Celestron Advanced VX 6" f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope

Description

The Advanced VX 6" f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope from Celestron is a complete astroimaging platform including a 6" Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT) optical tube, 20mm eyepiece, Advanced VX computerized German Equatorial mount, adjustable stainless steel tripod, and NexStar hand controller. By pairing the C6-A-XLT SCT tube with their redesigned Advanced VX mount, Celestron has created an optical instrument ready for deep sky observation and image capture. The fusion of lightweight materials, compact design, and astroimaging technology equip this telescope with the portability and functionality to satisfy backyard stargazers and burgeoning astrophotographers.

The SCT optical design, like other catadioptrics, utilizes a system of lenses and mirrors to produce long focal lengths with a relatively compact tube length. This configuration of the XLT SCT optical tube boasts a 1500mm focal length using a tube less than 2 ft long. In addition to the compact design, XLT SCT optical tubes are also lightweight for their size. Housing the optical system inside an aluminum tube not only minimizes flexure and helps equalize the temperature inside the tube, it also reduces excess weight, making the C-6-A-XLT a manageable 10 lbs.

The core technology driving the Advanced VX mount is Celestron's All-Star Polar Alignment. This alignment system features a 2-Star alignment mode that uses multiple guide stars to assist tracking across the night sky while keeping the optical tube parallel to the Earth's axis of rotation. Maintaining alignment with either celestial pole while following the path of guide stars provides a high degree of pointing and tracking accuracy. Digitally-encoded low-cog DC servo motors drive telescope movements on both axes in fine increments that keep the observed (or photographed) object centered in the field of view. This level of precision reduces optical aberrations and minimizes star trails, which translates into improved image quality and sharper photographs.

Complementing the Advanced VX's alignment and tracking capability is the mount's permanently programmable periodic error correction that eliminates recurring track errors inherent to all worm drives. Additionally, a 7-77° latitude range enables extended observations and photo exposures by allowing the telescope to track passed the meridian without the meridian flip common with German Equatorial mounts.

Included with the Advanced VX mount is the NexStar hand controller that will slew the telescope to any planetary, stellar, or nebulous object in its pre-loaded database at the touch of a button. The NexStar controller software is flash upgradeable, which allows operating system updates and even refinements to telescope-specific functions. This computerized mount is also compatible with Celestron's proprietary NexRemote telescope control software, which enables the observer to control telescope using their personal computer.

This fully-integrated telescope mounting system also includes an adjustable stainless steel tripod that has two-inch diameter legs, locking spreader, and caddy for the NexStar hand controller. The combination of digitally encoded servo motors, broad tracking latitude, and an array of sophisticated alignment and tracking technology equip the Advanced VX with the mechanical precision needed to observe and photograph any nearby or deep sky object.

In addition to the XLT SCT optical tube, NexStar hand controller, Advanced VX German-Equatorial mount and tripod, this telescope includes a DSLR-ready visual back compatible with 1.25" accessories, a 6x30 finderscope for easy object identification, a 20mm eyepiece equaling 75x magnification when mounted, and a 1.25" star diagonal for more comfortable viewing when observing objects high above the horizon. This collection of components makes the Advanced VX 6" Schmidt-Cassegrain a full-featured telescope for a wide range of stargazing and astroimaging applications.

Key Features

Optical Tube Assembly

• aAluminum construction
• StarBright XLT multicoated lenses and mirrors
• 6" (150mm) aperture, f/10 light gathering
• Visual back for 1.25" accessories or DSLR
• FASTAR compatible for f/2 CCD imaging and wider FOV

Advanced VX German Equatorial Mount

• Computerized go-to capability
• 7-77° latitude range for tracking passed meridian
• Permanently programmable periodic error correction
• Dedicated Autoguider communication port

NexStar+ Hand Controller

• Flash upgradeable operating system
• LED-backlit interface buttons
• RS-232 serial communication port
• Selectable language programming (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish)

Tripod

• Stainless steel construction
• 2" diameter upper leg
• 44-64" (112.8-162.6 cm) height adjustment

Specifications