Celestron 14" EdgeHD optical tube, CGE/Losmandy dovetail

$7,499.00

Availability: More on the way

The Fastar-compatible EdgeHD high definition flat field optics of this big, big Celestron 14" EdgeHD optical tube give you true astrographic-quality performance in a scope with enough aperture to keep you happily viewing and imaging for the rest of your life . . .
Our Product #: C14HDOTA
Celestron Product #: 91060-XLT
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Product Description

This Celestron 14" EdgeHD optical tube has:
• 14" EdgeHD Faster-compatible high definition aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain optics
• StarBright XLT optical multicoatings for the highest possible light transmission
• mirror locks and cooling vents
• 9 x 50mm finderscope in quick-release bracket
• 2" star diagonal
• 23mm 2" Luminos 82° field eyepiece (170x)
• CGX-L (Losmandy-style "D-plate") dovetail
• 2-year warranty

The Celestron 14" EdgeHD optical tube has new, unique, and very big aperture 14" aperture aplanatic (free from coma and corrected for spherical aberration) EdgeHD high definition/high contrast Schmidt optics. The advanced EdgeHD optical system uses a dedicated dual-element field flattener lens made from premium Schott optical glass in its central baffle tube to reduce off-axis coma and produce aberration-free images across a wide 42mm image circle (as large as the diagonal of a 35mm negative or large format CCD chip and ideal for astrophotography). And those images look superb through the supplied ultra-premium 23mm 2" Celestron Axiom 82° field eyepiece.

In addition to reduced off-axis coma, the EdgeHD optics deliver an astrograph-quality focal plane more than three times flatter than standard Schmidt-Cassegrains and dramatically flatter than competing coma-free designs. Stars are smaller and more concentrated, creating brighter images and allowing you to see down to a fainter magnitude than other equally-sized telescopes. With EdgeHD optics, you see sharp point-like stars to the very edges of some of the largest CCD and DSLR chips available today.

For the ultimate in brightness and contrast, the 14" EdgeHD optical tube has state-of-the-art Starbright XLT multicoatings. Its 14" aperture has a light grasp that's nearly 2600 times that of even the sharpest dark-adapted eye (36% greater than a 12" telescope and almost twice that of a 10" scope). With an effective light-gathering power equal to that many eyes, the EdgeHD optics of this 14" EdgeHD optical tube can reveal to you faint deep space objects in amazing and subtle detail. The Fastar-compatible optical tube even allows imaging down to an incredibly-fast f/2 focal ratio using optional accessories.

This Celestron Optical Tube's Optics . . .

EdgeHD aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain optics: 14" aperture (3910mm focal length f/11). Guaranteed diffraction-limited optical performance, free from coma and corrected for spherical aberrations (aplanatic design). Dual-element field flattener lens built into central baffle tube. The 31" long aluminum optical tube has a large handle on the rear cell and weighs a stout 45 pounds, making the use of a high payload capacity German equatorial mount mandatory. For more details, click on the "EdgeHD optics" link in the support tab above.

Starbright XLT fully multicoated optics: This high transmission/high reflectivity optical coatings package applied to each optical surface gives you visibly higher light transmission for brighter deep space images and shorter exposure times during imaging. It also increases the contrast on subtle lunar, planetary, and nebula details when compared with optics using ordinary coatings or multicoatings. For more details, click on the "Starbright XLT" link in the support tab above.

Fastar compatible: For the ultimate in wide-field catadioptric imaging, the EdgeHD optical tube is Fastar compatible to allow CCD imaging at a blazingly-fast f/2 focal ratio. For f/2 imaging, an optional Fastar lens assembly lens replaces the scope's removable secondary mirror (an exchange that takes only a few minutes). Your CCD camera is attached to the Fastar lens. This puts your camera at the f/2 position in the center of the Schmidt corrector lens at the front of the optical tube, rather than in its normal f/11 position at the Cassegrain focus at the rear. The Fastar option is for imaging only and cannot be used for visual observing.

This Celestron Optical Tube's Mechanics . . .

