If you're looking for an advanced first telescope with a traditional German Equatorial mount or want to upgrade to a larger aperture telescope, consider Celestron C8 S Advanced Series Telescope (models 11025 and 11025-XLT).

Mounted on the CG-5 EQ mount, both axes have precision worm gears for extremely smooth motion. Equipped with 2" steel legs, this heavy duty mount delivers jitter-free images. With adjustable height, the very rigid tripod has excellent damping characteristics and a convenient accessory tray/leg brace for added strength. Included are setting circles on both axes, slow-motion controls and latitude scale. An adjustable counterweight makes it easy to point, balance and use.

The Celestron C 8 S optical system comes with StarBright coatings and its large aperture offers light gathering power 843 times that of the human eye. An optional polar alignment scope for quick alignment as well as a motor drive is available for easy tracking for all CG-5 mounted telescopes.

CG-5 Mount - Precision engineered for stability. Celestron new German Equatorial mount has precision worm gears on both axes for extremely smooth stability. The key element that makes this system the most stable in its class is the NEW heavy-duty tripod with larger and more substantial legs that offer excellent damping characteristics for more stable views. The CG-5 also has a convenient latitude scale for easier alignment and an optional polar finder scope for the ultimate in precision alignments.

Celestron C 8 S Advanced Series Telescope with SarBright XLT coating : (model 11025-XLT)

With StarBright XLT Optical System Design you'll see the light! One of the most important factors in the evaluation of a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope 's optical system performance is its transmission - the percentage of incoming light that reaches the focal plane. The design of the XLT System accomplishes two crucial objectives: Develop a coating system that is optimized for visual use and for CCD/Photographic imaging.

There are three major components that make up Celestron StarBrightXLT high transmission optical system design:

1) Unique enhanced multi-layer mirror coatings: Celestron mirror coatings are made from precise layers of Al (Aluminum), SiO2 (quartz) and TiO2 (Titanium Dioxide). Reflectivity is fairly flat across the spectrum, optimizing it for both CCD imaging and visual use.

2) Multi-layer anti-reflective coatings: Coatings are made from precise layers of MgF2 (Magnesium Fluoride), and HfO2 (Hafnium Dioxide). Hafnium gives a wider band pass than Titanium, used in comparable coatings.

3) High Transmission Water White glass : Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain optical systems with optional StarBright XLT coatings use Water White glass instead of Soda Lime glass for the corrector lens. Water White glass transmits about 90.5% of light without anti-reflective coatings. That is 3.5% better transmission than uncoated Soda Lime glass. When Water White glass is used in conjunction with StarBright - XLT 's anti-reflective coatings, the average light transmission reaches 97.4% - an 8% improvement!

These three components of Celestron StarBright XLT coatings result in one of the finest coatings available. The peak light transmission for the systems is 89% at 520 nm. The overall system transmission is 83.5% averaged over the spectrum from 400 to 750 nm.

Click here to see details about StarBright XLT.

Specifications for Celestron C-8S Advanced Series Telescopes:

• Adjustable 2" Steel Leg Tripod with Accessory Tray/Leg Brace
• Right Ascension and Declination Setting Circles
• Slow Motion Control Knobs on Both Axes
• CG-5 Equatorial Mount
• Starbright Optical Coating

• Celestron C 8-S Advanced Series Telescope
• 1-1/4" 25mm Plössl Eyepiece (81x)
• 6x30 Finderscope and Mounting Bracket
• CG-5 Equatorial Mount and Tripod
• Star Diagonal - 1-1/4"
• The Sky Level I CD-ROM
• Accessory Tray