Review Of The Celestron Nexstar 8SE Telescope

Here is my review of the Celestron Nexstar 8SE telescope, which is a 2000 mm focal length Schmidt Cassegrain type telescope.

My Background For This Review Of The Nexstar 8SE by Celestron

First, my background is as an amateur astronomer with about ten years experience using entry level telescopes. I belonged to my university's astronomy club but the bug did not bite me again until I was in my thirties. My first telescope was a refractor model that cost about $50. I used a pair of Celestron astronomy binoculars for a couple of years but then decided I wanted to take photos of space objects. From this I moved up to the "go to" type telescopes, including a Meade 4.5" and a Celestron 6SE. I was happy with the 6" Celestron Nexstar, but after an income tax rebate decided to upgrade, and so I gave the 6SE to a family member. I recently traded up to the Nexstar 8SE reviewed here in this article.The difference between the Nexstar 6SE (special edition) and the Nexstar 8SE is noticeable. The 8SE is advertised to have 74% more light gathering ability and I believe it. Both use the same hand controller and orienting software that allows you to use a planet, two stars or three stars (best) to align the telescope. Over 40,000 celestial objects are built into the database and you can even select "tour" and allow the telescope to automatically go to those objects.

Review of Celestron Nexstar 8SE Continued.

The tour feature is one of my favorite features, though you may have to realign the telescope for a different part of the sky. To do this you have to center an object like Polaris, the north star, in the eyepiece and realign. This improves the accuracy. If you use anything smaller than the 25mm Plossl eyepiece you may have a hard time in the "go to" mode, actually finding the object you are looking for.

Celestron Nexstar 8SE Review (pros)

My favorite thing about this telescope is the easy to use "go to" feature. I love the sharp optics, thanks to the patented Starbright coatings, and have not had to do a collimation, or realignment of the mirrors yet, despite having transported it on an outdoor camping trip. The tripod is heavy and well made, as is all of the telescope. The included eyepieces are nice, but you should seriously consider getting the accessory kit which includes a must have, the 2x Barlow lens and various sizes of eyepieces. I find for most uses I use the Barlow lens with the 25mm Plossl for moon and planets, and the 16mm Plossl lens with the Barlow for planets and other objects like nebulae. The clarity of objects is impressive and you can easily see the moons of Jupiter (especially now it is closer than ever), and very high relief of moon craters. I haven't had a chance to see the rings of Saturn yet, since the planet is now in the sky only during daytime. Other users note that the rings of Saturn are easy to see with the Nexstar 8SE.

Celestron Nexstar 8SE Review (cons)

Power drain is significant and the 8 AA batteries used to run the controller are quickly depleted, especially in tour mode. You will need to get either the Celestron AC to 12 volt adapter or an aftermarket one. (The center conductor is hot, if you want to get one at Radio Shack). A 12 volt cigarette lighter and power pack are available as accessories. Another minus is that the motor used in the control head is a bit noisy. It's not really that bad, I just know there are much quieter "go to" telescopes out there, having been to a few star parties. I would have like to have seen the AC adapter included, since they aren't that expensive to make. At my fifth pack of batteries I finally went back on Amazon and ordered it. Also, it would have been nice to include a Barlow and a couple of added eyepieces, but that's about all the negative aspects I could add to my review of the Celestron Nexstar 8SE. Another minor annoyance is that the date and time have to be entered each time you use the controller. Why they didn't program the firmware to remember the date, I have no idea.

Summary of Celestron Nexstar 8SE Review

The optics are great. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I have serious amateur astronomer friends with huge Dobsonian and Newtonian telescopes, who looked down their noses at Celestrons until they had a peek through mine. If you want a telescope that you can see the rings of Saturn, moons of Jupiter, distant double stars, nebulae and awesome moon crater views with, and don't want something that weighs 500 pounds, this is a great telescope. If you have unlimited funds, and want to step it up a couple of grand and get even better optics you will still face size and weight issues that most amateurs and hobbyists find a difficulty. At the end of our star parties, when my friends are requiring help putting away long heavy telescopes, mine has already been packed in the car by myself. There are some nice, affordable accessories for the Nexstar 8SE, like a solar filter that allows you to peer safely at the sun and see sunspots. (We are just entering into solar cycle #24, which means prime time for solar viewing.)

I'm pleased with the build of this scope, the ease of use of the controller, and the optics. You won't find anything close to this in terms of quality in the $1000 range, especially if you want portability. Look for package deals that include accessories, since you will most likely end up buying them anyway. Price $1,200 to $1400 online. Quality: In this review of the Celestron Nexstar 8SE I'd have to say four and a half out of five stars, minus one half for lack of AC adapter and firmware date issue.