Celestron CGEM II 800 8" f/2 Rowe-Ackerman Schmidt Astrograph GoTo Telescope

Experience the power and precision of Celestron's CGEM II 800 8" f/2 Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA) GoTo Telescope, a portable astrograph designed to capture breathtaking wide-field deep sky images in mere seconds. This innovative f/ 2.0 system is ideally suited for use with today's color astronomical CMOS cameras, compact CCD cameras, and mirrorless cameras. The 8" RASA's fast focal ratio and patented optical design allow you to produce sharp, detailed images, often eliminating the need for an autoguider. Weighing just 17 pounds, this telescope is easily transportable, making it perfect for trips to remote dark sky locations.

The 8" RASA is a dedicated imaging telescope, delivering a flat field devoid of optical aberrations for razor-sharp stars across a broad field of view. It enables you to capture stunning deep-sky astronomical images without the typical challenges presented by longer focal length instruments, and at a fraction of the cost. This telescope is the latest addition to the acclaimed RASA family, offering a more portable and affordable alternative to the highly praised RASA 11. Like its predecessor, the 8" RASA boasts a range of carefully designed features, including an integrated air-cooling system, internal filter mount, and robust CGE dovetail mounting bar.

As an F/ 2.0 optical system, the 8" RASA allows for shorter exposure times, capturing detail in faint objects quickly. When paired with sensitive cameras and appropriate "live stacking" software, this telescope can provide an almost real-time observing experience, delivering images that are brighter and more detailed than those seen in larger telescopes with the naked eye. The 8" RASA's relatively short 400mm focal length reduces equatorial tracking demands, often eliminating the need for autoguiding. Despite its lightweight design, this optical tube pairs seamlessly with a wide variety of mounts.

Celestron's new Ultra-Stable Focus System, introduced with the 8" RASA, minimizes lateral movement of the primary mirror when focusing, slewing, or tracking, ensuring easier, more accurate, and more stable focusing. This telescope is optimized for sensors up to a 22mm diagonal, but performs well with sensors up to 32mm diagonal. It is not compatible with standard DSLR cameras, but works well with the APS-C sized sensors found in many mirrorless cameras. The 8" RASA's unique optical design, patented under US 2016/0299331 A1, consists of a Schmidt corrector, primary mirror, lens group, and optical window.

The lens group contains four elements and utilizes rare-earth elements. Designed to perform over a wider spectral range, from 390-800nm, the 8" RASA ensures more of the light emitted from the astronomical object is sharply focused in the image. Celestron's 8" RASA, with its advanced features and superior optical performance, is a game-changer for astroimagers, offering a unique blend of portability, affordability, and high-quality imaging.