Celestron Polar Axis Finderscope for Celestron CGEM, Advanced VX, CG-5 Equatorial Mounts

2024-08-09T03:14:46

Yes it's needed but it is not illuminated. Polar alignment is done at night - right!

MARTIN B.

2023-12-22T01:46:06

Easy to install. Not as easy to adjust. But got it aligned with a little effort. Happy with it and recommend it to others. Would be better if they made it illuminated.

BILL K.

2023-11-24T09:21:05

This was a very worthwhile investment. Prior to having it, I would do a rough polar alignment through the tube, and though close, I was constantly having to make adjustments in declination. This polar axis finder is a must have if one wants to have trouble free tracking of celestial objects. Installation was a snap although the process of aligning the polar scope to the mount was a bit more tricky. The three collimation screws are tiny and I believe that it would take very little to strip them. Overall, the form, fit, and finish are first rate and it is a wonderful compliment to my CG4 mount.

Eric Z.

2023-07-05T12:11:57

This fit and works great in my Celestron CGEM II mount.

Charles B.

2023-05-19T09:42:19

I've used polar axis finders before on prior CG-4 mounts. This one makes it very easy to set up and incorporate into your routine for accurate locating and viewing. Indispensable.

KEN S.

2022-11-13T07:21:19

It was so easy to use. Probably the best purchase I?ve made yet.

RICK T.

2022-10-31T09:16:05

Love this little scope for alignment. Fits inside my AVX mount and makes the job easier.

Jules C.

2021-09-02T11:41:16

I'm sure it works....but I haven't been able to figure out how to use it yet.

C M.

2021-05-15T14:22:06

Nice piece working perfectly to help in my polar alignment

NESTOR M.

2021-02-06T09:49:36

Excellent match for the CG-4 mount. It facilitates polar alignment.

MRS S.

2021-01-11T07:38:47

Excellent quality, very happy with purchase. Installed on my Celestron AVX amount.

David F.

2020-10-20T09:53:57

Let me start by saying this product is built with solid materials. Overall, it seems quite nice. But either due to the threading on my AVX mount or perhaps more likely because of this piece, when you thread it in all the way, it has a piece which spins freely. That seemed to make sense, until I realized the glass imprint of the night sky in the eyepiece does not spin with it. So you thread it into the mount, but then you have to unthread it to get it oriented correctly. No problem, except that it then wobbles around. Take for example, that you screw the piece all the way in, take note where the center crosshair reticle is, then unscrew it. That reticle may now be off center. If you're not paying attention exactly, which is easy to do when you're kneeling down in the dark looking up at the dark sky, you may mistake the new positioning as falsely correct, when it is in fact off center. If you're not too concerned about exact polar alignment, you will likely one day start to. And if that day comes, you may as well buy a PoleMaster or some other more accurate solution.

DEREK N.

2020-07-27T16:59:03

Excellent. I get perfect polar alignment each time. BUT I should have gotten the illuminated one--instead I shine a dim light near the front of the scope to see the guide markings if I cannot set up after twilight.

EVREN B.

2019-11-09T22:07:40

I purchased this along with a new Celestron AVX mount, perfect for my 8" Cassegrain. I have owned polar scopes before and found them to be wanting. Some had internal dust or reticle blemishes, others lacked clarity and ease of seeing the polar alignment guides printed on the reticle. This scope is extremely easy to install, focus and has the best polar reticle I've seen to date. It is very well marked showing polar constellations and a ring with a circle to pinpoint the true celestial pole. I have yet to see one that is as sharp, clear and easy to read and use!!

BOB C.

2019-07-26T09:35:37

Works great, some people complain about not having illuminated crosshairs but that is really not necessary. Crosshairs are not illuminated on a finder either and you can still see them.

THOMAS S.

2019-03-04T15:23:57

I purchased this finder as part of the package with my AVX mount. The first scope shipped was damaged, but very quickly replaced by Adorama's customer support team. The scope is well made and of high quality. It is very useful in making a polar alignment with my Celestron mount. I only wish Celestron made one with an illuminated reticle.

ENRICO B.

2018-04-26T13:56:47

The right tool to fit professionally in my CG-4Equitorial mount. Alignment to the pole star will now be quite easy.

Herbert L.

