Celestron - NexStar 8SE Telescope - Computerized Telescope for Beginners and Advanced Users - Fully-Automated GoTo Mount - Sk

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 2,266 ratings

Price: 1596.31

Last update: 01-11-2025


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.

Product information


Top reviews from the United States

Elle
5.0 out of 5 stars Great purchase!
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2020
Where to start...first, I am so happy with this telescope! We transitioned from the Celestron 80MM Star Sense Explorer to this scope. Quite a jump, I know but so glad we did. So...it was a bit heavier than expected but manageable. I had to do a lot of reading and I am still learning about the "utilities" and settings and it definitely took some time to get used to. The manual is okay but you will find more on You tube and on the Celestron website for tutorials. Putting the scope together was simple enough. The red dot finder is not great, definitely need to upgrade that if you choose not to purchase the Star Sense Auto Align. More on that later. The 25 mm lens that comes with the scope is actually really good and we pair it with the Barlow lens. The scope arrived in great condition and was packaged nicely. The tripod is decent and easy to adjust. So back to the Auto Align. the first few times we took the 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 near Nashville so we expected some issues. After attempting this alignment several times we decided to purchase the Star Sense Auto Align...I know it is fairly pricey but wow, so glad we did!!! The Star Sense aligned the first time and has worked great each time (read my review on that one as well, hopefully it will help if you decide to purchase it). I had never seen the Orion Nebula before and my first early morning viewing was breathtaking! Views of Saturn, the Moon, and Jupiter are fantastic...you can see the Cassini division in Saturn's rings. Images are clear and detailed. The one thing that I was unaware of when purchasing this scope and only found out after watching some You Tube videos is that you have to upgrade the firmware on the mount....the joy of being a newbie! So things we purchased for this scope that may be of use for someone purchasing it:
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!
Christopher Dollard
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic fist telescope. If you want to begin with astronomy, this is a great way to start.
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2024
The Celestron NexStar 6 SE is an incredible first telescope. I wanted to avoid cheaper scopes and get something that will last a lifetime. This is it. The optics are very good, nice crisp images. The motorized GoTo mount is fantastic for beginners as it makes it very easy for you to find objects quickly and enjoy observing without needing to find them yourself, and it tracks the objects as they move across the sky so you don't need to. It's not difficult to use at all as long as you read the manual and follow the on-screen prompts to align the scope, and once it is aligned, you're off to the races. I've seen absolutely stunning views of the Orion Nebula through this, even in my light polluted city back yard. It can be used anywhere, even in a city - you'll still see a great deal of objects like the planets, moon, star clusters, double stars, and bright nebulae, even a galaxy or two, like Andromeda. Outside of a city, in a real dark site, this scope will reveal so much. I found Neptune, very hard to see, on my second night with the scope. Truly stunning.

A few notes: get a power bank to power the telescope. The AA batteries do not last long. I only keep the batteries in to move the scope back into storage position after it has dried out (it will collect dew) and come to room temperature inside. I recommend the Celestron power banks, despite the price, because they are made for this. Get a dew shield (the Celestron portable roll-up shield is just fine) because SCT scopes are dew magnets, you will need it. And get a couple more eyepieces - the 25mm that's included is okay, but if you want to see more, I recommend getting a 32mm plossl and an 8-24mm Celestron zoom lens. Both are reasonably priced and will open up what you can see in this scope. Zoom lenses are especially great for beginners to "dial in" the right magnification and get the best views. The included star finder is alright, a little cheap, but it doesn't matter as long as you align it properly. You only need it for a few minutes to do the initial alignment for GoTo, then you shut it off for the rest of the night, so it's really not worth the cost of replacement. A couple of filters can help too - Orion Ultrablock for looking at nebulae, and some inexpensive color filters may help with bringing out details with the moon and planets.

Regarding shipping: I suspect this package was mishandled at some point by Amazon. Not long after receiving it, the altitude motor started making strange sounds, and the focuser knob (not the focuser itself) was slightly bent, so I suspect it was dropped. The box even showed a little damage, the visual back of the scope was likely pushed into the cardboard. But Celestron took care of fixing it quickly, for free under warranty, and now it's perfectly fine.

For beginners considering a more "serious" telescope that 1) is easy to use, 2) will last a very long time, and 3) is portable to travel to dark sites or do quick observing sessions in your back yard, this is a great one to start with. It's portable enough (with a carrying case) to take almost anywhere, and not too heavy. It's a quick setup and if you're following the instructions, it aligns quickly. The hand controller is intuitive and very easy to use as it guides you through every step. If you want more feedback on this scope, check out the Cloudy Nights forum where you can read reviews and first-hand experiences of using it, along with common FAQ.

Highly recommend this telescope. Inspect it when you get it to make sure there are no problems regarding mishandling during shipping. Otherwise, I love it, it really opened my mind to the wonders of amateur astronomy, got me started with a powerful yet easy-to-use telescope, and gave me a great hobby to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the night sky. Just be sure to use it on good, clear, calm nights for stargazing and you'll get the most out of it.

Best Sellers in

 
 

MagiDeal Lifesize 1:1 Human Skull Replica Resin Model Anatomical Medical Skeleton

4 4 out of 5 stars 1168
12.99
 
 

Celestron - 70mm Travel Scope - Portable Refractor Telescope - Fully-Coated Glass Optics - Ideal Telescope for Beginners - Bo

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 15386
79.89
 
 

AmScope B120C Siedentopf Binocular Compound Microscope, 40X-2500X Magnification, Brightfield, LED Illumination, Abbe Condense

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 641
212.49
 
 

Jiusion 48Pcs Prepared Microscope Slides Specimen Animals Insects Plants Flowers Sample Biological Specimen, Stereo Microscop

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 3820
11.99
 
 

Anykit Digital Otoscope with Gyroscope, 4.5 Inches Screen, 3.9mm Ear Scope Camera with 6 Lights, Ear Wax Removal Tool, 32GB C

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 3113
89.99
 
 

TOMLOV DM1S Wireless Digital Microscope [Easy and Fun] 50X-1000X 1080P HD WiFi Portable Handheld USB Trichome Mini Coin Micro

4 4 out of 5 stars 286
39.99
 
 

CLLOEAT Taxidermy Real Animals Skulls, Real Bones Specimen, Taxidermy Supplies for Science Education, Special Gift

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 393
21.99
 
 

TOMLOV 1000X Error Coin Microscope with 4.3" LCD Screen, USB Digital Microscope with LED Fill Lights, Metal Stand, PC View, P

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1800
49.99