Description
The NexStar Evolution 8 203mm Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope from Celestron is a powerful, portable, versatile, and user-friendly telescope that can be used for observing everything from the Moon and planets to deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae. Using Celestron's proprietary StarBright XLT multi-coating system, light transmission is increased throughout the entire optical path with anti-reflection multi-coated lenses, highly reflective multi-coated mirrors, and four-element rare-earth glass. While the focal ratio is a slow f/10, the scope's precision tracking system allows it to be a competent astrophotography/astroimaging platform for the Moon and planets.
Optical Performance
- 203mm (8") aperture
- f/10 focal ratio
- 2032mm focal length
- Crown optical glass primary mirror
- StarBright XLT optical coatings: Multi-layer aluminum/SiO2 (quartz)/TiO2 (titanium dioxide) mirror coatings with flat reflectivity across the light spectrum for both astrophotography/astroimaging and visual observation
- Multi-layer MgF2 (magnesium fluoride) and HfO2 (hafnium dioxide) anti-reflective lens coatings
- High-transmission water white glass corrector lens with 97.4% light transmission
- Internal focusing mechanism
- Resolution: 0.69 arcsec (Rayleigh); 0.57 arcsec (Dawes)
- Secondary mirror obstruction: 2.5"; 9.77% by area
- Fastar capability: Secondary mirror can be removed and a DSLR or imaging rig mounted in its place for fast wide-field astrophotography
NexStar Controller
- 2-line, 16-character LCD display
- 19 fiber optic backlit red LED buttons
- Database of over 40,000 celestial objects plus 100 user defined
- Automatically slew to planets, stars, constellations, and a variety of catalogs
- Camera control: For piggyback wide field or conventional astrophotography through the OTA, the controller can automatically trigger the shutter release to capture the image
- Anti-backlash compensation programs-out play between gears for more precise tracking
- Tour Mode: Shows a selection of the most popular objects for the time and date you are observing
- Constellation Tour: Allows the user to take a tour of all the best objects within a particular constellation
- Alignment procedures: SkyAlign, Auto 2-Star, 1-Star, 2-Star, and Solar System
- SkyAlign alignment: Takes minutes, with minimal effort or experience—point the telescope at three bright objects in the sky, and the telescope does the rest
- Nine slew speeds: 4°/sec, 2°/sec, 1°/sec, 0.5°/sec, 2x, 4x, 8x,16x, and 32x
- Sidereal, Solar, and Lunar tracking rates for observing the fast-moving Moon, to slower-moving deep space subjects
- RS-232 communication port allows for computer control
- Flash updateable via the Celestron website
- Database Details:
- Solar system objects including the Sun, Moon, and planets
- Named objects
- Stars: Asterims, variable stars, double stars, named stars
- Caldwell catalog
- Messier catalog
- NGC catalog
- SAO catalog
- Constellations
Sky Portal App
- Connect your smart device to the telescope via direct WiFi connection; no router required
- Align and control the telescope from your device
- App uses the device's camera and compass to determine location and what is available to see
- Enjoy the same features as NexStar controller, but without wires
- Expanded database to over 120,000 objects
- Detailed information on over 200 popular objects including audio commentary, statistics, history, mythology, video, and pictures
- Database includes: Sun, Moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, asteroids and comets, satellites, and the International Space Station
- Simulate the night sky up to 100 years in the past or future to plan an upcoming observing session
- Compass Mode: Hold device up to the night sky and identify objects such as stars, planets, and galaxies; zoom in to view fainter objects not visible to the naked eye
- Night Vision Mode: Preserves night-adjusted vision
- Listen to more than four hours of audio narration to learn the history, mythology, and science of astronomy and the night sky
- Works as a stand-alone planetarium app
- Free for Android or iOS mobile devices
- Apple iOS 7.0 and later, or Android 4.0 and later
Mount and Tripod
- Mount:
- Motorized single-arm alt-azimuth fork mount
- Altitude and azimuth clutches to manually point the telescope when it is powered off
- Brass worm gears with steel ball bearings provide smooth movement with reduced vibration
- 146mm diameter/180-tooth stainless steel worm wheels
- Ports: One port for NexStar+ controller; one 5 VDC USB charging port for smartphones and small electronics; three auxiliary ports for optional accessories such as StarSense AutoAlign System
- Runs on one internal rechargeable 9.6V, 4.5Ah lithium-iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery
- Includes power supply with US, EU, UK, and AU plugs
- Tripod:
- Stainless steel two-section legs
- Adjustable height accommodates a variety of users
- Spikes at the end of the legs provide a sure footing on soft or uneven ground
- Tray keeps accessories and equipment safe and organized
- No tools required to set up mount and tripod
Included Accessories
- Eyepieces:
- 1.25"-diameter barrel accept most filters
- Anti-reflection multi-coated glass
- Fold-down rubber eyecups for use with or without eyeglasses
- 40mm eyepiece produces 51x magnification
- 13mm eyepiece produces 156x magnification
- Diagonal:
- 1.25" snout and eyepiece holder
- 90° angle places head in a comfortable position when optical tube assembly is pointed at or near the zenith
- Star mirror diagonal corrects view horizontally, but not vertically
- Finderscope:
- Projects a single red dot in line of sight
- Unmagnified view ensures a wide field of view to make finding objects faster and star-hopping navigation easier
CEL12091