NexStar Evolution 8 HD Telescope with StarSense
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Detail
The innovative NexStar Evolution is a compact, portable, and mechanically solid telescope made for hours of serious visual observing and certain types of astroimaging. The NexStar Evolution HD package stands out due to its unique features, including: , EdgeHD optics, integrated WiFi, and its internal LiFePO4 battery.
StarSense AutoAlign in the SkyPortal App
helps you optimize your time outdoors, giving you back time you would have spent aligning your telescope and allowing you more time to observe. It scans the night sky and analyzes the star patterns overhead, automatically calculating the telescope’s precise location, the date, and the current time. What’s more, you can add up to 10 additional alignment stars for the most accurate alignment possible.
Because StarSense AutoAlign is paired with the Evolution mount, you get even more functionality and ease of use. Connect to the mount via the SkyPortal Powered by SkySafari™ mobile app and you can perform the automatic alignment directly from your smart device, then instantly command the telescope to slew to your first celestial object.
8” EdgeHD Optical Tube
EdgeHD is an aplanatic, flat-field Schmidt optical system that produces aberration-free images across a wide visual and photographic field of view. The optical system reduces more than just off-axis star coma; it provides an astrograph-quality flat focal plane all the way to the edge of the field of view.
EdgeHD optics produce a focal plane more than three times flatter than a standard Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and dramatically flatter than competing coma-free designs. This guarantees you visibly sharp stars across full frame sensors.
The 8” EdgeHD flat-field and coma-free optical tube was made to accommodate modern imaging with cameras of all types, especially larger format CCD and DSLR cameras. The EdgeHD optical tube is Fastar-compatible for ultra-fast f/2 wide field imaging with an optional, third-party lens assembly.
Perfect for Visual Use or Beginning Astroimaging
This telescope is an excellent instrument for those looking to explore astroimaging. It’s the only fork-mounted telescope in its price range that offers brass worm gears along with improved motors, which provide great tracking accuracy. Capture images of the Moon and planets by attaching any planetary imaging camera. You can even experiment with imaging brighter deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula with your DSLR camera.
As you progress in the hobby of astroimaging, turn your alt-azimuth mount into equatorial setup by adding the . This accessory will enable you to achieve longer exposures for more detailed astrophotos. The NexStar Evolution mount also features a built-in lithium-iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery with enough power for 10-hour astroimaging sessions.
Of course, the EdgeHD optical system offers bright, sharp views with StarBright XLT™ optical coatings—a great choice for visual observers and budding astro-imagers alike.
NexStar Evolution is equipped with 4 auxiliary ports—two on top of the fork and two on the bottom. A StarSense hand control is still included, but is not necessary when using NexStar Evolution with the app.
Accessories Included
The NexStar Evolution 8” telescope includes two 1.25” Plössl 40mm & 13mm eyepiece, which is great for observing most any celestial object right out of the box. What’s more, your telescope includes a 1.25" star diagonal, 1.25” Visual Back, the StarSense AutoAlign accessory, and a StarPointer Pro™ finderscope. The StarSense AutoAlign comes with a hand control, but thanks to the internal WiFi and SkyPortal app, use of the hand control is completely optional.
To increase your field of view without sacrificing performance, add the optional , bringing your focal ratio down to f/7.
Software that Comes FREE with your Purchase
Celestron PWI Telescope Control: Your Ultimate Astronomy Software
All current Celestron computerized telescopes include Celestron PWI (CPWI), the most advanced astronomy software provided with any consumer-grade telescope. Celestron’s experts co-developed CPWI with the engineers at PlaneWave Instruments. The result is an all-in-one solution offering you many of the same features used on PlaneWave’s observatory-class telescopes.- Graphical planetarium interface with PointXP advanced mount modelling allows you to add 100+ points to your alignment model for the most accurate pointing and tracking possible
- Ideal for remote observatory setups: save and re-load your alignment and park your scope
- Provides a complete ASCOM telescope interface to allow control of the telescope from third party software applications
For more information on CPWI and to see the user interface, click .
Starry Night Software
Also included with your purchase is a free download of Celestron’s Starry Night Special Edition Software. This advanced software by Simulation Curriculum offers detailed information about celestial objects and helps you plan your next observing or imaging session. The Special Edition software also includes telescope control via your PC. For more information, . -
Customer Reviews
yj****jy
I have had my evolution 8 out a couple times now. I love the Starsense. If you perform the alignment and calibration, the go-to is spot on. Light gathering is superb; I feel I should use a filter on Venus to dim it. I purchased the padded bags and find this to be the ideal way to transport the scope. Even with Starsense, I find the red dot finder useful.
d***dv
This telescope is a dream come true, what took me ages to find in my old telescope takes seconds in this and it auto tracks the object for you, very easy to use and gives breath taking views, I used my daughters ipad but works well with my iphone 5 as well to control it. What a privileged age we live in to see the cosmos in such detail with such ease.
