Celestron NexStar 8 SE incl. tripod

Celestron NexStar 8 SE incl. tripod

Finding even the most difficult galaxies is no longer a problem thanks to the powerful SkyAlign technology. Simply point the telescope at three stars - and it will be ready for use in no time at all. This gives you an outstandingly affordable telescope with a scope of performance that previous generations of amateur astronomers never dared to dream of (you only need to see the three "alignment stars", not know them).

With the optional SkyQ-Link WiFi adapter and the SkyQ app, which is available separately from the Apple AppStore, you can even control this telescope remotely with your iPhone, iPad or Windows PC via WiFi - simply by following the star chart on the screen. So if you are looking for the telescope with the most modern control electronics, then choose the Celestron NexStar SE. With the optional StarSense module, the telescope even takes care of initializing itself in the starry sky - all you have to do is set up the telescope, switch it on and wait three minutes.

Further advantages at a glance

• all telescopes can be placed either on the stable tripod or with the stand on a table, wall or similar.
• the devices are also ideal for other areas of nature observation (birds, lake, mountains).
• Both the Maksutov and Schmidt-Cassegrain optical designs provide an absolutely scattered light-free, high-contrast image even during the day in bright sunlight
• . The new revolutionary "SkyAlign" method enables even the absolute layman to align a telescope astronomically accurately in just a few minutes. You don't need to know the north direction, nor do you need to level the telescope - and you don't need to know a single star by name!
• You can adjust the telescope from any balcony, even without a compass (which would only be deflected by surrounding iron).
• The optical tube is coupled to the mount on all devices using a standard dovetail and quick clamp - you can separate the telescope from the mount during transportation, e.g.
in
• an
aircraft
• .
• You can also leave the astronomical mount at home for nature observation and digital photography and place the optics alone on an optional photo tripod
• . The NexStar SE mounts adapt to the interests of the user!
• In addition to the supplied optical tube, other devices can also be mounted alternately for different purposes, such as a solar telescope, camera + guide scope or a widefield telescope
• ! The extremely compact Maksutov-Cassegrain and Schmidt-Cassegrain optics are built to the "Celestron quality" for 40 years. The Celestron 5 has been used several times on NASA's space shuttle flights.

The NexStar 8SE - The deep-sky cannon

Deep sky starts to be really fun at 8" aperture - this is an old rule of thumb among astronomers, as from 20 cm aperture many objects are resolved into individual stars, which in smaller telescopes remain just nebulae. This is why the 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain has been a very popular telescope for years: no other telescope combines this aperture with such a compact tube and is correspondingly portable. Near cities, nebula filters such as the Baader Planetarium UHC-S or the OIII help to block out the stray light of cities.

Cameras can also be connected via the optional T-adapter

The telescope has the usual 1.25" connection used in astronomy. This means that all standard astronomical 1.25" eyepieces (31.7 mm) can be used. This is particularly convenient, for example, with the Baader Planetarium Q-Turret eyepiece turret, which covers all useful magnifications and allows quick changes between different magnifications.
The tube has the standard SC thread of the large Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, so a wide range of accessories can be connected. With the help of the optional Baader Planetarium NexStar Locking Ring, zenith mirrors with SC thread can be screwed directly to the telescope. This makes the adaptation so short that the telescope can still swing through to the zenith even with large 2" accessories without hitting the mount. For example, long focal length eyepieces with a larger field of view can be used.
The separately available Celestron T adapter for C5/C6/C8/C925/C11 and C14, which is available separately, can also be used to connect SLR cameras and numerous other accessories. The T-thread is a standard that can be used to connect almost any accessory - from SLR cameras to binoviewers.

The most important figures

OPENING: 203mm
FIRING WIDTH: 2032mm
EYE: 25mm - 81x magnification
MAXIMUM MAGNIFICATION: 480x
WEIGHT OF TELESCOPE AND MOUNT: 10.9kg
WEIGHT OF STATIVE: 4.1kg
TOTAL WEIGHT: 15kg

The NexStar 6/8SE mount

The mount of the 6SE and 8SE telescopes is larger and more stable than the mount of the 4/5SE models. This azimuthal single-arm mount is optimized to be quickly operational and easily transportable. Unlike the classic equatorial mount, you do not need to align the telescope to the north, set the pole height or carry counterweights. The mount is simply set up horizontally, and after alignment (in which any three bright stars are simply set), the computer automatically ensures that the telescope moves to the desired objects and keeps them in the eyepiece: Automatic tracking independently compensates for the Earth's rotation

, making SE telescopes ideal for anyone who wants to observe the night sky for themselves: Very portable, quickly ready for use and with all the necessary convenience.

