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Celestron - NexStar 8SE Telescope - Computerized Telescope for Beginners and Advanced Users - Fully-Automated GoTo Mount - SkyAlign Technology - 40,000+ Celestial Objects - 8-Inch Primary Mirror
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Celestron |
Model Name | 11069 |
Optical Tube Length | 432 Millimeters |
Eye Piece Lens Description | Plossl |
Objective Lens Diameter | 203 Millimeters |
Telescope Mount Description | Altazimuth Mount |
Product Dimensions | 42.01"D x 23.66"W x 12.99"H |
Focus Type | Manual Focus |
Power Source | Battery Powered |
Finderscope | Reflex |
About this item
- Nexstar computerized telescope: The NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope features Celestron’s iconic orange tube design with updated technology and the latest features for amazing stargazing for beginners and experienced observers.
- 8-Inch aperture: The 8-inch primary mirror in this Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope for adults and kids to be used together packs enough light-gathering ability to observe the best that our Solar System has to offer, while retaining a compact form factor. Compatible with starsense technology, Wifi
- Fully-automated go to mount: Featuring a database of more than 40,000 celestial objects, the go to mount built into our telescopes for astronomy beginners automatically locates and tracks objects for you.
- Easy to assemble and break down: The single fork arm design and sturdy steel tripod all assemble and break down from separate components for easy transportation. SkyAlign technology gets your telescope aligned and ready in minutes.
- Unbeatable warranty and customer support: Buy with confidence from the telescope brand, based in California since 1960. You’ll also receive a 2-year warranty and unlimited access to technical support from our team of US-based experts.
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Important information
Legal Disclaimer
No warranty
From the manufacturer
Your Journey Through The Cosmos Begins Here
Celestron’s signature 'orange tube' telescope, designed to deliver one of the best stargazing experience for users of all levels
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Fully Automated GoTo Mount
Select from a database of more than 40,000 stars, galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, solar system objects, & more. Your NexStar SE locates them all with pinpoint accuracy & tracks them automatically.
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Compact and Portable
The 8SE is ideal for weekend camping trips or excursions to dark sky sites. Its compact form factor is easy to transport and assemble just about anywhere.
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Accessories Included
You receive a red dot StarPointer finderscope, 25mm Plossl eyepiece, visual back, and mirror star diagonal.
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Schmidt-Cassegrain Optics
8-inch aperture provides excellent light-gathering ability at an affordable cost. You’ll get impressive views of the Moon & planets, along with deep sky objects, while keeping a compact form factor.
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A Lifetime of Astronomy
Compatible with all Celestron’s most popular accessories, including StarSense AutoAlign and SkyPortal WiFi Module, the NexStar SE can grow with you.
Fast Setup with SkyAlign
Celestron’s proprietary SkyAlign procedure has you ready to observe in minutes. Center any three bright objects in the eyepiece and NexStar SE aligns to the night sky, ready to locate thousands of stars, galaxies, and more.
Comparison Chart
NexStar 8SE | NexStar 5SE | NexStar 6SE | NexStar 4SE | |
Customer Reviews
|
4.4 out of 5 stars
2,132
|
4.3 out of 5 stars
1,168
|
4.4 out of 5 stars
2,132
|
4.3 out of 5 stars
1,168
|
Optical Design
| Schmidt-Cassegrain | Schmidt-Cassegrain | Schmidt-Cassegrain | Maksutov-Cassegrain |
Aperture
| 203.2 mm (8”) | 125 mm (4.92”) | 150 mm (5.91”) | 102 mm (4.02”) |
Focal Length
| 2032 mm (80”) | 1250 mm (49”) | 1500 mm (59”) | 1325 mm (52”) |
Focal Ratio
| f/10 | f/10 | f/10 | f/13 |
Magnification
| 81x | 50x | 60x | 53x |
Limiting Magnitude
| 14 | 13 | 13.4 | 12.5 |
Low Useful Magnification
| 29x | 18x | 21x | 15x |
High Theoretical Magnification
| 480x | 295x | 354x | 241x |
Assembled Weight
| 33 lbs | 27.6 lbs | 30 lbs | 21 lbs |
Videos
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HONEST review Celestron Nexstar 6SE Telescope
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Stargazing hobbyists - this is your telescope!
