Celestron CPC 800 GPS (XLT)

Ideal for the serious astrophotographer, this superb instrument is a must-have for those looking to upgrade from a beginner scope

Telescope advice

Cost: £2,225 (approx. $2,732)

From: David Hinds Ltd.

Type: Schmidt-Cassegrain

Aperture: 8”

Focal length: 80”

Best for…

Intermediate

Large budget

Planetary viewing

Lunar viewing

Deep-sky objects

Astrophotography

With the CPC 800, you certainly get what you pay for. An incredibly well-made instrument, this beautifully presented telescope is ideal for those looking to upgrade from a beginner’s telescope or for those looking for an all-rounder that allows astronomers to get their teeth into some serious astrophotography, and on first impressions the telescope appears to be very robust.

The CPC 800 may look daunting to set up to some, but thankfully Celestron has provided in-depth instructions for fuss-free construction, leaving the user fully guided through the process. The scope will take more than a few minutes to set up, but this is to be expected – especially if you have never put together a computerised instrument. On the whole we do think that the general set up is easy, thanks to the excellent design.