This new HyperStar lens for the Celestron 8" SCT now accommodates CCD chips up to 27mm diagonal, allowing for a huge field of view at incredibly fast speeds!
HyperStar is based on Celestron's innovative Fastar feature. This feature allows the secondary mirror to be removed from Celestron's 8", 11", and 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. By mounting the HyperStar lens assembly in place of the secondary mirror, a CCD camera can be mounted at the front of the telescope allowing for a wider field of view and much faster imaging.
What are the Advantages of HyperStar?
The primary advantage of HyperStar is speed. Exposures that take the better part of an hour at f/10 take mere seconds with the HyperStar lens!
Aside from the obvious savings in time and effort, short exposure times have a secondary advantage: capturing images is much easier. With typical exposure times of 20-60 seconds, HyperStar imaging allows unguided imaging. Long exposures require a telescope to be guided due to inherent tracking errors in the drive. This requires a second CCD camera or self-guiding CCD and often other hardware such as a guidescope. HyperStar images can be shot unguided thanks to the extremely short exposure.
An additional benefit of short exposures is that it is often possible to image with a telescope in alt-azimuth mode. This means it is possible to capture deep-sky images with a fork-mounted SCT without needing an equatorial wedge. This saves the trouble of mounting the scope on a wedge plus having to polar align the telescope. CCD imaging simply doesn't get any easier than that!
The HyperStar lens assembly works with a variety of cameras from SBIG, Starlight Xpress, SAC, Orion, Meade, and Astrovid. Different cameras require different adapters, however. One adapter is included with the HyperStar lens. Please specify the camera being used when ordering.
A holder is included for safe storage of the secondary mirror while imaging.
The HyperStar systems allows the telescope to operate at a focal ratio of f/2.0, an incredible 25 times faster than the standard f/10 focal ratio! Images can be obtained in just seconds!
For non Fastar equipped telescopes a conversion kit is required - see related products below.
Specifications:
Fully Multi-Coated Optics
Black Anodized Finish
T-Threads for CCD Mounting (optional adapters available)
Adapter threaded for 1.25" filters
Collimation Adjustable
Independent Camera Rotation
Includes Secondary Mirror Holder
Made in U.S.A.
Special order item - please contact us for delivery times.
Related Products:
HyperStar Conversion Kit - Celestron 8" SCT £316.00 This kit allows a non-HyperStar-compatible Celestron 8" SCT to be converted ... More info... | HyperStar Camera Adapter C8/C8HD £107.00 This adapter works with the HyperStar 3 Lens for Celestron 8" ... More info... |
