited
Weight
88 lbs.
Celestron Telescope Eyepiece and Filter Kit - 2 Inch Format Sale Price:
$279.98
41%
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 2 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
Reviewed by 2 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-2
Pros
- ease of use after setup
- Sturdy mount
Cons
- Hand control unintuitive
- Poor manual
Best Uses
- Visual observing
Comments about Celestron CGEM 800 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope:
So far I only use the CGEM 800 for astronomical viewing (no astrophotography yet).
The good:
The telescope creates good views of objects after setting up. The mount has decent customization and is nice to use a computer connected via the RS-232 remote port. The collimation (per the instruction booklet) was quick and easy but was very close after the unboxing.
The bad:
The first few alignment tries were taxing. Most of the problems are user incurred but could be avoided had the hand control been more intuitive (arrow keys only slew the telescope and do not navigate the menus).
Now if the weather will only warm up! All the steel in the mount and the cold air make controlling it difficult with numb fingers.
Service and delivery comments:
Delivery was within a few days and had no defects. Note that a hayneedle.com representative will call you the day of or the day after for anti-fraud issues.
Pros
- Accurate
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Astronomy
Comments about Celestron CGEM 800 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope:
After years of dreaming about getting a nice scope I finally decided on the Celestron CGEM 800 and couldn't be happier with my decision. It is extremely easy to set up and align. After a couple of nights I perfected the two star alingment as well as the polar alignment of the scope. Add a couple of clibration stars and the scope is aligned perfectly. Always placing objects in the center of the eypiece with no need to adjust.
The mount is solid and is completely silent while tracking. This scope is perfect for astrophotgraphy. I have spent several nights taking CCD images and the scope perfectly tracks for great images. I plan on using an autoguider in the future which the mount already has a jack to support this feature.
All in all I am extremely pleased with the performance and quality of the scope/mount and look forward to several nights observing the skies with my new scope.
Displaying reviews 1-2
