Mouseover of the small thumbnails to the left to show larger images of the astrotrac. Righ-click on the large image to save the full image.

This is an SCT OTA with a CGE dove tail. Even though these OTAs are discontinued they are still sold as can be seen here. The OTA is in need of some cleaning since there are som dust inside the corrector. This dust will not affect imaging but I just want to be open and mention it.

Below are two images. First a 300s sub exposure of the Crab nebula region taken thru the C8 using Ted Agos reducer (f/6.3) and a Canon 40D. Second one is a 180s sub exposure of the Bubble nebula also taken with the Canon 40D (but without the reducer). The only processing made is calibration (flat, dark and bias) and stretching. Click on it to open up a full resolution image.

The reducer makes a pretty good job except at the corners. For the f10 image stars are a little better but there are also a little elongated stars at the corners. Thus some cropping is needed for astrophotography. This is not a major obstacle for making good images.

Together with the Televue x4 powermate the C8 makes a good set-up for planetary, solar and lunar imaging. Here is link to a moon mosaic taken with the mentioned set-up and the a thrid party software to take movies with the 40D. For each mosaic frame Registax was used to pic the best frames from the movies. The seeing was not very great but the result was good (as far as I can judge). Be your own judge and click here.

Except for the assescories below I also have all the necessary adapters and connectors to attach e.g. the Canon 40D to the C8 (with or without the reducer). These adaptors will be included ONLY if e.g. the C8 and the Canon 40D is bought as a package. Below are a few examples.

Except for the Celestron C8 OTA, 6x30 finder scope (the smaller one in the images), Visual back, 1.25" Star diagonal, 25mm eye-piece and the cover it comes with the following non-standard accessories:

• Losmandy top plate (two pieces). Includes adaptors for attachment to a Celestron C8. At Optcorp it sells new for ca 500SEK.

• Bob's knobs (see image). Makes collimation of the secondary mirror much easier. No need to use a Philps screwdriver. Sells for ca 130SEK (20USD)

• Pacific Design 8" SCT Padded Carry Case (see image). On Optcorp this sells for ca 800SEK (129USD).

• Celestron 2-inch XLT Diagonal (see image). On Telescope this sells for ca 850SEK (135USD). It includes 2" to 1.25" adapter and a completely unnecessary carrying case :-).

• Astrozap Flexible Dew Shield (see image). This sells for 250SEK (40USD) on Optcorp.

• Extra large finder scope (see image). A web cam or similar can be attached to produce a electronic finder. I have not tried but think it might be a little too slow to be used as an autoguider scope. I bought this on Astrofest in London and cannot recall what I paid so I jus include it here.

• Celestron Radial Guider (see image). I have only used it for visual guiding (once) and found it quite useless, but someone might have an other opinion so it is included.

• Ted Agos reducer (see image). Ted passed away in 2012 but his webpages are still available for viewing and his reducer is still going strong. One of the best accessories I bought for the C8. It typically went for ca 1500SEK (250USD) as can be seen here.

• Eye-pieces (see image). Except for the 25mm eye-piece included in the C8 kit (the one to the right in the image) three more 1.25" eye-pieces. A 6.4mm Plössl, a 25mm Meade, and a 9mm Meade. There are two eye-piece cups and a parfocal ring (on the 9mm in the image) included in this set. The cost for these are a little difficult to estimate, but you can get similar eye-pieces 3-4 in a kit for 300SEK (50-80USD).

• 1.25" Barlow Lens x2 (see image). Comes with a cup-holder. Also a difficult to estimate but you can get similar Barlows for 200SEK (30-40USD).

• Celestron Plossl Reticle Eyepiece 1.25" - 10mm (see image). Similar guide eye-pieces sells for ca 300SEK (50-80USD) without the illuminator. This package includes the illuminator but excludes the rubber ring (it is broken). The use of a reticle eye-piece is for drift alignment when polar aligning a mount.

• Antares 2" Prime-Focus Adapter (see image). This sells for ca 250SEK (40USD) on.

• Kendrick Laser Collimator for SCT's (see image). This sells for ca 1300SEK (200USD), but I find it easier to collimate on a star so I will not charge for it in this package.

• Meade f/6.3 focal reducer (see image). This sells for 550SK (90USD) on optcorp.

• Celestron T-adapter (see image). This sells for 150SEK (25USD).

At Optcorp a new C8 (standard equipment) sells for ca 5000SEK (799USD). Together with the above the "new price" would be in the range 10 000 SEK (without the Kendrick laser collimator). I will sell the complete package as described above (without the camera) for 5000SEK.