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Compare with similar items
This Item Celestron - NexStar 8SE Telescope - Computerized Telescope for Beginners and Advanced Users - Fully-Automated GoTo Mount - SkyAlign Technology - 40,000+ Celestial Objects - 8-Inch Primary Mirror | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | $1,599.00$1,599.00 | $1,599.99$1,599.99 | $999.00$999.00 | $679.00$679.00 | $939.00$939.00 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 |
Customer Ratings | |||||
Portability | 3.8 | — | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
For beginners | 3.6 | — | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
Sold By | Amazon.com | Focus Camera LLC | Amazon.com | Focus Camera LLC | Amazon.com |
focus type | Manual Focus | Auto Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus |
eye piece lens | Plossl | — | Plossl | Plossl | Plossl |
objective lens diameter | 203 millimeters | 203 millimeters | 150 millimeters | 102 millimeters | 125 millimeters |
telescope mount | Altazimuth Mount | — | Altazimuth Mount | Altazimuth Mount | Altazimuth Mount |
lens coating | — | StarBright XLT | — | StarBright XLT | StarBright XLT |
weight | 10.88 kilograms | 1 pounds | 21 pounds | 30 pounds | 17.6 pounds |
power source | Battery Powered | — | Battery Powered | Battery Powered | Battery Powered |
finderscope | Reflex | StarPointer | Reflex | StarPointer™ red dot finderscope | Reflex |
optical tube length | 432 millimeters | — | — | 11 millimeters | 25 millimeters |
Looking for specific info?
Product information
Product Dimensions | 16.54 x 9.31 x 5.11 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 23.9 pounds |
ASIN | B000GUFOC8 |
Item model number | 11069 |
Batteries | 8 AA batteries required. |
Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #92 in Camera & Photo Products (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo Products) #2 in Catadioptric Telescopes |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | June 17, 2003 |
Manufacturer | Celestron |
Country of Origin | China |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Product Description
Product Description
The best telescope is the one used often to enjoy the beauty and intrigue of the night sky. For those searching for telescopes for astronomy beginners that are infused with the latest computer technology, Celestron’s NexStar 8SE Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope fits the bill perfectly. The NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope features Celestron’s iconic “orange tube” design and updated technology with the latest features for amazing stargazing for beginners and experienced observers. Celestron’s signature telescope combines advanced features and excellent optics in one easy-to-use system, the NexStar 8SE. It’s the perfect choice for your first serious telescope, offering striking views at an economical price.
The eight-inch primary mirror in this computerized telescope packs enough light-gathering ability to observe the best that our Solar System has to offer, from Saturn’s rings to the cloud bands on Jupiter and geographic features on the surface of the Moon. When it comes to deep sky objects, take your 8SE to a dark-sky site and you’ll see hundreds of pinpoint stars in the Hercules Globular Cluster, the spiral arms of the Whirlpool Galaxy, and more. Featuring a database of more than 40,000 celestial objects, the 8SE’s GoTo mount automatically locates and tracks objects for you. You can also take a Sky Tour and let your telescope show you the best objects currently visible. The single fork arm design and sturdy steel tripod all assemble and break down from separate components for easy transportation. 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 3 bright objects.
The NexStar 8SE is a telescope that will grow with you as you advance in the hobby of astronomy. It’s compatible with all the high-tech accessories advanced users love. Provide GPS coordinates to your telescope with SkySync, or add automatic alignment functionality with StarSense AutoAlign.
Buy with confidence from the world’s #1 telescope brand, based in California since 1960. You’ll also receive a two-year warranty and unlimited access to technical support from our team of US-based experts.
Amazon.com
Amazon.com Review Celestron's Nexstar 8 SE telescope combines excellent optics and computerized "GoTo" tracking in a package that's light, portable and affordable. The legendary performance of Celestron's orange tube C8 telescope has been updated with high performance Starbright XLT coatings, and the single arm Nexstar mount now includes Celestron's easy to use "SkyAlign" technology.
The Nexstar 8 SE upholds Celestron's reputation for quality optics. When I use an 11mm Plossl eyepiece (almost 200x magnification) for example, I can easily see the Cassini Division in Saturn's rings. When I look at Jupiter, the pale orange color of Jupiter's famous Great Red Spot is visible, and I've even been able to identify the polar caps and spot dust storms on the planet Mars. A 20mm Plossl eyepiece (about 100x magnification) is a good choice for viewing galaxies and star clusters. When I look at globular cluster M13 in the constellation Hercules the high contrast XLT optics show me a glowing snowflake made of hundreds of tiny pin-point stars! And a low power 32mm Plossl eyepiece is a good choice for views of larger deep space highlights like the Andromeda Galaxy and the Orion Nebula.
