catadioptric telescope
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Celestron Omni XLT 127mm Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope CI-TS-11084
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DescriptionCelestron Omni XLT 127mm Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope 11084 The Omni XLT 127 is the latest version of Celestron's popular 5-inch Schmidt Cassegrain telescope, the Celestron C5. Over the years the C5 has earned an excellent reputation because of its portable size, powerful optics, and wonderful versatility. The Omni XLT 127 is packaged with Celestron's upgraded CG-4 equatorial mount. A nice quality 6x30 finder scope, a star diagonal, and a multicoated 25mm eyepiece are included. Also included are a good instruction manual and an introductory version of Software Bisque's "The Sky" astronomy software. I've owned a C5 for several years and I've been consistently pleased with its optical quality. When the night air is still and clear I can see the Cassini division in Saturn's rings and pick out cloud bands on Saturn itself. I've been able to watch the shadow of Jupiter's moons glide across the planet's cloud tops and sometimes I can actually see one of the moons passing in front of Jupiter. Deep space objects like galaxies and star clusters are fun to observe as well. When I look at bright globular clusters like M13 in the constellation Hercules, I can pick out a number of individual stars. Bright galaxies also begin to reveal their structure; the Sombrero galaxy M104 looks like a spindle flattened on one side, and the Whirlpool galaxy M51 seems to be interacting with its companion galaxy NGC 5195. The new CG-4 equatorial mount and tripod form a solid base for the Omni XLT 127. The tripod with its 1.75-inch diameter stainless steel legs comes pre-assembled, and the equatorial head attaches easily without tools. I especially like the new dovetail mounting plate because it allows the optical tube to be quickly removed for transport or when I want to use the Omni XLT 127 as a spotting scope. A few accessories help bring out the versatility of the Omni 127. Celestron's Nine-Piece Accessory Kit includes two plossl eyepieces and a Barlow lens. The 32mm eyepiece produces a magnification of 40x, ideal for viewing star clusters or when using the Omni 127 as a spotting scope. The 12.5mm eyepiece magnifies the image 100 times, just right for viewing globular clusters or the planet Jupiter and its moons. The 2x Barlow can be combined with the 12.5mm eyepiece to zoom in on Saturn's rings at 200x. The other useful accessory is Celestron's 93522 Dual Axis Motor Drive. With the motors installed I was able to use my Celestron NexImage camera to taken some beautiful pictures of the moon and planets. The SCT design puts the optical power of a fifty-inch-long telescope in a twelve-inch-long tube, but the design has some minor drawbacks. The corrector plate at the front of the telescope is vulnerable to collecting dew on a cool evening, but this can been overcome by adding a dew shield. The other drawback is the large secondary mirror that causes some loss of contrast compared to refractor designs. Portable, powerful, and versatile; whether it's a first telescope or a portable second scope Celestron's Omni XLT 127 is a great choice for the backyard astronomer. --Jeff Phillips Pros: Portable, powerful, and versatile Excellent optics Sharp views up to 300x magnification Quick no-tool setup Also useful as a spotting scope Cons: Motor not included SCT design causes some loss of contrast Suggested accessories: 93522 Dual Axis Motor Drive Celestron Nine-Piece Accessory Kit Celestron NexImage Solar System Imager Features
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reflector telescope?
How does this telescope and can give me a list of pros and cons
Reflector telescopes are designs that combine specifically shaped mirrors and lenses to allow very fast coordination relationships (when used at the primary focus), while control of coma and astigmatism. Pros employ spherical surfaces are easier to manufacture. When used in a Cassegrain configuration tools results in long focal length that is "bent" in a very small package. Catadioptric designs are low maintenance and durable, with some or all of its elements are fixed in alignment (collimation). The combination of a primary mirror moves with a Cassegrain configuration allow large movements in the focal plane to accommodate the cameras and CCDs. The corrector plate of the tube is sealed from dust and dirt. They also block the flow of air from inside the tube, which increase stability Image:. Cons disadvantage of this design is that the secondary mirror blocks a portion of the light entering the tube.
