Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope SC 279/2800 CPC 1100 GoTo

Celestron's Schmidt-Cassegrain optics offer a unique blend of portability and performance:

Featuring a long focal length yet housed in a remarkably compact OTA, these telescopes are easy to transport and set up. The optical path begins with light hitting an aspherically figured Schmidt corrector plate, then reflecting off a spherical main mirror. This light is redirected by a secondary mirror before passing through a central aperture in the main mirror and into the focuser, creating a closed system that avoids air turbulence and dust contamination. Multi-coated Schmidt plates ensure bright, clear images with minimal stray light.

With excellent contrast and definition, these telescopes excel in planetary observation and are equally suited for astrophotography. Their versatility extends to terrestrial viewing, such as birdwatching. Featuring an aperture ratio of around 1:10, they facilitate astrophotography with ease.

Main mirror focusing provides a wide range of focus options, accommodating a variety of accessories. The use of pre-loaded ball bearings prevents mirror shift, enhancing stability during observation. Constructed with high-quality materials like CNC-milled aluminum, cast steel, and stainless steel, these telescopes offer robustness without the need for heavy mounts.

Key features of the optics include:

Long focal length with a short OTA

Lightweight aluminum OTA

High-quality XLT multi-coating

Closed system design

Pre-loaded ball bearings for stable main mirror focusing

Mounted securely in a sturdy, cast aluminum fork mount, Celestron's CPC series Schmidt-Cassegrain scopes offer rapid setup and alignment. With no need for heavy counterweights, their compact size enhances transportability. The innovative SkyAlign technology simplifies alignment by using a 16-channel GPS receiver to identify and locate three bright celestial objects, enabling quick initialization and access to a database of over 40,000 objects.

Additional features of the CPC mount include:

Quiet operation with large gears and quick-lock coupling

Autoguider and PC connections

Self-centering on tripod

Comfortable remote control mount with visible display

Database of over 40,000 celestial objects

Remote control and motor control unit updates via internet

Large coupling knobs for manual operation

Solid metal finderscope mount with easy alignment

Stable tracking base with height-adjustable tripod

The CPC telescope's high-load-bearing tripod offers stability with stainless steel legs and a cast aluminum accessory shelf. Spring-loaded mounting screws and a central locking device ensure quick and secure setup, accommodating both standing and sitting observations.

Included Accessories

• 1.25" Eyepieces: PL 40mm
• Finder Scope: 8x50
• Software: NexRemote
• Deviating Optics: 1.25", 90° star diagonal
• Cigarette Lighter Socket: Yes

Specifications:

Optics

Type: Reflector

Build Type: Schmidt-Cassegrain

Aperture (mm): 279

Focal Length (mm): 2800

Aperture Ratio (f/): 10

Resolving Capacity: 0.41 arc seconds

Limiting Magnitude: 14

Light Gathering Capacity: 1590

Max. Useful Magnification: 560x

Tube Length (mm): 610

Coating: Starbright XLT

Tube Construction: Full tube

Secondary Mirror Diameter (mm): 95.3

Focuser

Build Type: Primary mirror focusing

Connection (to eyepiece): 1.25"

Connecting Threaded Socket (camera-side): SC

Gear Reduction: None

Mount

Build Type: CPC

Mounting Type: Azimuthal

GoTo Control: Yes

Tracking Speeds: 64x, 16x, 8x, 4x, 1x, 0.5x / 3x, 2x, 0.5x

Power Supply: 12V

Power Consumption (mA): 900

Software: NexStar

Database: 40000 objects

Alignment Method: SkyAlign

Interfaces: AutoGuider, Aux, RS232

GPS: Yes

GoTo Language: German, English, French, Spanish, Italian

Tripod

Type: Steel tripod

Material: Steel

Weight (kg): 12.3

General

Total Weight (kg): 41.8

Series: CPC

Special Recommendation: Yes

Area of Application

Astrophotography: Yes

Moon & Planets: Yes

Nature Observation: Yes

Nebulae & Galaxies: Yes

Sun: No (Only with appropriate Sun filter)

Recommended for

Beginners: Yes

Advanced Users: Yes

Observatories: No