General Info

Class: NexStar SE (Special Edition); Schmidt-Cassegrain
Best Uses: All-around Astronomy (Viewing planets, nebulae, the moon and star clusters; Astrophotography)

Recommended Experience: Though the Celestron NexStar 8 SE model details say it is made for the Professional astronomer, the vast majority of its users are in the Casual & Recreational category due to its ease of use and wide array of features.
Overall Rating: 9.41/10
Official Review: Listed at $2,600 (typically sold for $1,400), this powerful telescope is well worth the money overall. The only three things I found to be the slightest bit lacking are the battery-life (about 1.5 hours without the Power Tank upgrade), the single eyepiece and the occasional backlash (slight “lag” when GoTo alignment causes gears to move the scope to your desired object).

However, these minor drawbacks are more than made up for by its wonderful optics, its nearly flawless alignment and its ease of use. It’s easy to setup, has a fantastic instruction manual, and while they say it’s made for the pros, anyone can use it within a couple hours of learning to harness the power of its high-tech features. For the price, this is an amazing telescope, and I think you’ll spend many happy nights with it!

Pros: Light, durable, affordable for its robust feature set, easy to use, GoTo & SkyAlign technology, portable & amazing optics!
Cons: Fairly short battery-life & poorly-crafted eyepiece (Celestron Power Tank & accessory kit easily fix this)

Click here to check out the Celestron NexStar 8 SE and start observing!

Important Details

Usability: 9/10 – Very easy to use for what is considered a “Professional” scope
Comfortability: 8.5/10 – Some users complain about the supplied eyepiece & replace (others say it is comfortable)
Durability: 9.5/10 – Very durable; built to last, steady tripod & solid construction
Battery Life: 6.5/10 – Due to the power of this scope, its battery life is lacking compared to other less-advanced models
Backlash: 7.1/10 – Minor backlash issues, but instruction manual covers tips to reduce negative effects for beginners
Warranty: 9/10 Standard 2-year limited (Covers common issues, and isn’t used often due to its durable design)
Storage: 8.5/10 – Light, portable & easy to store
Accuracy: 8.2/10 – Very accurate GoTo function & SkyAlign
Setup: 9.1/10 – Easy to assemble; excellent manual

Click here to read more reviews on the Celestron NexStar 8SE!

Tech Specs

Aperture: 203mm
Magnification (Lowest Useful, Standard, Highest Useful): 29x, 81.28x, 480x
Focal Length: 2,032mm
Focal Ratio: f/10
Resolution: 0.68 Arc seconds
Angular Field of View: 0.63 degree
Slew Speed: 9 speeds: 5º/sec, 3º/sec, 1º/sec, 64x, 16x, 8x, 4x, 1x & 1/2x
Tracking: EQ North & Altazimuth

If you’re looking for professional quality with a reasonable price tag, the Celestron NexStar 8SE is right up your alley!

Telescope Construction

Optical Design: Schmidt-Cassegrain
Finderscope: StarPointer
Eyepiece: 25mm (Celestron Eyepiece & Filter Kit recommended)
Tube Length: 17in
Mount Design: Single Fork Arm-Altazimuth (quick-release)
Weight: 24lbs + Tripod (9lbs) = 33lbs total weight
Tripod: Durable steel design w/ accessory tray
Power Supply: 8-AA Batteries (1.5 hrs full observing time; some recommend the Celestron Power Tank)
Lens Coating: StarBright XLT (Awesome coatings!)
Other Equipment: None
Recommended Accessories: Celestron Power Tank, Celestron Eyepiece & Filter Set (available with purchase of Celestron NexStar 8SE)

Built to last, the Celestron NexStar 8SE will give you hundreds (or thousands) of perfect nights of stargazing!

Extra Features

GoTo: Yes (Excellent)
GPS: No (CN16 GPS accessory optional)
Computerized: Yes (Easily syncs for sending & storing Astrophotography pictures!)
SkyAlign: Yes
Remote: Yes
Object Database: 40,000 pre-programmed, 400 user-defined, and 200 objects w/ enhanced information
Programming Options: User-defined “memorized” objects, easy to use SkyAlign feature
CD-ROM: NexRemote v1.6.14 & The Sky L1

Summary: Whether you are a backyard stargazer or an avid astronomer, the Celestron NexStar 8SE will give you the power to view what you want with ease. While its batter-life is lacking at approximately 1.5 hours, it is greatly extended with the addition of the Celestron Power Tank. This scope is easy to use, has incredible SkyAlign object alignment and accuracy, and can easily be upgraded as new innovations arise. If you want to view the Universe the way only professional astronomers have until now (without shelling out $5,000+), get the Celestron NexStar 8SE. You’ll be glad you did…

Click here to order the Celestron NexStar 8SE from Telescopes.com!