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 Meade ETX 90EC 90mm Catadioptric Telescope w Controllers  US $400.00
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Celestron Omni XLT 127mm Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope CI-TS-11084
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DescriptionCelestron Omni XLT 127mm Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope 11084 The Omni XLT 127 is the latest version of Celestron's popular 5-inch Schmidt Cassegrain telescope, the Celestron C5. Over the years the C5 has earned an excellent reputation because of its portable size, powerful optics, and wonderful versatility. The Omni XLT 127 is packaged with Celestron's upgraded CG-4 equatorial mount. A nice quality 6x30 finder scope, a star diagonal, and a multicoated 25mm eyepiece are included. Also included are a good instruction manual and an introductory version of Software Bisque's "The Sky" astronomy software. I've owned a C5 for several years and I've been consistently pleased with its optical quality. When the night air is still and clear I can see the Cassini division in Saturn's rings and pick out cloud bands on Saturn itself. I've been able to watch the shadow of Jupiter's moons glide across the planet's cloud tops and sometimes I can actually see one of the moons passing in front of Jupiter. Deep space objects like galaxies and star clusters are fun to observe as well. When I look at bright globular clusters like M13 in the constellation Hercules, I can pick out a number of individual stars. Bright galaxies also begin to reveal their structure; the Sombrero galaxy M104 looks like a spindle flattened on one side, and the Whirlpool galaxy M51 seems to be interacting with its companion galaxy NGC 5195. The new CG-4 equatorial mount and tripod form a solid base for the Omni XLT 127. The tripod with its 1.75-inch diameter stainless steel legs comes pre-assembled, and the equatorial head attaches easily without tools. I especially like the new dovetail mounting plate because it allows the optical tube to be quickly removed for transport or when I want to use the Omni XLT 127 as a spotting scope. A few accessories help bring out the versatility of the Omni 127. Celestron's Nine-Piece Accessory Kit includes two plossl eyepieces and a Barlow lens. The 32mm eyepiece produces a magnification of 40x, ideal for viewing star clusters or when using the Omni 127 as a spotting scope. The 12.5mm eyepiece magnifies the image 100 times, just right for viewing globular clusters or the planet Jupiter and its moons. The 2x Barlow can be combined with the 12.5mm eyepiece to zoom in on Saturn's rings at 200x. The other useful accessory is Celestron's 93522 Dual Axis Motor Drive. With the motors installed I was able to use my Celestron NexImage camera to taken some beautiful pictures of the moon and planets. The SCT design puts the optical power of a fifty-inch-long telescope in a twelve-inch-long tube, but the design has some minor drawbacks. The corrector plate at the front of the telescope is vulnerable to collecting dew on a cool evening, but this can been overcome by adding a dew shield. The other drawback is the large secondary mirror that causes some loss of contrast compared to refractor designs. Portable, powerful, and versatile; whether it's a first telescope or a portable second scope Celestron's Omni XLT 127 is a great choice for the backyard astronomer. --Jeff Phillips Pros: Portable, powerful, and versatile Excellent optics Sharp views up to 300x magnification Quick no-tool setup Also useful as a spotting scope Cons: Motor not included SCT design causes some loss of contrast Suggested accessories: 93522 Dual Axis Motor Drive Celestron Nine-Piece Accessory Kit Celestron NexImage Solar System Imager Features
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Vixen VC200L 200mm Telescope and Sphinx SXW Mount 9732
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DescriptionVixen VC200L 200mm Telescope and Sphinx SXW Mount 9732 |
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Vixen VC200 Telescope and GPD2 Mount 99852
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DescriptionVixen VC200 Telescope and GPD2 Mount 99852 |
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Celestron NexStar 4 SE Telescope
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DescriptionTE1) CELESTRON NEXSTAR 4SE TELESCOPE Amazon.com Review Celestron’s NexStar 4 SE is the smallest and most portable telescope in Celestron’s NexStar SE series. Using a Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design, the NexStar 4 SE puts the magnifying power of a four foot long telescope into an optical tube only 13 inches long. MoonThe NexStar 4 SE features computerized finding and tracking of nearly 40,000 celestial objects, no-tool setup is easy, and planetarium software for your PC is included. Jupiter The NexStar 4 SE delivers great views of the Moon, the planets, and bright deep space objects. The standard equipment 25mm E-Lux plossl eyepiece gives a magnification of 53X, enough to see the Lunar disk, Saturn’s rings and the major cloud bands on Jupiter. It’s easy to add optional eyepieces to zoom in for more detail. Using a 12.5mm X-Cel