Celestron CGEM-800 Computerised Telescope Review
Celestron brings in this new series of telescopes that belongs to the high end with Schmidt Cassegrain mechanism of function. Celestron CGEM-800 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope comes with high sophistication of computerised operations and does have many supportive and convenient features. It has won the hearts of many and is been recognised as one of the best selling product and the hit list for the year 2010. The following is the review of the same that discusses the various features and functions.
Model Overview:
Celestron CGEM-800 Computerised Telescope has few standard features that include the fully enclosed optical encoders that support the position location. The mount of the same is compact and portable which can be disassembled easily. It comes with the database filter that allows to custom object list. It is also capable of storing programmable user defined objects and hence this sophisticated model is a sure go positive for the amateur astronomers.
Application and Observing:
Observing the moon, stars, deep sky objects, planets go in an interesting manner. Attempting to look at the moon with the help of the yellow filter makes it better with higher contrast levels and the density of natural is more. Rather when observing the planets the fact that the five naked eye planets can be just seen without any additional efforts. It’s a great thing to watch the cloud belts of Jupiter, the great Red spot, the moons of Jupiter and the Saturn and its rings. Observing the Sun is a thrilling experience but it is mandatory to use the Sun filters. Along with these observing the deep sky objects like the Milky Way, Nebulae, double stars and other galaxies is possible.
Technical Details:
All of these are made to be possible with the support of the technical ability. The functions of this model are extensive and so are the technical details.
- Type – Designed in the Schmidt Cassegrain type which is the combination of both the refractor and the reflector models which is simple known to be designed with the use of both lens and mirrors. This type perfectly suits photography purpose.
- Focal length of 2032mm / Focal ratio of F/10 – This is nothing but the point at which the image at the infinity is brought to focus. The higher the value the better performing will be the device.
- Aperture – With the practical power this telescope is been designed with the objective lens that measures 203.2mm in diameter. This transforms better light to the objects making it better for vision. The Asterism and the Asteroids are also visible with the required details.
- Finder scope of 6×30 – This helps to locate the objects accurately and can also proceed with it to follow.
- Eyepiece – Available with this model the eyepiece of 25mm that enables to magnify the image better than the actual available magnification. The further more details of the viewing image can be obtained with the use of the eyepiece.
- Mount – This model has a performing mount that is capable of holding the telescope firmly it is ideal for both imaging and observation. They are equatorial mount that can be adjusted in both axis. With simplicity in design and user friendly operation it delivers to be the best aspect of this model.
Computerised features:
This mount gives superior computerised features that has over 40000 object database and over 100 are user definable objects. It is a proven technology for simple alignment. The gear and the motors are made of durable material and is smooth and quite for operations. They also support for Astrophotography. This model does include NexRemote Telescope control software that is an advanced control system through the computer. The GPS compatibility is also available. Ultimately it an innovative, ergonomic and gives enriched performance.
What’s in it?
Celestron CGEM-800 Astrophotography Telescope is delivered in three main boxes that contain the optical tube assembly and the standard accessories in one and equatorial mount with hand control and the counterweight bar in the next box and the tripod plus one counterweight in the third one. From this with the help of the detailed instruction manual the setting up of the telescope can be started. Assembling the same can be done without additional hands or without any mishaps. It is rather quicker than expected with the help of the detailed instructions.
Warranty:
Celestron offers a 2 year limited warranty coverage for all its products and so is this model too enjoys the benefit.
Celestron CGEM-800 Telescope – Technical Specification Table
| Manufacturer | Celestron |
| Model Name | CGEM-800 Computerised Telescope / 11097 |
| Telescope Type | Schmidt-Cassegrain |
| Magnification | 480x |
| Focal length | 2032 mm |
| Focal ratio | 10 |
| Aperture | 203.2 mm |
| Eye piece | 25 mm |
| Optical coating | Star bright XLT Coating |
| Tripod | Adjustable, Stainless steel |
| Light gathering power | 843x |
| Mount | Computerised Equatorial |
| Finderscope | 6×30 |
| Weight | 39.92 kg |
| Warranty | 2 years limited |
Sky-Watcher BK15012EQ6 Achromatic Refractor Telescope
Sky-Watcher BK15012EQ6 Telescope feature with the new design that shows improved technical compared to the earlier models. Promising is the performance that lives up to the expectation of the astronomers of intermediate levels. Sky-Watcher offers products to suit the needs of different level users and its construction is a fusion of high quality material and latest technology. Consistency in innovation and the know-how aspect of the brand makes it a leading optical brand globally. This telescope obvious with all the benefits of the brand and is one of the best selling product in this current year 2010.
