Celestron CGX-L Equatorial 1400 HD Telescope

The CGX-L 1400 HD: A 356mm System

The 14" optical tube weighs 46 lbs and the CGX-L head 52.6 lbs. The CGX-L is capable of carrying Celestron's largest optical tubes with ease and suits backyard observatories and remote imagers.

EdgeHD Optics: A 42mm Flat-Field, Coma-Free Design

The 14-inch EdgeHD optical system is an aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain that corrects for both off-axis coma and field curvature. Two small corrector lenses in the light path give an astrograph-quality flat focal plane across a 42mm field, more than three times flatter than a standard Schmidt-Cassegrain.

To maximize light transmission, all optical surfaces feature Celestron's StarBright XLT coatings. They give maximum light throughput across the visual and photographic spectrum.

3910mm Focal Length: Native Imaging, 0.7x Reducer, and Fastar f/2

At its native 3910mm focal length and f/10 focal ratio, you get the image scale to capture the smallest deep-sky objects. The optional five-element 0.7x reducer for the 14" (#94240) widens the field at the same 146.05mm back focus, and a Barlow adds power for planetary imaging.

This optical tube is also Fastar-compatible, offering a second, dramatically different imaging configuration. The secondary mirror can be replaced with a third-party lens accessory for ultra-fast f/2 wide-field imaging.

Imaging Stability: Mirror Clutches and Vented Cooling

Flexible tension clutches hold the primary mirror in place after focusing and reduce image shift during long exposures, without putting force on the mirror assembly.

Cooling vents on the rear cell let warm air out from behind the primary mirror, and each has an integrated 50-mesh filter that keeps dust out.

CGX-L Mount: 75 lb Capacity and 144mm Worm Wheels

The CGX-L mount is the foundation of this imaging system, engineered to carry its 75 lb instrument load with precision. Its larger 144mm worm wheels give smoother operation and drive heavier loads more accurately, in Celestron's words, and a longer 270mm saddle supports larger tubes.

Designed for both backyard observatories and remote imaging, the mount has home and limit optical sensors and improved cable management, and the latitude range is 3° to 65°. The mount head weighs 52.6 lbs and is balanced by three included 22 lb counterweights.

A Stable Foundation: 2.75" Steel Tripod and Dual Dovetail Saddle

The CGX-L tripod has 2.75" diameter steel legs and an accessory tray. Graduated markings on the lower leg sections make it easy to extend each leg to the same height for level setup.

Attaching the 46 lb optical tube is managed by a long, 270mm dual dovetail saddle. This saddle is compatible with both the narrow CG-5 (Vixen-style) and the wider CGE (Losmandy D-style) dovetail bars. The 14" EdgeHD comes on a CGE dovetail bar.

NexStar+ Control: A 40,000+ Object Database with CPWI Software

The system is controlled by the proven NexStar+ hand controller, which features a database of over 40,000 objects. For a more modern and graphical interface, the included Celestron PWI (CPWI) telescope control software allows you to control the mount from a PC.

The mount offers a variety of alignment procedures, from a simple 2-Star Align to get started quickly to the advanced All-Star Polar Alignment routine. Connectivity is extensive, with 4 AUX ports for accessories, 2 autoguide ports for imaging, and a USB 2.0 port on the mount for direct PC connection. The NexStar+ hand control has its own USB 2.0 port as well.

All-Star Polar Alignment: Precision Setup in Minutes

Achieving a precise polar alignment is crucial for long-exposure astrophotography. The CGX-L mount features Celestron’s All-Star Polar Alignment routine, which works without a view of Polaris.

After aligning on stars, the mount slews to where a bright star would be if accurately polar aligned, and you center it with the mount's altitude and azimuth knobs, not the hand control.

Visual Astronomy at 170x with the Included 23mm Eyepiece

The package includes a 2" star diagonal with 1.25" adapter and a 23mm eyepiece giving 170x. The Dawes limit is 0.33 arc seconds and the highest useful magnification 840x.

A 9x50 finderscope is included.

Astrophotography Ready: 146.05mm Back Focus and Dual Autoguide Ports

The 14-inch EdgeHD optical tube is designed with a specific back focus of 146.05mm (5.75 inches) from the rear cell's 3.29"-16 tpi male threads. This back focus is generous.

The CGX-L mount provides two autoguide ports, one on the main electronics panel and another conveniently located near the dovetail saddle. The mount also has periodic error correction.