eyepiece for 106X magnification I can see several cloud bands on Jupiter and I can even pick out the small dark shadow as one of Jupiter’s moons passes in front of the planet. On a good night I can push the magnification up to 230X with a 6mm plossl eyepiece while viewing the Moon and planets. The NexStar 4 SE package also includes a sturdy adjustable tripod, a motorized alt-azimuth mount, and the NexStar hand held computer controller. I don’t need star charts or a GPS reciever to operate this telescope. Celestron’s patented SkyAlign procedure is easy to use, and experienced users will like the two-star align and solar-system align options because they are even quicker to set up. The steel tripod and alt-azimuth mount provide a solid base for the NexStar 4 SE. Vibration is not a problem, even while focusing at high power. The computerized tracking is also very good, easily keeping planets in the field of a high power eyepiece. The disadvantage of a computerized scope, of course, is battery consumption. I find that rechargeable NiMH batteries work very well in the NexStar 4SE; a set of batteries lasts all evening and I don’t need to worry about electrical cords getting tangled in the dark. The NexStar 4 SE is a great portable telescope, just right for visual observing or for taking short exposure pictures of the Moon and planets. It’s only fair to warn you that a small telescope has its drawbacks, however; there are thousands of objects in the NexStar database that are simply too dim to see with a four inch telescope. --Jeff Phillips Venus Pros: Small, portable and affordable Very good optics Easy computerized tracking Cons: Rechargeable batteries not included Small size limits deep space viewing Features
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Celestron NexStar 8 SE Telescope
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DescriptionAmazon.com Review Celestron's Nexstar 8 SE telescope combines excellent optics and computerized "GoTo" tracking in a package that's light, portable and affordable. The legendary performance of Celestron's orange tube C8 telescope has been updated with high performance Starbright XLT coatings, and the single arm Nexstar mount now includes Celestron's easy to use "SkyAlign" technology. Jupiter as seen through the Celestron NexStar 8SE special-edition computerized telescope. The Nexstar 8 SE upholds Celestron's reputation for quality optics. When I use an 11mm Plossl eyepiece (almost 200x magnification) for example, I can easily see the Cassini Division in Saturn's rings. When I look at Jupiter, the pale orange color of Jupiter's famous Great Red Spot is visible, and I've even been able to identify the polar caps and spot dust storms on the planet Mars. A 20mm Plossl eyepiece (about 100x magnification) is a good choice for viewing galaxies and star clusters. When I look at globular cluster M13 in the constellation Hercules the high contrast XLT optics show me a glowing snowflake made of hundreds of tiny pin-point stars! And a low power 32mm Plossl eyepiece is a good choice for views of larger deep space highlights like the Andromeda Galaxy and the Orion Nebula. The moon seen through the Celestron NexStar 8SE telescope.(See larger image.) Celestron's patented "SkyAlign" system makes the Nexstar 8 SE very easy to use. I just pick the nearest town from the built-in list, enter the date and time, and point the telescope at three bright stars. I don't need a star chart because "SkyAlign" identifies the stars for me. When I just want a quick look at the moon or a planet, I like to use the "Solar System Align" option. After entering the date and time, I just point the telescope at the moon and press the "Align" key. That's all it takes, the computer takes over and the telescope begins tracking quietly and accurately. At star parties I often have my Nexstar up and running while older computerized telescopes are still waiting for their alignment stars to appear in the twilight. The Nexstar 8 SE comes with a simple red-dot finder scope and a basic 25mm eyepiece. You'll want to add a few good eyepieces to take full advantage of the Nexstar 8 SE's excellent optics. At the very least get Celestron's bargain priced Accessory Kit which includes high and low power plossl eyepieces, or treat yourself to some top rated Tele Vue eyepieces. At twenty-four pounds total weight, the Nexstar 8 SE is unusually light and portable for an eight-inch telescope. The drawback of course is that some people will find it too light. Like other Schmidt Cassegrain (SCT) telescopes there are plenty of optional accessories to upgrade this telescope with, such as heavy duty tripods and an optical finder scope. If you want to try astro-photography, however, check out Celestron's CPC 800 Telescope which features a heavy duty mount and tripod and an 8x50 optical finder scope right out of the box. --Jeff Phillips Pros: Excellent optics Easy computerized GoTo tracking Light, portable and affordable Cons: Plastic accessories Short battery life Too light for astro-photography The Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope offers a multitude of features, including the 2032mm focal length and SkyAlign. Viewing the stars will never be the same, as you expand