Design and Structure:
The structure is robust that withstands extreme weather and also makes it more resilient for rough usage. The tube with the glossy black finish with the base and the rim in bright white makes it a perfect contrast and comes to attract the professionals. The tube with the dimension of 15cm diameter and 120cm length takes the weight of 5.09 kg gets to easily transport in the back seat of the car. It is one best model for those wish to take along the travel.
Optical Design:
Designed with the Achromatic Refractor uses lenses for its construction which is one of its kinds that requires fewer efforts for maintenance. They are reliable and of course durable for the touch handling. The factors like the cost, size and its weight may be slightly higher than the reflector models. Both for the astronomers and land watcher this type of telescope brings satisfaction.
Aperture and focal length:
Like the size of the telescope that directly relates to the aperture and the focal length so is its performance too. The size of the objective lens diameter is 150mm and the focal length extends to 1200mm. Bringing you closer to the celestial objects like the lunar, planets and the galaxies is possible with this model. At most times the objects can be viewed clearing without being lost in the dark sky. The aperture also dictates the brightness of the viewing image and it stands to be justifiable for the intermediate level of users. On comparison with the model of 120mm aperture and 102mm aperture this device brings you brighter images about 56% better in the first case and 116% more light than the 102mm models.
Magnification and the lens:
The lens present in Sky-Watcher BK15012EQ6 Glossy Black Finish Telescope are fully multicoated with 4 layers and this achromatic lens makes the image clarity better and so is the contrast levels. The highest practical power of 300x can be experienced with this model and hence it proves to be a professional class instrument that serves well for the serious planet researchers.
Other features:
- Adjustable lens – The objective lens comes with the adjustable cell and it consists of dew cap and sunshade.
- Aluminium tube – The tube made of aluminium tube not only reduces the weight of the telescope but also gives a robust structure making it highly durable.
- Finder scope – Locating the celestial objects with the help of the finder scope is simple and quick. This is an important consideration for the efficient telescope and this model comes the the high power 9×50 achromatic finder scope.
Mount:
This BK15012EQ6 Telescope model comes with the Equatorial mount that is possible to be adjusted. It comfortably holds the telescope firmly to experience the deep sky observation. It does have slow motion control of RA&DEC that helps to track the objects and bring in a better study and understanding about the celestial objects. The tripod with the wall to wall accessory tray allows you to preserve the important stuffs required to support the observation and hence the study can go uninterrupted for long than expected. Along with all these features the manufacturer offers a motor drive of single & dual on the basis of optional choice.
Distinguished from the usual model Sky-Watcher BK15012EQ6 Celestial Telescope can be suggested for the intermediate level of user for the serious celestial observation and a hobby can also gets you interested for t he terrestrial viewing.
Sky-Watcher BK15012EQ6 Telescope – Technical Specification Table
| Manufacturer | Sky-Watcher |
| Model Name | BK15012EQ6 Achromatic Refractor Telescope |
| Telescope Type | Refractor |
| Magnification | 300 x |
| Focal length | 1200 mm |
| Finder scope | 9×50 |
| Aperture | 150 mm |
| Eye piece | 42 mm |
| Astro photography | No |
| Tube weight | 5.09 kg |
| Tube dimension | 15 x 120 cm |
| Focal ratio | f/8.3 |
| Lens | 4 layer multi-coated achromatic lens |
| Motor drive | Single & Dual optional |
Bynolyt Bynostar SPN 114/500 Telescope
Bynolyt Bynostar SPN 114/500 Telescope belongs to the Newton Reflector type that is been designed with the use of mirrors. It brings out the compactness in the device and is light in weight too with 8 kg. It permits to be used by the beginners and suitable for travel purpose. Best for the starting amateurs who which to study the rings of Saturn, star formations and the Lunar. Bynolyt made it possible to offers such models with an affordable price. This model is the one outstanding in features and the following review gives you more detail about the product.
Technical Basics:
The various technical factors that determine the viewing quality that can come to fulfill. At the outset the important aspect is the quality of the optics and the durability along with the usage convenience.z
- Aperture – This is the objective of the telescope and the larger the aperture the better will be the viewing quality. This model offers 114mm and so forms to be an intermediate level use as the basic model should start from 70mm aperture. Without the concern of bright or dark sky viewing through a telescope with high aperture makes a spectacular difference.
- Focal length – This is another key specification that also tells you about the magnification ability. This model comes with the focal length of 500mm. The focal ratio is 4.4.
