Telescope-Catadioptric Telescopes-Celestron CGEM II 800 SCT – 8″ Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope on CGEM II Computerized Equatorial Mount

Exceptional Light Transmission: Celestron StarBright XLT Coatings
In order to maximize the 8” of light gathering power, Celestron has furnished this Schmidt-Cassegrain with their famed StarBright XLT coatings. These coatings cover the internals and front corrector lens of this telescope, minimizing light loss and allowing peak light transmission. As opposed to a typical telescope mirrors with standard aluminum coatings that reflect only 86-88% of the light they’re exposed to, a mirror with the Celestron StarBright XLT reflects an astounding 95%! Also, when compared to traditional uncoated lime soda glass found in other telescopes, the StarBright XLT coated white water glass within the corrector lens allows for an 8% higher light transmission rate. Anti-reflective properties can also be found on this front corrector lens. This boost in light collection paired with the high focal length of 2032mm provide stunning views deep into space. The craters on our Moon, nebulae, and even distant galaxies are sure to impress! Wanting to boost how quickly your telescope collects light? Fully Fastar compatible, reduce the native f/10 focal ratio by adding the Starizona HyperStar (not included) for wickedly fast f/1.9 imaging.

A Steadfast, High Payload Telescope Mount
The high payload capacity and robust internal mechanics make the CGEM II an ideal choice to haul this 8” Schmidt Cassegrain. This Celestron equatorial mount can be loaded with up to 40lbs of equipment, and effortlessly carries this 17lb telescope thanks to its high torque motors. These low cog DC Servo motors feature built-in optical encoders and provide smooth and quiet tracking across the night sky. Ergonomics such as longer clutch levers make loosening and tightening the axes much easier, and internal cabling in both RA and DEC helps reduce dreaded cable snags. This CGEM II also allows you to track past the meridian, letting you capitalize on the most ideal portion of the night sky. The strong, sturdy tripod features 2″ stainless steel legs for maximum stability, and comes equipped with a spreader bar that doubles an accessory tray. Also, two AUX ports and an autoguider port make it easy to add extra devices to your setup! Coming standard with powerful software from Celestron, fully ASCOM compliant, and equipped with the NexStar+ hand controller, find the method of operation that’s right for you!

Ideal for Visual Astronomy and Astrophotography
Whether using for viewing nebulae, galaxies, planets, or taking images of these celestial bodies, this 8” SCT gives you the best of both worlds! Coming standard with a 25mm eyepiece, enjoy up close and personal views of the core of the Orion Nebula, the cloud bands on Jupiter, the full disk of the Moon, and plenty more. Celestron has equipped this kit with a 6×30 finderscope to help you align your targets, as well as a 1.25” star diagonal for more comfortable viewing. Or, take advantage of the precision tracking this CGEM II offers for astrophotography! Easily attach your DSLR or dedicated astroimaging camera and share the beauty of the universe with friends and family. No matter how you choose to enjoy this Celestron computerized telescope, this CGEM II 8″ SCT is sure to impress.

Included NexStar+ Hand Controller
Celestron has fitted this CGEM II 800 SCT Computerized Telescope with their powerful NexStar+ hand controller. This device has been programmed with over 40,000 objects within its database, and allows the addition of 100 user-defined objects as well! Not sure what you want to observe? This hand controller is equipped with a Sky Tour feature that shows you the most popular objects for the time and location you are observing. The red backlit Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen is clear and easy to read, and nineteen large backlit buttons make navigating through the controls effortless. In addition, this hand controller has a mini-USB port for connection to a PC for computer control.Please note: Celestron does not include a USB cable with their hand controller. We recommend the Apertura USB 2.0 Cable for Celestron NexStar+ Hand Controllers.

Optimized for Backyard Observing
Wanting captivating visual or astroimaging sessions from your very own backyard? This CGEM II 800 SCT is the ideal option! Bright views and images are well within your reach with the 8” of aperture of this SCT, and the CGEM II features a heavy duty build of a 40lb mount head, 20lb tripod, and 17lb counterweight, providing incredible stability for this OTA. Also, the option to control this telescope mount with a wide range of software means you can easily remote into your backyard rig from the comfort of your living room. The innovative internal cabling helps reduce the chances of cable snares throughout your night of imaging, giving you more peace of mind when away from your setup. With features like these, the CGEM II 800 SCT earns our High Point Scientific badge of Backyard Observing!

Elevate Your Experience with a Host of Accessories!
On the body of this CGEM II, you’ll find two AUX ports. While one of these AUX ports is meant for connection with the hand controller, the additional AUX port allows attachment of user supplied accessories! Make aligning with the night sky much easier through the Celestron StarSense AutoAlign, or even add Wi-Fi capabilities with the SkyPortal WiFi Module. The Celestron Focus Motor makes focusing a breeze, as it lets you focus with the hand controller or software for smooth, hands-free focusing. Connect the StarSense Autoguider to this CGEM II for improved tracking and even sharper astroimages! With this multitude of accessories and upgrades, outgrowing your Celestron CGEM II 800 SCT computerized telescope is a thing of the past.