your horizons with the stimulating and technological advances included in the Celestron Telescope. Inside the Celestron NexStar, you find an autoguider port to enable long exposure photos, as well as the exceptional Go To button to quickly locate and position the star of your choice. The Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope lets you peer deep into the universe with the largest model in this deluxe series of computer-controlled telescopes.Features:8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with 203.2mm aperture78% more light gathering power than 6" models2032mm focal lengthFocal ratio: 10Portable – weighs 33 lb including the tripodCombines the classic heritage of the original orange tube telescopes with the latest state-of-the-art featuresStarBright XLT high transmission coatings come standardCelestron's unique patented single fork arm with integral hand control design provides a rigid and smooth operating structure for the optical tubeStar diagonal provides more comfortable viewing position when observing objects that are high in the skyProven NexStar computer control technologySkyAlign allows you to align on any three bright celestial objects, making for a fast and easy alignment processIncludes:Quick release fork arm mount, optical tube and accessory tray for no-tool setupStarPointer finderscope to help with alignment and accurately locating objectsSturdy computerized altazimuth mountInternal battery compartment to prevent cord wrap during useUltra sturdy steel tripod with accessory tray40,000 object database with 200 user-definable objects and expanded information on over 200 objectsFlash upgradeable hand control software and motor control units for downloading product updates over the InternetAutoguider port for long exposure astrophotographyDC Servo motors with encoders on both axesCustom databa Features
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10mm Orion Sirius Plossl Telescope Eyepiece
Sale Price: $45.99 |
DescriptionWith a wide 50-deg apparent field, our Sirius Plossl line of eyepieces provide clear, sharp images of impressively high contrast. They're suitable all telescope types: reflector, refractor, and catadioptric. Each 4-element Sirius Plossl is fully coated with magnesium fluoride on every air-to-glass surface. Lens edges are blackened to reduce scattering of stray light and maximize contrast. Lenses are mounted in black anodized aluminum housings with 1.25" chrome-plated brass barrels. Each is fitted with rubber eyeguards and internally threaded to accept standard filters. Features
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Barska Tactical Rifle Scope Rings (30mm Low)
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DescriptionBarska 30 mm Low Tactical Rings with 1" Inserts. Built-in Picatinny rail, see-through Picatinny base. Includes 1 detachable rail top (rail length measures 1 3/4"), 1 standard top and 1" inserts. Order yours today! Barska 30 mm Low Tactical Rings with 1" Inserts Features
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Bushnell Northstar 300 x 90mm Motorized Telescope w/ Real Voice Output
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DescriptionThe NorthStar Telescope from Bushnell makes it possible for amateur astronomers to identify, locate, and track celestial objects with simple, push-button control. Combining high-quality optics with computer-driven location technology and a built-in database of 20,000 celestial objects, the NorthStar unveils the mysteries of the night sky. The telescope comes with a hand-held remote control module that allows you to call up your target by entering a simple "Go To" command. The NorthStar computer then locates the target, and once locked on to the target, tracks it automatically for prolonged viewing. Meanwhile, the innovative RVO (Real Voice Output) feature on the remote provides a fun, interactive way to explore the night sky. The telescope also features a 1x wide-angle, red dot, finderscope that allows the user to quickly sight in on areas of the sky and find objects quickly. The NorthStar Telescope comes complete with a quick-release tripod, kinematic mount, and an accessory tray for fast, easy assembly. Features and Specifications: 1250 by 90-millimeter Motorized GoTo Maksutov-Cassegrain Magnifications: 50x, 312.5x 4 and 25 millimeter eyepieces Erect image diagonal mirror for land viewing "Go To" computerized tracking technology Red Dot LED finderscope Remote hand-held control module with Real Voice Output (RVO) Camera adaptable Quick release tripod Kinematic mount Accessory tray Maksutov-Cassegrain Design This design utilizes a spherically curved front lens element in conjunction with a similarly curved primary mirror, providing sharp images in a compact folded-light path package. The total optical system provides a focal length much longer than the actual optical tube body length. "GO TO" Computerized Star Locator The Go To Star Locator utilizes an on-board computer and advanced motorized technology to allow you to quickly locate and automatically follow over 20,000 pre-programmed astronomical objects with the touch of a button. Educational descriptions of each object are also provided. Talking, Hand-Held, Remote Control Module The hand-held control module features red, backlit push buttons and a red, illuminated LCD read-out for easy viewing that won't impair your night vision. The talking feature of the remote describes the night sky with the touch of a button, in a real human voice. Kinematic Mount This simple yet high-precision altaz mount features three points of contact in both the horizontal and vertical planes for optimum shape, so that you can set up your view quickly, easily, and accurately. 