Telescope, Tripod, Remote
GPS unit
The C8-SGT, 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is a member of Celestron's Advanced telescope series. Celestron Advanced scopes combine state-of-the-art technology, easy-to-use features, and ready-to-use components to produce instruments of unparalleled quality and utility. The C8-SGT comes mounted on the CG-5 GT computerized equatorial mount that allows access to features like automatic star alignment capability and GoTo slewing to more than 40,000 objects. Equipped with high speed motors and hand controller, the CG-5 GT allows you to slew your telescope remotely to desired objects quickly and accurately. No matter whether you're a beginner, an intermediate viewer, or an advanced amateur astronomer, this precision instrument will satisfy your needs both visually and photographically.
Celestron CG-5 Mount
This new, German equatorial mount has precision worm gears on both axes for extremely smooth tracking motion. The new, heavy-duty tripod with larger and more substantial legs offer excellent damping characteristics for more stable views. In fact, the CG-5 is the most stable mount in its class. The CG-5 also has a convenient latitude scale for easier alignment and an optional polar finder scope for the ultimate in precision alignments.
StarBright XLT Coatings
Celestron's XLT coating process uses state-of-the-art, thin-film, vacuum-deposition technology. To ensure consistent optical coatings of the highest quality, the process is tightly monitored and controlled by highly trained technicians. Prior to coating, each optical element is thoroughly cleaned and inspected to ensure proper adhesion of the films during the coating process. Materials used in our reflective and anti-reflective coatings, including aluminum, hafnium oxide, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, and magnesium fluoride, are the purest available, exceeding 99.99 percent. The result is image clarity so stunning it must be seen to be believed.
Specifications
Standard Accessories
Use the Power and Accuracy of GPS to align your telescope!
Plug the 16-channel GPS module into your telescope's drive-base port to link up with, and automatically download information from, one of many global positioning satellites. Controlled with the NexStar computerized hand control, the CN-16 will greatly improve the accuracy of star alignments by locating north and leveling the optical tube with more precision than can be achieved by hand.
About Celestron
Since manufacturing its first telescope in 1960, Celestron has grown to become one of the world’s leading telescope makers, enjoying brand-name recognition among serious amateur astronomers for superior optics, outstanding design, and innovative technology. Celestron is also a leading designer, manufacturer, and importer of other high-quality optical products, including binoculars, spotting scopes, and microscopes in addition to their computerized and non-computerized telescopes and related accessories. Their innovative products continue to receive numerous industry and consumer media accolades, adding to an already impressive list that includes awards for product innovation from Reader’s Digest, Popular Science, PC Magazine, Popular Mechanics, the Consumer Electronics Association, and more. Celestron is a privately held company with corporate offices and manufacturing facilities in Torrance, Calif.
Recommended Usage
Astrophotography , Viewing Galaxies/Star Clusters , Viewing Nebulae , Viewing the Moon , Viewing the Planets
Warranty
2-Year Limited
Features
Equatorial Mount , GoTo
Brand
Celestron
Weight Complete
54.5 lbs.
Finderscope
6x30
Lens Coating
StarBright XLT
GPS
No
GoTo
Yes
Good for Astrophotography
Yes
Telescopes Series
Celestron Advanced Series Telescopes
Optical Design
Schmidt-Cassegrain
Aperture
203mm
Focal Length
2032mm
Focal Ratio
f/10
Mount Design
CG-5 Equatorial
Eyepiece 1
25mm (81.28x)
Highest Useful Magnification
480x
Limiting Magnitude
14
Resolution
.68 Arc Seconds
Resolving Power
.57 Arc Seconds
Star Diagonal
1.25 inch
Object Database
40000 objects
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 19 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Most Liked Positive Review
Great rig for Astrophotography !
