The CGEM II Equatorial Mount From Celestron!
Celestron is known for their industry leading astrophotography equipment, and has developed this CGEM II Equatorial Mount with features ideal for any astronomy enthusiast! Precision mechanics deliver optimal performance, a high payload capacity offers use with a plethora of telescopes, and multiple means of control provide great versatility. Seen as a step above a star tracker, NexStar 8SE/6SE, or SLTs, this Celestron CGEM II is sure to take your astrophotography to new heights.
This robust equatorial mount tracks the night sky smoothly and with great accuracy thanks to its high-torque motors. These powerful internal motors allow you to pack up to 40lbs of equipment atop this CGEM II, giving you great versatility in the gear you’d like to utilize. From small refractors to large Schmidt-Cassegrains, this Celestron equatorial mount is ideal for a wide range of OTAs. Adding to this versatile design are inclusions such as a dual-style dovetail saddle for Vixen or Losmandy plates, ASCOM compliance, and the ability to add a wide range of accessories with the onboard ports. With ergonomics in mind, Celestron has included longer clutch levers for an easier time loosening or tightening the axes, as well as internal RA and DEC cabling to reduce the chances of cable snags. The included NexStar+ hand controller lets you tour through the cosmos with its extensive database, and even features a built-in polar alignment routine that will give you incredibly sharp views and images. These impressive qualities of the Celestron CGEM II make it a choice equatorial mount for both budding and seasoned astrophotographers!
A Steadfast, High Payload Telescope Mount
Celestron has designed this equatorial mount with qualities that are sure to elevate your astrophotography experience. Take advantage of the high 40 lb payload capacity, control this mount through a variety of different ways, and have fun adding accessories of your choice! No matter if using for visual or astrophotography, this Celestron CGEM II delivers high precision tracking for almost any setup. Read more about this Celestron equatorial mount below!
40 LB Payload Capacity, High Precision Tracking
Utilizing high torque motors, this Celestron CGEM II was built to carry weighty, high-end telescopes such as the Celestron 11” EdgeHD OTA. These motors are low cog DC Servo motors with built-in optical encoders and provide smooth and quiet slewing across the night sky, even under heavy loads. With its vibration free tracking, this CGEM II excels for both astrophotography and visual astronomy, offering sharp images and steady views. Also included is the ability to track past the meridian. This helps you capitalize on the most ideal portion of the night sky, where there is less atmosphere to look through. Also, to better assist with navigating through the cosmos, enjoy slewing at a fast rate of 5° per second.
Included NexStar+ Hand Controller
Celestron has fitted this CGEM II 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 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.
Control This Mount With Software of Your Choice!
To control your Celestron CGEM II, there are multiple different methods. Celestron has included their NexRemote telescope control software for seamless use via your PC. This program features mount calibration, database filter limits, hibernate, five alignment procedures, and user-defined slew limits. The Celestron PWI software is also included with this CGEM II. Developed in conjunction with PlaneWave Instruments, this application is supplied with multi-point mount modeling, resulting in high pointing accuracy. You can also operate your CGEM II with your favorite ASCOM third party software as well! Simply connect your mount to your computer with a user supplied USB cable through the included NexStar+ hand controller. Wanting to utilize your iOS/Android smartphone or tablet for operation? Attach the SkyPortal WiFi Module (not included) and enjoy smart-technology assisted astronomy.
Numerous Ports and a Solid Power Connection
This CGEM II is fitted with two AUX ports (one dedicated to the NexStar+ hand controller) as well as an autoguider port. This allows the addition of user supplied accessories such as the Celestron StarSense AutoAlign or SkyPortal WiFi Module, and the ability to seamlessly attach your guide camera for your autoguiding needs. Found on the NexStar+ hand controller itself is a USB 2.0 port. This offers user control with software of your choice! The threaded power barrel ensures a secure connection throughout your night of observing, and comes complete with a DC car battery power cable to get you under the stars in no time.
Various Polar Alignment Methods
When it comes to polar aligning your CGEM II, there are a couple of options to consider. The included NexStar+ hand controller is furnished with the renowned Celestron All Star Alignment routine. This process utilizes your finderscope and only requires a few bright stars for accurate polar alignment, meaning even if you have an obstructed view of the celestial poles, you can still achieve precise polar alignment! The CGEM II is not assembled with an internal polar scope, though does easily allow the addition of one, such as the Celestron Polar Scope (not included) for a more manual method of alignment. Through connection to your PC via the USB port on the NexStar+, you can also utilize your favorite third party ASCOM software to assist with polar alignment.
Sturdy Stainless Steel Tripod
A robust equatorial mount like this CGEM II needs a just as impressive support system in place for it to rest atop. As such, Celestron has fitted this package with a strong, 20lb tripod with 2” stainless steel legs. This tripod comes standard with a spreader bar that pushes against the legs for increased stability, and also doubles as an accessory tray to hold various accessories. These legs are etched with index markings to better assist with leveling, making setting up a breeze!
Optimized for Backyard Observing
Numerous inclusions make this Celestron CGEM II optimal for backyard observing, such as its high payload capacity for use with a wide range of telescopes, a heavy duty frame, and multiple means of control. The mount head of this CGEM II weighs 40lbs, the tripod weighs 20lbs, and comes standard with a 17lb counterweight. As such, this hefty system anchors to the ground when set up, providing incredible stability for your telescope. 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! Also, the internal cabling helps reduce the fear of cable snags during remote operation, giving you more peace of mind during your night of imaging. Thanks to features like these, the Celestron CGEM II earns our High Point Scientific Astrophotography Mount Classification Badge of Backyard Observing!
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