Celestron CPC 800 GPS (XLT) Computerized Telescope
- An 8-inch Computerized Schmidt-Cassegrain with GPS!
- StarBright XLT Optical Coatings.
- Dual Fork Arm Alt-Azimuth Mount.
- Easy Set-Up - Even in the Dark.
- Ergonomic and Portable.
- NexStar+ Hand Control with NexRemote Software.
Celestron CPC 800 GPS (XLT) Computerized Telescope
The CPC 800 GPS XLT is a portable telescope that includes Celestron's premium StarBright XLT coatings. This telescope is at home as a powerful visual instrument or as a serious astrophotographer's tool. Turn the Celestron CPC 800 telescope towards planets and see amazing detail on the surface of Jupiter; Cassini's Division in the rings of Saturn, and resolve details on the surface of Mars. Even the distant Uranus, Neptune and, Pluto are within your reach!
The Celestron CPC telescopes use an internal GPS receiver that automatically downloads the date and time from orbiting satellites and pinpoints its exact location on Earth. This eliminates the need for you to manually enter the date, time, longitude, and latitude. Once the internal GPS has established the Celestron CPC's position, aligning the telescope is as easy as 1-2-3! Simply use the NexStar+ hand control to manually point (slew) the telescope to three bright celestial objects. You do not need to know the names of the stars, you may even pick the moon or bright planets! Celestron's NexStar(R) software technology will model the night sky to determine the position of every star, planet and celestial object above the horizon. Once your telescope is aligned, the remote hand control allows direct access to each of the celestial catalogs in its user-friendly database.
Special Features of the Celestron CPC 800 GPS XLT
- The Celestron CPC 800 telescope is an 8-inch diffraction-limited Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with Celestron's premium StarBright XLT optical coatings on a fully computerized dual fork arm alt-azimuth mount.
- Proven NexStar+ computer control technology includes a 40,000 object database, 400 user-definable objects, and expanded information on over 200 objects.
- This custom database lists of all the most famous deep-sky objects by name and catalog number; the most beautiful double, triple and quadruple stars; variable star; solar systems; objects and asterisms.
- Re-designed drive base and drive mechanics - Quiet operation; large drive gears, quick release clutch.
- Newly designed heavy-duty tripod makes attaching the telescope so easy you can do it in the dark; also features sturdy 2-inch steel legs and accessory tray
- SkyAlign allows you to align on any three bright celestial objects, making for a fast and easy alignment process and 9x50 optical finderscope is also included.
- Flash upgradeable software for the hand control and motor control units lets you download product updates over the Internet which include the latest firmware for All-Star polar alignment.
- Ergonomic design - Comfortably lift and move the telescope from location to location with the sturdy handles. Easily use the large levers and knobs. And the star diagonal provides a more comfortable viewing position when observing objects that are high in the sky.
- The Permanent PEC software feature and a convenient remote hand control holder allow you to view information hands-free while using the scope.
- Auxiliary port for additional accessories such as Autoguider and NexRemote telescope control software with the RS-232 cable included for advanced control of your telescope via computer.
Technical Specifications:
- 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain Design.
- Focal Length - 2032 mm.
- 50 mm Finderscope w/quick release bracket.
- Dual Fork Arm Mount.
- Aluminum Optical Tube.
- 40 mm Plossl (51x) Eyepiece.
- 1.25-inch Star Diagonal.
- Accessory tray Leg Brace/ Eyepiece holder.
- Heavy Duty Steel Adjustable Tripod.
- Car battery power adapter.
- NexStar Computer Control System.
- RS-232 communication port on hand control.
- Aux Port, Autoguide Ports.
Optical Specifications:
- Highest Useful Magnification - 480x.
- Lowest Useful Magnification - 29x.
- Limiting Stellar Magnitude - 14.
- Resolution - Rayleigh 0.68 arcsec.
- Dawes Limit - 0.57 arcsec.
- Photographic Resolution - 200 line/mm.
- Light Gathering Power - 843x unaided eye.
- Field of View - standard eyepiece 0.8 degrees.
- Linear FOV (@1000 yards) - 42 feet.
- Starbright XLT Coatings.
- Secondary Mirror Obstruction - 2.7 inches.
- by Area - 11%.
- by Diameter - 34%.
- Optical tube length - 17 inches.
Software Specifications:
- DC Servo motors with encoders, both axes.
- Resolution 0.1406 arcsec.
- Nine slew speeds - 3 degrees, 2 degrees and 0.5 degrees per second, 64x, 16x, 8x, 4x, 1x, 0.5x.
- Software precision 24-bit, 0.08 arcsec calculations.
- Sidereal, solar, and lunar tracking rates.
- 40,000 object database.
- Altazimuth, Equatorial North and South tracking modes.
- SkyAlign, Auto two-star align, one-star align, EQ align, solar system align.
- Periodic Error Correction Permanently Programmable.
Mechanical Specifications:
- Dual fork arm, cast aluminum w/ detachable HC cradle.
- 5.625-inch hard anodized gear in both axes, 180 tooth, brass worm.
- 9.8-inch azimuth bearing.
- Telescope Weight - 42 lb.
- Tripod/Mount Weight - 19 lb.
Electronic Specifications:
- Power Requirements - 12VDC at 1.5A.
- Cord Management - Software Managed.
Included 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.
SkyAlign
SkyAlign alignment technology makes setting up a computerized telescope simple, fast, and accurate. Just point the telescope at any three bright objects — stars, bright planets, or even the Moon — and your telescope can orient itself with the night sky.
