Used - NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

I had a celesteon 4SE when I was younger and always wanted one that was bigger at a half ways affordable price. The 4 was a beautiful telescope for planetary AND deep sky viewing. I just got the 8SE today and am chomping at the bit to try it out on some of my favourite deep sky objects!!Celeste on, your product has always been perfect for the amateur astronomer, as they are sturdy and easy to use, and they seem to grab you and drag you deeper into the hobby of astronomy!! Well done!!P.S. It’s a bit cloudy tonight, but I did manage to line up the spotting scope with the main telescope and zoomed in on Jupiter. I was not disappointed!! Not only did I see Jupiter (and three of its moons) but, using only a 25 mm lens as a test, I could also see some of the bands, although very faintly. I would highly recommend this telescope to anyone who wants to break into astronomy!!

Many will tell you that SCT Telescopes in an Alt/Az configuration such as this Nexstar 6SE is unsuitable for astrophotography, but that is simply not true.These pictures were taken without the use of a wedge as well. I was using the Celestron f/6.3 focal reducer. They aren't the best pictures, and they could be much better with more integration time (and getting a wedge) but I just wanted to leave a review to show at least a little bit of what this scope is capable of.The camera I use is a ZWO ASI294MC Pro astronomy camera but a DSLR should be able to get close albeit having more noise as it is not a cooled camera.

I bought my 8 inch goto telescope last year. I am very satisfied, but it was a long way to learn how to work with the goto computer. The seeing with it is very good, i can see galaxies i never seen before (with my 8 inch newton, 1000mm focus). I love my celestron!

This is my first telescope. I checked out reviews online, and I know 8 inch is much better than 6 inch. But I don't have much space to store it and need my telescope to be more portable. It is a little bit hard to align red dot and the scope. But once aligned, it works great! Started with the moon for some practice. The view is wonderful.

Just get it. It's the telescope you've always wanted! Fast shipping meant I didn't wait long to get this baby up and working!

I been able to view the moon and it’s craters, but I have to manually look for it which takes effort since it’s really zoomed in. I bought a reduction lens that is recommended, it didn’t help. I have not been able to focus on anything. The finder scope is crap and if you want to use the control you have to be setting your location, country, state, city, time zone and date. This is nothing like a beginners scope where you point and you’re able to see the planet or star from afar. It’s like really zoomed in that if you are dead center on the planet you won’t know it. A full moon can blind you. This is not an easy telescope, you need lots of patience and strength to be able to move around and adjusting the tripod level. I am an amateur and have been using a smaller scope and regular binoculars and night vision binoculars and wanted more focus. I am bummed out. It was over $1,500 not well spent.

It works. Works well and easy to master. Make no mistake however, you need a rudimentary understanding of astronomy and some basics first. Would not recommend for a beginner, as often advised. Suggest to read a good astronomy book prior to using such as Nightwatch by Terrance Dickinson. OK, the Scope: Optics-excellent. Clear, crisp, decent light gathering for deep sky, just don't expect hubble. Suggest you let 30 minutes for the scope to cool/equalize internal temp with outside before viewing. The mount: its dated and you can tell, but gets the job done and and adequate job of holding the scope in place. Hint---don't wait until dark to fasten the OTA to the mount and most certainly don't wait until dark to fasten the entire mount-telescope to the tripod. Wish the mount had a quick release and more user friendly mechanism for attaching. Just be careful..Like really careful. The finderscope:-it works. Nothing fancy. You really don't need to waste your money on anything else. Gets the job done. The Tripod: Works well enough. Not intended to be an equatorial mount. Limited on astro-photography. The planets are easy. Maybe some double stars and of course the moon. But that's it. The software/hand-held device-It works, takes some tinkering, and about 70 to 90% accurate. Will place target in FOV. I use auto-two star mainly, but when on my deck will use the solar system. Interestingly, last night I hit 11 of 12 targets on the Solar alignment. Decent at tracking, but keep the HC close by. I attached some velcro on the HC and the mount so I can more easily place the HC at hands reach. The cradle is useless. You will be fumbling around all night. Eye-pieces: the 25mm Plossl works fine. You will/should get a 2x barlow and a higher power EP. I With a 9MM E-Cell, which on good seeing conditions is excellent. Can max out at 450x looking at the planets. Was able to resolve both Neptune and Uranus as disc-spheres. Pluto is just a dot. M13 can resolve some stars (city conditions) and

I wanted to love this telescope, because I am very new to the telescope community. I borrowed an SLT 127.

Great scope. I've owned mine for almost 5 years and I've gotten to know it very well. I upgraded my c102 F10 for this one, and light wise, it's a big improvement for seeing more details duh for dsos and planets. But some pros and cons nonetheless. Pros: -when collimated precisely, you can tease out alot of detail. My faves are m13 (Hercules) and M57 (ring). -love the high mags on planets during calmer nights (need a 30mm 90degree mini finder) -super light weight set. Great for camping. -fun for planetary astrophotography -smooth stock focuser. -also great for land. Cons: -Less vibrant refractor colours that I grew to like. -less sharp pictures except under pristine sky conditions. -need a dew zapper or shield of some sort to hang in there without dewing out -cool down time is long -planets in Canada are low in sky and you benefit more from a smaller light bucket likes 4/6 incher.