Celestron Advanced VX 8" EdgeHD Telescope - Telescope of the Year for 2017-2020, Best Telescope for Imaging

Best Telescope for Imaging: Celestron Advanced VX 8" EdgeHD Telescope
Get the features and performance of a top-of-the-line imaging setup at a fraction of the cost with the Advanced VX 8” EdgeHD Telescope. For our money, it’s the best portable imaging rig available—and best of all, it’s priced under $3,000. Let’s start with the mount: engineered from the ground up for imaging, Advanced VX includes all the same features of Celestron’s flagship CGE Pro mount, but sized for payloads under 30 pounds. You’ll get permanently programmable periodic error correction for dead-on tracking accuracy, integer gear ratios, and an autoguider port. Plus, Celestron’s All Star Polar Alignment procedure is built into the hand control. Even if you don’t have a clear view of Polaris, you can align to the North Celestial Pole for long exposure astrophotography in just a few minutes. When it comes to optical performance, Celestron has you covered. The 8” EdgeHD optical tube delivers edge-to-edge sharpness across DSLR sensors and the largest CCD chips. Plus, you can configure this versatile system for imaging at three different focal ratios: place the camera at prime focus to image at f/10, use a custom-made EdgeHD focal reducer to reach f/7, or attach a Hyperstar lens assembly to the front of your telecope for ultra-fast f/2.2 wide field imaging. The Advanced VX does it all without compromise. All you have to do is capture your cosmic masterpiece.

Product Highlights

• 8" (203mm) Schmidt-Cassegrain OTA
• 2032mm Focal Length, f/10 Focal Ratio
• EdgeHD Aplanatic Field-Flattener Design
• StarBright XLT Optical Coating System
• Motorized Computer-Controlled EQ Mount
• NexStar+ GoTo Hand Controller
• 40,000+ Database, User-Defined Objects
• Multiple Alignment Procedures
• 40mm Eyepiece and 90° Star Diagonal
• 2" Steel Adjustable Tripod with Tray

• EdgeHD CG-5 8" f/10 Aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope (OTA Only)

  Engineered to deliver sharp and clear distortion-free views, the Celestron EdgeHD CG-5 8" f/10 Aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope is an ideal choice for observation, astrophotography, and imaging objects within or beyond our solar system. It features an aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain optical system consisting of a corrector plate, a spherical primary mirror, and a secondary mirror along with a set of field-flattening lenses integrated into the baffle tube. Complementing the EdgeHD system is the proprietary StarBright XLT optical coating system, which improves light transmission and reflectivity across the entire visual spectrum. The combination of EdgeHD and StarBright XLT produces bright and clear high-resolution images with true color rendition across the entire field of view without distortion, aberrations, or off-axis comas.

  Optimized for imaging, the internal focusing system features mirror support clutches to ensure proper alignment and mirror locks to avoid accidental defocusing during long-exposure astrophotography. The optical tube is outfitted with a standard 1.25" visual back to make it easier to find eyepiece, accessories, and imaging gear. For visual observations, a 1.25" star diagonal is included along with a 40mm Plössl eyepiece that yields 51x magnification. The EdgeHD 8" is offered here without a mount or tripod for users who already have a reliable support system and are looking to upgrade or add to their existing gear, but comes with a standard-sized CG-5 dovetail plate that is compatible with Vixen-style saddles.

  Optical Tube

  • 8" (203.2mm) aperture
  • f/10 focal ratio
  • 2032mm effective focal length
  • Aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain optical design
  • EdgeHD field-flattener aplanatic design eliminates spherical aberration, field curvature, and off-axis star coma to improve resolution, sharpness, and clarity across the entire field of view - especially at the edges
  • Diffraction-limited SCHOTT glass reduces internal light loss to improve color, clarity, and sharpness
  • StarBright XLT optical coatings
  • Flexible tension clutches hold the primary mirror in place to reduce image shift without putting any force or pressure on the mirror assembly, keeping subjects centered
  • Internal mirror locks prevent accidental adjustment to focus - important during long-exposure astrophotography
  • Integrated 95-micron mesh filter allows hot air to be released from behind the primary mirror without dust getting in, to prevent mirror distortion due to uneven surface temperatures
  • Resolution: 0.69 arcsec (Rayleigh); 0.57 arcsec (Dawes)
  • Secondary mirror obstruction: 2.7" (69mm); 34% by diameter; 11% by area

