Skip to content

Language

Country

Celestron’s signature orange-tube 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 impressive views at an economical price.

  • 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.
  • Unique single fork arm design and sturdy steel tripod all break down into separate components for easy transport and quick assembly.

Our Founder’s Vision, Reimagined for the 21stCentury

In the 1970s, Celestron’s Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes brought the hobby of astronomy to the masses and established Celestron as the world’s premier telescope maker. Our founder, Tom Johnson, invented Celestron’s proprietary method of producing Schmidt corrector plates for superior views and maximum portability. Johnson believed in creating high-quality optical instruments at an affordable price, and inspired a generation of amateur astronomers.

Four decades later, we’ve improved upon this design by adding cutting-edge features, while staying true to our founder’s intent.

Big Mirror, Small Price

With a full 8 inches of aperture, the 8SE reveals details in even the faintest celestial objects. With this much light-gathering ability, you’ll clearly observe Cassini’s Division in Saturn’s rings, the cloud bands on Jupiter, and the Great Red Spot. Beyond the solar system, your 8SE will show you hundreds of pinpoint stars in the Hercules Globular Cluster, the spiral arms of the Whirlpool Galaxy, and more. And don’t forget the Moon—you’ll see craters and geographic features like never before.

Revolutionary Single Fork Arm Mount

We know the best telescope is the one you will use most often. That’s why Celestron’s engineers created NexStar SE’s unique, patented single fork arm mount. It’s perfectly portable and makes setup quick and easy. What’s more, the NexStar SE breaks down into several lightweight and compact pieces, making it easy to transport, even in small vehicles. You’ll have no problem getting the NexStar SE to your favorite observing site, or setting it up quickly in your backyard.

Of course, it’s what’s inside the mount that really counts. Sturdy construction from high-quality components give NexStar SE the pointing and tracking accuracy needed to observe and follow your favorite targets with pushbutton ease. Use the included NexStar+ hand control to locate over 40,000 celestial objects, or take a Sky Tour and let your telescope show you the best objects currently visible.

Aligning your telescope is simple and painless, too, thanks to SkyAlign. This process makes alignment as easy as 1-2-3: just center three bright objects in your eyepiece and press ALIGN. For even easier alignment, attach our StarSense AutoAlign and your NexStar SE aligns itself!

Advanced Features Let the NexStar SE Grow with You

The NexStar SE is 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.

For planetary imaging, pair your NexStar 6SE with one of our Skyris cameras. Or, experiment with wide-field deep sky astroimaging by replacing the telescope’s secondary mirror with a DSLR or astronomical CCD camera with a Fastar/HyperStar lens assembly. From your first observing session and for years to come, the NexStar SE is your trusted companion.

Specifications

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