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Turn your NexStar SE, Evolution or Origin into an equatorial imaging mount
Why we like this wedge:
- Stops field rotation: an alt-az mount keeps a target centered, but in long exposures the stars around it rotate. Tilting the mount to point at the celestial pole lets it track like an equatorial mount, so stars stay round across the whole frame.
- Made for these mounts: Celestron designed it around the NexStar SE and Evolution single-arm forks, and it also fits the Celestron Origin. It goes between your existing tripod and mount.
- Easy to adjust under load: captive hardware, tool-free knobs, a latitude scale and a bubble level let you polar align with the telescope already on the wedge.
- Worth knowing: the wedge holds 36 lb, but it doesn't raise your mount's own capacity, so keep the camera load light on a NexStar SE. It also adds 15 lb to the setup, and fork-mounted scopes can be awkward to reach near the pole.
The Celestron Equatorial Wedge for NexStar SE, NexStar Evolution and Celestron Origin converts these computerized alt-azimuth telescopes into an equatorial platform for long-exposure astrophotography and autoguiding. It's for owners of a NexStar 6SE, NexStar 8SE, NexStar Evolution 6, Evolution 8, Evolution 8 HD or Celestron Origin who want to go beyond short exposures. The wedge weighs 6.8kg (15 lb) and carries up to 16.3kg (36 lb).
Key specs: 16.33kg (36 lb) load capacity · 0–70° latitude range · 6.80kg (15 lb) · fine latitude and azimuth adjustment · tool-free captive hardware · latitude scale and bubble level
What you can image
- Bright nebulae: the Orion Nebula (M42), the Lagoon (M8) and the Ring Nebula (M57), with exposures long enough to bring out faint detail.
- Galaxies: the Whirlpool (M51), M81 and M82, and the Sombrero (M104) at the long focal length of an SCT.
- Globular clusters: M13 and M92 in Hercules.
- With Origin: equatorial tracking removes field rotation, so long stacked sessions keep the full frame instead of cropping the rotated edges.
How to set it up
- Attach the wedge to your tripod and level it with the bubble level.
- Set the latitude on the scale. In the Denver area that's about 40°.
- Point the wedge roughly north and mount the telescope's fork base on the tilted plate.
- On a NexStar SE or Evolution, run the hand control's EQ North alignment, which Celestron provides for mounts on a wedge. With Origin, follow Celestron's instructions for equatorial use.
- Fine-tune polar alignment with the latitude screw and the two azimuth knobs. You can adjust them with the telescope on the wedge.
What to add for the best results
- A compatible telescope (required): the NexStar 6SE, NexStar 8SE, NexStar Evolution 6, NexStar Evolution 8 or Celestron Origin.
- Power: the PowerTank Lithium Pro or Celestron AC adapter for a NexStar SE. Long imaging sessions drain AA batteries quickly.
- T-Adapter for SCT: attaches a camera body with a T-ring to the back of an SE or Evolution tube.
- A dedicated camera: a small, light camera such as the ZWO ASI585MC keeps the load on a single-arm mount low.
Wedge for SE/Evolution/Origin vs. Wedge HD Pro
| Wedge for SE / Evolution / Origin | Wedge HD Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Fits | NexStar SE 6 and 8, NexStar Evolution 6, 8 and 8 HD, Celestron Origin | CPC GPS XLT, CPC Deluxe HD and NexStar Evolution 9.25 (fork SCTs up to 11") |
| Latitude range | 0–70° | 0–90° |
| Best for | Single-arm forks and Origin | Heavy dual-fork CPC telescopes |
See all mount accessories.
What's in the box
- Celestron equatorial wedge
- 5 hex keys for assembly
- Instruction manual
The telescope, mount and tripod are not included.
Celestron Equatorial Wedge FAQ
Do I need a wedge for astrophotography?
Not for the Moon, planets or short exposures, which work fine in alt-az mode. For long deep-sky exposures and autoguiding, field rotation makes stars streak around the edges of the frame, and a wedge fixes that.
Which telescopes does it fit?
Celestron lists the NexStar SE 6 and 8, the NexStar Evolution 6, 8 and 8 HD, and the Celestron Origin. For the NexStar Evolution 9.25 and the CPC series, Celestron recommends the Wedge HD Pro.
Does it work with the NexStar 4SE or 5SE?
Celestron doesn't list them as compatible. Ask us before ordering for those models.
Can I autoguide on the wedge?
Yes, that's one of the main reasons to use one. Celestron lists an autoguide port on the NexStar SE mount but not on the Evolution, so ask us about guiding options for an Evolution.
What latitude do I set in Colorado?
Your latitude: about 40° in Denver, a little less in southern Colorado and a little more near the Wyoming border. The wedge covers 0–70°, so it works anywhere in the lower 48 states.
Specifications
| General | |
|---|---|
| Type | Equatorial wedge for single-arm fork mounts |
| Compatible with | NexStar SE 6 and 8; NexStar Evolution 6, 8 and 8 HD; Celestron Origin |
| Load capacity | 16.33kg (36 lb) |
| Latitude range | 0–70° |
| Adjustments | Latitude screw with scale; fine azimuth knobs; bubble level |
| Hardware | Captive, tool-free |
| Physical | |
| Weight | 6.80kg (15 lb) |
| Included | Wedge, 5 hex keys, instruction manual |
| Part number | |
| Celestron model / SKU | 93665 |