JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser.
You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website.

CCD & Photographic

A CCD camera is essentially an electronic version of a 35mm camera for astrophotography that saves the images in your computer, rather than on a roll of film. A CCD camera can take snapshots of the Moon and planets and long exposure photos of deep sky nebulas, galaxies, and star clusters. Because the CCD camera has to store up the faint light of deep space objects before it can display an image, just as a 35mm film camera does, a CCD can't give you real-time or instant images of deep space objects.

Because a CCD camera is more sensitive than 35mm film or your eye, it can store up more information during an exposure. Software supplied with the camera, or available separately, allows you to manipulate the image later to bring out details that would be washed out or invisible in a 35mm negative or while observing visually. CCD cameras are surprisingly unaffected by city light pollution, allowing deep sky photography from even heavily light polluted sites.

CCD cameras typically vary in price according to their image size, with large cameras running into the multiple thousands of dollars. Even at their largest, however, their image covers less of the sky than a 35mm film camera on the same scope. CCDs are best at recording small and very faint objects rather than large and bright objects, although excellent images of large objects can be recorded by taking multiple overlapping images and combining them in the computer.

It has been said that CCD cameras on amateur-size telescopes can record fainter objects than the 200" scope at Mt. Palomar could record only 10 or 15 years ago with conventional film cameras. By some measures, CCD cameras can be said to have an effective film speed (ASA or ISO rating) of 20,000, making them ideal for recording very faint objects.

Some CCD cameras can act as autoguiders to take the tedium out of guiding long exposure 35mm photos. Some CCD cameras have their own autoguider built in for recording images automatically and untended; others come with separate guiders or have them available as an option.

Shop By Category

Quick view

Celestron LPR imaging filter for Celestron RASA 11

$699.00

The Celestron #93617 RASA Light Pollution Imaging Filter was custom-designed for the Celestron RASA Schmidt-Cassegrain astrograph by Astrodon - the world's leading imaging filter company.
Quick view

Celestron 0.7x focal reducer for Celestron 11" EdgeHD scopes and optical tubes

$839.00

2 Review(s)

This Celestron EdgeHD 0.7x focal reducer turns your 11" f/10 EdgeHD telescope into a full f-stop faster f/7 scope, increasing your photographic field of view by 43% and cutting your deep space exposure times in half . . .
Quick view

Celestron StarSense Autoguider

$799.95

1 Review(s)

This awesome piece of Celestron tech will align your compatible telescope, and auto guide, at the push of a button.
Quick view

Celestron 48MM T-ADAPTER FOR EDGEHD 9.25”, 11”, AND 14”

$72.95

The 48mm T-Adapter is the accessory of choice if you’d like to attach your full frame DSLR or astronomical camera to a Celestron EdgeHD optical tube.
Quick view

Celestron CrossAim 12.5mm dual crosshair Plössl

$94.95

1 Review(s)

This 12.5mm Celestron "CrossAim" 1.25" Plössl design double crosshair reticle guiding/centering eyepiece comes with a variable brightness cordless illuminator for use with any make or model telescope and/or off-axis guider . . .
Quick view

Celestron NexImage 5 one-shot color 5 megapixel solar system imager

$199.95

5 Review(s)

The 5 megapixel Celestron NexImage 5 provides a new level of high resolution color fidelity solar system imaging with any size telescope, and does it at a very sensible price . . .
$48mm T-ring for Nikon DSLR cameras used with Sky-Watcher Quantum refractor field flatteners$ $Sky-Watcher 48mm T-ring for Nikon DSLR cameras used with Sky-Watcher Quantum refractor field flatteners$

Quick view

Sky-Watcher 48mm T-ring for Nikon DSLR cameras used with Sky-Watcher Quantum refractor field flatteners

$28.00

3 Review(s)

This special 48mm Nikon camera mount is used to connect Nikon DSLR cameras to the standard equipment field flattener supplied with Sky-Watcher Quantum 120mm and 150mm triplet apo refractors . . .
$48mm T-ring for Canon DSLR cameras used with Sky-Watcher Quantum refractor field flatteners$ $Sky-Watcher 48mm T-ring for Canon DSLR cameras used with Sky-Watcher Quantum refractor field flatteners$

Quick view

Sky-Watcher 48mm T-ring for Canon DSLR cameras used with Sky-Watcher Quantum refractor field flatteners

$28.00

This special 48mm Canon camera mount is used to connect Canon EOS DSLR cameras to the standard equipment field flattener supplied with Sky-Watcher Quantum 120mm and 150mm triplet apo refractors . . .
Quick view

Celestron NexGuide CCD Autoguider

$299.95

1 Review(s)

THIS PRODUCT IS DISCONTINUED. THIS PAGE IS HERE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

The Celestron NexGuide stand-alone CCD autoguider guides your long exposure deep space photos electronically and automatically, without needing the separate computer many similarly-priced competitive guiders require. The Celestron NexGuide is a Sky & Telescope Hot Product for 2011 . . .

Out of stock
Quick view

Celestron T-Adapter for Celestron 8" EdgeHD telescope

$39.95

3 Review(s)

This Celestron prime focus T-adapter fits the rear cell of the Celestron 8" EdgeHD telescope only . . .