The optical tube
The 8-inch Celestron optical tube houses a 203/2030 mm Schmidt-Cassegrain optical system. Compact in size (just 50 cm long and weighing 6 kg), it is nevertheless a powerful instrument that offers an excellent compromise for amateur astronomers seeking portability. Although the central obstruction is approximately 32%, this is compensated for by the precision-crafted optics.
The standard equipment includes the company's proprietary StarBright XLT coating, which enhances the telescope's light-gathering capability. With this coating, the corrector plate achieves 98% light transmission, while the primary and secondary mirrors provide 95% reflectivity. It also improves image contrast. The standard package additionally includes a star diagonal, a 6x30 finderscope, and a 25 mm Plössl eyepiece, providing 80x magnification.
The optics in Celestron optical tubes are hand-finished (hand-figuring) and hand-matched, which, according to various tests, consistently results in optical quality that surpasses competing SC optical tubes.
Advanced XV mount
Celestron's flagship Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes are now available with a truly advanced, astrophotography-optimized mount. The Celestron AVX series opens up new possibilities in astrophotography. The Advanced VX mount offers the features of Celestron's most advanced German equatorial mounts at a significantly lower price.
The new AVX mount was specifically developed for medium-sized astrophotography telescopes. This gives owners of smaller telescopes access to the features of premium mounts (such as All-Star polar alignment and autoguider support). Guiding during long-exposure imaging is greatly assisted by the permanently programmable periodic error correction. Thanks to the AVX mount, you can image across the meridian without having to perform a meridian flip. This allows you to photograph celestial objects when their visibility is at its best. Compared to earlier solutions, the AVX offers significantly increased stability. The upgraded motors deliver greater torque and track the telescope accurately even with slight imbalance.
Compared to large, observatory-class mounts, the AVX series also stands out among equatorial mounts for its portability. If you are just getting acquainted with the intricacies of astrophotography, the AVX series can be an excellent choice thanks to its ease of use and the possibilities offered by advanced technology. The Celestron AVX series fully meets the needs of amateur astronomers interested in both astrophotography and visual observation.
The mount includes one 5.44 kg counterweight as standard, and the complete setup weighs 27 kg.
