{"title":"Tahoe Star Tours - Celestron Picks","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"c14-optical-tube-assembly-cge-dovetail","title":"C14 Optical Tube Assembly (CGE Dovetail)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Celestron C14-AF XLT optical tube is a world-class instrument that delivers a level of detail to all your favorite deep sky objects. This observatory-ready instrument the largest in its class with over three times the light gathering power of an 8\" telescope. With this OTA, you can see amazing detail on the surface of Jupiter, resolve details on the surface of Mars, see Cassini's Division in the rings of Saturn, and even the distant planets of Uranus and Neptune.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe C14 packs serious light gathering ability into its durable aluminum optical tube. It’s an ideal instrument for serious astrophotography, providing high-contrast views even at very high magnifications. It is equipped with Celestron’s patented StarBright® XLT optical coatings, which visibly increase contrast and light transmission for brighter deep space images and shorter exposure times.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tube offers a focal ratio of f\/11 with the added versatility of Fastar (see below). You can also pair it with the f\/6.3 focal reducer for even more astroimaging options.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis flagship OTA can be mounted on a multitude of computerized telescope mounts thanks to its CGEM-style dovetail bar. It’s sure to take your visual observing and imaging to the next level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFastar Technology\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1997, CCDs were making a name for themselves in the astrophotography world, quickly supplanting traditional film photography thanks to their speed and convenience. This was the year that Celestron joined forces with the Santa Barbara Instruments Group (SBIG) to produce Fastar, a revolutionary add-on to Celestron’s hugely popular Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT) optical system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith Fastar, the SCT’s secondary mirror can be removed and replaced with a field-flattening lens assembly (sold separately by third party manufacturers) so that a CCD camera can be used in the front of the telescope at the f\/2 focus of the instrument’s primary mirror. The potential of the Fastar system is staggering: exposures are 25 times shorter than if the camera was placed at the instrument’s native f\/11 focus. Imagers can capture galaxies and nebulae with exposures of just 30 seconds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor more information about our Fastar technology,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.celestron.com\/pages\/fastar-technology\"\u003evisit here\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.celestron.com\/university\/astronomy\/starbright-xlt-optical-coating-system\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStarBright XLT coatings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStarBright XLT is Celestron’s revolutionary optical coating system. It consistently outperforms all other coatings in the commercial telescope market. There are three major components that make up our StarBright XLT high-transmission optical system design:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnique enhanced multi-layer mirror coatings made from precise layers of aluminum, SiO2 (quartz), TiO2 (titanium dioxide), and SiO2 (silicon dioxide). Reflectivity is fairly flat across the spectrum, optimizing it for both imaging and visual observing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulti-layer anti-reflective coatings made from precise layers of MgF2 (magnesium fluoride) and HfO2 (hafnium dioxide). Hafnium—a rare element that costs nearly $2,000 per kilogram—gives us a wider band pass than the titanium used in competing coatings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh-transmission water white glass is used instead of soda lime glass for the corrector lens. Water white glass transmits about 90.5% of light without anti-reflective coatings; that’s 3.5% better than uncoated soda lime glass. When water white glass is used in conjunction with StarBright XLT’s anti-reflective coatings, the average transmission reaches an astonishing 97.4.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese three components make StarBright XLT one of the finest coatings available. For more information about our patented StarBright XLT coatings, visit\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.celestron.com\/university\/astronomy\/starbright-xlt-optical-coating-system\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Celestron","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46382088323329,"sku":"91038-XLT-CGL","price":7241.66,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0755\/6857\/8817\/files\/91038-XLT_CGE_Pro_1400_Fastar_1.jpg?v=1749504025"},{"product_id":"nexstar-evolution-925-telescope","title":"NexStar Evolution 9.25 Telescope","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"This robotic WiFi telescope is the coolest app-cessory in the galaxy\"\u003cbr\u003e-\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.wired.com\/2014\/04\/robotic-wifi-telescope\/\" title=\"Wired.com NexStar Evolution\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWired.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"5-star overall rating\"\u003cbr\u003e-BBC Sky at Night Magazine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNexStar Evolution is the first Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope\u003c\/span\u003e with integrated WiFi. Leave your hand control behind and slew to all the best celestial objects with a tap of your smartphone or tablet. Connect your device to NexStar Evolution’s built-in wireless network, and explore the universe with the SkyPortal \u003cspan\u003ePowered by SkySafari™ \u003c\/span\u003emobile app for iOS and Android.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse the planetarium interface to view the night sky in real time or display a list of celestial objects currently visible based on your time and location. Our proprietary SkyAlign alignment procedure is built right into the SkyPortal mobile app, so you’re ready to observe within minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe most user-friendly telescope ever\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCelestron engineers designed NexStar Evolution based on years of customer feedback. It offers many thoughtful design features that combine to provide you the best possible experience out under the stars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForget about batteries or an external power supply. For the first time ever on a consumer telescope, NexStar Evolution includes its own built-in battery. With this ultra-long life lithium-iron phosphate battery, you’ll be able to enjoy stargazing marathons up to 10 hours on a single charge. You can even use NexStar Evolution’s USB charge port to top off the other devices in your life that need to stay powered on during an observing session. An intelligent power management system senses when battery levels are low and goes into power-saving mode to keep your telescope running for as long as possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSetting up your NexStar Evolution is quick and painless with large, ergonomic handles. The same heavy-duty stainless steel tripod we use on our CPC series telescopes anchors your 9.25\" telescope, providing serious stability. Manual clutches in both altitude and azimuth offer greater flexibility to manually point the telescope when powered off. Store up to 7 eyepieces in 2 accessory trays, one with an adjustable red LED illuminator.