The telescope is attached to the mount with a standard prism rail with quick release, so it can be easily removed. The mount can therefore also stably support other telescopes up to approx. 5.5 kg. However, this is not necessary for transportation: the complete mount including telescope is very handy and fits into the separately available, padded transport case, for example. It is simply attached to the sturdy steel tripod with three easy-grip screws; a centring pin helps when placing it on the tripod

. The NexStar 6/8SE mount also offers everything you need for photography: lunar photography with an SLR camera or planetary photography with a video camera such as the Celestron NexImage 5 are also possible without any problems in azimuthal mode; you may still need the Celestron T adapter for C5 and a suitable T2 adapter for your camera bayonet or a 1.25"/T2 eyepiece clamp. You can also photograph directly through the eyepiece with a MicroStage camera platform. Long exposures are also possible using the optional Heavy Duty Deluxe polar altitude cradle: the mount is aligned parallel to the earth's axis, as with a classic parallactic ("astronomical") mount. A software routine in the hand control box helps you to conveniently align the mount with high accuracy even without a polar finder. This not only prevents image field rotation if you are photographing a lunar eclipse over a long period of time, for example - deep-sky images are also possible. The autoguider connection can be used to connect an automatic tracking camera such as the Celestron NexGuide can be connected.
An AUX connection enables the connection of additional accessories - from GPS receivers to StarSense modules.

Extensive star catalogs and TOUR function for an overview

The hand controller contains a database with over 38,000 objects. These naturally include the planets of the solar system as well as countless galaxies, gas nebulae, star clusters and interesting stars. Finding it difficult to choose? Then use the TOUR mode, which shows you a selection of the most beautiful objects every evening and explains them in German text on the display.

SkyAlign - set-up without knowledge of the sky

The NexStar SE mount has motors with encoders in both axes and a hand controller with 38,181 objects in the database. To initialize the computer control, all you have to do is enter the time and location (selectable from the database) into the hand controller and move to any three bright celestial objects - it doesn't matter which ones, you don't even have to know them! After this SkyAlign, the mount knows what the sky above it looks like and moves to any other object at the touch of a button.

Upgradeable for the latest technology - high value retention

Can it be even more convenient? The SE telescopes are compatible with the StarSense module. This is a small camera that is mounted on the telescope and allows the telescope to orient itself fully automatically in the sky - without GPS. With StarSense, all you have to do is set up the telescope, switch it on and wait about three minutes. Since StarSense is compatible with all modern, computer-controlled Celestron telescopes, you can also continue to use it if you ever buy a larger telescope - StarSense also works with observatory-class telescopes.

This means that a NexStar SE telescope can be brought up to date at any time if there are technical innovations - this ensures that your telescope retains its value!

Control via PC and iPhone

Like all Celestron NexStar telescopes, the NexStar SE can also be controlled via PC. You can then control the telescope from a Windows PC using the NexRemote software or the widely used ASCOM interface.

But the SE telescopes also support wireless control! Using the optional SkyQ Link WLAN adapter, you can control the telescope wirelessly - either via a Windows PC or via iPhone or iPad (with the optional SkyQ Planetarium program). This means you don't have to take a laptop with you on your observation nights, an iPhone is all you need and you have a modern graphical telescope controller in addition to the hand controller, whose large buttons can also be operated with thick gloves. All options are open to you!

Sophisticated mount

The mount of the Celestron NexStar SE telescopes is a solid azimuthal single-arm mount that can be set up without tools. Thanks to the large, easy-grip screws, this is also possible with gloves. The sturdy steel tripod has a shelf for accessories and a holder for the hand control box. The SE mount supports devices weighing up to approx. 5.5 kg, depending on the design. The clamping device on the arm of the mount fits any standardized Vixen (V) dovetail and holds it securely.
The hand controller is neatly integrated into the fork arm and can be removed if necessary. However, the telescope can also be conveniently operated when it is in the fork arm mount.
Power supply

Future-proof

The NexStar-SE mount can not only be used with the telescope supplied, but also with many other telescopes or spotting scopes thanks to the standard prism clamp. Thanks to the hand controller, which can be updated via the Internet, you can always keep the software up to date and upgrade to the latest technologies such as SkyQ Link or StarSense at any time via the AUX connection. The telescope can also be used on many other mounts via the standardized dovetail bar, for example if you want to do deep-sky photography one day.

A computer-controlled Celestron telescope offers everything you need to get started right away - while keeping all options open for the future.