Celestron CGX-L Equatorial Mount and Tripod

The 144mm Worm Wheels and DC Servo Motors

The larger 144mm worm wheels provide smoother operation and can more accurately drive heavier loads. DC servo motors give 9 slew speeds up to 3° per second, with Sidereal, Solar and Lunar tracking rates.

The mount has belt drive windows on its body, internal cabling, and an anti-backlash setting in the hand control that compensates for play between the gears.

A 75 lb Instrument Capacity for Heavy Imaging Rigs

The CGX-L carries Celestron's largest optical tubes with ease. The instrument capacity is 75 lbs (34 kg), not including counterweights, and one 22 lb counterweight is included. The 270mm dovetail saddle is longer to support larger optical tubes.

R.A. and Dec clutch lock levers let you move each axis by hand while you balance the telescope by sliding the counterweight and the optical tube.

Dual CG-5 and CGE Saddle, 270mm Long

The 270mm dual saddle accepts both CG-5 (Vixen style) and CGE (Losmandy D style) dovetail bars, held by the dovetail lock knobs.

All-Star Polar Alignment and a 3°-65° Latitude Range

The CGX-L is equipped with Celestron's All-Star Polar Alignment routine, which polar aligns the mount on a convenient bright star without Polaris or a polar axis finder. After a Two Star, One Star or Solar System Align, the hand control slews to where the star should be and you center it with the altitude and azimuth adjustments.

Latitude adjusts from 3° to 65° with the altitude adjustment knob and two altitude lock knobs. The EQ head can sit in three positions on the tripod, to optimize balance or give more clearance at low latitudes, and can be rotated so the counterweight shaft is between two legs.

The 2.75" Steel Tripod: A Rigid Foundation

The tripod has 2.75" steel legs with graduated markings on the lower section and lock levers for height. The tripod's height can be adjusted from 33" to 55", resulting in a total system height range (mount and tripod) of 60" to 77".

The accessory tray fits over the central column with each arm supporting a leg and is tightened so it cannot move against the tripod. The tripod weighs 46.2 lbs.

40,000+ Objects with NexStar+, CPWI, and SkyPortal

The NexStar+ hand control holds over 40,000 objects and offers 2-Star, 1-Star, Solar System, Last Alignment and Quick Align, Periodic Error Correction and anti-backlash settings.

For more powerful control, the mount includes Celestron's CPWI Telescope Control Software. CPWI connects to the USB port on the mount; for ASCOM, use the hand control's mini USB port. Starry Night Special Edition is included, and the optional SkyPortal WiFi module plugs into an AUX port for the SkyPortal app.

4 AUX Ports and Integrated Cable Management

The mount has four AUX ports and two autoguide ports. AUX 3, AUX 4 and one autoguide port sit under the dovetail saddle and move with the declination axis, which can be a convenient place to plug in accessories. The hand control can use any AUX port.

Internal switches take the mount to its home position at power-on, and software limit sensors stop it near the end of its range. Both axes also have a mechanical hard stop, which helps prevent the telescope striking the mount or tripod. The R.A. limit lets you track 20° past the meridian, and an unattended mount stops before the hard stop.

Power: 12V DC, at Least 3 Amps

The CGX-L needs 12V DC with at least 3 amps. The included DC power cable runs it from a 12V battery, and Celestron's AC to 12VDC 5A power supply with a threaded barrel connector is recommended.

Weights

With a mount head weight of 52.6 lbs and a tripod weight of 46.2 lbs, the total CGX-L kit weighs 120.8 lbs before adding a telescope or counterweights. The head has carry handles, and the 8mm Allen wrench is stored under the rear handle.

Step-by-Step: From Assembly to Your First 2-Star Align

Spread the tripod legs and fit the accessory tray. Seat the head on the tripod, ideally with the counterweight shaft over a leg, and tighten the 3 attachment bolts with the 8mm Allen wrench. Before adding weight, point the mount roughly north and set your latitude on the scale.

Remove the stop nut, slide on the 22 lb counterweight, replace the stop nut and attach your telescope with both clutch levers tightened. Balance the telescope on both the R.A. and Dec axes by adjusting the counterweight position and sliding the optical tube. Plug in the NexStar+ hand control and your 12V DC power source, then turn the mount on. The mount moves to its home position, and the hand control then takes you through the alignment.