The CGEM 800 HD combines Celestron's newly designed CGEM Computerized Equatorial mount with its new EdgeHD optical system. With over 8 inches of aperture and our premium StarBright XLT coatings, the CGEM 800 HD gives you over 800 times the light gathering power than the unaided eye. Supporting an optical tube of only 13 lbs, the CGEM 800 HD is the lightest and most portable in its class.
New Optical Design
The EdgeHD optical system combines all the compact power popularized by the SCT and combines it with an improved high definition optical system for wide field, astrograph quality images.
As a visual instrument EdgeHD optics delivers pinpoint images even with your widest field eyepiece. You can search for all of the Messier Catalog objects, and see hundreds of other equally interesting NGC, IC and Caldwell objects with amazing clarity. For astroimaging, the EdgeHD optics produce aberration-free images across your favorite CCD or DSLR camera. All EdgeHD optics are designed to produce an extremely flat focal plane precise enough to match the strict tolerances of the largest commercial ccd detectors, allowing all stars to be in tight focus to the very edge of the chip.
Diffraction Limited
Some companies boast that their telescopes give diffraction limited stars in the very center of the field of view. EdgeHD optics not only produce diffraction limited stars on axis, but maintain diffraction limited stars across the entire field of view of many of the most popular astrophotography cameras. Even at the very edge of a DX format camera chip, the EdgeHD 8" delivers star sizes of less than 1.5 arc seconds.
The EdgeHD 8" optics produce a focal plane more than 3 times flatter than the standard equivalent SCT telescope with diffraction limited stars across the entire Nikon 300 or Canon 40D sensor!
CGEM 800 HD - General Features
- 8" EdgeHD Optics
- CGEM Computerized Equatorial Mount
- Celestron's premium StarBright XLT coatings
- 9x50 finderscope to help accurately find objects
- Ultra sturdy 2" steel tripod with Accessory Tray
- Star diagonal provides more comfortable viewing position when observing objects that are high in the sky
CGEM 800 HD - HD Features
- New aplanatic Schmidt telescope design produces aberration-free images across a wide field of view
- Mirror tension locks hold the primary mirror in place and reduce image shift
- Cooling vents allow hot air to be released from behind the primary mirror
- Fastar compatible for fast f/2 imaging
CGEM 800 HD - Computerized Mount Features
- Proven NexStar computer control technology
- 40,000 object database with over 100 user-definable objects and expanded information on over 200 objects
- New "All-star" Polar alignment uses any bright star for a quick and accurate Polar alignment
- Software Features include: Mount Calibration, Database Filter Limits,
- Hibernate, five Alignment Procedures
- 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
- Permanent programmable periodic error correction (PEC) - corrects for periodic tracking errors inherent to all worm drives
- 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 for low speed tracking.
- Internal Cable wiring for trouble-free setup and transportation
- Designated six-pin RJ-12 modular jack, ST-4 compatible guide port
- Autoguide port and auxiliary ports located on the electronic plate for long exposure astrophotography
- Double-line, 16-character Liquid Crystal Display Hand Control with backlit LED buttons for easy operation of goto features
- RS-232 communication port on hand to control the telescope via a personal computer
- Includes NexRemote telescope control software, for advanced control of your telescope via computer
- Secure power plug ensures that the Mount's power source is not accidentally disconnected
- GPS compatible with optional CN16 GPS Accessory
- Precision machined 40mm diameter steel Polar shafts supported by multiple tapered roller bearings and ball bearings.
Optical Design: EdgeHD Optics
Aperture: 203.2 mm (8 in)
Focal Length: 2032 mm (80 in)
Focal Ratio: 10
Finderscope: 9x50
Mount: CGEM Computerized Equatorial
Optical Tube: Aluminum
Optical Coatings: Starbright XLT Coating
Eyepiece 1: 40 mm (1.57 in)
Magnification 1: 51 x
Star Diagonal: 1.25
Tripod: Adjustable, Stainless Steel
CD ROM: NexRemote control software with RS232 cable
Power Supply: Car battery adapter
Highest Useful Magnification: 480 x
Lowest Useful Magnification: 29 x
Limiting Stellar Magnitude: 14
Eyepiece 1 Field of View: 0.84 degrees
Light Gathering Power: 843 x
Secondary Mirror Obstruction: 2.7 in (68.58 mm)
Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Area: 11.4 percent
Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Diameter: 33.8 percent
Resolution (Rayleigh): 0.69 arcsec
Resolution (Dawes): 0.57 arcsec
Gear: Steel worm gear and 90mm pitch diameter brass worm wheel
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: 5 ?/sec, 2 ?/sec, 1 ?/sec, 64x, 16x, 8x, 4x, 1x, .5x
Tracking Rates: Sidereal, Solar and Lunar
Tracking Modes: EQ North and EQ South
Alignment Procedures: 2-Star Align, Quick Align, 1-Star Align, Last Alignment, Solar System Align
Software Precision: 24bit, 0.08 calculation
Database: 40,000+ objects, 100 user defined programmable objects. Enhanced information on over 200 objects
Power Requirements: 12 VDC 1.5 Amp
GPS: Optional CN16 Accessory
Counterweights: 1 x 17 lb
Optical Tube Length: 17 in (431.8 mm)
Telescope Weight: 88 lb (39.92 kg)
