The telescope
With HyperStar you can turn any Schmidt-Cassegrain with Fastar preparation into a digital Schmidt camera with approx. f/2. Even old instruments can be converted. The lunar atlas of volcanic structures by Wolfgang Paech and Franz Hofmann was created with a Skyris 445M with Baader IR pass filter and a C14. It shows structures with a resolution of 1000-2000m, in some cases even smaller details.
The mount
The CGX-L mount is the big brother of the CGX and carries devices weighing up to around 34 kilograms - enough for even the largest Celestron telescopes and accessories. With a net weight of less than 24 kg for the mount and 21 kg for the tripod, it is still easy to transport. Thanks to the large carrying handles, it is even easier to transport than a comparable, somewhat lighter classic equatorial mount!
The CGX-L was developed for small observatories and remote operation, with the emphasis on a good payload-to-weight ratio, a compact design and innovative details for your use of large telescopes, photographic equipment and the latest wireless accessories.
A key role is played by the generously dimensioned 144 mm worm wheels, which enable smoother running even with heavy telescopes, and the dovetail clamp, which has been extended to 270 mm and holds even large telescopes securely. For remote operation, there are optical sensors for the home and limit positions, simplified settings for polar alignment and improved cable routing. There are also mechanical and ergonomic improvements that make the mount even more stable, user-friendly and portable.
With the dual dovetail clamp for CG-5 (Vixen, Celestron) or CGE (3-inch), you can easily switch between small solar telescopes and large Schmidt-Cassegrains, for example. To ensure that this is also fun for photography, the mount has been fitted with powerful, responsive motors that are connected to the axes via a sturdy toothed belt. This means that the mount reacts almost immediately to control commands, even from an autoguider. There is no gear backlash, and as the worm gears are also spring-loaded, the backlash is largely eliminated - you do not have to readjust even with large temperature differences, worms and gears have optimum contact.
The large screws are easy to grip so that you can loosen or tighten them easily even when wearing gloves - the pole height adjustment has also been revised so that you can easily adjust the mount even when it is fully loaded. A polar finder will be available as an option, but is generally unnecessary: with the All-Star polar alignment, you can align the mount to any brighter star through the telescope, and for perfection, the alignment is always superior to the polar finder. As a special feature, you can slide the mount on the base plate of the extra-wide tripod head - so you can place the center of gravity perfectly over the tripod, for the entire usable latitude range from 3 to 65° north or south latitude. The flat base can also be easily adapted to your own pillars - a drawing for an adapter can be found here.
As a photo mount, it is just as suitable for mobile use as it is for remote operation. Internal sensors ("switches") automatically bring the mount into the home position and prevent it from moving too far during panning and hitting something. The internal cabling also ensures safety: all connections (power, hand controller, AUX and autoguider) are in the base of the mount and do not move with it.
The hand controller can be controlled in the classic way via ASCOM and the hand controller (with USB connection) via PC, or you can use the control software included in the scope of delivery, which was developed together with Planewave Instruments. Multipoint GoTo modeling, plate solving and control of the focuser are just some of the functions that you normally have to retrofit for remote operation - with the CGX, this software is included in the scope of delivery. Here you do not need the hand controller, but can use the USB port of the mount directly.
