Celestron N 254/1200 telescope:
This classic Newtonian telescope is the largest of its type made by Celestron. It collects 178% more light than the 6" model and so has also almost double the resolution. The telescope is made strictly according to the stringent standards of Celestron and offers a diffraction-limited parabolic primary mirror for razor-sharp star images over a large field of view. Features include a 9x50 finder scope and a precision standard 2" focuser which allows both 1.25" and 2" accessories can be used. The OTA has a high-gloss black finish and is like a fine piece of art, even when it's not in use.
Included in delivery with the telescope:
- Celestron N 254/1200 OTA
- 9x50 finder scope
- 2" focuser
- 1.25", 20mm eyepiece
Celestron AS-GT mount:
The smallest large German equatorial mount from Celestron. Since the invention by Joseph von Fraunhofer of this type of mount circa 1810 it has been known worldwide as the 'German equatorial mount'. It is noteworthy that, over almost 200 years of use, almost nothing has changed in the design and nothing could be significantly improved. For astrophotography, the German mount is almost a 'must'!
The biggest advantage of the 'German mount' is its flexibility. Unlike fork mounts, it is not limited to a particular telescope! Depending on your fancy, the air quality and the celestial target, you can attach a different OTA onto the same mount in a matter of seconds and balance it by moving the counterweights and telescope OTA so that the drive motors can very precisely compensate (precise enough even for photography) for the rotation of the Earth using extremely low power. Purchasing a Celestron AS (Advanced Series) telescope therefore always means getting an initial 'telescope-system' which does not have to be immediately extended with a mount and stainless steel tripod.
Celestron AS mounts are characterized by their extremely high carrying capacity. Many amateurs use telescopes of up to 13 kg in weight on them without any tracking problems - even for astrophotography. The high rigidity of AS mounts is due to the very thick-walled cast aluminum housing and to the two large ball bearings on the so-called 'hour axis'. The size of the head bearing is that of a car's wheel bearing (to which it is very similar). The load carrying capacity also depends on the tripod construction. Heavy die-cast aluminium and stainless steel tubes give the height-adjustable tripod many times more torsional rigidity than the aluminum tripods that have often been used for this class. A metal accessory tray connected to the tripod legs absorbs vibrations most effectively and has room for up to five 1.25" or 2" eyepieces. Next to high stiffness and precision positioning, the most important thing is the combination of worm gear and worm wheel - which is actually the heart of the mount's drive. For the advanced mount (without GoTo electronics), this is a combination of bronze worm gear and aluminum worm wheel; an ideal solution for beginners who already want to use 'heavy equipment'. Both drive worms are equipped with ball bearings and meet all the needs of experienced astrophotographers, not least thanks to the sophisticated NexStar electronics, programmable hand-held controller, and sophisticated control electronics for the servomotors. The NexStar AS GT hand controller electronics are lacking in nothing, they even have a 'PEC function', i.e. permanently programmable control of residual tracking errors to arcsecond accuracy, indispensible for perfectly synchronous tracking for astrophotography.
Included in delivery with the mount:
- computerized German equatorial AS-GT mount
- precision worm gear units on both axes for extremely smooth tracking and slewing
- DC servo motors with encoders on both axes
- large heavy-duty shafts and bearings
- massive castings for increased stability
- ultra-stable, adjustable tripod with 50mm steel tubular legs
- 'The Sky' level 1' planetarium software with approximately 10000 objects in the comprehensive database and with an improved display
- around 40000 celestial objects in the database
- manual control unit with LCD display (2 lines of 16 characters), red backlit to preserve dark adaptation
- PC communication interface in the control unit
- additional socket and autoguider port on the drive motor
