The world’s most beloved telescope! The classic, 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain revolutionized amateur astronomy in the 1970s. Now, the iconic “orange tube” design is updated with all the latest features to provide the best stargazing experience for beginners and experienced observers alike.
Large, 8-inch aperture with excellent light-gathering ability provides spectacular views of the Moon and planets, along with deep sky objects like the Whirlpool Galaxy and Hercules Globular Cluster.
Fully automated, GoTo mount with database of 40,000+ celestial objects automatically locates and tracks objects for you.
SkyAlign technology gets your telescope aligned and ready to observe in minutes. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the night sky, you can easily align your telescope on any three bright objects.
The unique single fork arm design and sturdy steel tripod all break down into separate components for easy transport and quick assembly.
OPTICAL TUBE INFO:
Optical Design
Schmidt-Cassegrain
Aperture
203.2mm (8")
Focal Length
2032mm (80")
Focal Ratio
f/10
Focal Length of Eyepiece 1
25mm (.98")
Magnification of Eyepiece 1
81x
Finderscope
StarPointer™ red dot finderscope
Star Diagonal
1.25" Star Diagonal
Highest Useful Magnification
480x
Lowest Useful Magnification
29x
Limiting Stellar Magnitude
14
Resolution (Rayleigh)
0.69 arc seconds
Resolution (Dawes)
0.57 arc seconds
Light Gathering Power (Compared to human eye)
843x
Secondary Mirror Obstruction
64mm (2.5")
Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Diameter
31%
Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Area
9.77%
Optical Coatings
Starbright XLT
Optical Tube Length
432mm (17")
Optical Tube Diameter
232mm (9.1")
Optical Tube Weight
12 lbs (5.4 kg)
Dovetail
CG-5 Dovetail bar
MOUNT INFO:
Mount Type
Computerized Altitude-Azimuth Single Fork Arm
Instrument load capacity
12 lbs (5.44 kg)
Height adjustment range (includes mount and tripod)
965.2mm - 1422.4mm (38" - 56")
Tripod leg diameter
50.8mm (2") Stainless Steel
Mount Head Weight
11 lbs (5 kg)
Accessory Tray
Yes
Tripod Weight
9 lbs (4.08 kg)
Slew Speeds
9 slew speeds - max speed 5°/second
Tracking Rates
Sidereal, Solar and Lunar
Tracking Modes
Alt-Az, EQ North & EQ South
GPS
N/A
Dovetail Compatibility
CG-5 dovetail
Number of Auxiliary ports
1x Aux port
Autoguide port
Yes
USB port
Yes, Hand Control input
Power Requirements
8-AA batteries (not included) | 12 VDC-750 mA (Tip positive)
Motor Drive
DC servo motors
Alignment Procedures
SkyAlign, 1-Star Align, 2-Star Align, Auto 2-Star Align, Solar System Align, EQ North / EQ South Alignment (EQ align requires an equatorial wedge)
Periodic Error Correction
No
Computerized Hand Control
Double line, 18 character Liquid Crystal Display with 19 fiber optic backlit LED buttons
NexStar+ Database
40,000 objects, 200 user defined programmable objects. Enhanced information on over 200 objects
Software
Celestron's Starry Night Special Edition Software, SkyPortal App
Total Kit Weight
24 lbs (10.88 kg)
Included Items
NexStar SE OTA | Single Fork Arm Mount | Tripod | Accessory Tray | Star Pointer Finderscope | NexStar+ Hand Control | 25mm eyepiece | Star Diagonal