Celestron's patented "SkyAlign" system makes the Nexstar 8 SE very easy to use. I just pick the nearest town from the built-in list, enter the date and time, and point the telescope at three bright stars. I don't need a star chart because "SkyAlign" identifies the stars for me. When I just want a quick look at the moon or a planet, I like to use the "Solar System Align" option. After entering the date and time, I just point the telescope at the moon and press the "Align" key. That's all it takes, the computer takes over and the telescope begins tracking quietly and accurately. At star parties I often have my Nexstar up and running while older computerized telescopes are still waiting for their alignment stars to appear in the twilight.
The Nexstar 8 SE comes with a simple red-dot finder scope and a basic 25mm eyepiece. You'll want to add a few good eyepieces to take full advantage of the Nexstar 8 SE's excellent optics. At the very least get Celestron's bargain priced Accessory Kit which includes high and low power plossl eyepieces, or treat yourself to some top rated Tele Vue eyepieces. At twenty-four pounds total weight, the Nexstar 8 SE is unusually light and portable for an eight-inch telescope. The drawback of course is that some people will find it too light. Like other Schmidt Cassegrain (SCT) telescopes there are plenty of optional accessories to upgrade this telescope with, such as heavy duty tripods and an optical finder scope. If you want to try astro-photography, however, check out Celestron's CPC 800 Telescope which features a heavy duty mount and tripod and an 8x50 optical finder scope right out of the box. --Jeff Phillips
Pros:
- Excellent optics
- Easy computerized GoTo tracking
- Light, portable and affordable
- Plastic accessories
- Short battery life
- Too light for astro-photography
From the Manufacturer
Manufacturer Description
The largest of the NexStar SE family with 78% more light gathering than a 6-inch model, the NexStar 8 SE will enable you to see deep into the Universe. The distinctive patented fork arm with ergonomically designed integrated hand control cradle gives solid support to Celestron's classic 8-inch optics. The NexStar 8 SE features Schmidt-Cassegrain 8-inch aperture optics with our premium StarBright XLT coatings and a powerful 2,032mm focal length and f10 focal ratio.
About the NexStar SE Series:
NexStar 8 SE Features:
The NexStar 8 SE has all the same features as Celestron's most advanced computerized GoTo telescopes, including our revolutionary SkyAlign alignment technology, 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 quick and easy alignments. The universe may be full of mysteries, but using the NexStar 8 SE isn't one of them.
In the tradition of Celestron's famous orange optical tubes, the NexStar SE Family combines the classic heritage of the original orange tube telescopes with state-of-the-art features including a fully computerized operating system, flash upgradeable hand control, our superior StarBright XLT coatings, our revolutionary SkyAlign telescope alignment software, and much more.
Whether you are a seasoned astronomer looking for a portable scope with advanced features, or just starting your astronomy adventure and looking for an easy way to enjoy the night sky, a NexStar SE will help you take a closer look.
Every NexStar SE includes a version of The Sky software Level 1 Planetarium software for exploring the Universe on your PC and printing out custom star charts of the sky. In addition, you receive our NexRemote software that allows you to operate your telescope via your PC. This software package, valued at over $100, is included free with your NexStar SE!
