11-inch telescopes allow observers to see stars of 16 magnitudes. They can resolve double stars at 0.42 arcseconds. On average, they have 620-2800 mm focal lengths, and f/2.2-f/10 focal ratios. They provide magnification power 304x times the human eye. They vary in light-gathering power from 1589-1593x. Overall, they offer outstanding optical performance.
What is an 11-inch telescope?
An 11-inch telescope refers to a telescope having an aperture (the diameter of the objective lens) of 11-inch (279 mm). An 11-inch telescope is considered to be in the category of large telescopes. Only Celestron brands make different types of 11-inch telescopes. For example, Advanced VX 11″ Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope – 12067, 11″ Schmidt-Cassegrain CGX, Celestron 11″ EdgeHD OTA with CGE Mount Plate, etc
What can you see with an 11-inch telescope?
- The Moon and its craters
- The polar ice caps on Mars
- The phases of Venus.
- The moons of Jupiter, the Great Red Spot, and other details, etc.
- The rings of Saturn and the Cassini Division..
- Uranus and Neptune.
- Galaxies like Andromeda, M81, and the NGC galaxies, etc.
Types and Technical Specifications of 11-inch telescopes
Types (Optical Design)
RASA: Example: Celestron CGX with 11″ RASA V2 – CE-12060
Modified SCT: Example: Celestron 11″ EdgeHD OTA with CGE Mount Plate
SCT: Example: Celestron 11″ Schmidt-Cassegrain CGX Telescope
Technical Specifications
Aperture: 279 mm (11″)
Focal Length: 620-2800 mm
Focal ratio: f/2.2-f/10
Highest Magnification: 558-558.8x
Light Gathering Power: 1589-1593x
Price: 2,400-6,500$
Images taken with 11-inch telescopes
Examples of 11-inch telescopes
- Celestron C· 11 SCT Aluminum Optical Tube with CGE Dovetail – 91036 -XLT
- Celestron Advanced VX 11″ Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope – 12067
- Celestron CPC 1100 Computerized Telescope Bundle – CE-11075-XLT
- Celestron 11″ Schmidt-Cassegrain CGX Telescope
- Celestron 11″ EdgeHD OTA with CGE Mount Plate
- Celestron CGX with 11″ RASA V2 – CE-12060
How do 11-inch telescopes compare to other size telescopes
11-inch vs 12-inch telescope
11-inch telescopes provide focal lengths of 620-2800 mm (f/2.2-f/10), while 12-inch telescopes vary in focal lengths from 1200- 1525 mm ( f/2.2-f/10). Their magnification power is almost similar. 11-inch telescopes provide 558-558.8x the highest magnification, whereas 12-inch telescopes can magnify 600x.
| 11-inch telescope | 12-inch telescope | |
| Aperture | 11-inch (279 mm) | 12-inch (305 mm) |
| Focal Ratio | f/2.2-f/10 | f/3.93- f/5 |
| Focal Length | 620-2800 mm | 1200-1525 mm |
| Highest Magnification | 558-558.8x | 600x |
| Price | 2,400-6,500$ | 1,200-2,550$ |
11-inch vs 14-inch telescope
14-inch telescopes provide a focal length of 2463-3916 mm with a focal ratio of f/6.7-f/11. In contrast, 11-inch telescopes vary from 620-2800 mm in focal length and f/2.2-f/10 in focal ratio. However, the price of the 14-inch telescope is three times that of the 11-inch scope. Moreover, 11-inch telescopes provide 558-558.8x highest magnification, which increases to 710x-840x in the case of 14-inch telescopes.
| 11-inch telescope | 14-inch telescope | |
| Aperture | 11-inch (279 mm) | 14-inch (355 mm) |
| Focal Ratio | f/2.2-f/10 | f/6.7-f/11 |
| Focal Length | 620-2800 mm | 2463-3916 mm |
| Highest Magnification | 558-558.8x | 710-840x |
| Price | 2,400-6,500$ | 6,000-15,500$ |
11-inch vs 15-inch telescope
Though the 11-inch telescope has less aperture than the 15-inch scopes, it offers a focal ratio of f/2.2-f/10 whereas the 15-inch telescopes provide f/4.2. Besides, 15-inch telescopes offer a focal length of 1600 mm whereas the 11-inch telescopes vary from 620-2800 mm in focal lengths.
| 11-inch telescope | 15-inch telescope | |
| Aperture | 11-inch (279 mm) | 15-inch (381 mm) |
| Focal Ratio | f/2.2-f/10 | f/4.2 |
| Focal Length | 620-2800 mm | 1600 mm |
| Price | 2,400-6,500$ | 7,500$ |
11-inch vs 16-inch telescopes
11-inch telescope has less aperture than the 16-inch telescopes. They offer a focal ratio of f/2.2-f/10 whereas the 16-inch telescopes vary from f/10 to f/4.43. Besides, 11-inch telescopes offer a focal length of 620-2800 mm whereas the 16-inch telescopes start from 1800 mm to 4064 mm in focal lengths. Moreover, 11-inch telescopes provide 558-558.8x highest magnification, which increases to 810x -960x in the case of 16- inch telescopes.
| 11-inch telescope | 16-inch telescopes | |
| Aperture | 11-inch (279 mm) | 16-inch (406 mm) |
| Focal Ratio | f/2.2-f/10 | f/10- f/4.43 |
| Focal Length | 620-2800 mm | 1800-4064 mm |
| Highest Magnification | 558-558.8x | 810-960x |
| Price | 2,400-6,500$ | 4,500$-11,000$ |