{"title":"Terry Lovejoy Celestron Picks","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"edgehd-14-optical-tube-assembly-cge-dovetail","title":"EdgeHD 14\" Optical Tube Assembly (CGE Dovetail)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSee the Universe in HD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEdgeHD is an aplanatic, flat field Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope that produces aberration-free images across a wide visual and photographic field of view. The optical system was designed to reduce more than just off-axis star coma; it also provides an astrograph-quality flat focal plane all the way to the edge of the field of view.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTrue Astrograph Quality\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMany optical designs that advertise themselves as \"astrographs\" actually only produce pinpoint stars across a curved focal plane. While this may be acceptable for some visual observing, stars will appear out of focus at the edge when used with the flat chip sensor of a digital camera. EdgeHD optics produce a focal plane more than three-times flatter than a standard Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and dramatically flatter than competing coma-free designs. This guarantees you visibly sharp stars across some of the largest CCD chips available today. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImproved Performance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSuperior edge performance not only creates rounder, more pleasing stars, but actually improves the resolution and limiting magnitude when compared to telescopes of equal aperture. With Celestron’s StarBright XLT optical coatings on every surface, EdgeHD optics gives you maximum light throughput across the widest visual and photographic spectrum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMechanical Features\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eIn addition to EdgeHD’s optimized optical design, the telescope tube has been redesigned to make sure you get the most from your optics each and every night.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMirror clutches\u003c\/strong\u003e - Flexible tension clutches hold the mirror in place and reduce image shift when taking long exposure astro-images. Once focused, the flexible rods allow the mirror to be held in place without putting any force or pressure on the mirror assembly, keeping the image centered in the eyepiece (or on the sensor).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTube vents\u003c\/strong\u003e - Cooling vents located on the rear cell allow hot air to be released from behind the primary mirror. Each vent has an integrated 50-mesh filter guaranteed to let warm air out without letting dust in.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFastar versatility\u003c\/strong\u003e - EdgeHD is the most versatile imaging telescope available today. At its native f\/11, you can achieve the image scale necessary to capture the smallest of deep sky objects. Add the optional reducer lens—custom-designed for your size EdgeHD tube—and you can increase your field of view without sacrificing optical performance. A Barlow gives you added power for high-resolution planetary, lunar and solar imaging. All EdgeHD optical tubes are Fastar-compatible, allowing the secondary mirror to be removed and replaced with a third party lens accessory for ultra-fast f\/2 wide field imaging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIndividually Tested\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery EdgeHD that ships has been tested not only for the surface quality of each optical component, but also with a camera and artificial star to ensure the imaging system meets our rigid quality assurance. This “final acceptance test” confirms the EdgeHD will perform in the field and deliver high-quality astroimages\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Celestron","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46382084686081,"sku":"91060-XLT-CGL","price":8599.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0755\/6857\/8817\/files\/91060-xlt_cge_pro_1400_hd_1.jpg?v=1749504001"},{"product_id":"c8-optical-tube-assembly-cge-dovetail","title":"C8 Optical Tube Assembly (CGE Dovetail)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Celestron C8-A is the direct (but much improved) descendent of Celestron’s revolutionary C8 that transformed the hobby of astronomy when it was unveiled in 1970. This rugged aluminum optical tube is only 17 inches long and weighs just 13 pounds, making it easy to transport and set up. But the views are much more impressive than what you’d expect from such a compact instrument. The tube offers 2032 mm of focal length and a focal ratio of f\/10, with the added versatility of Fastar (see below).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt 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. With StarBright XLT, you’ll be able to discern subtle details while viewing the Moon and planets as well as faint galaxies and nebulae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Celestron C8-A can be mounted on a multitude of computerized telescope mounts thanks to its CGEM style dovetail bar. This iconic optical tube provides the best balance of portability, handling ease, light gathering ability and price ever offered to the amateur astronomer.\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\/10 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":46382088716545,"sku":"91024-XLT-CGL","price":1274.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0755\/6857\/8817\/files\/91024-XLT-SCT_8in_Optical_Tube_01_760x760_a4ed4678-6966-43aa-9143-a7cad75e3420.jpg?v=1749504050"}],"url":"https:\/\/celestron.co.uk\/collections\/terry-lovejoy.oembed","provider":"Celestron Global Limited","version":"1.0","type":"link"}