Celestron CGEM II 700 Mak - 7" Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope on CGEM II Computerized Equatorial Mount

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The Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical Design
The Maksutov-Cassegrain, often referred to as a “Mak”, is a type of catadioptric telescope, meaning it’s furnished with both a lens and mirror. As opposed to a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, a Mak utilizes a “secondary spot” in lieu of a secondary mirror. This secondary spot is a highly reflective coating applied within the corrector lens, and is much smaller than the secondary mirrors found within SCTs. This means more light is able to reach the primary mirror for brighter, higher contrast views! Another bonus, collimation is not required as frequently as seen with SCTs. Something to note, the thicker corrector lens found within Maks have a slower time adjusting to the ambient air temperature than SCTs of the same size aperture. With this in mind, taking the time to fully acclimate your telescope to the surrounding temperature results in the best possible user experience. With its focal length of 2700mm and f/15 focal ratio, this telescope design was specialized for capturing small celestial objects, such as the planets, the craters on our Moon, and deep sky objects like planetary nebulae and globular clusters. Also, this Mak is equipped with the Celestron StarBright XLT coatings to maximize light transmission to the eyepiece or camera for sights with unrivaled clarity!

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A Steadfast, High Payload Telescope Mount
The high payload capacity and robust internal mechanics make the CGEM II an ideal choice to haul this 7” Maksutov-Cassegrain. This Celestron equatorial mount can be loaded with up to 40lbs of equipment, and effortlessly carries this 19lb telescope thanks to its high torque motors. These low cog DC Servo motors feature built-in optical encoders and provide smooth and quiet tracking across the night sky. Ergonomics such as longer clutch levers make loosening and tightening the axes much easier, and internal cabling in both RA and DEC helps reduce dreaded cable snags. This CGEM II also allows you to track past the meridian, letting you capitalize on the most ideal portion of the night sky. The strong, sturdy tripod features 2" stainless steel legs for maximum stability, and comes equipped with a spreader bar that doubles an accessory tray. Also, two AUX ports and an autoguider port make it easy to add extra devices to your setup! Coming standard with powerful software from Celestron, fully ASCOM compliant, and equipped with the NexStar+ hand controller, find the method of operation that's right for you!

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Ideal for Visual Astronomy and Astrophotography
With this CGEM II 700 Maksutov-Cassegrain, there is no need to choose between visual astronomy or astrophotography, as this computerized telescope is optimal for both! Coming standard with a 28mm eyepiece, enjoy incredible detail along the Moon’s Terminator Line, Saturn’s rings, the cloud bands on Jupiter, and plenty more. Celestron has also included a 2” star diagonal for more comfortable viewing, and a 8x50 finderscope helps you align your targets within the eyepiece. To engage in a night of astrophotography, attaching your camera is quick and easy, and the high precision tracking of the CGEM II holds your equipment steady for beautiful, sharp images!

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Included NexStar+ Hand Controller
Celestron has fitted this CGEM II 700 Mak Computerized Telescope with their powerful NexStar+ hand controller. This device has been programmed with over 40,000 objects within its database, and allows the addition of 100 user-defined objects as well! Not sure what you want to observe? This hand controller is equipped with a Sky Tour feature that shows you the most popular objects for the time and location you are observing. The red backlit Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen is clear and easy to read, and nineteen large backlit buttons make navigating through the controls effortless. In addition, this hand controller has a mini-USB port for connection to a PC for computer control.Please note: Celestron does not include a USB cable with their hand controller. We recommend the Apertura USB 2.0 Cable for Celestron NexStar+ Hand Controllers.

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Optimized for Backyard Observing
Wanting to turn your backyard into your own personal observatory? Easily do so with this CGEM II 700 Maksutov-Cassegrain! With the mount head weight of 40lbs, tripod weight of 20lbs, 17lb and 11lb counterweights, and 19lb OTA, this heavy duty system excels as a stationary setup. The wide range of software compatibility means you can even remotely operate your backyard rig from your living room, and internal cabling helps keep your mind at ease from possible cable snags. Enjoy bright views and images through the 7” Mak, and the tracking reliability of the CGEM II delivers sharp stars night after night.

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Elevate Your Experience with a Host of Accessories!
On the body of this CGEM II, you’ll find two AUX ports. While one of these AUX ports is meant for connection with the hand controller, the additional AUX port allows attachment of user supplied accessories! Make aligning with the night sky much easier through the Celestron StarSense AutoAlign, or even add Wi-Fi capabilities with the SkyPortal WiFi Module. To get you started with astrophotography, the Celestron Universal T-Adapter 1.25” allows easy installation of your camera. Connect the StarSense Autoguider to this CGEM II for improved tracking and even sharper astroimages! With this multitude of accessories and upgrades, outgrowing your Celestron CGEM II 700 Mak computerized telescope is a thing of the past.