Celestron · Schmidt-Cassegrain
Celestron CGX 800 HD
Celestron's most capable portable equatorial rig: 8 inches of flat-field optics on a rock-solid GoTo mount.
Price updated Mar 22, 2026
Performance Scores
Overview
The CGX 800 HD pairs Celestron's EdgeHD optical system with its CGX computerized equatorial mount, making it one of the more well-rounded options in the $4,000 range for astronomers serious about both visual observing and astrophotography. The EdgeHD design produces a flat, aplanatic field at f/10, which means stars stay sharp across the full frame rather than distorting toward the edges. That matters whether you are using a camera sensor or a wide-field eyepiece.
With 8 inches of aperture and StarBright XLT coatings, you will have enough light-gathering ability to resolve globular clusters, split double stars, and pull in faint galaxies under reasonably dark skies. The GoTo mount handles alignment and object finding, which reduces setup friction on shorter observing sessions. For imaging, the mirror clutch system actively reduces image shift during long exposures, a genuine frustration with many SCTs at this price.
The rear cooling vents help the primary mirror reach thermal equilibrium faster, improving sharpness as temperatures drop. The tube is also Fastar-compatible, meaning you can swap to an ultra-fast f/2 configuration with a third-party accessory for wide-field work. At roughly 9 kilograms for the optical tube, portability is a realistic selling point rather than just marketing language.
At a Glance
f/10
Focal Ratio
Specifications
Key Features
- Mirror clutches reduce image shift during long-exposure photography, addressing one of the most common SCT imaging complaints
- Rear cooling vents with dust filters speed up thermal equilibration, improving image sharpness as outside temperatures drop
- Fastar compatibility lets you convert to f/2 for wide-field imaging, giving this single telescope multiple focal ratio options
- The EdgeHD flat-field design corrects coma and field curvature, keeping stars sharp across the full sensor or eyepiece field
- GoTo equatorial mount with computerized alignment handles object location automatically, freeing more time for actual observing
- At f/10 the 800mm focal length suits planetary, lunar, and small deep-sky targets; adding the optional reducer expands field of view for larger objects
- The optical tube is notably light for its aperture class, making transport and single-person setup more practical than comparable instruments
Customer Reviews
1 reviews