Focusing: Focusing is accomplished by turning a knob on the rear cell that moves the primary mirror fore and aft along the central baffle tube to adjust the focus. The Celestron focusing mechanism is supported by two pre-loaded ball bearings, minimizing the "mirror flop" typical of bushing-type focus mechanisms that causes image shift during critical focusing.

Mirror locks: Flexible tension locks hold the mirror in place after correct focus is achieved for imaging and reduce image shift when rotating the tube around a mount (when moving past the zenith during astrophotography, for example). Unlike other designs that have only one locking knob located off to one side of the mirror, the Celestron system uses three locks equally spaced around the mirror to distribute the mirror locking force symmetrically, important with a mirror as large and heavy as this 14".

The focuser itself acts as one of the locks, while two flexible rods spaced 120° away in either direction act as the second and third locks. Controlled by variable tension knobs on the rear cell, these rods act in conjunction with the focuser to hold the mirror in place without putting any asymmetrical force or pressure on the mirror. This keeps the image centered in the eyepiece (or chip) no matter what the orientation of the optical tube.

Tube vents: Two cooling vents on the rear cell allow warm air to be released from behind the primary mirror when the scope is taken out for a night's observing or imaging. This shortens the amount of time needed for the optics to cool down to ambient air temperature for peak performance. Each vent has an integrated 60 micron micro-mesh filter guaranteed to let warm air out without letting dust in.

Dovetail rail: The full length dovetail rail mounted under the optical tube fits Celestron CGX-L mounts, as well as any other high payload capacity German equatorial mount that uses a Losmandy-style "D-plate" dovetail mounting slot.

This Celestron Optical Tube's Supplied Accessories . . .

Finderscope: The supplied 9 x 50mm straight-through achromatic design finderscope has a wide 5.8 degree field of view. It is mounted in a spring-loaded easy-adjust quick release bracket.

Star diagonal: 2" first-surface mirror type, with a 1.25" visual back to use 1.25" accessories.

Eyepiece: The standard equipment eyepiece is a premium 2" 23mm 82° field Luminous (170x). The eyepiece field of view is 0.48° wide, almost as wide as the full Moon, and an exceptionally wide field for the 170x magnification.

Two-year warranty: All Celestron optical tubes have a two-year warranty.

Tech Details

Aperture 14"
Focal Length 3910mm
Focal Ratio f/11
Heaviest Single Component 46 lbs.
Highest Useful Magnification 650x
Weight 46 lbs.
Resolution 0.32 arc seconds
Visual Limiting Magnitude 15.3
Warranty 2 years

Reviews

Review by:
I have had a C14 EdgeHD for about 4 years now. The views I have had of the moon, Saturn, Jupiter, a bunch of star clusters, and some nebulae are very very good. With a binoviewer, looking at planets is a mind blowing experience when seeing is good. I have also used it for some astro imaging which can be challenging especially if you don’t have a huge mount. In spite of that I have had some success getting some good images using the big scope. I use my C14 mostly for star parties and often get comments from visitors that the views they had through my scope were better than most of the larger scopes in the observatories at my local astronomy club. It isn’t super heavy but it is quite large. I don’t have much of a problem moving it around and taking it on and off of my mount, but I am a fairly large guy. Handling a C14 shouldn’t be problem for a fit person. It was my dream scope for years and I am glad I have it. (Posted on 11/22/2023)
Review by:
Excellent optics for the price. This is your medicine for aperture fever, and the price is not bad at all. However, you need to have a permanent pier since it weighs more as you get older, not really portable. It required a good collimation after transportation, but you might be lucky. I had to replace the dovetail to fit to my AP mount. Focus shift is a problem, do not believe people saying otherwise, but it is manageable and there are very good 3rd party focusing solutions (Especially OPTEC).
(Posted on 1/4/2019)
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Supplied Accessories

  • Starbright XLT fully multicoated 14" f/11 Fastar-compatible EdgeHD optics
  • 9 x 50mm finderscope
  • 2" star diagonal with 1.25" visual back
  • 2" 23mm Axiom eyepiece (170x)
  • Dust covers
  • CGE (Losmandy-style "D-plate") dovetail mounting rail.

Support