Celestron CGEM II 8" EdgeHD SCT GoTo Telescope

Ready to see the moon and more? Stargazing is fun but why don't you take it up to the next level and become an expert in astronomy. The Celestron CGEM II 8" EdgeHD SCT GoTo Telescope allows you to have your very own backyard observatory. Enjoy the stars.

EdgeHD 8" Optical Tube Assembly

Celestron’s revolutionary aplanatic EdgeHD optics reduce off-axis star coma while providing an astrograph-quality flat focal plane all the way to the edge of the field of view. The result is a focal plane more than three times flatter than a standard Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and dramatically flatter than other competing coma-free designs, guaranteeing sharp stars across today’s largest CCD sensors.

CGEM II Mount and Tripod

The CGEM II has a fresh, attractive, bold appearance and is capable of carrying Celestron’s higher-end SCT optical tubes securely and vibration free, which is ideal for both imaging and visual observing. Capable of holding 40 lbs. of payload and slewing at 5° per second, you will be able to instantly point to any of the celestial objects in the database.

Ergonomic Design

The CGEM II dovetail saddle accepts both the narrower Vixen/CG-5 and the wider Losmandy/CGE style dovetails. The longer clutch levers make tightening and loosening of the clutches easier giving you more access with more control. Precision machined 40 mm diameter steel Polar shafts supported by multiple tapered roller bearings and ball bearings help with heavier OTA's.

CGEM II 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 with its internal cabling throughout for worry-free remote operation and has an easy and trouble free set up. Low cog DC Servo motor with integrated optical encoders offer a smooth and quiet operation.

The tripod has 2" diameter steel legs with height index marks for quick leveling and quick setup.

Innovation

The CGEM II series features Celestron’s innovative Polar alignment procedure called All-Star. All-Star allows users to choose any bright star, while the software calculates and assists with polar alignment. Another great feature of the CGEM II 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. Software Features include: Mount Calibration, Database Filter Limits, Hibernate, five Alignment Procedures, and user-defined slew limits. The very important Tandem mode allows for star align of the mount even when positioned for tandem scope use.

USB 2.0 port on the hand control permits support of direct links to a PC via ASCOM supported software. NexRemote telescope control software also allows for advanced control of the telescope via a computer. Custom Rate 9 feature allows setting of a maximum slew rate and the mount is GPS-compatible with optional SkySync GPS Accessory (sold separately).

Performance

Solar System alignment method allows you to view the moon and planets during the day. This gives you the opportunity to see the sky at various times, under various conditions. For objects near the Meridian (imaginary line passing from North to South), the CGEM II will track well past the Meridian for uninterrupted imaging through the most ideal part of the sky. The CGEM II mount has a robust database with over 40,000 objects, 100 user defined programmable objects and enhanced information on over 200 objects. This custom database has lists of all the most famous deep-sky objects by name and catalog number for easy recognition of the night sky allowing for maximum use out of your telescope.