Description
The Advanced VX 6″ f/8 Refractor Telescope from Celestron is a complete astroimaging platform including a 6″ refractor optical tube, 20mm eyepiece, Advanced VX computerized German Equatorial mount, adjustable stainless steel tripod, and NexStar hand controller. By pairing the refractor tube with their redesigned Advanced VX mount, Celestron has created an optical instrument built to satisfy stargazers and astrophotographers.
Celestron’s 6″ refractor boasts a flatter field of view and brighter deep sky objects than comparably-sized catadioptrics. Unlike Schmidt-Cassegrain and Newtonian optical designs, refractors have an all-glass optical path without a secondary mirror obstructing incoming light. When it comes to lunar, planetary, and wide field imaging, refracting optics transmit faint detail like no other. This configuration of the Advanced VX telescope has a 2″ focus tube that enables use of both 2″ and 1.25″ accessories.
To accommodate the added weight common with refractor optical tubes, the Advanced VX mount includes two eleven-pound counterweights to center the OTA and mount over the tripod. Maintaining the OTA’s center of gravity over the tripod prevents excessive strain on the servo motors and helps deliver smooth and precise telescope tracking. The 6″ refractor’s 1200mm focal length combined with a counterbalanced OTA-mount system translates into crisp long exposure photographs of planetary and deep space objects alike.
Celestron’s Advanced VX German-Equatorial mount is an integrated telescope support, alignment and guiding system optimized for astrophotography. Celestron engineered the Advanced VX mount from the ground up to deliver the functionality and affordability required by astroimagers on a budget. This telescope mount delivers some of the features found on more sophisticated German Equatorial mounts but without the added bulk or cost associated with more robust options. The Advanced VX mount is designed to accommodate an optical tube weighting up to 30 lb.
The core technology driving the Advanced VX mount is Celestron’s All-Star Polar Alignment. This alignment system features a 2-Star alignment mode that uses multiple guide stars to assist tracking across the night sky while keeping the optical tube parallel to the Earth’s axis of rotation. Maintaining alignment with either celestial pole while following the path of guide stars provides a high degree of pointing and tracking accuracy. Digitally-encoded low-cog DC servo motors drive telescope movements on both axes in fine increments that keep the observed (or photographed) object centered in the field of view. This level of precision reduces optical aberrations and minimizes star trails, which translates into improved image quality and sharper photographs.
Complementing the Advanced VX’s alignment and tracking capability is the mount’s permanently programmable periodic error correction that eliminates recurring track errors inherent to all worm drives. Additionally, a 7-77° latitude range enables extended observations and photo exposures by allowing the telescope to track passed the meridian without the meridian flip common with German Equatorial mounts.
Included with the Advanced VX mount is the NexStar hand controller that will slew the telescope to any planetary, stellar, or nebulous object in its pre-loaded database at the touch of a button. The NexStar controller software is flash upgradeable, which allows operating system updates and even refinements to telescope-specific functions. This computerized mount is also compatible with Celestron’s proprietary NexRemote telescope control software, which enables the observer to control the telescope using their personal computer.
This fully-integrated telescope mounting system also includes an adjustable stainless steel tripod that has two-inch diameter legs, locking spreader, and a caddy for the NexStar hand controller. The combination of digitally encoded servo motors, broad tracking latitude, and an array of sophisticated alignment and tracking technology equip the Advanced VX with the mechanical precision needed to observe and photograph any nearby or deep sky object.
In addition to the 6″ optical tube, NexStar hand controller, Advanced VX German-Equatorial mount and tripod, this telescope includes a 9×50 finderscope for easy object acquisition and a 20mm eyepiece equaling 60x magnification when mounted. This collection of components makes the Advanced VX 6″ Refractor a full-featured telescope for a wide range of stargazing and astroimaging applications.
OVERVIEW
- 6” (150mm) f/8 objective lens is perfect for high contrast planetary views
- 2” Focuser allows use with 2” and 1.25” accessories
- Integer gear ratios and permanently programmable Periodic Error Correction eliminates recurring track errors from the worm gear.
- Autoguider port for long exposure imaging
- New motors offer improved tracking performance & provide more power to overcome load imbalances
- Updated industrial design offers more rigidity, less flexure and improved aesthetics
- New design allows viewing or imaging across the meridian without interference from the motors housings
- Improved latitude range. Can be used between 7 – 77 degrees latitude.
- NexStar+ hand control offers multiple language programming (English, French, Italian, German, Spanish)
ITEM # 22020
IN STOCK
DESCRIPTION
For planetary imaging and brighter deep-sky objects, many astroimagers say there’s no better choice than a refractor. Unlike Schmidt-Cassegrain or Newtonian telescopes that have a secondary mirror, refractors offer no obstruction of the aperture, giving you the highest possible contrast. This refractor setup features an f/8 objective lens, which can be paired with one of our Nightscape CCD cameras to image brighter deep-sky objects or our NexImage 5 Solar System Imager to create dazzling images of the planets.
ABOUT THE MOUNT
The new Advanced VX mount was specifically designed to provide optimum imaging performance for smaller telescopes. Now your smaller telescope can take advantage of All-Star Polar Alignment and autoguider support. You’ll be able to track through long exposures using permanently programmable periodic error correction. Image across the meridian without doing a meridian flip, so you can seamlessly image the best part of night sky. Advanced VX features significantly larger base castings than our previous design, improving stability under heavier loads. Improved motors offer more torque and can handle slight load imbalances with ease.
SPECIFICATIONS
Optical Design | Refractor |
---|---|
Aperture (mm) | 150 mm (5.91 in) |
Telescope Type | Computerized (GOTO) |
Focal Length | 1200 mm (47 in) |
Focal Ratio | 8 |
Focal Length of Eyepiece 1 (mm) | 20 mm (0.79 in) |
Magnification of Eyepiece 1 | 60 x |
Finderscope | 9×50 |
Tripod | Adjustable, Stainless Steel |
Tripod Leg Diameter | 2″ |
Highest Useful Magnification | 354 x |
Lowest Useful Magnification | 21 x |
Limiting Stellar Magnitude | 13.4 |
Resolution (Rayleigh) | 0.93 arc seconds |
Resolution (Dawes) | 0.77 arc seconds |
Light Gathering Power (Compared to human eye) | 459 x |
Optical Tube Length | 51″ in (1295 mm) |
Optical Tube Weight | 19 lbs (8.62 kg) |
Mount Height (Max) | 64″ in (1626 mm) |
Mount Height (Min) | 44″ in (1118 mm) |
Tripod Weight | 18 lbs (8.16 kg) |
Weight of Counterweights | 2 x 12 lbs |
Warranty | 2-year Telescope Warranty |
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TECHNOLOGY
- All-Star Polar Alignment
- Flash Upgradeable
- NexRemote