4.6Telescope
Orion SkyQuest XX12i IntelliScope Truss Tube Dobsonian
- Massive 12-inch aperture
- Digital object locator
- Great value per inch
Nebula Porch
Celestron
★★★★☆ 4.4/5
The Celestron CPC 1100 GPS is a powerful, professional-grade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope suited for serious hobbyists who want large aperture combined with reliable GoTo automation.
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Verdict
The Celestron CPC 1100 GPS is a powerful, professional-grade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope suited for serious hobbyists who want large aperture combined with reliable GoTo automation. While its size, weight, and price put it out of reach for casual stargazers, it delivers excellent optical performance and versatility for both visual observation and astrophotography once properly set up.
Full review
The Celestron CPC 1100 GPS is a premium computerized telescope built around an 11-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube, delivering the aperture and light-gathering power serious amateur astronomers need to observe faint deep-sky objects, planetary detail, and lunar terrain with striking clarity. Its StarBright XLT coating system optimizes light transmission and contrast, ensuring that views through the eyepiece remain crisp even at high magnifications. The fully computerized fork-mount design integrates seamlessly with Celestron's proprietary technology, offering a stable, robust platform that can support the substantial optical tube while maintaining precise tracking across long observation sessions, making it a favorite among astrophotographers and visual observers alike.
At the heart of the CPC 1100 GPS is its built-in GPS receiver, which automatically determines time, date, and location, streamlining the alignment process so users spend less time setting up and more time observing. Coupled with Celestron's NexStar computer control system, the telescope's database contains over 40,000 celestial objects, and its SkyAlign technology allows for alignment using any three bright celestial objects, even without prior star knowledge. This intelligent automation extends to the mount's tracking capabilities, which compensate for Earth's rotation, keeping targets centered in the field of view whether you're tracking a distant galaxy or following a planet across the night sky.
Constructed with a rugged single fork arm mount and sturdy tripod, the CPC 1100 GPS is engineered for stability in the field, minimizing vibration that can blur high-power views. The optical tube's compact Schmidt-Cassegrain design keeps the overall footprint manageable despite the generous aperture, and compatibility with a wide range of Celestron accessories, including additional eyepieces, filters, and imaging equipment, extends its versatility for both casual stargazing and dedicated astrophotography projects. Altogether, the CPC 1100 GPS stands as a capable, technologically advanced telescope suited to intermediate and advanced users seeking dependable performance night after night.
The trade-off
5 strengths · 5 compromises
Nearby
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