  StarBright XLT System

  • Maximizes light transmission through optical path
  • Improves color rendition, contrast, sharpness, resolution, and brightness
  • Broadband system provides flat wavelength transmission across the entire visual spectrum
  • Multi-layer mirror coatings with layers of aluminum, SiO2 (quartz), and TiO2 (titanium dioxide)
  • Multi-layer anti-reflective corrector plate coatings with layers of MgF2 (magnesium fluoride) and HfO2 (hafnium dioxide). Hafnium has a wider band-pass than the commonly used titanium
  • High-transmission water white glass corrector plate limits light loss due to internal absorption

  Mounting

  • OTA only; mount and tripod required for proper use
  • Standard CG-5 (Vixen-style) dovetail plate

  Included Accessories

  Visual Back:

  • Standard SCT threads
  • 1.25" eyepiece/accessory holder
  • Use for prime focus or projection astrophotography with optional adapters

  Eyepiece:

  • Plössl lens configuration
  • 1.25" diameter barrel
  • Accepts most 1.25" eyepiece filters
  • 40mm focal length yields 51x power

  Diagonal:

  • 90° angle puts head in comfortable viewing position
  • Threaded for direct connection to OTA without the need for the visual back
  • 1.25" eyepiece/accessory holder
  • Star diagonal corrects image horizontally, but not vertically

  Finderscope:

  • Low 9x magnification preserves wide field of view to more easily find alignment or guide stars
  • Large 50mm aperture helps to see dimmer objects and stars for easier star-hopping navigation

  
  
• Advanced VX GoTo German Equatorial Mount

  Engineered and optimized for astrophotography with mid-sized optical tube assemblies, the Celestron Advanced VX GoTo German Equatorial Mount delivers the performance required for clear images through the use of dual-axis low-cog DC servo motors and backlash compensation. Added to this are encoders on the motors and Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PPEC) which help to improve positioning and tracking precision and ensure your target object stays centered for long-exposure photography techniques. Supporting the mount is a large 2" stainless steel tripod that has a wide stance for stability on most terrain, and a center tray that holds 1.25" and 2" eyepieces and accessories and acts as a leg-lock to further stabilize while helping to minimize vibrations.

  The brain of the system is the NexStar+ computer controller which is equipped with a database of over 40,000 objects, including the planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and the complete Messier catalog; it can also be programmed with up 100 custom user-defined objects with filters to create custom object lists. Its intuitive menu-driven user interface makes observing the heavens fast and easy; features such as guided tours, extended information on 200 popular objects, and multiple alignment options make the NexStar+ controller an invaluable tool to new users and experienced star-gazers alike.

  Advanced VX Mount

  • 30-pound payload capacity
  • Dual-axis low-cog DC servo motors
  • Dual motor encoders improve tracking and location accuracy with reduced vibrations
  • 7-77° latitude range
  • Uninterrupted tracking below meridian to enable observation from a raised location such as a balcony or hilltop
  • Integrated 12" counterweight bar with one 12-pound counterweight
  • Vixen-style CG-5 dovetail saddle

  NexStar+ Hand Controller

  • 40,000+ object database
  • 100 user-defined programmable celestial or terrestrial objects
  • Enhanced information on over 200 objects
  • Nine slew speeds: 4°/sec, 2°/sec, 1°/sec, 0.3°/sec, 32x, 16x, 8x, 4x, 2x
  • Three tracking rates: Sidereal, Solar, Lunar
  • Multiple alignment procedures: Two-star, One-star, Solar system, Quick-align, Last-align
  • Sky Tour Mode: System seeks out the best objects for the date and time, and automatically slews to them
  • Identify Mode: Use to identify an unknown object in the field of view, or to find other celestial objects that are close to where the user is viewing
  • Anti-backlash compensation: Trains out the intrinsic play between gears for more precise slewing and tracking
  • Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PPEC): System learns its internal tracking errors and improves over time for more precise tracking, requiring fewer corrections
  • Built-in instructions guide you through the alignment procedures
  • 4-line, 18-character LCD display with a 19-button fiber-optic backlit LED keypad
  • RS-232 comm port
  • Supports English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish

  Database details:
  • Solar system: Seven planets, Moon, Sun, and Pluto
  • Custom lists of all the brightest stars, double stars, variable stars, and asterisms
  • Custom lists of galaxies, nebulae, and clusters, as well as the complete Messier catalog and select NGC objects

  Tripod

  • Tubular stainless steel legs
  • 2" leg diameter
  • 44-64" height adjustment range
  • Center tray holds 1.25" and 2" eyepieces, and locks legs in-place for greater stability and vibration reduction
  • Removable hand controller holder can be moved to avoid cord-wrap during long observation sessions
  • Weight: 18-pounds

Specifications