- Eyepiece – The magnification of the telescope can be changed with the help of the eye piece that is been supplied. This model comes with the eye piece of 1.25”. The maximum magnification offered by this device is 228x which means the object becomes 228 times bigger than its actual size.
Convenience features:
It is required to have something sturdy to support the telescope like the tripod or the mounts. Generally speaking the tripods are useful for prolonged astronomy while the mounts are designed give a sharp and professionalised observation of the celestial bodies. Bynolyt Bynostar SPN 114/500 Reflector Telescope comes with the Equatorial mount and the tripod for the utmost user convenience. The equatorial mount is the simplest to install and it helps to track the movement of stars by tuning the given axis. The finder scope of 5×24 is an added benefit to serve the tracking procedure.
Miscellaneous:
The other technical advantages of this device are the slow motion control RA & DEC that performs the observation and the study in a detailed manner. The faintest star that can be visible is in the magnitude of 12.4, while the resolving power is 1 arc second.
Bynolyt Bynostar SPN 114/500 Compact Telescope being the intermediate level is has electronics to be appreciated and it lets open the celestial doors for the delightful observation that can be carried on for the lifetime.
Bynolyt Bynostar SPN 114/500 Telescope – Technical Specification Table
| Manufacturer | Bynolyt |
| Model Name | Bynostar SPN 114/500 Telescope |
| Telescope Type | Reflector |
| Dimension | 150 x 410 mm |
| Focal length | 500 mm |
| Weight | 8 kg |
| Eye piece | 1.25” |
| Tripod | Yes |
| Finder scope | 5×24 |
| User level | Intermediate |
| Application | Astronomy |
| Aperture | 114mm |
| Mount | Equatorial |
| Slow motion control | RA & DEC |
| Focal ratio | 4.4 |
| Maximum magnification | 228x |
| Faintest star visible | Magnitude 12.4 |
| Resolving power | 1 arc second |
Sky-Watcher Equinox 66 OTA Telescope Review
Discovering the deep black sky remains to be an all time favourite and they amaze us with great memories. To support this interest are available many devices and one such are the telescopes. They are user friendly with rich appearance that keeps you going for more happy hours gazing at the sky. There are many brands introducing models to suit levels from beginners to professional. Sky-Watcher Equinox 66/400 ED Celestial and Terrestrial Telescope from the maker of quality optical products is been introduced to suit the needs to the beginner level user who wish to replace it for the high end binoculars or the spotting scope. The technology involved makes this model durable and high in performance. It comes fused with materials that make it sturdy and user friendly.
Optical design:
Designed with the ED Apochromatic optics which is lens present within the telescope. The lens material is FPL-51. This supports for the activities like birding and nature watch in case of the terrestrial use and for the astronomical use it studies large clusters of stars and the location of the same. The optics of this model transforms the images to be sharp and also reduces the colour deformation. With the high contrast levels it makes the best go for most of the activities.
Aperture and Magnification:
As a rule, the aperture which is the diameter of the objective lens dictates the quality and performance of the telescope. As for the beginner levels it is the models below 90mm aperture and higher goes for the intermediate levels and the high-end are for the professional astronomers. Sky-Watcher Equinox 66 OTA Telescope with the aperture of 66mm satisfies the requirements of the beginner level users. Although the light gathering ability is limited it can be used for the viewing of closer planets. In case of the magnification the highest practical power is 132x. This is powerful for the terrestrial observation in the day light and for the celestial use it can suit to view the star formation and the close by planets along with the lunar.
Focal length and the Focal Ratio:
This model designed with the focal length of 400mm while the focal ratio is f/6. The device is compact in structure and also supports a reasonable magnification of the image considered for viewing.
Compatibility and Convenience:
This Sky-Watcher Telescope is compatible for the use of tripod as it consists of removable L-shaped bracket for easy mounting. It can also be used with the camera tripod. With the presence of the retractable aluminium dew shield it protects against the extreme of weather conditions. Gives the benefit of astro-photography and hence it interests many researches and project users. The fast speed and flat fields are available for the wide field astrophotography.
Focuser:
Embedded with the high precision indexed focuser which is the dual speed machined Crayford focuser. It permits to be adjusted by 360 degree and helps in easy framing of objects specially when used for the astrophotography.
Miscellaneous:
The absence of the finder scope and the eyepiece although makes it to step down a little, for the general use and hobby it does not effect. It does not come with the mount nor the computerised motor drive.
