Combining power and ease of use, the Celestron CPC 800 GPS XLT 8" f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope
provides users with a complete rig for near- and deep-space observation
and astrophotography. Optically, it features a Schmidt-Cassegrain
optical system consisting of a corrector plate, a spherical primary
mirror, and a secondary mirror. Complementing the optical system is the
proprietary StarBright XLT optical coating system that improves light
transmission and reflectivity across the entire visual spectrum. The
combination of optical components and the StarBright XLT system produces
bright and clear high-resolution images with true color rendition
across the entire field of view with minimal distortion, aberrations, or
off-axis comas.
The optical tube is outfitted with a standard
1.25" visual back to make it easier to find eyepieces, 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 motorized dual-tine fork mount has dual-axis servo
motors that provide precision movements and an integrated 16-channel GPS
receiver that sends information to the hand controller and requires
limited input from the user. The heavy-duty stainless steel tripod helps
reduce vibrations to ensure clear resolution during observation or
imaging sessions.
The brain of the entire system is the NexStar+
computer controller. 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 to 99 custom
user-defined objects and have filters added for custom object lists. Its
intuitive menu-driven user interface provides the power to observe the
heavens with nine slew speeds and three tracking rates, plus
anti-backlash compensation and Permanent Periodic Error Correction
(PPEC) for smoother movements in the motors and improved tracking over
time. Features such as guided tours, extended information on 200 popular
objects, and multiple alignment options make the NexStar+ controller
easy to use and invaluable to new users and experienced stargazers.