Celestron Telescopes
Celestron telescopes have been one of the most popular brands in the field for over three decades. Celestron offerings include everything from modestly priced beginner models up to large personal observatory class instruments. Since manufacturing its first telescope in 1960, Celestron has grown to become one of the world’s leading telescope makers, and enjoys brand-name recognition around the world. Celestron telescopes equipped with the NexStar go to computer technology are the most popular choice among beginners who shop at Skies Unlimited.
Celestron Telescope Series - a Brief Overview
Celestron Omni XLT Series
The Omni XLT Series is a moderately priced line of manually operated telescopes featuring the CG-4 German equatorial mount. Manually operated means that there are no motor drives or go-to computer technology to help you find celestial targets. A German equatorial mount is designed to compensate for the earth's rotation by allowing the telescope to rotate on the same axis as that of the earth's rotation. This implies that the mount must be polar aligned in order for it to operate properly. This is not a difficult task, however; Skies Unlimited does not recommend telescopes with German equatorial mounts for young children or casual beginners due to the need to polar align the mount. These telescopes are designed for simplicity of operation in visual-only applications. They are not recommended for photography. Consider these telescopes if you are comfortable polar aligning a German equatorial mount, finding objects on your own, and want a simple, no frills telescope system.
Celestron NexStar SLT Series
The NexStar SLT Series is one of the most popular lines of Celestron telescopes. These moderately priced telescopes feature motor driven altazimuth mounts with computer go-to technology. Altazimuth mounts move on two axes: up-down and left right. The NexStar computer drives the telescope to any object in its database and then continually repositions the mount to track the object while you observe. Go-to telescopes are especially helpful to beginners in urban and suburban settings where man made light pollution makes it difficult to find objects by "star hopping" from a nearby visible star. These telescopes are designed for visual-only applications and are not recommended for photography. They are suitable for observing the moon, planets, and brighter deep space objects. Consider these telescopes if you are a beginner on a budget and want the convenience of computer go-to technology.
Celestron Advanced Series
The Advanced Series is based upon the CG-5 German equatorial mount, which is both stronger and heavier than the CG-4 mount employed by the Omni XLT series. The Advanced Series CG-5 mount also features the Celestron NexStar go-to computer and motor drives. Like any German equatorial mount, the Advanced Series must be polar aligned in order to operate properly. These telescopes are designed primarily for visual use, but may be suited for limited photographic applications. The larger aperture of these telescopes will reveal a wealth of deep space objects from all but the most heavily light polluted locations. Consider these telescopes if you want larger aperture, go-to convenience, and are comfortable polar aligning a German equatorial mount.
Celestron NexStar SE Series
The NexStar SE Series offers telescope apertures of four, five, six, and eight inches on altazimuth mounts with computer go-to technology. This is the most popular line of go to telescopes sold in our store. The NexStar SE Series is basically a step up from the SLT series. The four-inch model features Maksutov-Cassegrain optics, while the remaining models feature Schmidt-Cassegrain optics. Both of these optical designs feature a folded light path, meaning that you get a long focal length telescope in a relatively short package. The NexStar SE Series are champions when it comes to combining aperture with portability. These telescopes are designed primarily for visual use, but may be suited for limited photographic applications. Consider these telescopes if you want go-to convenience, extreme portability, and a step up in optics over the NexStar SLT series.
Celestron CGEM Series
The CGEM Series feature the familiar 8, 9-1/4, and 11 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tubes with a new German Equatorial mount. The CGEM mount is rated with an instrument capacity of 40 pounds and also includes permanent Periodic Error Correction (PEC). That feature alone suggests that the new CGEM mount will be a highly capable platform for astrophotography, but it would also make a very enjoyable system for the visual user. The CGEM mount saddle accepts a Losmandy "D" style dovetail bar. The CGEM mount can handle a variety of telescope types, including some refractors of up to six inches in aperture. Choose the CGEM series if your interests include astrophotography, or if you would like to have one mount that can handle a variety of different optical tubes.
Celestron EdgeHD Series
The EdgeHD Series combines aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain optical designs with a built in field flattener to produce a coma free image that is flat across the entire focal plane. This optical system was designed to give an astrograph quality flat focal plane all the way to the edge of the field of view. Celestron EdgeHD optics offer visibly sharper images combined with other mechanical advancements such as cooling vents for the primary mirror and flexible tension clutches that hold the mirror in place and reduce image shift when rotating the tube around the mount. The EdgeHD optics are compatible with CGEM and CGE mounts. This system is recommended for astrophotography and visual applications.
Celestron CPC Series
The CPC Series features large aperture Schmidt-Cassegrain optics on a stable altazimuth fork mount with computer go-to technology. The added stability of the fork mount makes the CPC Series the first in the Celestron line-up specifically designed for both visual and photographic applications. The eleven inch model is about the largest fork mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope that most people can comfortably handle. This line of telescopes is somewhat comparable to the Meade LX90 series, however; the 9.25 and 11 inch apertures are unique to Celestron. Consider the CPC series if you need a portable telescope that is suitable for both visual and photographic applications.
Celestron CGE Pro Series
The CGE Pro Series is Celestron's flagship telescope line as of 2009. These telescopes feature Schmidt-Cassegrain optics on a heavy-duty German equatorial mount with 90 pound instrument capacity. The CGE Pro Series telescopes were specifically designed for astrophotography. The CGE Pro mount is portable, however; it would be more at home in a permanent observatory. Consider the CGE Pro Series if your interests are primarily photographic, and you have the ability to permanently mount the telescope in an observatory.