Celestron StarSense Autoguider V2

Celestron StarSense Autoguider V2 is designed for anyone who wants more stability, simplicity and precision from their Celestron mount. This compact camera replaces several components of a traditional setup at once: manual alignment, error-prone GoTo corrections and separate guiding equipment are no longer necessary.

It recognizes the sky with the same patented StarSense technology that has distinguished Celestron for years. Within minutes, the mount independently performs an accurate alignment without you having to choose a single star. For beginners, this immediately means fewer thresholds. For experienced astrophotographers, it especially means speed, reliability and reproducible results during sessions where every minute counts.

During GoTo movements, the Autoguider continuously corrects the position of the mount, so that objects are not only found, but also remain exactly in the center. This is especially noticeable at high magnification or with small sensors: the object is where it should be, so you can start shooting immediately.

The integrated autoguiding replaces a dedicated guide camera, tracking scope and minicomputer. The highly sensitive Sony IMX462 sensor accurately tracks stars and sends microcorrections directly to the mount. For deep-sky photography, this means rounder stars, longer exposures and a simpler setup without extra weight or cables.

Celestron had the optics designed by Mark Ackermann, a name known for small optical systems with exceptionally high sharpness. The four-piece, fully multicoated lens (28 mm aperture, 120 mm focal length) provides a bright, high-contrast image that is essential for reliable guiding.

The StarSense Autoguider V2 works with the NexStar+ handheld controller or with CPWI software on PC, via cable or wifi. Compatibility is broad: AVX, CGX, CGX-L, CGEM II, CPC, NexStar Evolution and NexStar SE are fully supported. Only the entry-level SLT, AstroFi, SkyProdigy and LCM are excluded.

This combination of automatic alignment, improved GoTo accuracy and integrated autoguiding makes this camera one of the most valuable upgrades for any Celestron user looking to professionalize their setup without adding complexity.

Application

The Celestron StarSense Autoguider V2 is ideal for deep-sky astrophotography where tracking errors quickly become apparent. Long exposures become more consistent, stars remain rounder and objects remain neatly centered, even after hours of shooting. For visual use, the ease of use is especially striking: the mount is ready for a full evening of observing in minutes, with no need to find alignment stars or skip steps by yourself.

For users of AVX, CGX and CGX-L mounts, the upgrade provides the greatest gain, as these mounts are already accurate but much improved by automated StarSense alignments and autoguiding. NexStar Evolution and SE users especially benefit from the immediate time savings and center-in-image GoTos, making objects faster to find and track.

Specifications

Sensor: CMOS Sony IMX462LLR-C
Chip diagonal: 6.46 mm
Pixel size: 2.9 μm
Optics: four-lens, fully multicoated
Opening: 28 mm
Focal length: 120 mm
Automatic alignment: yes, StarSense
Autoguiding: integrated
GoTo accuracy: improved pointing corrections
Internal memory: ROM 4 GB, RAM 512 MB
Temperature range: -25 to +85 °C
Compatible with: Celestron AVX, CGX, CGX-L, CPC, NexStar Evolution, NexStar SE, CGEM II
Not compatible with: NexStar SLT, AstroFi, SkyProdigy, LCM
Color Camera: no
AllSky / Meteor: no
Moon & planets: not intended as an image capture camera