General Features:
- 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope
- SE combines the classic heritage of the original orange tube telescopes with the latest state-of-the-art features
- StarBright XLT high transmission coatings come standard
- Quick release fork arm mount, optical tube, and accessory tray for no-tool setup
- Celestron's unique patented single fork arm with integral hand control design provides a rigid and smooth operating structure for the optical tube
- StarPointer finderscope to help with alignment and accurately locating objects
- Sturdy computerized altazimuth mount
- Ultra sturdy steel tripod with accessory tray
- Star diagonal provides more comfortable viewing position when observing objects that are high in the sky
Computerized Features:
- Proven NexStar computer control technology
- 40,000 object database with 200 user-definable objects and expanded information on over 200 objects
- SkyAlign allows you to align on any three bright celestial objects, making for a fast and easy alignment process
- Flash upgradeable hand control software and motor control units for downloading product updates over the Internet
- Custom database lists of all the most famous deep-sky objects by name and catalog number; the most beautiful double, triple, and quadruple stars; variable star; solar systems; objects and asterisms
- DC Servo motors with encoders on both axes
- Autoguider port for long exposure astrophotography
- Double line, 16-character liquid crystal display hand control with backlit LED buttons for easy operation of go-to features
- NexRemote telescope control software and RS-232 cable included for advanced control of your telescope via computer
- GPS-compatible with optional CN16 GPS accessory (93963)
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality of the telescope, mentioning it's an amazing product with great optics. They appreciate the views. However, some customers are disappointed with performance. Opinions are mixed on ease of use, value, alignment, portability, and clarity.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the quality of the telescope. For example, they say it's an amazing product, with great optics and construction. Some mention that the quality is spot on out of the box.
"...Pros: So many but to name a few...Great, clear images, mostly newbie friendly- just have to educate yourself on operating the telescope to get..." Read more
"...Great value for the money, great construction, I called Celestron for help and was talking to an expert in two minutes who knew exactly what I was..." Read more
"...All of the various pieces that came with the package seemed well built, except for the spotting scope (more later) and perhaps the diagonal -- it's..." Read more
"...It's first-rate. It's especially good for novice astronomers, in my opinion, and saves a lot of time that would otherwise be spent searching for..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the views produced by the telescope. They mention that it produces great views of nebula, moon, and planets. The images are clear, detailed, and crisp. Overall, customers are happy with the product's views and recommend it to others.
"...Images are clear and detailed...." Read more
"...is definitely worth it, the X-Cel lenses are a must, so clear and great views and focus ability...." Read more
"...Clusters and Nebulas have better detail and you are able to see stars that normally you cannot see in the city environment.Set up:..." Read more
"...However, planetary viewing isn't so difficult with even the most basic scope. I decided to try a few more difficult targets...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of use of the telescope. Some mention it seems pretty straightforward, easy to use the basic features, and navigate through all the intricacies of astronomy. However, others say that the directions differ in some areas with the hardware, there is a bit of a learning curve, and it takes a lot of practice.
"...Pros: So many but to name a few...Great, clear images, mostly newbie friendly- just have to educate yourself on operating the telescope to get..." Read more
"...It's easy enough to set the slew speed slow and center the objective and it tracks just fine for a while...." Read more
"...If I had any issues, it was with the assembly instructions, they never actually show you how to put the orange tube on the fork, which IMO was the..." Read more
"...It's especially good for novice astronomers, in my opinion, and saves a lot of time that would otherwise be spent searching for things when you're..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the value of the telescope. Some mention it's great value for the money, worth the investment, and a perfect value beginner telescope. However, others say that it'd be a horrible investment, not worth the time or money, and has a cheap hand controller and LED display.
"...Great value for the money, great construction, I called Celestron for help and was talking to an expert in two minutes who knew exactly what I was..." Read more
"...the spotting scope (more later) and perhaps the diagonal -- it's very cheap plastic and doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in the quality of the..." Read more
"...Strengths:1. The price and low cost of accessories.2. The clear images.3. Ease of setup and alignment...." Read more
"...With those items, I'd give it 5!Perfect value beginner telescope...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the alignment of the telescope. Some mention that it aligns easily by pointing to three bright stars, while others say that it always fails. The two-star align is accurate for the part of the sky you choose, while the three-star alignment is not reliable.
"...4. Unless you use the Sync option, alignment seems to deteriorate over the course of a couple of hours...." Read more
"...for purchase to upgrade your experience, and with the star sense auto align you can spend hours outside enjoying clear skies...." Read more
"...tried using Jupiter, the Moon, and another "bright" star, but alignment always failed...." Read more
"...It's very easy to do a three-star alignment. My first attempt was spot on and a solution was found...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the portability of the telescope. Some mention that it is quite portable, easy to carry in one piece, and revolutionary. They also say that it takes up quite a bit of room and the AC adapter is HUGE. However, others say that the finderscope radius is too small and frustrating to use.
