Celestron CPC 800 GPS XLT 203/2032 telescope (Celestron, SKU: 11073) is an 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope equipped with a dual-arm GoTo fork mount and a built-in GPS receiver. It is designed for observing the Moon, planets, star clusters and other deep-sky objects. The SkyAlign system simplifies mount setup, while a database of more than 40,000 objects allows observing targets to be selected using the hand controller.
The optical system has a focal length of 2032 mm and a focal ratio of f/10. StarBright XLT coatings increase the amount of light reaching the focal plane; according to Celestron, average system transmission is approximately 16% higher than with the previous StarBright coatings. The built-in GPS supplies location, date and time data, and, once aligned, the mount automatically locates and tracks objects.
The telescope can also be used for lunar and planetary imaging. Longer-exposure photography requires a suitable set of accessories; an optional equatorial wedge allows the mount to operate in equatorial mode after polar alignment. Field rotation must be taken into account in the standard altazimuth mode. The included 40 mm eyepiece provides approximately 51× magnification, and the star diagonal makes it easier to observe objects high above the horizon. The set requires an external 12 V DC power source; a battery and an AC power adapter are optional accessories.
• optical system: Schmidt-Cassegrain, with an 8" aperture and a focal length of 2032 mm
• optical coatings: StarBright XLT
• dual-arm fork mount with automatic GoTo object location and tracking
• alignment with the SkyAlign system using three bright celestial objects
• built-in GPS receiver simplifying entry of observing location and time data
• database of more than 40,000 objects and the ability to store user-defined targets
• programmable periodic error correction (PEC) and an autoguider port
• equatorial operation with an optional equatorial wedge
• steel tripod with adjustable height and an accessory tray
• optical tube: CPC 800 GPS XLT 8" with a dual-arm GoTo fork mount and built-in GPS
• field tripod with adjustable height
• hand controller with a backlit display and holder
• finderscope: 9×50 with a quick-release bracket
• eyepiece: 40 mm Plössl with a 1.25" barrel, providing approximately 51× magnification
• star diagonal: 90°, in the 1.25" format
• visual back eyepiece adapter: 1.25"
• accessory tray serving as a tripod spreader
• power cable for a 12 V car cigarette lighter socket
• telescope control software on CD and an RS-232 cable
Optics and construction
• optical design: Schmidt-Cassegrain
• aperture: 8" (203.2 mm; nominally 203 mm)
• focal length: 2032 mm
• focal ratio: f/10
• optical coatings: StarBright XLT
• magnification range stated by the manufacturer: 29–480×; use of the highest magnifications depends on observing conditions
• magnification with the included 40 mm eyepiece: approximately 51×
• theoretical resolution: 0.69 arcseconds according to the Rayleigh criterion; 0.57 arcseconds according to the Dawes criterion
• theoretical limiting stellar magnitude: 14 mag
• central obstruction diameter: 64 mm
• central obstruction as a proportion of aperture diameter: 31%
• central obstruction as a proportion of aperture area: 9.77%
• optical tube material: aluminum
• optical tube length: approximately 432 mm
• mount: dual-arm altazimuth fork; equatorial mode with an optional equatorial wedge
• tripod: steel legs with a diameter of 2" (50.8 mm), adjustable height
• optical tube and fork mount weight: approximately 19 kg
• tripod weight: approximately 8.6 kg
• total set weight: approximately 27.6 kg
Control and tracking
• drive: DC servo motors with encoders on both axes
• receiver: built-in, 16-channel GPS
• object database: more than 40,000 entries
• hand controller: backlit LCD with 2 lines of 16 characters and 19 illuminated buttons
• slew speeds: 3°/s, 2°/s, 0.5°/s and 64×, 16×, 8×, 4×, 1× and 0.5× sidereal rate
• tracking modes: Alt-Az, EQ North and EQ South; equatorial modes require an equatorial wedge
• tracking rates: sidereal, solar and lunar
• alignment procedures: SkyAlign, Auto Two-Star Align, Two-Star Align, One-Star Align, Solar System Align and EQ North / EQ South Align
• periodic error correction: programmable PEC
• software calculation resolution: 24-bit, 0.08 arcseconds
• computer control interface: RS-232 on the hand controller
• additional ports: 2 × AUX and an autoguider port
• computer control protocol: NexStar Computer Control System
• required power supply: 12 V DC, 1.5 A, center-positive connector
Moon
planets
star clusters
nebulae
computer control
• mechanical components: 3 years
• electronic components: 2 years
Never look at the Sun through the telescope or finderscope without proper optical protection. Observations require a solar filter intended for visual use, correctly and securely mounted in front of the telescope's aperture, as well as appropriate protection for the finderscope. Do not use eyepiece projection, eyepiece-mounted solar filters or a Herschel wedge. Concentrated sunlight can cause permanent eye damage and damage to the telescope and accessories.
The CPC 800 GPS XLT combines a large aperture with automatic object location and tracking, making individual observing sessions and astronomy demonstrations in schools and observatories easier to conduct.
The images below show the CPC 925 version with a 9.25" aperture and are for illustration purposes.
