Celestron 14" EdgeHD Optical Tube, CGE/Losmandy Dovetail

The Fastar-compatible EdgeHD high definition flat field optics of this big, big Celestron 14" EdgeHD optical tube give you true astrographic-quality performance in a scope with enough aperture to keep you happily viewing and imaging for the rest of your life.

This Celestron 14" EdgeHD optical tube has:

The Celestron 14" EdgeHD optical tube has new, unique, and very big aperture 14" aperture aplanatic (free from coma and corrected for spherical aberration) EdgeHD high definition/high contrast Schmidt optics. The advanced EdgeHD optical system uses a dedicated dual-element field flattener lens made from premium Schott optical glass in its central baffle tube to reduce off-axis coma and produce aberration-free images across a wide 42mm image circle (as large as the diagonal of a 35mm negative or large format CCD chip and ideal for astrophotography). And those images look superb through the supplied ultra-premium 23mm 2" Celestron Axiom 82° field eyepiece.

In addition to reduced off-axis coma, the EdgeHD optics deliver an astrograph-quality focal plane more than three times flatter than standard Schmidt-Cassegrains and dramatically flatter than competing coma-free designs. Stars are smaller and more concentrated, creating brighter images and allowing you to see down to a fainter magnitude than other equally-sized telescopes. With EdgeHD optics, you see sharp point-like stars to the very edges of some of the largest CCD and DSLR chips available today.

For the ultimate in brightness and contrast, the 14" EdgeHD optical tube has state-of-the-art Starbright XLT multicoatings. Its 14" aperture has a light grasp that's nearly 2600 times that of even the sharpest dark-adapted eye (36% greater than a 12" telescope and almost twice that of a 10" scope). With an effective light-gathering power equal to that many eyes, the EdgeHD optics of this 14" EdgeHD optical tube can reveal to you faint deep space objects in amazing and subtle detail. The Fastar-compatible optical tube even allows imaging down to an incredibly-fast f/2 focal ratio using optional accessories.

This Celestron Optical Tube's Optics . . .

EdgeHD aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain optics: 14" aperture (3910mm focal length f/11). Guaranteed diffraction-limited optical performance, free from coma and corrected for spherical aberrations (aplanatic design). Dual-element field flattener lens built into central baffle tube. The 31" long aluminum optical tube has a large handle on the rear cell and weighs a stout 45 pounds, making the use of a high payload capacity German equatorial mount mandatory. For more details, click on the "EdgeHD optics" link in the support tab above.

Starbright XLT fully multicoated optics: This high transmission/high reflectivity optical coatings package applied to each optical surface gives you visibly higher light transmission for brighter deep space images and shorter exposure times during imaging. It also increases the contrast on subtle lunar, planetary, and nebula details when compared with optics using ordinary coatings or multicoatings. For more details, click on the "Starbright XLT" link in the support tab above.

Fastar compatible: For the ultimate in wide-field catadioptric imaging, the EdgeHD optical tube is Fastar compatible to allow CCD imaging at a blazingly-fast f/2 focal ratio. For f/2 imaging, an optional Fastar lens assembly lens replaces the scope's removable secondary mirror (an exchange that takes only a few minutes). Your CCD camera is attached to the Fastar lens. This puts your camera at the f/2 position in the center of the Schmidt corrector lens at the front of the optical tube, rather than in its normal f/11 position at the Cassegrain focus at the rear. The Fastar option is for imaging only and cannot be used for visual observing.

This Celestron Optical Tube's Mechanics . . .

Focusing: Focusing is accomplished by turning a knob on the rear cell that moves the primary mirror fore and aft along the central baffle tube to adjust the focus. The Celestron focusing mechanism is supported by two pre-loaded ball bearings, minimizing the "mirror flop" typical of bushing-type focus mechanisms that causes image shift during critical focusing.

Mirror locks: Flexible tension locks hold the mirror in place after correct focus is achieved for imaging and reduce image shift when rotating the tube around a mount (when moving past the zenith during astrophotography, for example). Unlike other designs that have only one locking knob located off to one side of the mirror, the Celestron system uses three locks equally spaced around the mirror to distribute the mirror locking force symmetrically, important with a mirror as large and heavy as this 14".

The focuser itself acts as one of the locks, while two flexible rods spaced 120° away in either direction act as the second and third locks. Controlled by variable tension knobs on the rear cell, these rods act in conjunction with the focuser to hold the mirror in place without putting any asymmetrical force or pressure on the mirror. This keeps the image centered in the eyepiece (or chip) no matter what the orientation of the optical tube.

Tube vents: Two cooling vents on the rear cell allow warm air to be released from behind the primary mirror when the scope is taken out for a night's observing or imaging. This shortens the amount of time needed for the optics to cool down to ambient air temperature for peak performance. Each vent has an integrated 60 micron micro-mesh filter guaranteed to let warm air out without letting dust in.

Dovetail rail: The full length dovetail rail mounted under the optical tube fits Celestron CGX-L mounts, as well as any other high payload capacity German equatorial mount that uses a Losmandy-style "D-plate" dovetail mounting slot.

This Celestron Optical Tube's Supplied Accessories . . .

Finderscope: The supplied 9 x 50mm straight-through achromatic design finderscope has a wide 5.8 degree field of view. It is mounted in a spring-loaded easy-adjust quick release bracket.

Star diagonal: 2" first-surface mirror type, with a 1.25" visual back to use 1.25" accessories.

Eyepiece: The standard equipment eyepiece is a premium 2" 23mm 82° field Luminous (170x). The eyepiece field of view is 0.48° wide, almost as wide as the full Moon, and an exceptionally wide field for the 170x magnification.

Two-year warranty: All Celestron optical tubes have a two-year warranty.