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuperior tracking fit for astroimaging\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf you’re interested in astroimaging, the 9.25-inch NexStar Evolution is an excellent, affordable way to get started. It’s the only fork-mounted telescope in its price range that offers brass worm gears, along with improved motors. NexStar Evolution’s tracking accuracy is so impressive, you can capture images of deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula by simply attaching your DSLR camera. As you progress in the hobby of astroimaging, you can add our Pro HD Wedge to achieve longer exposures for more detailed astrophotos.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf course, the Schmidt-Cassegrain optical system offers bright, sharp views with StarBright XLT optical coatings—a great choice for visual observers and budding astroimagers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNexStar Evolution is equipped with 4 auxiliary ports--2 on top of the fork and 2 on the bottom. A classic NexStar+ hand control is included, but is not necessary when using NexStar Evolution with the mobile app. The telescope also includes a StarPointer finderscope, two 1.25” Plossl eyepieces, a 1.25” star diagonal, and an AC adapter.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Celestron","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46382154973441,"sku":"12092-CGL","price":2641.66,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0755\/6857\/8817\/files\/12092_NexStar_Evolution_9_1.jpg?v=1749504710"},{"product_id":"cpc-1100-gps-xlt-computerized-telescope","title":"CPC 1100 GPS (XLT) Computerized Telescope","description":"\u003ch4\u003eGeneral Features\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e11\" diffraction limited Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCelestron's premium StarBright XLT coatings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFully computerized dual fork arm Altazimuth mount\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e9x50 finderscope to help accurately find objects\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNewly designed heavy-duty tripod makes attaching the telescope so easy you can do it in the dark; also features sturdy 2\" steel legs and accessory tray\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErgonomic design - Comfortably lift and move the telescope from location to location\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStar diagonal provides more comfortable viewing position when observing objects that are high in the sky\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConvenient remote hand control holder - Allows you to view information hands-free while using the scope\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e","brand":"Celestron","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46382155661569,"sku":"11075-XLT-CGL","price":3749.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0755\/6857\/8817\/files\/050234107518_CPC_1100_GPS_1.jpg?v=1749504758"},{"product_id":"cpc-deluxe-1100-hd-computerized-telescope","title":"CPC Deluxe 1100 HD Computerized Telescope","description":"\u003cp\u003eCombine top-of-the-line performance with unlimited versatility and you have the CPC Deluxe 1100 HD. From a casual night of backyard observing to serious astroimaging at a dark sky location, the CPC Deluxe HD is a customer favorite for any application. The CPC\/CPC Deluxe family is also the telescope of choice for NASA (a CPC 925 is currently deployed aboard the International Space Station) \u003cspan\u003eand the late astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who used his CPC Deluxe 1100HD at his home in Cambridge, UK.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCelestron’s Best Optics\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes the view through a CPC Deluxe HD unforgettable? It all starts with our proprietary EdgeHD optical system. This unique design corrects for both coma and field curvature, providing aberration-free images and pinpoint stars across the largest imaging sensors and all the way to the edge of the widest eyepieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead more about how EdgeHD outperforms competing optical systems by downloading the EdgeHD whitepaper in the Support and Download tab.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll EdgeHD systems include our StarBright XLT coatings on all optical surfaces for brighter images and increased light transmission. Plus, every EdgeHD optical tube is Fastar compatible. Simply remove the secondary mirror and attach a third party lens assembly and you’re ready to image the night sky at ultra-fast f\/2.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUltimate Versatility\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCustomers and reviewers have hailed the CPC Deluxe an all-around top performer, equally well suited to a star party or a university astronomy course. The beefy dual fork arm mount anchors the telescope for ultra-precise tracking, but weighs just 70.51 lbs and includes rugged carrying handles to make setup quick and easy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs soon as you turn on your CPC Deluxe HD, you’ll be guided through our simple SkyAlign procedure. The telescope walks you through centering any three bright objects in the eyepiece. From there, it’s ready to locate and track more than 40,000 celestial objects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo customize your experience under the stars, CPC Deluxe HD is compatible with all of Celestron’s latest accessories. Add StarSense AutoAlign and your CPC will align itself in under 3 minutes. Or add the SkyQ Link 2 WiFi Module and control your telescope using a smartphone or tablet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith this much versatility, the CPC Deluxe HD is a telescope that will serve you well for years to come, no matter what you choose to do with the hobby—including astroimaging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt with Imaging in Mind\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost altazimuth telescopes are designed primarily for visual use, but not the CPC Deluxe HD. It offers all the same high-end features you’ll find on our German equatorial mounts. Out of the box, your CPC Deluxe can track accurately for up to 30 seconds without adding a wedge, thanks to a reengineered drive train with a 6-inch brass gear, stainless steel worm gear, and both steel and nylon ball bearings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’ll be doing longer exposure astrophotography, adding the HD Pro Wedge turns this telescope into an astroimager’s dream setup. With a wedge, you can take advantage of the All Star Polar Alignment procedure, which has you polar aligned in just minutes. You can also train your mount to be even more accurate with Permanently Programmable Periodic Error Correction. Finally, your CPC tracks smoothly through the meridian without doing a meridian flip, enabling you to capture objects in the best part of the night sky.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Celestron","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46382157005057,"sku":"11009-CGL","price":4583.33,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0755\/6857\/8817\/files\/11009_CPC_Deluxe_1100_HD_1.jpg?v=1749504813"}],"url":"https:\/\/celestron.co.uk\/collections\/tahoe-star-tours.oembed","provider":"Celestron Global Limited","version":"1.0","type":"link"}