Image an Entire Nebula in Minutes — The Starizona Hyperstar 8 Lens
The Starizona Hyperstar 8 lens is built around a single, powerful trade-off: it converts your Celestron 8” SCT from a slow f/10 visual instrument into a blazing fast f/2.1 wide-field astrograph, enabling you to capture vast deep-sky objects with dramatically shorter exposure times. This patented corrector system replaces your secondary mirror, transforming your telescope's optical geometry to gather light more than 22 times faster than at its native focal ratio. For the SCT owner who wants to image large targets like the Andromeda Galaxy or the Veil Nebula complex without guiding for hours, the Hyperstar is the most direct path to acquiring deep, high-quality data.
The core advantage of this speed is the radical reduction in exposure time. An image that would require a 25-minute guided sub-exposure at f/10 can be captured with equivalent signal in just 60 seconds at f/2.1. This change makes unguided imaging not only possible, but practical. The demands on your equatorial mount's tracking accuracy are significantly reduced, and the risk of a passing cloud or satellite ruining a long sub-exposure is minimized. This workflow opens up serious deep-sky imaging to observers with lighter-duty mounts or those who prefer a simpler, more portable setup.
The Patented f/2.1 Corrector Lens System
At the heart of the Hyperstar is a multi-element optical corrector. When placed at the front of the telescope, it intercepts the light cone from the primary mirror and corrects for the severe coma and field curvature that would otherwise make imaging at this focal ratio impossible. The result is a 425mm focal length system that produces a wide, flat, and sharp field of view, delivering pinpoint stars across a 27mm image circle, fully illuminating sensors like the popular ASI294MC Pro.
Will the Hyperstar 8 work with my Celestron EdgeHD 800?
Yes, the current version of the Hyperstar 8 is compatible with both standard Celestron 8" SCTs and the EdgeHD 800 models. It includes a specific adapter ring required for use with an EdgeHD optical tube.
What camera backfocus do I need for the Hyperstar 8?
The Hyperstar 8 requires a backfocus of 39.8mm. This is the distance from the top of the included M42 T-thread adapter to your camera's sensor. Many popular astronomy cameras have a native 17.5mm backfocus, which works with standard 21mm filter drawers to reach the correct spacing.
Can I use a DSLR camera with the Hyperstar?
Yes, but it requires a specific DSLR camera adapter, sold separately, to achieve the correct backfocus. The large body of a DSLR will also create a larger central obstruction compared to a compact astronomy camera, which can affect image contrast.
Is guiding necessary when imaging with a Hyperstar?
For most setups, no. The f/2.1 focal ratio allows for very short exposures, typically 30 to 90 seconds. This is usually short enough that the inherent tracking precision of most equatorial mounts is sufficient, eliminating the need for a separate guide camera and software.
How difficult is it to switch between Hyperstar and regular f/10 observing?
The process takes only a few minutes. You simply unscrew the Hyperstar lens from the front of the telescope and carefully thread the original secondary mirror back into place. The secondary mirror is indexed, so collimation is usually well-preserved.
What is the largest sensor I can use with the Hyperstar 8?
The Hyperstar 8 has a fully illuminated and corrected image circle of 27mm. This is a perfect match for cameras with APS-C or smaller sensors, such as those with the IMX571, IMX294, or IMX533 chips.
