The Celestron C6-NGT Computerized Telescope with Celestron’s CG-5 Mount is TOPS IN ITS CLASS!
So you want to be an amateur astronomer. Well there are plenty of telescopes out there, and the burden of choice is, of course, on you. With the bewildering variety available, it makes it tough to make a good decision.
If you ask anybody who knows anything about telescopes, the most important aspect of any telescope is its aperture, the diameter of its main optical component, which can be either a lens or a mirror. A scope’s aperture determines both its light-gathering ability and how sharp the images appear. So, the bigger the aperture the better.
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Cost: [amazon_link id=”B0006ZZD1A” target=”_blank” ]C6-NGT Telescope ($799)[/amazon_link], [amazon_link id=”B0001NMGY4″ target=”_blank” ]Celestron CG-5 mount ($749)[/amazon_link]
Where to buy: [amazon_link id=”B0006ZZD1A” target=”_blank” ]Amazon[/amazon_link]
In the age of advanced technology, the standard these days is the computerized telescope, or GOTOs as they are also known in the industry. Computerized telescopes use the computer to find specific objects that you are looking for. Most likely, it will be connected to a portable device and as soon as the object is found, the telescope will keep the object in focus. The computerized telescope also makes it tons easier for beginners to use the telescope and find objects without having experience with star maps and the like.
The [amazon_link id=”B0006ZZD1A” target=”_blank” ]Celestron C6-NGT[/amazon_link] is one of the best out there when it comes to quality, build, intuitive ease-of-use and software. It’s an excellent telescope for the beginner as well as the expert. It possesses many advanced functions, and the CG-5 computerized mount, on which the C6-NGT sits, is a serious piece of hardware.
Optically, the Celestron C6-NGT Newtonian reflecting telescope uses diffraction-limited parabolic primary mirrors for extremely sharp star images across a wide field of view. The F5 focal ratio is super for wide-field use, and the scope will also handle much higher magnifications for planetary viewing. The optics are manufactured to Celestron’s uncompromising standards.
The telescope is controlled by NexStar, which is Celestron’s computer control technology. It has over 40,000 objects in its database with 400 user-definable objects and expanded info on over 200 objects. We’re talking deep-sky objects by name a catalog number, star and star clusters, solar systems and more.
The[amazon_link id=”B0006ZZD1A” target=”_blank” ] Celestron C6-NGT[/amazon_link] has an RS-232 communication port on the hand control so you can control the telescope from your PC, and the flash upgradable hand controls allow you to update your telescope’s operating software from the web. Also, an autoguider port is also included for astrophotography.
The Celstron advanced [amazon_link id=”B0001NMGY4″ target=”_blank” ]CG-5[/amazon_link] mount is big… more than enough for this compact scope. In fact, it’s heavy-duty enough to fit much larger computerized or traditional scopes. And it will allow for some serious astrophotography. The mount is also engineered for stability, with precision gears on both axes that could withstand an earthquake without budging. The key factor to the mount, however, is that the heavy-duty tripod is large and substantial, providing a real grip to any surface. The CG-5 also has a latitude scale for easier alignment and an optional polar finder scope for the ultimate in precision alignments.
No matter at what level you’re starting at, the Celestron C6-NGT with the[amazon_link id=”B0001NMGY4″ target=”_blank” ] CG-5[/amazon_link] mount offers you a precision instrument that is at the top of its class, and excels big time both visually and photographically.
The[amazon_link id=”B0006ZZD1A” target=”_blank” ] Celestron C6-NGT[/amazon_link] runs around $800 and the [amazon_link id=”B0001NMGY4″ target=”_blank” ]CG-5 mount runs around $749[/amazon_link]. You can buy both through Amazon.
Check out a close up video of the moon using the Celestron NexStar technology…
Check out the specs…
- High quality 6″ reflector
- 6×30 finderscope to help accurately find objects
- Rack and Pinion Focuser – 1-1/4″
- Heavy Duty (CG-5GT) computerized German Equatorial mount
- Ultra sturdy 2″ diameter steel tripod with accessory tray
- Includes CD-ROM “The Sky” Astronomy Software which provides education about the sky and printable sky maps
- Proven NexStar computer control technology
- 40,000 object database with 100 user-definable objects and expanded information on over 200 objects
- Custom database lists of all the most famous deep-sky objects by name and catalog number; the most beautiful double, triple and quadruple stars; variable star; solar systems; objects and asterisms
- DC Servo motors with encoders on both axes
- Flash upgradeable hand control software and motor control units for downloading product updates over the Internet
- Autoguider port for long exposure astrophotography
- Double line, 16-character Liquid Crystal Display Hand Control with backlit LED buttons for easy operation of goto features
- Compatible with optional NexRemote telescope control software, for advanced control of your telescope via computer
- RS-232 communication port on hand control to control the telescope via a personal computer
- GPS-compatible with optional CN16 GPS Accessory (93966)
- OPTICAL DESIGN: Reflector
- APERTURE: 150 mm (5.91 in)
- FOCAL LENGTH: 750 mm (29.53 in)
- FOCAL RATIO: 5
- FINDERSCOPE: 6×30
- MOUNT: CG-5 Equatorial
- EYEPIECE 1: 20 mm (0.79 in)
- MAGNIFICATION 1: 38 x
- ACCESSORY TRAY: Yes
- TRIPOD: 2 inch Stainless Steel
- CD ROM: “The Sky®” Level 1
- POWER SUPPLY: Car Battery Adapter
- HIGHEST USEFUL MAGNIFICATION: 354 x
- LOWEST USEFUL MAGNIFICATION: 21 x
- LIMITING STELLAR MAGNITUDE: 13.4
- RESOLUTION (RAYLEIGH): 0.93 arcsec
- RESOLUTION (DAWES): 0.77 arcsec
- PHOTOGRAPHIC RESOLUTION: 400 line/mm
- LIGHT GATHERING POWER: 459 x
- ANGULAR FIELD OF VIEW: 1.3 °
- LINEAR FIELD OF VIEW (@1000 YDS): 68 ft (20.73 m)
- OPTICAL COATINGS: Aluminum
- SECONDARY MIRROR OBSTRUCTION: 1.75 in (44.45 mm)
- SECONDARY MIRROR OBSTRUCTION BY AREA: 8.8 %
- SECONDARY MIRROR OBSTRUCTION BY DIAMETER: 29.6 %
- OPTICAL TUBE LENGTH: 27 in (685.8 mm)
- TELESCOPE WEIGHT: 54 lb (24.49 kg)
- COUNTERWEIGHTS: 1-7lb, 1-4lb
- MOTOR DRIVE: DC Servo motors with encoders, both axes
- COMPUTER HAND CONTROL: Double line, 16 character Liquid Crystal Display; 19 fiber optic backlit LED buttons
- SLEW SPEEDS: 3°/sec
- TRACKING RATES: Sidereal, Solar and Lunar
- TRACKING MODES: EQ North and EQ South
- ALIGNMENT PROCEDURES: AutoAlign, 2-Star Alignment, Quick Align
- SOFTWARE PRECISION: 24bit, 0.08 arcsec calculation
- COMMUNICATION PORTS: RS-232 communication port on hand control
- MOTOR PORTS: Aux Port, Autoguide Ports
- DATABASE: 40,000+ objects, 100 user defined programmable objects. Enhanced information on over 200 objects
