Celestron CGX-L Computerized Mount without Tripod
Celestron CGX-L Computerized Mount without Tripod
Celestron CGX-L Computerized Mount without Tripod
Celestron's Celestron CGX-L Computerized German Equatorial Telescope Mount is the latest addition to their EQl mounts. Designed for both observatories and travel systems, this mount is capable of carrying some of the largest telescopes with ease. The Mount Head only weighs 45lb yet it has 75lb payload capacity.
Key Features
Heavy Duty Belt Transfer & Larger Worm Wheels
A lot of mounts today use spur gears to transfer rotational motion from the motors to the worm wheels. The problem with spur gears is that there is an interment amount play between the teeth of the gears. This play introduces mechanical backlash and thus hinders tracking performance, especially when autoguiding. By using a belt transfer the backlash mentioned above virtually disappears and tracking accuracy is greatly improved.
The CGX-L has larger, 144 mm diameter worm wheels to handle heavier loads and track more accurately. The worm wheel is made of brass and is spring-loaded, and together with the stainless steel worm gear to provide excellent gear mesh and reduce friction.
Longer Dual Saddle Dovetail
Swapping telescopes is now a breeze. Smaller telescopes often use the lighter less expensive Vixen style dovetail bar and Larger telescope often are equiped this the wider Losmandy style dovetail bar for it's sturdyness. The new Saddle on this mount clamps down on both types of dovetails.
The saddle on this mount has been enlongated to 270mm (approximately 11 inches) to better support larger optical tubes. This larger clamping surface area will reduce flexure and better stabalize a telescope.
Built in just below the dovetail saddle is two auxilliary port and an autoguider port. This makes it easy to plug in extra accessories like the StarSense, WiFi module or ST-4 compatible autoguider. Since the cables for the port are run though the mount, you will no longer have worry about cable snag.
Ergonomic Carry Handles
Just look at that picture! Why can't every mount be that easy to carry? These handles really speed up the setup and breakdown times for an astronomer who is on the go. No longer will you have to awkwardly lug around the mount head or have trouble centering it over the top a tripod or pier.
New Altitude Adjuster
Other EQ mounts are difficult and uncomfortable to polar align when a mounted telescope is mounted to it. Taking the telescope off the mount would be easier, but would give you a very inaccurate polar alignment once you put on an OTA. Celestron addressed this by using an armature that rides on ACME threaded rod. This allows you to easily adjust the mount with one hand under load!
Homing Sensors
Homing sensors in a mount is an awesome feature to have in an observatory setting. If power is lost thought out the night you can "home" the mount and resync on that position rather than creating an entirely new pointing model.
It also makes a great position to park the telescope after a night of imaging. The next night you want to observe, just turn the mount on and sync.
Internal Cabling
Cable management can get messy. Where some telescope mounts can get caught on their own cables and ruin a night of observing, the CGX-L avoids this entirely. The cables that connect the RA and Declination motor to the motor control are all wired inside of the mount.
In fact, if you wish to directly connect to the mount to a computer you no longer have to go through the hand controller. This mount has a USB 2.0 B type connector in the rear.
Celestron PWI Telescope Control Software
Celestron and Planewave Instruments have teamed up to develop a complete planetarium/mount control software. This program unleashes the full pointing accuracy potential of the CGX-L.
PWI employs PointXP mount modeling, which accepts numerous star alignment points for the best possible accuracy. PointXP (also used in StarSense AutoAlign accessory) goes beyond the pointing capability of a traditional hand control. By adding multiple star alignment points, PWI accounts for various types of alignment errors, including instrument flexure.
With a direct USB connection from your PC to the USB port on the mount, PWI’s Sky Viewer display makes for easy target selection or find your favorite deep sky object in PWI’s extensive object database.
Included Celestron Technology
All-Star Polar Alignment
Get ready for a night of astroimaging with your mount faster than previously thought possible with All-Star Polar Alignment. This innovative software solves the time-consuming problem of trying to pinpoint the North Celestial Pole.
Additional Information
- CGX-L Equatorial Head
- 1 x 22 lbs Counterweight
- NexStar+ Hand Control
- DC Power Cable (plugs into cigarette lighter socket)
- 8mm Allen Wrench (contained in rear carry handle)
Questions & Answers
Ask a Question-
Is the drive fully compatible with all relevant ASCOM commands?
Yes, this mount shares the same ASCOM driver and uses the same commands as the CGX and older CGEM/CGE Pro mounts.
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What's the diameter of counterweight shaft? Is the tracking rate better than CGE PRO or the same.
The counterweight shaft on the CGX-L is 1.25". It takes the same counterweights as the CGE PRO. It will track more accurate then the CGE PRO.
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When the CGX-L will be released for sale?
According to Celestron, they should be released at the end of February, beginning of March. Thank you, Sean
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is this mount capable of being auto guided? does it have an auto guiding port?
The CGX-L has two auto guider ports, one on the DEC and one on the mount body. While you can only use one port at a time, the redundant port is intended to provide you with the best option that suits your particular cable configuration.