Celestron CPC 925 GPS XLT 235/2350 telescope (Celestron, SKU: 11074) is a 9.25" 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 2350 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 59× 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 a 9.25" aperture and a focal length of 2350 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 925 GPS XLT 9.25" 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 59× 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
• operating manual in Polish
Optics and construction
• optical design: Schmidt-Cassegrain
• aperture: 9.25" (235 mm)
• focal length: 2350 mm
• focal ratio: f/10
• optical coatings: StarBright XLT
• magnification range stated by the manufacturer: 34–555×; use of the highest magnifications depends on observing conditions
• magnification with the included 40 mm eyepiece: approximately 59×
• theoretical resolution: 0.59 arcseconds according to the Rayleigh criterion; 0.49 arcseconds according to the Dawes criterion
• theoretical limiting stellar magnitude: 14.4 mag
• central obstruction diameter: 85 mm
• central obstruction as a proportion of aperture diameter: 36%
• central obstruction as a proportion of aperture area: 13%
• optical tube material: aluminum
• optical tube length: approximately 559 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 26.3 kg
• tripod weight: approximately 8.6 kg
• total set weight: approximately 34.9 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.
Can a beginner assemble and operate the telescope?
Yes, after reading the included manual in Polish. Before the first observing session, it is worth practising equipment setup and the SkyAlign alignment procedure. When moving the telescope, the weight of the optical tube attached to the fork mount must be taken into account. The free Stellarium desktop planetarium can be used to learn the sky and plan observations.
Stellarium — free desktop planetarium, website in Polish
Can a DSLR camera be attached? Which accessories are required?
Yes. Prime-focus photography requires a photographic adapter for SCT telescopes and a T-ring matched to the camera's lens mount. In this configuration, the camera body is attached without a camera lens, eyepiece or star diagonal. The photographic adapter and T-ring are optional accessories sold separately.
Can a compact camera be attached?
Yes, for photography through the eyepiece, known as the afocal method. A stable support matched to the camera and eyepiece is required, allowing the camera lens to be positioned on the optical axis. Before purchasing an adapter, check its adjustment range, attachment method and load capacity.
Can a large bridge camera, sometimes called a hybrid camera, be used?
Whether this connection is possible depends on the specific camera and support. A large lens, the camera's weight and the adapter's limited adjustment range can make positioning the camera at the eyepiece difficult and cause vignetting. Mechanical compatibility and the ability to obtain a satisfactory image need to be checked for the selected combination.
Which additional accessories are worth considering?
First, a compatible 12 V DC power source must be provided: a cable for a car power socket is included, while a battery and an AC power adapter are sold separately. The set can be supplemented with additional 1.25" eyepieces of different focal lengths, sky maps and observing guides. Planetary filters can be selected for specific observing targets. Solar observing requires a separate filter intended for visual use, mounted in front of the aperture, and protection for the finderscope in accordance with the safety rules above.
Can the telescope be used for landscape and nature observations?
Yes, it can be used to observe distant terrestrial objects. With the included 90° star diagonal, the image is upright but reversed from left to right, as in a mirror. An appropriate additional erecting prism is required to obtain an image with the correct orientation on both axes. For use in the field, the size and weight of the complete set must be taken into account.
Is the CPC 925 suitable for observing planets and deep-sky objects, both in cities and outside them?
Yes. The telescope allows observation of the Moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. Example targets include the galaxy M31, the Orion Nebula M42 and the globular cluster M13. The visibility of detail depends on sky brightness, atmospheric transparency and stability, and the object's altitude above the horizon. Dark skies are especially helpful for observing faint deep-sky objects; the Moon and bright planets can also be observed from a city.
Are a mount and tripod included?
Yes. The CPC 925 GPS XLT is supplied with a dual-arm GoTo fork mount and a steel tripod with adjustable height. An equatorial wedge, which enables equatorial operation, is an optional accessory.
General guides in Polish. Telescope maintenance methods and accessory selection should follow the CPC 925 manual and suit the specific equipment combination.
A short guide to cleaning optics
[PDF]
How to connect a compact camera to a telescope
[PDF]
How to connect a DSLR camera to a telescope
[PDF]
The CPC 925 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.
