THIS IS A CELESTRON 8" SCHMIDT CASSEGRAIN TELESCOPE WITH MOTORS IN BOTH AXIS. I HAVE INSTALLED AN ADVANCED CELESTRON ASTRO MASTER WHICH HELP ME TO POINT THE TELESCOPE TO THE OBJECT I WANT, ITS LINKED UP TO A PC IN MY CONTROLROOM INSIDE MY HOUSE NEAR THE OBSERVATORY. BECAUSE OF HIGH HUMIDITY I HAVE INSTALLED THE KENDRICK DEW REMOVER SYSTEM WHICH HAVE BEEN A VERY GOOD INVESTMENT, NO MORE DEW IS THE RESULT.
I USE THE TELESCOPE PRIMARY FOR CCD IMAGING, I HAVE SPECIAL INTEREST IN SUPERNOVA HUNTING AND IN MY HOMETOWN, SKIEN-SOUTHERN NORWAY, THE LIMITING MAGNITUDE IS ABOUT 5.5 ON VERY GOOD NIGHTS, TYPICAL IS 5 ON AVERAGE NIGHTS, THE CCD CAMERA IS A VERY GOOD INVESTMENT.
I USE PIXCELL255 FROM CELESTRON, ITS MADE BY SBIG. THE CAMERA CONNECTED WITH A FOCAL REDUCER GIVES F3.7 AND A FIELD OF VIEW 11X14.7 ARC-MINUTES. ITS A SMALL FIELD, BUT ITS BIG ENOUGH TO PLACE MOST OF GALAXIES ON THE CHIP. THE CAMERA IS EXELENT FOR PLANETARY IMAGING AND ITS AMAZING HOW GOOD DETAIL LEVEL YOU CAN GET WITH THIS EQUIPMENT.
ON AVERAGE NIGHTS I GET DOWN TO 16-18 MAGNITUDE IN SUPERNOVA HUNTING AND THATS NOT BAD WHEN YOU LIVE IN A LIGHT POLLUTED AREA.