I am a serious Astrophotographer who not only shoots the night sky for pleasure but also for profit. I needed an AFFORDABLE, professional, sturdy, and ACCURATE tracking GEM mount setup to replace my ...Read complete review
I am a serious Astrophotographer who not only shoots the night sky for pleasure but also for profit. I needed an AFFORDABLE, professional, sturdy, and ACCURATE tracking GEM mount setup to replace my old Nexstar 5. After much searching, hand wringing, and googling, I settled on the C8 XLT on the CG-5GT from [@]. The price was very good for what I got. The C8 optics are very clean, contrasty, and sharp. The mount is VERY good for the money. After learning to use the polar align mount utility, and performing the alignment routines, I get excellent go-to results, as well as very accurate tracking for long exposure astrophotos. The tripod is rock stable, not too heavy, and fairly easy to transport to a dark sky location if you remove the OTA from the dovetail and fold up the tripod legs. The handset functions need a careful reading of the manual and a little practice before they become easy to use. Once you try them a few times though, it really wasn't that bad. I have now put MANY hours of setup, alignment, observing, astrophoto shooting, teardown, and transport back into the house and the scope performs very well. The polar align mount routine is a big time saver as it eliminates the need for tedious drift alignment. This feature alone is worth the money in my opinion if your an astrophotographer. All in all the C8 XLT and the CG-5 gets two thumbs up from me !Check out the shot I took using the scope of M31 below !
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Back order - NOT the date they advertise
on back order forever.
on back order forever.
Reviewed by 19 customers
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Pros
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Best Uses
Comments about Celestron Advanced Series C8-SGT Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope:
on back order forever.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Celestron Advanced Series C8-SGT Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope:
Very well made, easy to use.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Celestron Advanced Series C8-SGT Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope:
Came packaged well and was a snap to have uo and running within an hour.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Celestron Advanced Series C8-SGT Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope:
I have been a photographer for years with an interest in astronomy. When I first decided to get into astronomy, so I bought a NexStar 5". Great scope but not for photography; the mount is not strong enough and it doesn't accept an autoguider. So I sold it and got the C8-SGT. The mount is sturdy enough to put a guide scope and camera on it. The robust German equatorial mount is easy to balance, and it looks cool. I bought a piggyback mount and an additional counterweight to balance a piggyback-mounted camera and large zoom lens. I also got the polar axis finder scope that fits within the mount and helps to get exact polar alignment (Polaris is not exactly at the North Pole). Calibration is simple after polar alignment is done. It goes to a previously-determined set of stars. If one is behind a tree, hit "Undo" and it goes on to the next one. You just have to fine tune the calibration stars. You can loosen the clutches and manually slew to anything you want, but that will lose your calibration, so it's not a recommended way to use it. Overall, it's a great scope and a great value. The main drawback is a common problem these days: a poor user's manual. But using the scope is intuitive enough that it's not a big problem.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Celestron Advanced Series C8-SGT Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope:
The C-11 SGT was neither my first Celestron nor my first purchase at Telescopes.com. They are solid companies with a rock solid products. [...] I bought my first telescopes as sort of entry scopes. This one is nice! Mostly I appreciate the easy, easy set-up, super easy alignment and constant accuracy. I have all of the accessories on the listing except the lunar filter (I have one similar) and they bring joy and contentment to my "Moon & Planet Show." I set-up for a school function to get ready for Saturday's Astronomy Club (International Observe the Moon Night) meeting and I was wowed by the ease, precision and accuracy. I believe that this was the best decision I have ever made regarding a telescope! Celestron made me look like a professional in front of my students and their families. We viewed the entire list from ST3 Current list. We got a long exposure of Saturn with rings and moons visible for the yearbook. This is great!
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Q1: Is the Finderscope Polar Axis included in the Advanced Series C8-SGT XLT Coatings package? Also, is the cable to connect the telescope to PC included?
A: Both of those items must be purchased as accessories.
Q2: I am interested in purchasing a C8-S with the XLT coatings but NOT the GoTo feature. I see it elsewhere, but not on Telescopes.com, is there a specific reason for this?
A: Celestron has discontinued the non-GoTo members of its Advanced Series telescopes. Some dealers may still have a few of the non-GoTo C8-S scopes around, but when they're gone, there will be no more for sale. Celestron is now making only the GT versions of the C scopes.
Q3: If I ran out of battery, can I manually slew the telescope? I understand that controller or GOTO will not be available. But, I want to know if this telescope without any external power is as good as a Dobsonian.
A: No. Without a source of power the Celestron Advanced Series C8-SGT Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope cannot be slewed or rotated in any way.
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