"...3. Ease of setup and alignment.4. Portability of the SC design.Weakness:..." Read more
"...It's also very easy to assemble and disassemble, very light, and again, in my opinion, is pretty sturdy...." Read more
"...You Tube has great videos from knowledgeable enthusiasts, it seems a bit heavy but manageable for one person...." Read more
"...-up the light path, resulting in a very short, fat tube that is highly portable. It's a great "best of both worlds" solution...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the clarity of the telescope. Some mention that it's crystal clear with excellent detail, and razor sharp. However, others say that the view is blurry and difficult to see a wide swath of the sky.
"...Pros: So many but to name a few...Great, clear images, mostly newbie friendly- just have to educate yourself on operating the telescope to get..." Read more
"...In the city it will be hard to look at nebulas because it is just so bright...." Read more
"...The telescope is definitely worth it, the X-Cel lenses are a must, so clear and great views and focus ability...." Read more
"...25MM 1.25" eyepiece, which has a narrow field of view and not enough magnification to really enjoy your first astonishing views that get you..." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the performance of the telescope. They mention that it can't do its job, it stops working pretty quickly, and it takes a lot to make it work. The computer doesn't work, making it frustrating and disappointing to use. The screws were stripped and one was doing nothing. Additionally, the motion controls stop working at random intervals for no apparent reason.
"...scope out we attempted to use the 3-star alignment....never could get it to work correctly....having said that...we live in a light polluted area..." Read more
"...Again, there is a direct relationship between tracking performance degradation and the elevation of the object in the sky...." Read more
"...The scope moves more slowly (but not terribly slow), and the hand control backlight is dimmer, when running on the internal batteries...." Read more
"...I did receive a defective hand remote at the beginning where i tried to update the software on my computer and it would not detect it...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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1. Celestron X-Cel 12 MM lens
2. Celestron X-Cel 3x Barlow
3. Celestron Oxygen iii Filter
4. Baader UHC-S Nebula Filter
5. Celestron Solar Filter (8" for the 8 SE)
6. Celestron Lithium Power Tank 12 V (a must have or you will be replacing batteries every 30 minutes)
7. Colored filters but mainly Red, Violet, Blue, and a Moon filter...haven't used the other colors yet. Orion has a
great set, although it is expensive.
8. A carrying case- we travel a lot....Celestron has one for this tube size, otherwise use the boxes it came in- they
work just as great!
9. A pelican case for your eyepieces and filters....we purchased one with pullouts and made our own...or you can
buy one from Celestron.
10. And a must have for those living in the South or colder climates...a dew shield or heater!
11. A red flash light or just use the red light on the Lithium Power tank.
12. Last but not least....for newbies...there are several companion books you can purchase....The Backyard Astronomer's Guide, Night Watch, The Total Skywatcher's Manual, and National Geographic has some great books. We love locating things in the sky, then looking them up and reading about them. The books also contain great tips and suggestions from purchasing eyepieces to filters, and how to best view objects in the night sky.
All of these items were purchased on Amazon and we bought them over time but each purchase has enhanced our viewing and really made our nights out so enjoyable.
Pros: So many but to name a few...
Great, clear images, mostly newbie friendly- just have to educate yourself on operating the telescope to get the most out of it, a lot of items available for purchase to upgrade your experience, and with the star sense auto align you can spend hours outside enjoying clear skies. Not to say most people cannot get the 3-star alignment, we just lost patience with it and purchased the auto align :-)
Cons: Manual not so great...You Tube has great videos from knowledgeable enthusiasts, it seems a bit heavy but manageable for one person. My husband is always with me so portability isn't an issue but just going out alone it may be somewhat heavy.
Overall, I am so happy with this purchase and would recommend it for anyone wanting to add a more advanced telescope to their collection. There are several tutorials available online at Celestron and via You Tube that I encourage you to view. The telescope can be a bit intimidating for those that are new to the hobby but with a little research you will be loving it! We take it out at least 3x per week (skies permitting). The most beautiful site seen was the other morning I went out at 5 am and viewed Venus...the moon, and Orion's Nebula...so clear and amazing...it was definitely a treasure trove that morning, spent about 90 minutes viewing the sky until the Sun started to come up...very peaceful! We are still learning this telescope and each thing we learn just enhances our experience. I was hesitant on this purchase at first...a lot of money to spend plus accessories but we are so glad we decided to buy it! Definitely do your research to determine which telescope is best for you and your goals but this is a great one for those just entering the hobby or graduating from a starter scope. Now if we could only afford to buy another one of these so my husband and I don't fight over viewing time!