Easy transportation:
Sky-Watcher Equinox 66/400 ED Beginner Telescope with the dimension of 85 x 420 mm and weighs just 1.94 kg is sure an easy carry and suitable for the travel purpose. This model comes boxed for delivery with the shipping weight of just 5kg. Right out the box the excitement starts and goes to the extend of sky. Going along with such powerful device during travel and vacation is definitely a treat to appreciate.
Accessories:
Made available with an aluminium carrying case that is safe for easy transporting and it comes with the pack.
Sky-Watcher Equinox 66 AstroPhotography Telescope – Specification Details
| Manufacturer | Sky-Watcher |
| Model Name | Equinox 66/400 ED Telescope |
| Telescope Type | ED Apochromatic |
| Aperture | 66 mm |
| Focal length | 400 mm |
| Focal ratio | f/6 |
| Highest practical power | 132x |
| Eye piece | n/a |
| Tube Weight | 1.94 kg |
| Dimension | 85 x 420 |
| Focuser diameter | 1.25 |
| Application | Beginner use for observing clusters and star fields |
| Astrophotography | Yes |
| Use | Celestial and terrestrial |
| Accessories | Aluminium carry case |
Astro-Professional 76×700 Pollux Telescope
Regarding telescopes one may wonder to know the best choice of it. Right from the structure, design, size, magnification, features and convenience are ample to confuse you and added to these comes in the economical part to see the affordability. If you are day dreaming to own the first telescope or the finest telescope the guide to it starts here with ‘Astro-Professional’ as they offer wide range of scopes in different specification to suit the user profile. Among the many Astro-Professional 76×700 Pollux White Colour Telescope is been introduced as the reflector type that along with its strong technical offers a good celestial observation.
Aperture:
This model does not come with a large aperture and with its mere 76mm it although cannot observe faint objects like the far off planets it makes it possible to see the moon and planets. This experience could tell you more about the celestial objects and sometimes when the atmosphere is unsteady it could be pinching to view the details of the objects but the general observation goes fine. Hence in the aspect of bigger the better, it is ideal for the beginners and the intermediate levels.
Physical structure:
Astro-Professional 76×700 Pollux Reflector Telescope wins the appreciation of few governing principles of the telescope like the size, weight, design and the colour. In its attractive white housing it stands to be a luxury show piece at homes. It is a take off in terms of portability and weight. Being done with the mirrors it comes under the Newtonian Reflector type of construction. It is proven for the sharper and high contrast images irrespective of its aperture. In the usual case it takes the structure in length with 8 times the measurement of the objective diameter or the aperture. This can be a preferred model to obtain the correct reading when you try to look on to something with the map in hand.
Mount type:
The big bang is the type of mount that is been used by the telescope. It is an azimuthal mount. It is a popular and comfort piece like the tripod that moves the device up and down, right and left. This all direction adjustment is not available in the other types of mount. In case you prefer to use the scope for both the land and the sky observation then the mount of this type is preferable.
Finderscope:
Irrespective of the capability of the telescope that shows just a small portion of the sky, targeting is at most times difficult and sometimes frustration. So, is the use of the finders that not only assists in locating the objects but also helps to track it without much stress. The 5×24 finder scope is made available with this model.
Other technical details:
Made available is the eye piece in order to enhance the viewing power with its additional magnification of 8mm, 20mm. In case you desire to use it for the terrestrial observation the erector is been used to avoid the upside images and make it a straight image. The focal length measures to be 700mm. Adding to the support of aluminium tripod that is sturdy and durable even for rough handling. Astro-Professional 76×700 Pollux Azimuthal Mount Telescope does not consist of features like the remote control and the built-in database.
Package contents:
Astro Professional is thoughtful to offer the complete kit that includes the Telescope, tripod, eyepieces, accessory tray, azimuthal mount, 5×34 finder scope, transport box, English manual. This makes you easy to assemble and starts off instantly that takes you miles in altitude.
Astro-Professional 76×700 Pollux Telescope – Technical Specification Table
| Manufacturer | Astro-Professional |
| Model Name | 76×700 Pollux Telescope |
| Telescope Type | Reflector |
| Colour | White |
| Focal length | 700 mm |
| Accessory tray | Yes |
| Eye piece | 8mm, 20mm |
| Tripod | Yes |
| Finder scope | 5×24 |
| User level | Intermediate |
| Application | Deep sky, planets and the Moon |
| Aperture | 76mm |
| Mount | Azimuthal |
| Optical | Fully multi coated |
| Remote control | No |
| Built-in database | No |
| Box contents | Telescope, tripod, eyepieces, accessory tray, azimuthal mount, 5×34 finder scope, transport box, English manual |