Compatible Technology
LiFePO4
The new Lithium Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery chemistry has significant advantages over other battery chemistries, great for those Astronomers on the go.
Starsense Technology
Celestron’s patented StarSense Technology makes it easier than ever to locate objects in the night sky, even if you’ve never used a telescope before. Turn it on and push ‘Align.’ In about three minutes, you’re ready to observe!
WiFi
WiFi technology encircles the globe in a web of connectivity, knowledge, and information. Now, Celestron is using that same technology to allow stargazers to connect to the night sky and enhance their experience of the cosmos in fun and unique ways.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Aperture | 203 mm (8") |
|---|---|
| Case Included | No |
| Computerized | Computerized |
| Focal Ratio | f/10 |
| Free Shipping | Yes |
| GPS included | Yes |
| Manufacturer | Celestron |
| Mount Type | Alt Azimuth/ GoTo |
| Optical Coatings | Celestron XLT |
| Optical Design | SCT |
| OTA Mount Type | Dual Fork Arms |
| Telescope Series | Celestron CPC |
| Tracking Modes | Alt Azimuth & EQ North & EQ South |
| Warranty | 2 Year Warranty |
INCLUDED ITEMS
- Celestron's CPC 800 GPS XLT - 203 mm (8-inch) aperture OTA.
- CPC Dual-Fork-Arm Alt-Azimuth Mount with GoTo.
- XLT Heavy-Duty Tripod with 2-inch Adjustable Steel Legs.
- Accessory Tray/ Stabilizer.
- NexStar+ Hand Control.
- 8x50 Optical Finderscope.
- 1.25-inch Star Diagonal.
- 1.25-inch Eyepiece/ 40 mm, 51x mag.
- DC Power Cord/ Cigarette Lighter Adapter.
- NexRemote Software on CD ROM - Only For Windows(PC).
- 2 Year Warranty.
Customer Reviews
- Reviews
- Questions
CPC 800 - a good scope with some problems
I bought this scope at the end of June 2013. During a trial set up, I noticed that the clamps that attach the spreader to the tripod legs were plastic and two of them were cracked. This scope is a pretty expensive piece of equipment with a heavy duty tripod. Why Celestron decided to compromise it by using plastic clamps is beyond me. I would think aluminum would be a much better choice. With the help of OPT, I was able to obtain two new clamps. It did take two and a half months to get them however. I will be replacing these and the spreader with an aftermarket set soon, if possible. Between that little issue, bad weather, and scheduling issues, I have only been able to use the scope one time. Everything went fairly smoothly. The GPS linked right up. Two star manual alignments resulted in accurate GO TO. SkyAlign alignments did not, however. I'll need to experiment some more with that one. The optics seemed to be pretty darned good considering the seeing wasn't good enough for serious testing. I did several alignments just for training. After one, I was able to find Uranus. I was impressed with that. The tripod is nice and steady and I had no problem with vibration. Tracking was nice and smooth. The finder scope, in my opinion, is fairly worthless. If you remove it from it's mount and reinstall it, it doesn't hold alignment. I installed my Telrad, which holds alignment very well. It takes some technical savvy to operate this thing. The manual is okay, but is out of date in some areas, not detailed enough in others, and it totally omits other things. During intiial tests, I got the controller stuck in Spanish. The manaul didn't address that at all. Fortunately, I was able to find someone on line that figured out how to back out of it and get back to English. If you buy one of these scopes, be prepared to shell out some extra funds on accessories. You'll need power cord extensions and adaptors to run power from your house, a separate battery, or your vehicle. You'll need a converter to connect from RS232 to USB unless you happen to have a computer laying around with a serial port. Celestron hasn't made the leap to USB yet. A Telrad or similar pointer probably isn't completely necessary, but is real handy to have given the marginal finder scope. A soft or hard case to put the OTA/fork assembly in is something I consider to be a necessity, but they aren't cheap. Dew fighting equipment will be necessary for some. Luckily, I live in New Mexico. It's pretty dry here. Last but not least, a selection of decent eyepieces will be a must. It comes with a humdrum 40mm Plossl. I tossed that in a drawer and put together a good set. I also tossed the Celestron diagonal and replaced it with a dielectric one. Reports in other reviews about weight are right on. Since the tube and the fork are mated, it ends up taking a bit of physical effort to move around. Caution is needed yanking the thing out of the back of a car or out of the trunk. A back injury awaits the careless. I can imagine that the CPC 925 and 1100 are monsters. Overall, in spite of the clamp issue, I'm still pretty happy with this scope. It's a step up from my 6 inch Dob. Now, all I need is a grab-n-go scope for the quick stuff....................... As far as performance goes
outstanding, just what I wanted
I got this telescope after a 45 year absence from astronomy. It is a bit heavy, but that is what I expected. I got the OPT Gold 2" EP kit to go with it - a good choice. The GOTO feature is easy to use, and usually right on. Using the one object solar system option is not very accurate, but the auto 2 star is fine. I am now able to find objects I could not find with my 1960's 8" telescope. Views are sharp, and more limited by my visual acuity than the telescope. I haven't yet been to dark sky sites very often, most of my viewing is in a grey sky suburban site. When I was at a dark sky site the views of fainter objects were good, like M81&82. Just saw Saturn with it for the first time this week, and it was much better than my previous telescope: I was able to see texture in the rings and cloud surface I had never seen before. I'd recommend a Moon filter, UHC filter and O III ilter , if you can afford those extra accessories.
user
This scope is outstanding! I have had mine now for about a year and setup is easy. Viewing is very good and only limited to my eye piece quality. Only down side is it is a little bit noisy after using it. I use it allot! that may be why.