Celestron CGX 8 Inch Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope - 12050

Description

Take your visual observing and astroimaging to new heights with an all-new mount from Celestron: CGX. This German equatorial mount offers all the performance and features found on observatory grade mounts in a user-friendly package that can travel with you to remote observing sites.

To create CGX, Celestron engineers started from the ground up with a completely new industrial and mechanical design. The result is a streamlined, elegant mount—inside and out.

Unbeatable Tracking Performance

Under the hood, CGX is different from any other generation of German equatorial mount. You’ll find a new heavy duty belt-drive system driving the worm gear, which minimizes backlash and allows the mount to move smoothly under heavy loads.

The worm gear itself is brass and spring-loaded for smooth operation. You can train CGX using permanent periodic error correction (PPEC) to eliminate periodic errors in the worm gear. Set it once and the errors are gone for as long as you own the mount.

Safer and More Elegant Design

Celestron’s team ran all of CGX’s cabling through the mount for a clean look. The power input and ports where you connect your computer, hand control, or other accessories remain stationary and do not move with the mount to eliminate the risk of cable wrap and tension.

What’s more, the mount has built-in slew limits with hard stops. Internal optical sensors stop the mount from moving past these limits, so there’s never danger of your optical tube striking the tripod—a great feature if you plan on operating CGX remotely. But don’t worry, these slew limits are quite generous at 20 degrees past the meridian in each direction, so you can still capture astroimages across the clearest part of the night sky.

Improved Design and Ergonomics

When you look at CGX, one of first things you’ll notice is its low profile and wide stance compared with other GEM mounts. This new form factor anchors CGX to the ground for improved rigidity. Thanks to its super stable design, CGX can handle up to 55 lb of payload with ease—enough to accommodate your scope when it’s loaded with a full range of accessories like astroimaging cameras, guide scopes, and bulky eyepieces.

CGX stands securely on a brand new tripod. It features strong 2” steel tripod legs with height index marks so you can quickly set up and level your tripod. The leg lock mechanisms are inward facing so you don’t snag or trip over them in the dark. Plus, CGX features an integrated accessory tray that remains attached to the tripod. It’s one less piece to keep track of in the field and helps the tripod lay flat without rolling around in your trunk.

This mount features new clutch levers and polar alignment knobs so that you can make adjustments with just a twist of the wrist—even after a long night in the cold. The hand control offers an integrated USB port to make downloading software updates a breeze. You’ll also receive a new dual dovetail saddle so you can pair CGX with virtually any optical tube; it accommodates both CGE/Losmandy and CG-5/Vixen style dovetails.

Celestron’s Signature Optics

Speaking of optical tubes, this telescope kit includes Celstron’s bestselling 8” Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube. Developed by Celestron’s founder Tom Johnson in the 1970s and perfected over decades, this optical design has withstood the test of time thanks to its compact form factor, versatility, and stunning views. All optical surfaces feature Celestron's StarBright XLT coating for maximum light transmission and bright, detailed views.

Precision Tracking for Astroimaging

Of course, you also get all of the innovative software technologies that make using a Celestron GEM mount so easy: SkyAlign and All Star Polar Alignment. SkyAlign allows you to center any three bright objects to align the telescope’s GoTo in minutes, while All Star gives you a super accurate polar alignment in a fraction of the time it takes to use a polar finderscope. Best of all, you don’t need a clear view of Polaris. Once you’ve set up your CGX, these automated procedures will have you ready to capture images in about 15 minutes.

With the CGX mount, you’ll get more out of every observing or imaging session. From detailed views of the planets to breathtaking images of deep sky objects, this versatile mount is ready to help you see and capture it all.  

Supplier SKU

12050