Celestron Nexstar 8 Telescope (Telescope Only)

by Celestron

Product Details

Product Manual [4.35mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 39 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B00005CFGG
• Batteries: 8 AA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,626 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 27, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Celestron Nexstar 8 is built around ease of use. The 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain optics offer images twice as bright as a 5-inch telescope, and feature Starbright multicoating. The auto-align feature accesses a database of 18,000 objects, and there's even a tour function that seeks out various regularly occurring astronomical events, depending on the month.

The Nexstar 8 offers nine different slew speeds, an RS-232 serial port for connection to a PC, computer hand control, a focal ratio of f10, and a focal length of 2032mm.

Manufacturer Product Description

Equipped with the standard electronic hand control, you can manually slew your NexStar across the sky in seconds or track a star equatorially as the Earth rotates beneath you. The electronic hand controls allows you to move the telescope at six different rates and has a "double button" feature that lets you instantly increase the slew speed without having to change rates. When used with the optional Computerized Hand Control these models include all of the same features as our most advanced GPS and CGE telescope models in an affordable and expandable system. Most important, these two new NexStars will fully align themselves when used with the CN-16 GPS accessory. Put the power of our newest software features and expanded object database to work for you with Celestron's most versatile telescope.

Add the NexStar Hand Control to your NexStar telescope and transform it into a completely automated GoTo system. Just plug it in to access features like automatic star alignment capability, GoTo slewing to over 40,000 objects and the expandability to use your NexStar with the external GPS accessory (CN-16) for a virtually hands-free alignment.

Celestron's optional computerized hand control, with a myriad of powerful new functions, is the next evolution of the most user-friendly, intuitive hand control in the industry.

With 2.5 times the light gathering of the 5" model, the NexStar 8 will enable you to see deeper into the Universe than ever before. The distinctive patented fork arm with ergonomically designed integrated hand control cradle gives solid support to Celestron's classic 8" optics. The NexStar 8 features Schmidt-Cassegrain 8" aperture optics with StarBright multi-coating, powerful 2,032mm focal length and f/10 focal ratio. Ready to take the optional Computerized Hand Control, the NexStar 8 has all the same feature as Celestron's most advanced computerized GoTo telescopes, including AutoAlign two-star alignment, a sky tour feature, a database of over 40,000 celestial objects and easy to use hand control. Plug the optional CN-16 GPS Accessory into NexStar's auxiliary port and download data from orbiting GPS satellites for truly hands-free alignments. The universe may be full of mysteries, but using the NexStar 8 isn't one of them.

The NexStar Series 8 Specifications:

• 203mm (8") diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain
• Focal Length of 2032mm
• Focal Ratio of f/10
• Six slew speeds: 6º /sec, 2º /sec, 128x, 64x, 16x, 8x
• Fully enclosed high speed motors on both axes
• Integrated hand controller built into the side of the fork arm
• StarBright Multi-Coating
• Designated AutoGuider port
• Auxiliary Port for optional Accessories, including CN-16 GPS module
• Battery Compartment for 8 (user supplied) AA batteries
• Weight: 24 lb.

The NexStar Series 8 Standard Accessories:

• 1-1/4" - 25mm Plössl (81x) Eyepiece
• StarPointer Finderscope
• 90° 1-1/4" Star Diagonal
• 1-1/4" Visual Back
• Electronic Hand Control

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A whole lot of viewing for the money!, June 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Celestron Nexstar 8 Telescope (Telescope Only) (Electronics)

I wasn't really looking for a 'GOTO' scope when I purchased the Nexstar 8. I have owned several telescopes over the years (from 4" refractors to 12" reflectors) and wanted something that would be easy to carry into the back yard for a quick look. I can walk around with the Nexstar 8 in one hand (carefully). It took me less than twenty minutes to set up the scope the first time and perform the auto-align of two stars. At first I was very disappointed as the images were not sharp, and the GOTO function was way off each time. After spending another 20 minutes to collimate the secondary mirror and then CAREFULLY go through the auto-align procedure I had totally changed my mind about this telescope. The optics are near textbook perfect, showing stars as tiny pinpoints, and good contrast when viewing Mars. The GOTO function is awesome. After spending years 'star hoping' and then later using manual setting circle to find deep sky objects I really didn't think I would need much more than digital setting circles to make me happy. Now I am spoiled rotten. Instead of viewing on or two deep sky objects an hour (because of the time needed to look up and find them) I am able to easily look at as many as I want. The 'TOUR' function on the controller is a blast. Just plug in the month and have the telescope slew to object after object. Each time the scope would put the target somewhere near the center of field of the supplied 40mm eyepiece. Although the scope has a slightly 'cheaper' feel for the tripod, and finder scope than some of the other SCTs that I have owned, the optics and electronics are top notch. I have used the scope a dozen times over the last two months and I am still extremely pleased with it, and certainly feel it was money well spent. I highly recommend an additional 12-15mm eyepiece and a good 2X barlow as accessories.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this scope, March 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Celestron Nexstar 8 Telescope (Telescope Only) (Electronics)

This telescope is wonderful. I love the goto - it's very easy to align and put the target in the FOV w/o fail.

My rational for getting the goto was to maximize my viewing times in the evening since I don't get much time to do so. For this it works very well. I spend much less time looking for objects and more time looking at them.

Jupiter, Saturn look great - good detail. I live in light polluted area (don't we all) but detail still looked good.

Haven't had a good dark night yet with it (moon has been out every night I've had it so far) - but could still see Andromeda galaxy (albeit faintly) and Orion nebula (not so faintly!) with it. This is literally on my driveway with mercury vapor lights in the street about 30 yds away (I could read my star maps by them).

Needless to say - detail on the moon is breathtaking.

Be sure to get more than the supplied 40mm eyepiece. I got a 25mm, 10mm, and a barlow with it and that seemed to provide a good variety for magnification.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice, but no tripod, February 18, 2002

By 

John Brisso (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celestron Nexstar 8 Telescope (Telescope Only) (Electronics)

This is a nice telescope, but beware of distributors that sell it for a low price, but don't include what Celestron says is included, like the tripod. The tripod is required to use this telescope and you'll have a hard time finding the tripod if you didn't receive it with this scope. Now I have to return the scope and buy from a distributor that correctly includes it. (sigh.)