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IMPORTANT: Our store is located in Canada. All orders that include products manufactured outside of Canada or USA will be subject to tariffs and duties, regardless of the order value. US customers are responsible for all applicable duties and tariffs, and those will be billed by the carrier, except for the Lacerta upgrade kit, for which we collect them at checkout.
IMPORTANT: Our store is located in Canada. All orders that include products manufactured outside of Canada or USA will be subject to tariffs and duties, regardless of the order value. US customers are responsible for all applicable duties and tariffs, and those will be billed by the carrier, except for the Lacerta upgrade kit, for which we collect them at checkout.
Celestron Illuminated Right Angle Correct Image Finderscope
Celestron Illuminated Right Angle Correct Image Finderscope
Celestron Illuminated Right Angle Correct Image Finderscope

Celestron Illuminated Right Angle Correct Image Finderscope

by Celestron
SKU CEL-93781
Sold out
$165.00 - $165.00
$165.00
$165.00 - $165.00
$165.00
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  • 50mm Aperture
  • 9x Magnification
  • 5° Apparent Field of View
  • Right-Angle Correct-Image (RACI) Design
  • Illuminated Double-Crosshair Reticle
Out of stock
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  • Description
  • FAQ
  • Specifications
  • Warranty

  • Celestron Illuminated Right Angle Correct Image Finderscope

    The Celestron 9x50 Illuminated RACI Finderscope replaces standard finders with a 50mm objective, 9x magnification, and a wide 5° apparent field of view. Its optical system gathers 51x more light than the human eye and achieves a limiting stellar magnitude of 11, making faint alignment stars visible. This 24 oz (680 g) finder resolves down to 2.32 arc seconds, ensuring you can precisely center targets that are invisible in smaller, stock finderscopes.

    50mm Optics: 51x More Light for Faint Target Acquisition

    The 50mm aperture is the core of this finder's capability, gathering 51x more light than your unaided eye. This significant light grasp allows you to see down to magnitude 11, revealing dim guide stars and faint deep-sky objects that are completely invisible in typical 30mm or smaller finders. The 9x magnification strikes a balance between a wide 5° field for easy navigation and enough power to split close guide stars.

    The 90° RACI Advantage: Intuitive and Comfortable Aiming

    Unlike standard finders that show an upside-down and reversed image, this Right-Angle Correct-Image (RACI) model presents a view that matches your star charts and your naked-eye orientation. This eliminates the mental gymnastics of translating motions, making star-hopping intuitive. The 90-degree eyepiece position also prevents neck strain, allowing you to aim your telescope comfortably, especially when it is pointed near the zenith. For added comfort, the entire eyepiece module can be rotated left or right to achieve the perfect viewing angle.

    Illuminated Reticle: Precision Centering with a 9x Magnification

    At the heart of the finder is an etched double-crosshair reticle for precise pointing. An adjustable red LED illuminator makes the crosshairs gently glow against the night sky, allowing for accurate centering without compromising your dark adaptation. The reticle can be focused independently of the main optics, ensuring both the target and the crosshairs are perfectly sharp for your eye. This level of precision is critical for accurate GoTo alignments and for manually locating faint objects.

    Stable Mounting: Dual-Ring Bracket for Easy Alignment

    The finderscope includes a robust bracket with two alignment rings and oversized, tool-free thumbscrews. This design holds the finder's alignment securely, night after night, while making initial collimation with the main telescope straightforward. An integrated dovetail base allows for quick attachment and removal from most Schmidt-Cassegrain and EdgeHD optical tubes, letting you store the finder separately without losing its alignment.

  • Why is the Celestron 9x50 RACI finder better than a standard straight-through finder?

    A Right-Angle Correct-Image (RACI) finder offers two main advantages. First, the 90-degree angle is far more comfortable, preventing neck strain when aiming at targets high in the sky. Second, the correct image optics show you objects as they appear on star charts (up is up, right is right), making star-hopping significantly more intuitive than with finders that produce an inverted or mirror-reversed image.

    How does the 50mm aperture on the Celestron finder help when aligning on faint stars for my GoTo mount?

    A GoTo system's accuracy depends entirely on the precision of its initial alignment. The Celestron 9x50 finder's 50mm aperture gathers enough light to show stars down to a limiting magnitude of 11. This means you can easily see and center the faint alignment stars your mount's software chooses, even from light-polluted locations, leading to much more accurate GoTo slews throughout the night.

    Can I adjust the brightness of the illuminator on the Celestron 9x50 RACI finder?

    Yes. The battery-powered illuminator has an integrated on/off knob that also serves as a brightness dial. You can adjust the red glow of the crosshairs from very dim to bright, allowing you to set the perfect level for your observing site and personal preference, ensuring the reticle is visible without washing out faint targets.

    Will the Celestron 9x50 finder fit my Celestron 8" EdgeHD or SCT?

    Yes, this finderscope is designed as a direct upgrade for most Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT) and EdgeHD telescopes. The included bracket features an integrated dovetail that fits the standard finder scope mounting base found on these optical tubes, allowing for easy attachment and removal.

    Can I focus the crosshairs and the view separately on the Celestron 9x50 finder?

    Yes. The finderscope has a dual-focus mechanism. You focus the main image (the stars) by turning the objective lens housing at the front. You focus the reticle crosshairs independently by turning the knurled ring on the eyepiece, ensuring both the target and the crosshairs are perfectly sharp for your eyes.

    What is the main trade-off of upgrading to the Celestron 9x50 RACI finder?

    The primary trade-offs are weight and the need for batteries. At 24 oz (680 g), this finder is substantially heavier than a small stock red-dot or 6x30 straight-through finder, which may require re-balancing your telescope. It also requires a battery to power the illuminated reticle, which is a consumable item.

  • Aperture 50mm (1.97")
    Magnification 9x
    Apparent Field of View 5°
    Light Gathering Power 51x (Compared to human eye)
    Limiting Stellar Magnitude 11
    Resolution (Dawes) 2.32 arc seconds
    Resolution (Rayleigh) 2.79 arc seconds
    Highest Useful Magnification 118x
    Lowest Useful Magnification 7.14x
    Weight 24 oz (680 g)
    External Length 191mm (7.5")
    External Height 140mm (5.5")
    Battery Warning View button cell and coin battery warning
  • Celestron 2-Year Warranty