I finally decided to upgrade for several reasons. Neither telescope would track an object through the night, after about a minute in the eyepiece, the object would be out of view and a readjustment was necessary. Finding anything in the sky was a pain as I had to rely on my knowledge of where to point the telescopes. The Bushnell came with a sort of 'guide' to help, and it did, but it was just mainly in the general direction to point the scope. And then the lenses that came with both the telescopes were cheap and hard to focus. These telescopes were very beginner based models.
After looking around on the web, the Celestron telescope was often mentioned in the top 10 or so of quality scopes to purchase for the price, and the Nexstar SE series was getting very good reviews. After much deliberation and a cut in price of over $200 one day, I ordered the Celestron NexStar 8 SE. I also ordered the X-Cel LX 25mm, 9mm, and 5mm eyepieces to go with it, it comes with a lower quality 25mm Plossl lens. I also got an X-Cel 2x Barlow lens and a zoom lens from Celestron, the zoom works okay but is not in the same league as an X-Cel, and a Celestron StarSense Automatic Alignment device to help in locating celestial bodies. Also got the AC Adapter as the reviewers everywhere said don't rely on the 8 AA batteries to run the device as they die quickly.
Of course the day it arrived it was cloudy for three nights, which gave me a chance to really review and read the instructions. It was delivered safely and fast, the telescope was in a box, in another box, and then another box in foam, so no problems there. If I had any issues, it was with the assembly instructions, they never actually show you how to put the orange tube on the fork, which IMO was the most important part. After looking at the pictures in the manual and checking Youtube vids, I was able to figure it out (I had it on upside down and backwards). Otherwise no problems.
Once I had a clear sky I took it outside at dusk and set it up, just lined up the index points and aimed the scope at the horizon, leveled it by eye and took off. I did use the StarSense Auto Alignment unit to calculate the position and within about 7 minutes was enjoying the sights of Jupiter and the Moon like I had never seen them before. Saturn is still below the horizon, but I can imagine it will be a sight to see also. The telescope is definitely worth it, the X-Cel lenses are a must, so clear and great views and focus ability. The zoom lens was actually used the most as I could capture an object in the sky and then zoom in and out easily, and the zoom lens has a rubber eyepiece so you can still wear glasses if you want.
The absolute best part was being able to use the handheld remote and tell it to find something, a star, galaxy, planet and then it slews right to it. The first time it was a little off because of user inexperience, so I doubled down and researched it, actually called Celestron and talked to a live person and then the second time was ready. You do need to keep a few things in mind.
Try to insert the EXACT time into the controller ( I used my iPhone, I just set it for the next minute at 00 seconds, and then wait for the second hand to hit the 12 and then hit enter on the controller, perfect), be sure to set the time correctly, UTC 24 hour time (i.e. 9PM is 2100), make sure you have the correct time zone and daylight savings time set correctly.
Also try to set the correct location as close to where you are setting up, again I used an app on my iPhone to give the correct longitude and latitude coordinates. You have to enter the degrees and not the decimal coordinates, also make sure to get the north/south and east/west location right.
Then you have to align the scope to find out your best calibration, take your time, it is definitely worth it. I used the StarSense Auto Alignment method, so your calibrations may be a different set of instructions. After the final alignment (which took all of about 5 minutes), I told the hand controller to find a star and it slewed right to it, in the absolute center of the eyepiece and then tracked it for as long as I had it on there. Fantastic, it was doing everything it was advertised, I am very happy with this purchase.
It is a heavy telescope, I have to have help to move it safely in and out of the house, you may be able to move it by yourself, or take the tube and fork off the tripod and reassemble in your viewing location.
Only con I can see is the hand controller is a bit hard to see at night, just a little dim, I remedied that with a small flashlight with a red lens to keep down the light pollution, but I found you can control brightness and contrast on the controller so problem solved.
Very glad I finally have an almost pro (IMO) telescope. After I see an object I can tell my wife to look at it and she was amazed at the improvement over the Bushnell scope, and since it tracks the object, no need for a readjustment every 45 seconds...
Great value for the money, great construction, I called Celestron for help and was talking to an expert in two minutes who knew exactly what I was talking about, would recommend this telescope to anyone who wants to experience astronomy.