Ed Collects All the Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrains
Telescope Nirvana? In my happy place with all thecurrent Celestron SCTs
(L to R) C5, C6, C8, C9.25, C11, C14
For a brief period in February 2015, Icollected and owned all the Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrains. I say'brief' because as soon as word got out, I started getting phonecalls. 'Ed, you don't need all those - will you sell me your Cxxx?' With people gnawing at my collection, it's been hard to keep the group together,although at this writing, the collection has managed to stay together. Also, for you eagle-eyed observers out there, I am aware that these aren't allthe SCTs that Celestron ever produced - there were early, blue-and-whiteSchmidt-Cassegrains that are very rare and collectible today. I don'tcount those. You have to draw the line somewhere, and I draw at around1972, with the introduction of the C8, which started the current series. Ialso don't count the various smaller Maksutovs like the C90.
Celestron C5
Celestron introduced the C5 as a smaller,lighter alternative to the C8, and it's been in the lineup ever since. It's gone through several incarnations, from orange tube, to white tube, toblack tube, and (as of this writing) back to orange tube. Most of thesehave good optics and are acceptable for general viewing where portability is aconcern. Celestron's problem in the 1970s and 1980s was that it didn'tcost much (if any) less to make a C5 than a C8, but for marketing reasons, theyhad to keep the price lower than a C8. By the early 1980s, it was possibleto trick out a C5 that cost more than a C8. Offshore manufacturinghas changed this, of course, and the new C5s can be had at attractiveprices. If you're looking for one, take your pick, as all iterations havetheir fans. Some, for example, are staunch fans of the white C5s. Me? Much as I like the California-built scopes, I have to admit thenew inexpensive Chinese orange-tubed models have been really good lately.
The scope is small enough to fit on a CG-4class mount with no problems. Even a cheap alt-az mount like a Vixen Portawill work, and I've used mine in that configuration at star parties. TheC5 is also a good travel/eclipse scope, and a good alternative to a Questar, forthose who don't have or can't afford those jewel-like creations from New Hope.
Celestron C6
Celestron C8 Starbright XLT Telescope OTA
Celestron C8 NexStar OTA. Illustration courtesy of Stellarvue.
- Item: CE8SEOTA
- Optical coatings: Starbright XLT
- Clear aperture: 203.2mm (8')
- Focal length: 2032mm
- Focal ratio: f/10
- Finderscope: Star Pointer (red dot type)
- Mounting rail: Full length Vixen dovetail
- Optical tube: Aluminum
- Optical back: 1.25' (2' optical back/star diagonal available)
- Supplied eyepiece: 1.25' Celestron 25mm Plossl
- Supplied star diagonal: 1.25' prism type
- Highest useful magnification: 480x (at 60 ppi)
- Lowest useful magnification: 29x
- Limiting stellar magnitude: 14
- Resolution (Rayleigh): 0.69 arcsec
- Resolution (Dawes): 0.57 arcsec
- Light gathering: 843x
- Angular field of view: 0.63-degree
- Secondary mirror: Fastar compatible (removable)
- Secondary mirror obstruction: 2.7' (63.5mm)
- Secondary mirror obstruction by area: 11.4%
- Secondary mirror obstruction by diameter: 33.8%
- Optical tube length: 17'
- Optical tube weight: 12.5 pounds
- 2010 MSRP: $1049 (C8-A-XLT)
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