Celestron CGX-L Equatorial 1100 SCT

11" Schmidt-Cassegrain Optics: 0.42 Arc Second Resolution at f/10

The C11 packs serious light gathering ability into a rugged aluminum tube only 24 inches (610mm) long that weighs 27.5 lbs, gives high-contrast views, can perform at very high magnifications and is an ideal instrument for serious astrophotography. Its zero power corrector plate, spherical primary mirror and secondary mirror give a limiting stellar magnitude of 14.7, a Rayleigh resolution of 0.5 arc seconds and a highest useful magnification of 660x. The secondary mirror obstruction is 95mm (3.75"), 34% by diameter and 12% by area.

StarBright XLT is Celestron's coating system, built from three parts: enhanced multi-layer mirror coatings of aluminum, SiO2 and TiO2, with reflectivity fairly flat across the spectrum for both imaging and visual use; multi-layer anti-reflective coatings of magnesium fluoride and hafnium dioxide; and water white glass instead of soda lime glass for the corrector. Water white glass transmits about 90.5% of light uncoated, 3.5% more than soda lime glass, and reaches an average transmission of 97.4% with the StarBright XLT anti-reflective coatings.

• Resolving Power: 0.42 arc seconds (Dawes) and 0.5 arc seconds (Rayleigh).
• Included Accessories: The package includes a 40mm eyepiece providing 70x magnification, a 1.25" star diagonal for comfortable viewing, and a 9x50 finderscope for locating alignment stars and targets.

CGX-L Mount: A 75 lb Capacity Platform

The CGX-L carries a 75 lb (34 kg) instrument load; that figure does not include the two 22 lb counterweights. The 11" tube weighs 27.5 lbs, and the CGX-L carries Celestron's largest optical tubes with ease.

Celestron's design goals for the CGX-L were larger 144mm diameter worm wheels, which give smoother operation and drive heavier loads more accurately, a longer 270mm dovetail saddle for larger optical tubes, remote-operation features such as home and limit optical sensors, easier polar alignment adjustments and better cable management, with mechanical and ergonomic changes that make the mount sturdier, easier to use and easier to transport. The latitude range is 3° to 65°, the mount head weighs 52.6 lbs, and the DC servo motors slew at 9 speeds up to 3° per second, tracking at sidereal, solar and lunar rates in EQ North and EQ South.

The steel tripod has 69.85mm (2.75") legs with graduated markings on the lower section and weighs 46.2 lbs. It adjusts from 838.2mm to 1397mm (33" to 55"); with the mount the height range is 1524mm to 1955.8mm (60" to 77"), and the equatorial head alone is 609.6mm (24") tall. An accessory tray is included, and the 8mm Allen wrench is stored in the rear carry handle.

• Dual Saddle: The saddle takes both the large CGE (Losmandy D style) dovetail and the smaller CG-5 (Vixen-style) dovetail. Test-fit other makers' dovetail bars, since sizes and angles vary and some Vixen-style bars are not flat.
• Ergonomic Design: Carry handles, easier polar alignment adjustments and better cable management, on a 52.6 lb head.

NexStar+ and CPWI: A 40,000+ Object GoTo System

The NexStar+ hand control has a database of over 40,000 celestial objects, 100 user-defined objects, and enhanced information on over 200 popular targets. Alignment procedures are 2-Star, 1-Star, Solar System, Last and Quick Align. The USB port on the mount connects a PC to Celestron's dedicated telescope control software, CPWI. The mount's USB port is not intended for ASCOM or third-party software; for ASCOM, connect the PC to the hand control's mini USB port, which is also used with Celestron Firmware Manager (CFM) to update the mount and hand control firmware.

• Ports: four AUX ports for the hand control and accessories, two of them near the dovetail saddle, and two autoguide ports, one near the saddle. Never plug the hand control into an autoguide port or an autoguider cable into an AUX port; damage could occur.

All-Star Polar Alignment: Precision Setup Without Polaris

Celestron’s All-Star Polar Alignment allows you to achieve a precise polar alignment even if you cannot see the celestial pole. After performing a standard 2-Star Alignment, you can select any bright star from the NexStar+ database. The mount then slews to where that star would be if it were accurately polar aligned.

You center the star using only the mount's latitude and azimuth adjustments, not the hand control. It needs no polar axis finder and no view of Polaris.

Astrophotography-Ready: Dual Autoguide Ports and Fastar Versatility

The mount has periodic error correction and two autoguide ports, one of them near the dovetail saddle with AUX 3 and 4, part of Celestron's goal of better cable management.

The 11" tube is Fastar/HyperStar compatible: the secondary mirror can be removed and replaced with a lens assembly, sold separately and not included, so that a camera works at the f/2 focus of the primary mirror at the front of the telescope. Celestron's SCT manual says f/2 needs exposures about 25 times shorter than f/10, with a field of view 5 times larger and the object 1/5 the size. The secondary mirror should never be removed except to install the Fastar lens assembly.

The Celestron f/6.3 reducer/corrector for the C11 is also available, sold separately.

Solar Warning

Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye or with an optic. Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result. Never use your optic to project an image of the Sun onto any surface. Internal heat build-up can damage the optic and any accessories attached to it. Never leave your optic unsupervised. Make sure an adult who is familiar with the correct operating procedures is with your optic at all times, especially when children are present.