Celestron 180/2700 CGEM II 700 GoTo

The Planet Specialist: Maksutov contrast on a rock-solid platform

The Celestron MC 180/2700 CGEM II 700 is built for one discipline: high-end lunar and planetary work. The 180mm Maksutov-Cassegrain with a 2700mm focal length (f/15) provides the extreme contrast and color purity this design is known for. The sealed tube keeps dust and air currents out, and the thick meniscus lens is virtually maintenance-free.

The CGEM II Mount: Room for Serious Photography

The CGEM II is Celestron's heavier-duty German equatorial GoTo mount: 18 kg (40 lbs) payload capacity, NexStar+ hand controller with over 40,000 objects, All-Star Polar Alignment, permanently programmable periodic error correction (PPEC), and an autoguider port. Where the Advanced VX reaches its limit with these tube sizes, the CGEM II has plenty of margin: precisely what long, unattended exposures require. The mount operates on 12V; a power tank is the logical addition.

Where this combination excels

The long focal length makes high magnification easy, and the quiet Maksutov image rewards every clear night: shadows in lunar craters, the Cassini division, cloud bands on Jupiter, and during oppositions, detail on Mars. It is realistically usable up to about 360x, of which the Dutch atmosphere usually allows about 300x. For wide nebulosity fields, the field of view is deliberately narrow; that is the domain of a Newton or RASA.

What's in the box?

• Optical tube MC 180/2700 Maksutov-Cassegrain
• CGEM II GoTo Mount with NexStar+ Hand Controller
• Steel tripod with accessory tray
• Eyepiece and diagonal mirror
• Seeker
• Counterweights

Featured accessories

• The Celestron PowerTank Lithium LT The mount feeds all night in the field.
• A moon filter (1.25 inch) The bright moonlight is dimming on high magnification.

Still unsure about the right model? Our Buyer's guide for beginners and the telescope selection aid help you step by step. Also check out all the catadioptric telescopes or the full range on the Celestron brand page. You can read more background information about the brand in the Celestron brand guide.