Designed with the discerning amateur astrophotographer in mind, the Celestron CGEM II 700 180mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope is a powerful astronomical tool that remains manageable and portable. Combining a large-aperture catadioptric optical tube assembly (OTA) with a strong and stable CGEM II mount produces an observational and imaging rig that can reveal stunning details of the moon and planets with the ability to resolve wispy nebula, fuzzy galaxies, and tight binary stars.





The Maksutov design exchanges the conventional front corrector plate of a Schmidt with a convex meniscus lens, resulting in a smaller secondary mirror that limits obstruction and increases contrast, while eliminating the need for periodic collimation. This modified optical path results in a slower focal ratio and narrower field of view versus a similar Schmidt, but the optical benefits, when coupled with the larger aperture and StarBright XLT optical coatings, make it more than capable for long-exposure photography techniques.





The CGEM II GoTo equatorial mount is engineered to carry a 40-pound payload, and with the OTA weighing under 20 pounds there is plenty of payload capacity for all your observation or imaging gear. High-torque dual DC servo motors enable it to smoothly and accurately slew and track all night long. To provide a stable platform for the mount and OTA, a heavy-duty stainless steel tripod is included that sports large 2" legs and an accessory tray that doubles as a stabilizer.





The brain of the whole system is the NexStar computer controller. Equipped with a database of 40,000 objects, including the planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and the complete Messier catalog, it can also be programmed with up 100 custom user-defined objects with filters added for custom object lists. Its intuitive menu-driven user interface provides the power to observe the heavens with nine slew speeds and three tracking rates, plus anti-backlash compensation and Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PPEC) for smoother movements in the motors and improved tracking over time. Features such as guided tours, extended information on 200 popular objects, and multiple alignment options make the NexStar controller easy to use and invaluable to new users and experienced stargazers.





This OTA's compact form factor belies its observation power and resolution and is ideally suited as a grab-and-go option for quick observation sessions or heading out to remote locations.