Celestron C6-A (CG-5) OTA

5.0 An excellent Grab-n-Go

Light weight convenience; Excellent optics; Excellent mechanics

Poor, typical finder

In the last few years, I have been using fast refractors, a 10” dob, and a 6” Schmidt-Newt for both visual and imaging. When I saw the Celestron C-6 OTA at a good sale price a few weeks ago, I decided to spring for one. I hadn't owned an SCT since the 80s, when I had an 8” Criterion Dynamax. Surely the newer ones had improved!!?
After reading a few reviews floating around, and selling a few items to fund the C-6, I placed my order.

It turns out that the reviews were not only very informative but very accurate as well. The C-6 is a perfect match for my Orion SkyViewPro EQ mount. I leave the covered scope/mount in the unheated garage and, at a moments notice, can be observing in seconds...literally.

My particular C-6 happened to be very well collimated out of the box and I have not noticed any image shift when focusing. The views through it are very pleasing. I was quite surprised to find M13 as breathtaking as it was in my 10” Dob. M27 and M57 are also impressive and the “double-double” was easily split at 100x.

The C-6 has turned out to be a great grab-n-go on the SVP. Highly recommended.