Celestron NexStar 8SE 203mm f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope

Introduction

Representing the largest aperture in the series and drawing in more light to see deeper into space than smaller versions, Celestron’s NexStar 8SE 203mm f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope is a powerful yet portable scope that can be used for observing everything from the Moon and planets to deep-sky objects like stars, galaxies, and nebulae, while maintaining the user-friendly interface of the SE series. Using Celestron’s proprietary StarBright XLT multi-coating system, light transmission is increased throughout the entire optical path with anti-reflection multi-coated lenses, highly reflective multi-coated mirrors, and crown optical glass elements. While the focal ratio is a relatively slow f/10, the mount’s precision tracking system allows it to be a competent shorter-exposure astrophotography imaging platform for the Moon and planets.

Driving the dual servo motors on the mount is the brain of the NexStar 8SE: The iconic NexStar+ computer hand controller. Packed with 40,000+ celestial objects, it can hold up to 100 additional user-defined destinations and is updatable via the Celestron website. It has multiple alignment procedures to get you observing fast, including the super-easy SkyAlign system. Capable of being used in the northern or southern hemispheres, the NexStar has sidereal, lunar, and solar tracking speeds to accurately follow near and deep-sky objects, plus nine slew speeds and the ability to automatically trigger a camera’s shutter release for Fastar or piggyback wide-field photography or conventional prime-focus astrophotography.

Performance

• 8″ (203.2mm) aperture
• f/10 focal ratio
• 2032mm focal length
• Crown optical glass primary mirror
• StarBright XLT optical coatings: Multi-layer aluminum/SiO2 (quartz)/TiO2 (titanium dioxide) mirror coatings with flat reflectivity across the light spectrum for both astrophotography/astroimaging and visual observation
• Multi-layer MgF2 (magnesium fluoride) and HfO2 (hafnium dioxide) anti-reflective lens coatings
• High-transmission water white glass corrector lens with 97.4% light transmission
• Internal focusing mechanism
• Resolution: 0.69 arcsec (Rayleigh); 0.57 arcsec (Dawes)
• Secondary mirror obstruction: 2.5″; 31% by diameter; 9.77% by area
• Fastar capability: Secondary mirror can be removed and a DSLR or imaging rig mounted in its place for fast wide-field astrophotography

NexStar+ Computer Controller

• 2-line, 16-character LCD display
• 19 fiber optic backlit red LED buttons
• Database of over 40,000 celestial objects plus 100 user defined
• Automatically slew to planets, stars, constellations, and a variety of catalogs
• Camera control: For piggyback wide-field or conventional astrophotography through the optical tube assembly, the controller can automatically trigger the shutter release to capture the image
• Anti-backlash compensation programs out play between gears for more precise tracking
• Tour Mode: Shows a selection of the most popular objects for the time and date you are observing
• Constellation Tour: Allows you to take a tour of all the best objects within a particular constellation
• Alignment procedures: SkyAlign, Auto 2-Star, 1-Star, 2-Star, and Solar System
• SkyAlign alignment: Takes minutes, with minimal effort or experiencepoint the telescope at three bright objects in the sky, and the telescope does the rest
• Nine slew speeds: 5/sec, 3/sec, 1/sec, 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, 32x, and 64x
• Sidereal, Solar, and Lunar tracking rates for observing the fast-moving Moon, to slower-moving deep-space subjects
• Tracking modes: Alt-Az, EQ North, EQ South, Off (no tracking when using as a terrestrial spotting scope)
• RS-232 communication port allows for computer control
• Flash updatable via the Celestron website

Database Details:

• Solar system objects including the Sun, Moon, and planets
• Named objects
• Stars: Asterims, variable stars, double stars, named stars
• Caldwell catalog
• Messier catalog
• NGC catalog
• SAO catalog
• Constellations

Mount & Tripod

Mount:

• Single-fork alt-az
• Dual-axis servo motors allow for precise tracking with virtually no vibration
• Motor resolution: 0.26 arcsec
• Optical encoders track mount movement to improve tracking and GoTo accuracy while allowing the mount to maintain alignment when moved manually
• Communication ports: Autoguider port, Aux port, hand controller
• Runs on eight user-supplied AA batteries or optional 12 VDC power supply

Tripod:

• Stainless steel legs
• Adjustable height accommodates a variety of observation positions or users
• Tray holds accessories such as eyepieces and filters and adds stability and vibration reduction
• Weight: 10 pounds

Included Accessories

Eyepiece:

• 1.25″-diameter barrel
• 25mm focal length produces 81x magnification
• Anti-reflection multi-coated glass improves color rendition and contrast
• Threaded barrel accepts most 1.25″ astronomical filters
• Fold-down rubber eyecup for use with or without eyeglasses
• 33′ field of view at 1000 yards

Diagonal:

• 1.25″ input and output accepts most 1.25″ astronomical eyepieces and accessories
• 90 angle puts head in a comfortable position when observing at or near the zenith
• Corrects view horizontally, but not vertically

StarPointer Finder:

• Projects a single red dot in line of sight
• Unmagnified view ensures a wide field of view to make finding objects faster and star-hopping navigation easier