1250 X 90MM MOTORIZED GOTO MAKSUTOV-CASSEGRAIN TELESCOPE4MM & 25MM EYEPIECESERECT IMAGE DIAGONAL MIRROR FOR LANDING VIEWGO TO COMPUTERIZED TRACKING TECHNOLOGYRED DOT LED FINDERSCOPEREMOTE HAND-HELD CONTROL MODULE WITH REAL VOICE OUTPUT CAMERA ADAPTABLEQUICK RELEASE TRIPODKINEMATIC MOUNTACCESSORY TRAYUPC : 029757788894Shipping Dimensions : 42.75in X 18.50in X 10.00inEstimated Shipping Weight : 47.6431 Features
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Celestron 52268 C90 Mak Spotting scope (Black)
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DescriptionThe Maksutov optical design is recognized for being a portable design that is easy to use and has a variety of applications, making it an excellent choice for both terrestrial and astronomical usage. This C90 Mak has excellent optics with razor sharp images over a wide field, along with built-in T-adapter threads for adapting SLR cameras. It comes with a 32mm eyepiece, 45° erect image diagonal, and 8x21 erect image finderscope. Celestron’s 52268 90mm Maksutov Spotting Scope delivers excellent high power optics in a compact, affordable package. The 52268 package includes a backpack style soft carrying case, an 8x21 erect image finder scope, a 1.25 inch size correct image 45* prism diagonal, and a fully coated 32mm plossl eyepiece for a magnification of 39X. The Maksutov-Cassegrain design of the C90 uses a combination of mirrors and lenses; this “folded” optical system has a focal length of 1250mm in a body only twelve inches long. The Maksutov design delivers high power views without a trace of the chromatic aberration, also called blue fringing, that can distort high power views in competing refractor style spotting scopes. At 40X magnification where some low cost spotting scopes start to seem fuzzy, the C90 is just getting started. The C90 uses the same 1.25 inch eyepieces used in astronomical telescopes. The standard equipment 32mm plossl eyepiece yields a magnification of 39X, but many other eyepieces can be used to vary the magnification. The Celestron model 52268 seems very well built, with excellent multi-coatings visible on the front lens. The real beauty of this 90mm Maksutov spotting scope, however, is in the view it offers. When I use an optional 12.5mm eyepiece to look at Jupiter at 100X I can clearly see Jupiter’s major cloud bands as well as its four moons. When I look at the Moon and stars I can easily push the magnification to 200X with an optional 6mm eyepiece. When I look at birds in the backyard, I’m treated to delightful views full of vibrant color and crisp detail. With a close focus distance of only 15 feet, the detail and texture I see is simply amazing. High magnification viewing requires a solid tripod, of course. Celestron’s Heavy Duty Altazimuth Tripod comes with slow motion controls to allow the scope to be pointed precisely, and I can clamp the dovetail base on my CG5 mount for astronomical use. The other drawback to high magnification viewing is a narrow field of view; high magnification makes it hard to follow moving targets like birds in flight. Overall the Celestron C90 Maksutov Spotting Scope does a fine job as a companion to good pair of binoculars. The C90 also doubles as a portable astronomy scope; it won’t show the flag on the Moon but it will show thousands of craters on the Moon as well as showing the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. --Jeff Phillips Pros: Compact and portable Excellent high power optics Upgradeable with 1.25” eyepieces Adaptable for astronomy and photography Cons: Not waterproof Features
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Choosing and Using a New CAT: Getting the Most from Your Schmidt Cassegrain or Any Catadioptric Telescope (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)
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DescriptionChoosing and Using the New CAT will supersede the authorâs successful Choosing and Using a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, which has enjoyed enthusiastic support from the amateur astronomy community for the past seven years. Since the first book was published, a lot has changed in the technology of amateur astronomy. The sophistication and variety of the telescopes available to amateurs has increased dramatically. Computerized SCTs, Maksutov-Cassegrains, and most recently Meadeâs new and acclaimed Ritchey-Chrétiens have come to dominate the market. That means that all amateurs considering the purchase of a new telescope (not only a SCT, and not just beginners) will benefit from this detailed guide. Choosing the right telescope for particular kinds of observation (or even for general work) is far from easy â but Rod Mollise gives invaluable advice and guidance. |
