Name: Celestron Advanced VX 8" Edge HD
Brand: Celestron
SKU: 87212031
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

by Crutchfield's Eric A.

A photographer's best friend

Viewing the Andromeda galaxy or the Great Orion nebula through a telescope eyepiece is one thing, but photographing those night sky objects and sharing the beauty with others can be a hobby in itself. Celestron designed their Advanced VX series telescopes to give astronomy buffs the tools they need to pursue both kinds of celestial observing at a high level.

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A photographer's best friend

The included VX mount puts many of the benefits of a full-sized equatorial mount into a package that is less costly and more portable. That way, you can find your favorite place from which to photograph the night sky, and rest assured that your telescope can come along for the ride. The Edge HD optics can be configured for three different f-stops, from a fast f/2.8 for short exposures to f/10 for a longer exposure. The Autoguider with programmable periodic error correction helps to track deep sky objects through long exposures, a technique that can bring out colors and subtle details that are too faint to be seen by simply looking through the eyepiece.

Advanced optical design

Finding a fantastic view of the heavens is a great feeling. The optical design of the Advanced VX telescope maximizes your ability to turn that view into a stunning photograph, with StarBright XLT mirror coatings for better light transmission. The optical design fully corrects for common imaging problems like coma and field curvature, delivering a truly flat image to your camera's "eye."

Motorized for your convenience

The motorized VX mount makes it easier and faster to find objects in the night sky. It's smooth, accurate and has the torque needed to move the scope and camera together. It makes for easy stargazing using your eyes, or for taking unforgettable photos with a camera. If you're not sure how to find what you're looking for, use the built-in, removable Nexstar+ hand controller to guide you through the telescope's database of 40,000 stellar objects, choose one, then let the motorized scope bring it into view.

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Product highlights:

Edge HD optical system allows variable f-stop settings for photographers
Advanced VX equatorial mount helps you capture clear images with a camera
track through long exposures with permanently programmable periodic error correction
aperture: 203mm
9X50mm finderscope included
40mm eyepiece included (1-1/4" diameter)
highest useful magnification: 480X
81X maximum magnification with included eyepiece
2032mm focal length
light gathering power 841X that of the human eye
removable secondary mirror for fast f/2.8 imaging
lenses and mirrors feature StarBright XLT coatings for better light transmission
can be used between 7-77 degrees latitude
explore the night sky with Nexstar's database of 40,000 celestial objects
Nexstar+ hand controller included
easily adapted for photography with camera-specific T-rings (not included)
breaks down for easy transportation
sturdy tripod with adjustable 2" steel legs included
17" optical tube
weight: 31 lbs. (with tripod)
warranty: 2 years parts and labor
MFR # 12031

What's in the box:

Celestron Advanced VX 8" Edge HD owner's manual

The Advanced VX 8" Edge HD Telescope is shipped in two separate boxes.

The Optical Tube Assembly box includes:
Telescope tube with objective lens cap and eyepiece cap installed
1.25" Star Diagonal (with 2 caps)
40mm Eyepiece (51x magnification) in plastic case
9x50 Finderscope (with 2 caps)
Finderscope quick-release bracket
Rubber O-ring
Car battery adapter cable
Celestron The SkyX First Light Edition Astronomy Software CD-ROM
Owner's Manuals on CD-ROM
Instruction Manual
Product Registration card
The Advanced VX Mount box includes:
Tripod with 2" diameter stainless steel legs
Equatorial mount head
Accessory tray/leg brace
Counterweight bar with locking nut
Counterweight (12 pounds)
2 Azimuth adjustment knobs
Declination motor cable
Hand Control with attached coiled cord
Hand Control holder
Hand Control Holder leg clamp

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Researched by Crutchfield's Mark G.

Product Research

Features

Overview: The Advanced VX 8" Edge HD package by Celestron consists of two separately-boxed components: the Edge 8" Optical Tube Assembly (# 91031-XLT) and the Advanced VX Mount (# 91519). Together they provide a truly groundbreaking package for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers. The Advanced VX 8" Edge HD comes with a tripod with 2" diameter stainless steel legs, and a computerized hand controller that can guide the telescope to any of the thousands of celestial objects in its database.

Edge HD Optical System: The Edge HD optical system is specifically designed for both visual observation and astrophotography. Many optical systems work well for visual observing to produce pinpoint stars across a curved focal plane. When used with a camera's flat image sensor, stars appear out of focus at the edges. Edge HD optics produce a focal plane that is three times flatter than a standard Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. This gives you visibly sharper stars across even some of the largest image sensors available.

Optics: The 8" Edge HD optical tube uses Celestron's premium StarBright XLT coatings, which provide maximized light transmission, contrast, and image sharpness.

Eyepiece: The telescope comes with a 40mm eyepiece (51x magnification). The Advanced VX 8" Edge HD uses 1-1/4" diameter eyepieces, and additional eyepieces, at different magnifications, are available. The unit also comes with a star diagonal which diverts the light at a 90° angle to the light path of the telescope. This allows you to observe in a more comfortable position than if you were to look straight through.

Finderscope: The telescope comes with a 9x50 finderscope which mounts to the outside of the telescope tube to help you locate and center objects in the main field of the telescope. The finderscope features a built-in cross-hair reticle that indicates the center of the optical field. The finderscope must first be aligned with the telescope before use. This is done in the daytime by pointing the telescope at an object at least a quarter mile away, centering the object in the eyepiece, and aligning the finderscope's cross-hairs to the distant object.

Advanced VX Mount: The Advanced VX mount is equipped with high-torque motors for smoothly driving heavy loads. It can accurately track celestial objects, which is especially critical for long photographic exposures. Large knobs are provided to help you make minute manual adjustments. Multiple RJ-45 ports are provided on the control panel to help you control the movements of the mount remotely.

Hand Control: The Advanced VX 8" Edge HD comes with a removable, 19-button hand controller. It plugs into the telescope's fork arm via a coiled cord. The hand control has a red-backlit LCD window with a four-line, 18-character display screen, direction keys, and catalog keys to help you search through the 40,000+ object database. The hand controller has a jack for an optional RS232 cable which allows you to interface with a computer and control the telescope remotely. A plastic snap-on holder is included for the hand controller that attaches to one of the tripod legs.

SkyTour: The Advanced VX 8" Edge HD's SkyTour feature allows you to choose from a list of interesting celestial objects based on the date and time in which you are observing. You can activate the SkyTour by pressing the dedicated button on the hand controller, and the telescope will skew to its starting position. As the tour of objects continues, you can press buttons on the hand controller to provide text information and coordinates of the object you're viewing.

Power Requirements: The Advanced VX 8" Edge HD can be powered by the supplied car battery adapter, the optional PowerTank 12-volt power supply, or an optional 12-volt AC adapter.

Accessory Tray: The telescope comes with an accessory tray which provides a place to put extra eyepieces or other items while you're using the telescope.

Specifications:

Optical Design: Edge HD
Aperture: 203mm (7.99")
Focal Length: 2032mm (80")
Focal Ratio: f/10
Eyepiece Focal Length: 40mm
Eyepiece Magnification: 51x
Highest Useful Magnification: 480x
Lowest Useful Magnification: 29x
Optical Tube Length: 17"
Light Gathering Power: 841x (compared to human eye)
Dimensions:
- Weight: 47 pounds overall
  - Tripod: 18 lbs
  - EQ head: 17 lbs
  - Optical Tube: 14 lbs
- Minimum Mount Height: 44"
- Maximum Mount Height: 64"

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