Celestron · Schmidt-Cassegrain · 10 inches and up · 1972 on
Celestron C14
The C14 has been Celestron's biggest regular Schmidt-Cassegrain since it joined the orange-tube line in 1972. Fourteen inches of aperture at f/11 gives it a 3,910 mm focal length, enough for fine planetary detail on steady nights, and the tube alone weighs 46 lb. That weight decides everything. It needs a heavy equatorial mount, many end up on a permanent pier in a backyard observatory, and moving one is a job for two people. Used ones turn up as bare tubes more often than complete setups, often for local pickup, because shipping a tube this size is a project. Current tubes are Fastar compatible and take a 2-inch visual back. If you have the mount and the space, few telescopes show more.
Orange tube (1970s)Black tube (1980s to 2000s)Current orange tube, Fastar compatible
Spec at a glance
- Brand
- Celestron
- Made
- 1972 on
- Aperture
- 356 mm (14 in)
- Focal length
- 3,910 mm
- Focal ratio
- f/11
- Design
- Schmidt-Cassegrain
- Central obstruction
- 114 mm (current tube)
- Tube weight
- 46 lb (current tube)
- Visual back
- 2 in, with a 1¼ in adapter (current tube)
- Also listed as
- C-14, Celestron 14, C14 OTA, 14-inch SCT
- Typical eBay ask (Oct 14, 2026)
- $3,625–$3,650
The full kit
What should come with it
- A heavy-duty mount or pier rated for a 46 lb tube, unless it's the tube alone
- Dovetail bar
- 2-inch visual back and star diagonal
- A finder (a 9x50 on current tubes)
- Front dust cap
Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. Plenty of listings are the tube alone or the mount alone, and a missing hand controller, power supply or counterweight should come off the price.
What to check
The large corrector is just as prone to haze and fungus as a C8's. The 46 lb tube needs a heavy mount, and shipping damage is a real risk, which is why so many are sold for local pickup.
- 01Corrector: Ask for a photo of the front glass lit at an angle by a flashlight. It should be clear, with no haze or fungus.
- 02Mount: Check what mount, if any, comes with it. It needs to be rated for a 46 lb tube, and many light mounts aren't.
- 03Pickup: Plan the collection before you buy. Local pickup lets you see the optics, while a shipped tube needs a crate or thick foam.
- 04Collimation: Ask for an out-of-focus star photo if possible. Round, centered rings are the goal after any trip.
- 05Focuser: Ask the seller to turn the focus knob end to end. It should run smoothly without grinding.
- 06Accessories: Look for the 2-inch visual back, diagonal, finder and dust cap. A bare tube without them needs them before first light.
New to used telescopes? How to check a used telescope covers optics, mounts, power and shipping, and what a complete kit looks like helps with tube-only and mount-only listings.
Buying guide
Which one to buy
§ Oct 14, 2026Only one C14 is listed, a tube alone with a dovetail at $3,635, titled Fastar compatible, so there's no market read here and no pick. The photo shows a black tube, which puts it in the 1980s to 2000s run, and it's freight only from a seller at 96.6%, so read their recent feedback before you pay. Ask for the freight quote, how the 46 lb tube will be crated, and a flashlight photo through the corrector at an angle. It still needs a heavy mount or pier rated for a 46 lb tube, plus a 2-inch visual back, diagonal and finder if they aren't in the box.
- Listed now
- 1
- For parts
- 0
- Typical ask
- $3,625–$3,650
- Full range
- $3,635–$3,635
Snapshot
For sale on eBay
1 of 1 listedChecked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used- Check the seller
Celestron C-14 Schmidt-Cassigrain Optical Tube w/Faststar Compatible w/ Dovetail
$3,635.00+ shipping
$3,635.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$3,635.00
Check the seller
Black tube with dovetail, titled Fastar compatible. Freight only; ask for a quote. Seller under 98%.
Seller: koiobservatory
96.6% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 14, 2026.
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