yj****jy
The 8' SCT is great - better than a Meade 8' I had several years ago. However the star of the show is the mount - very stable, very accurate goto and really easy to set up - just point at 3 bright objects, centre in the eyepiece (using controls on your Ipad) and everything is synced. A word of advice - buy the Skysafari Pro app rather than use the free Celestron - it is so much better and and there are many more objects to view.I've had many different scopes and mounts and this is by far the best - really can't fault it. By the way you might feel a little play in the alt bearing - this is not a problem, just make sure your scope is slightly back heavy (by moving it in the dovetail until it tilts back slightly) and goto is absolutely spot on. Oh and buy a illuminated reticule eyepiece for your goto set up.
yj****jy
I had a few problems getting this through Celestron but some amazing customer service fixed the problems in the end.The scope OTA is fantastic and I have always wanted to upgrade (from a 127 MAK) but do not have the time or skill to set up an EQ mount. When the Evolution series came out I was very interested so i finally took the plunge.The wifi ability to run the scope through a tablet is a big draw. But you can also use the handset which comes with it and this is a great back up (make sure you disconnect the handset when using wifi. I had read a bit online so I was aware of a few quirks.Out of the box if you set the scope up as per the instructions.. align the finder etc charge up the battery then you are ready to go. In its two parts it is not too heavy but it is solid as a rock when put together. Useful bumps and notches help you do it easily in the dark (snigger). I was set up in less than 5 minutes on the first clear night. I was a bit dubious of the tablet alignment.. but sure enough.. line up 3 bright stars and the scope knows exactly what you are doing.. all GPS data and time information comes from the tablet... IT IS SO EASY and it works.... the Skyportal software is easy to use but I advise playing with it inside first as it is a bit quirky. The tracking works great as well.The heavy tripod and mount hold the 9.25 very steady even with a DSLR mounted to it.I have been using a nexus 7 to control it. I found it best to disconnect my local wifi.. run a GPS test app and check location before starting the skyportal program.The eyepieces that come with the scope are ok but it is better to upgrade them.Having a visual planetarium in front of you means you see a lot more in one session that you might not have known was even there before... Even as a relative novice it has opened my eyes to what is in the sky. Just have to wait for some clear nights.
dg****f
Added this optical system to my refractor duo, a 80mm and an 120mm which has been a great addition, they play so we'll together. The edge 8 is outstanding, killer on the moon and planets and globular clusters and starfield sharpness similar to a refractor but with a narrower FOV. What a instrument!
Cust********45N
So far I’m happy with my purchase. I really like the evolution mount. The 6 inch Schmidt- Cassegrain is a good size for me. I have an older C8 on an AVX equatorial mount.So I wanted something close to that size but more portable with the built-in Wi-Fi and the battery. I used this set up a handful of times and it’s been good. I’m in an astronomy club and do public outreach so this is something that I can use for that. It’s quick and easy to set up. It limits my amount of gear I have to haul around. It’s perfect for my needs.. I really like the way the scope stays attached to the mount for storage. It stores in the original foam that came with the box. I put the whole thing into a heavy duty tote. The views through the scope are really good. It does come with an inch and a quarter diagonal and inch quarter eye pieces . these are pretty basic and OK but,I like to use 2 inch pieces so I upgraded to a 2 inch diagonal so I can use my Televue 2 inch eye pieces.i’m able to use the built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and use my iPad mini to locate objects and move the scope. It does come with an included hand controller, which works fine, but being able to use a handheld device was one of the main reasons I wanted the evolution mount.The shipping was fast. Everything was all packed up in the one box and arrived in good condition.
Cust********MGS
This is a review for the 9.25'Quite impressed with this telescope. I upgraded from a 8' and there is a significant difference.The telescope arrive in several pieces (tripod, mount, OTA), putting it together is very easy and takes just a few minutes.The tripod is very sturdy and stable. Also it can be closed without removing the spreader. It has a strap on one of the leg that can be used to keep the tripod closed during transportation. The spreader is metal, not plastic, so solid and convenient to store eyepieces.The mount is solid and rather heavy and is secured to the tripod with spring loaded knob. An improvement versus the 8'.Once everything is assembled, I can still move it around in a single piece, even if just for a few meters (ie from inside the house to the backyard were I do the observation) w/o having to take everything apart. If I drive somewhere, I need to separate and collapse the tripod from the rest.WiFi connection to mobile device simplify the alignment. The scope takes position and time from the mobile device GPS, so you are left with only pointing to three stars. Much faster vs my previous Nerxstar 8SE, where you need to punch in location, city, time zone etc.However the mobile app is not as stable as I would have liked. Sometimes crashes, sometime lose connection to the scope... very often is not responsive or you just make a tap on a movement arrow...and the scope keeps moving, because the app is stuck and thinks you are still pressing the moving button. The delayed response often causes you to overcorrect when fine aligning objects. Infact now I use the app for alignment setup, for GoTo, but all the scope movement, fine tuning, corrections are done via the handheld device... to avoid the overcorrections, and the annoying unresponsiveness of the app. The app need some definitive improvement.The finderscope is the same of the 8SE, and not up to the improved telescope. Does the job, but the red light is a bit too big, the collimation of the finders