2018-04-23T10:28:57

The polarscope is a good idea and works well. The documentation describing how to co-align the reticle is very terse. My mount only adjusts down to an elevation of about 7 deg, so, during adjustment, the polarscope is going to be pointed up a bit. That's important. Gravity works against you. The goal of alignment is to position the reticle (2 dimensionally - up down left right) so that its center coincides with the rotation axis of the mount's R.A. axis. In the process of adjusting it I noticed that the telescope and reticle weren't in focus at the same time no matter how I adjusted the eyepiece and, just as I thought I had the reticle centered, the reticle came loose completely. So I unscrewed the eyepiece and looked at what is in there. The reticle is held in by the set screws but in order for them to grip it, it has to be all the way forward against a stop. It is pushed forward by the eyepiece being screwed in all the way, or by gravity if it is angled down a bit - but my mount wont let me do that. So to put it back together and align it, I pointed the polarscope down at the ground (holding it in my hand), unscrewed the set screws just a bit and screwed the eyepiece all the way in. That seats the reticle against a stop. The set screws can then be screwed in and will grab the edge of the reticle. Then back out the eyepiece. The distant object and the reticle will then be in focus at the same time (same eyepiece position). That told me I was on the right track. Here's the trick: before you make an adjustment of the set screws (with the polarscope angled up) , screw the eyepiece in all the way - gently, don't torque down hard on it. Then when you loosen the set screws, the reticle won't slide back (and hence out of focus). Only adjust the set screws by very small amounts - 1/8 of turn or less. Then when they are tight, back the eyepiece out till it's all in focus again and see how well aligned it is. Once I started screwing the eyepiece in all the way in each time before adjusting the set screws, the focus behaved correctly and the reticle moved the way I thought it would. (I think it is better to use the set screws to move the reticle half way towards the desired position - not all the way - on each adjustment. It will converge in fewer steps.) I got it centered pretty quickly after that and when the eyepiece is positioned so the stars are in focus, then the reticle is also in focus.

thomas s.

2018-04-17T11:49:19

I chose to upgrade my existing ASGT Polar Alignment Scope because it was too dim and the FOV was too narrow. The reviews on Adorama were very positive, and, Adorama offered the best price by almost $ with Free Shipping. I bought it, and, installed it in my ASGT. (Note: I needed a friend to keep my ASGT from tipping as I adjusted the reticule.) This scope makes Polar Alignment almost fun. The polar image is bright with a very wide FOV and easily visible reticule I highly recommend the product and Adorama.

ROBERT G.

2018-01-14T14:44:22

If you are having issue polar aligning your mount then this is a must! It makes aligning a lot easier. I do wish it was illuminated but all you need to do is shine a soft red light down the polar axis chamber and you can still see the etchings! Its well crafted and pretty solid. It also makes for easy focusing when looking for the stars in your hemisphere. I bought this from Adorama because it was a couple dollars cheaper here and they ship faster then most stores I know.

Ted W.

2017-09-27T03:15:46

For long exposure pictures a polar alignment is critical. This finder does the trick.

Don S.

2017-07-15T08:11:55

It would simplify matters if Celestron would include the small allen wrench that's required (1.5mm). On a CGEM mount the front elevation locking bolt must be removed to lower the mount past 20 degrees. I appreciated Celestron's customer support for a quick and useful response to this problem. As far as the alignment went, it went smoothly and quickly when, and I reiterate for others, I remembered to watch the circle described as the mount was flipped and move the cross hairs towards its center, not towards the target. After doing that twice, I moved the tripod legs to recenter the cross hairs on the target, then resumed flipping. This helped me zero in on the axis of rotation very quickly and without fuss. It might help someone to suggest not drinking five cups of coffee and becoming easily frustrated; it will work as described. There is no way Celestron could pre center the axis of rotation with everyone's scope. Tant pis.

james h.

2017-04-13T17:20:46

All of my Astronomy is visual but I decided to get the Polar Finder to assist me in getting some accurate alignment so not to have to adjust the telescope every few seconds. When I started using the Polar Finder, I was able to use higher power and stay on the object much longer than before. My example is splitting double stars at maximum optical ability and having them stay in view. Anyone imaging needs critical alignment. I've not used it for imaging and cannot evaluate. The four stars rating is because the reticle is not illuminated, nor is one available. (to my knowledge)

RON T.

2017-04-06T12:20:09

I received the polar scope fast and exactly as described. I am very pleased that I purchased it through Adorama

Scott A.

2017-02-07T07:38:31

Fits mount perfectly, but instructions leave something to be desired.

STEVE A.

2016-12-26T12:52:52

Finder is well made. Easily screws securely into mount. Well worth the price. Now the murky part. Being an engineer, I dispensed with the instructions. The CG-4 mount has a fixture where the polar scope inserts. The fixture has an internal o-ring and 3 radial positioning screws. The polar scope will not fit into that fixture no matter how hard you try. I than resorted to looking at instructions. 1st instruction: "Remove the finderscope housing on the rear of the telescope’s polar housing" This nicely machined fixture can than be thrown away and the polar scope neatly threaded into the back of the mount in its place. I guess I couldn't come to terms with really believing the finderscope housing was superfluous and does Celestron sell something that makes use of it? The back of the finderscope has a knurled knob. It looks like a means to focus the reticle , but if you loosen it, the reticle can be pushed out of its correct position and you have to unscrew the back piece and re-position the reticle. If these comments are incorrect, I would like to hear about it.

HERBERT S.

2016-12-22T09:10:57

Does the job...makes alignment a lot easier

Edward W.

2014-04-14T21:00:00

Hard to use with dark sky. I prefer illuminated polar scopes, but couldn't find any for my mount.

gnysiu

2013-02-04T19:00:00

quick polar alignment of CG-5 mount (CG-4 requires a different model), but the reticle is very dificult to see at night. Holding a red light near the objective end helps.

Jack

2013-01-19T19:00:00

Fits CGEM mount. As always great Adorama service! I've purchased DSLR cameras, telescopes, lens and many accessories from these folks - always fair, helpful and timely shipping

Astronmike