Celestron HD Pro Heavy Duty Wedge
Alignment for Stunning Astrophotography!
Alt/Az fork mounts are popular for their simplicity and portability, making them a preferred choice over equatorial mounts for many visual astronomers. The caveat to the standout features of an Alt/Az mount is its tracking limitations. If you own an Alt/Az fork mount but want to start tracking targets for a longer duration of time, the Celestron HD Pro Heavy Duty Wedge will be your new go-to! The HD Pro Wedge provides a heavy-duty, stable platform perfect for stepping up your astrophotography on Celestron fork-mounted Schmidt Cassegrain Telescopes up to 11".
Equatorial mounts give you superb all-night tracking if properly powered and aligned. This is why they are popular amongst astro imagers, but the large learning curve is something to consider when purchasing a Go-To mount, and why most visual astronomers are privy to a faster setup with Alt/Az mounts. If you found yourself in this predicament and are now looking to upgrade your experience, Celestron has you covered. The Pro HD Wedge allows you to tilt the telescope’s axis of rotation (polar or R.A. axis) so that the telescope can track the stars as they move in an arc around the celestial pole. Featuring a built-in hand control unit holder, 14 mm diameter latitude adjustment screw to add strength and stability, and a tilt plate for easier mounting of the telescope! The HD Wedge also works at a latitude range of 0-90°, making it perfect for use at the equator.
Heavy-Duty Support!
With so many upgrade options available, it can be tough to know what’s right for you. If you're looking to transition from visual astronomy to astrophotography using your Alt/Az fork mount, without investing in a new EQ mount, this upgrade could be the solution you've been searching for. Read more below!
Built to Last!
The Celestron HD Pro Heavy Duty Wedge is primarily constructed from cast
aluminum, which offers the perfect balance of strength, weight reduction,
and outdoor element friendliness! Built-in features like oversized Alt/Az
control knobs for easy polar alignment, and a holder box providing the
option to place the hand control on the wedge. Installing a hand control
holder on the Wedge directly ensures it won't fall out when the fork arm is
angled towards the ground. The included tilt plate recesses to fit the base
of the telescope, then the base of the scope drops into place just by
rotating. Safely mounting a telescope on an EQ Wedge just became a lot
easier! Finally, the large 14 mm diameter latitude adjustment screw to add
strength and stability while supplying less vibration and easier rotation
with a heavy telescope.
Versatility in Compatibility
The Celestron HD Pro Heavy Duty Wedge is designed to work with fork-mounted
Celestron SCTs up to 11". These models would include
Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25",
Celestron CPC 800 SCT,
Celestron CPC Deluxe 1100, and many more comparable fork-arm mounts up to 11”! Installation is straightforward, and the wedge comes pre-assembled out of the box. However, you
will need to attach the latitude adjustment rod and may need to
adjust the side latitude plate depending on your latitude.