Celestron Advanced VX RASA 6"

The 152mm f/2.2 RASA: 0.76 Arc Second Resolution at Unprecedented Speed

At the heart of this system is the patented RASA optical design, delivering a perfectly flat field with spot sizes smaller than 1.5 μm RMS across the image circle. This professional-grade performance resolves details down to 0.76 arc seconds (Dawes limit) and gathers 472 times more light than the human eye, enabling you to capture faint details with significantly shorter sub-exposures. The speed of the f/2.2 system lessens the demand for perfect tracking, often eliminating the need for an autoguider entirely.

The optical path, featuring a Schmidt corrector, primary mirror, and a specialized three-element lens group, is fully treated with StarBright XLT coatings. This ensures maximum light transmission across the 400-700nm wavelength range for bright, high-contrast images. While the design incorporates a 46% central obstruction to achieve its speed, it provides superior field illumination—91% at 8mm off-axis—compared to a standard SCT with a Fastar/HyperStar configuration.

Engineered for Imaging: 12V Cooling and an Integrated 2" Filter System

The 6" RASA is built with practical features for modern astrophotography. A 12V DC MagLev cooling fan actively brings the optics to ambient temperature for the sharpest possible images, while integrated vents keep the interior dust-free. The system includes an M42 T-thread camera adapter, providing the standard 17.5mm of back focus required by many popular CMOS and CCD astronomy cameras.

An integrated filter drawer simplifies your imaging workflow, accepting both 2" and 1.25" filters without compromising optical performance. A removable 2" clear filter is included, allowing you to insert light pollution or narrowband filters into the light path without introducing extra glass that could affect the f/2.2 system's precise focus.

Advanced VX Mount: A 30 lb Capacity Platform for Stable Tracking

The Advanced VX mount provides a rigid and reliable foundation for the RASA. With a 30 lb payload capacity, it easily handles the 8.4 lb optical tube plus cameras, filter wheels, and other accessories. The mount head itself weighs only 17 lbs, and the robust tripod with 2" stainless steel legs ensures stability while observing.

Driven by DC servo motors, the mount features Permanently Programmable Periodic Error Correction (PPEC) to improve tracking accuracy for longer exposures. Celestron's All-Star Polar Alignment procedure allows you to achieve a precise polar alignment using any bright star, even if you can't see Polaris, getting you imaging faster.

40,000+ Objects at Your Fingertips: NexStar+ and CPWI Control

Navigate the night sky using the included NexStar+ hand control, which gives you access to a database of over 40,000 celestial objects. For more advanced control, the system includes Celestron's PWI (CPWI) Telescope Control Software. Co-developed with PlaneWave Instruments, CPWI offers a graphical planetarium interface and PointXP mount modeling, allowing you to add more than 100 alignment points for unmatched pointing accuracy.

The mount features an autoguide port and a USB port on the hand control for direct connection to a PC. Through its ASCOM-compliant drivers, the Advanced VX mount can be controlled by a wide range of third-party astrophotography software, integrating seamlessly into your existing setup.

6" RASA vs. Fastar Systems and Small Refractors: A Clear Advantage

When compared to other portable imaging systems, the 6" RASA provides a distinct edge. Its dedicated optical design offers better field illumination and correction than a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope converted to a Fastar/HyperStar configuration. Against similarly priced apochromatic refractors, the RASA's 152mm aperture gathers significantly more light, allowing you to capture fainter targets in far less time and with higher native resolution.