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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.

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Celestron Deluxe Off-axis guider for SCTs and long focal length telescopes

$339.95

7 Review(s)

The Celestron off-axis guider #OAG93648 is designed for use with SCTs, EdgeHDs, and long focal length telescopes that require the most accurate guiding possible.
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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.
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Celestron Ultima Duo eyepiece to Apple iPhone 4 or 4S imaging adapter

$59.95

2 Review(s)

This Celestron Smartphone adapter works with a Celestron Ultima Duo eyepiece and your iPhone 4 or 4S to easily capture celestial images through virtually any telescope.
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Celestron 0.7x focal reducer for Celestron 8" EdgeHD scopes and optical tubes

$409.00

2 Review(s)

This Celestron EdgeHD 0.7x focal reducer turns your 8" 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 . . .
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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.
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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.
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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 . . .

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Celestron Piggyback for Celestron SCT telescopes only

$39.95

2 Review(s)

This Celestron piggyback bracket lets you mount your 35mm or digital camera on top of a Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope for wide-field deep space photography . . .
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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 . . .
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Celestron T-Adapter for Celestron 9.25", 11", and 14" EdgeHD telescopes

$69.95

1 Review(s)

This Celestron prime focus T-adapter fits the rear cell of Celestron 9.25", 11', and 14" EdgeHD telescopes only . . .