Celestron Nexstar Evolution 8 Telescope & Accessories Kit

Product Code: eq178404
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The Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 Telescope & Accessories Kitfrom Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 Telescope & Accessories Kitis 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 multicoating system, light transmission is increased throughout the entire optical path with antireflection multicoated lenses, highly reflective multicoated 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.

The Evolution comes with two ways to use and control it. The first is to simply download Celestron's free Navigator app for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. The scope's Wi-Fi provides the connection to the app and expands the capabilities and functionality, including an expanded database of over 120,000 objects with detailed information on more than 200 of those objects. Second is the iconic 2-line 16-character NexStar computer controller. This is a wired piece of hardware with a database of over 40,000 celestial objects plus several astronomical catalogs including the Messier and Caldwell. Whether using the controller or mobile device, the system can assist in properly aligning the scope, provide tours of the objects and events visible whenever and wherever you're viewing, and allow for manual direction and slew control.

Designed for portability, the Evolution features a long-life lithium-iron phosphate battery providing up to 10 hours of continual use on a single charge. The scope comes with an AC power supply with plugs for the US, EU, UK, and AU outlets. The battery powers the servo motors, auxiliary accessory ports, a USB charging port, and the built-in Wi-Fi. Manual clutches in both altitude and azimuth enable you to manually move and point the telescope when it's powered off.

8" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope 2032mm Focal Length, f/10 Focal Ratio Wireless Control with iOS/Android App Multiple Automatic Alignment Systems Motorized and Computerized Fork Mount Adjustable Stainless Steel Tripod 6mm, 8mm, 13mm, 17mm, and 32mm Eyepieces Seven Filters and a 2x Barlow Lens Aluminum Carry Case Lens Shade/Dew Cap

Key Specs
Optical Design	Schmidt Cassegrain
Aperture	203 mm / 8"
Focal Length	2032 mm
Focal Ratio	f/10
Eyepiece Barrel Diameter	1.25"
Type	Motorized; Alt-Azimuth Single Fork
Optical Tube Assembly
Optical Design	Schmidt Cassegrain
Aperture	203 mm / 8"
Focal Length	2032 mm
Focal Ratio	f/10
Eyepiece Barrel Diameter	1.25"
Diagonal	Star
Mounting	Dovetail
Optical Tube Dimensions	Length: 17" / 431.8 mm
Mount
Type	Motorized; Alt-Azimuth Single Fork
Tripod
Type	Adjustable, 3-Section
Tripod Height Adjustment Range	47.0 to 69.0" / 1.2 to 1.8 m
General
Wireless	Yes
Mobile App Compatible	No *As of May, 2023: Check with manufacturer for the most up-to-date compatibility
Packaging Info
Package Weight	63.7 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)	43 x 28 x 15"

203mm (8") aperture
f/10 focal ratio
2032mm focal length
Crown optical glass primary mirror
StarBright XLT optical coatings: Multilayer aluminum/SiO2 (quartz)/TiO2 (titanium dioxide) mirror coatings with flat reflectivity across the light spectrum for both astrophotography/astroimaging and visual observation
Multilayer 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

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 updates 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

Connect your smart device to the telescope via direct Wi-Fi 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:
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

Eyepieces:
1.25" diameter barrel accept most filters
Antireflection multicoated 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 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

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. need Manual to repair a Celestron Nexstar: is it available on-line?

A: Yes there is. Here is a link: http://bit.ly/2blTcYI

Q: 2. Can I use this with canon 7D mark II to take photos of the moon? Are there better choices?

A: A Cassegrain type of scope is the ideal scope for astrophotography. In addition to the scope you will need the Celestron f/6.3 Reducer/Corrector BH #CERC • MFR #94175 and the Celestron T-Ring for Canon EF-Mount Cameras BH #CETRCAF • MFR #93419. To mount the Canon EOS 7D to the scope.

Q: 3. Hi everyone! Who have celestron evolution 6 or 8 please write review on battery how it works and is it possible to replace it at home. Thanks!

A: Hello Armen, please contact our technical support team. A technical support representative will be happy to help explain the inner workings of the NexStar Evolution's rechargeable lithium-iron phosphate battery. The best way to reach them is by submitting a ticket here: https://www.celestron.com/pages/technical-support Sincerely, Garrett at Celestron

Q: 4. Do you need to use a Wedge ( Celestron HD Pro Wedge) for the scope to track an object?

A: Yes that is correct. You would need the Celestron EQ Wedge for NexStar 6/8SE Evolution Telescopes. Website link: http://bhpho.to/1n0f5kn

Q: 5. Does this scope continuously track an object?

A: Yes it does. It has an alt-azmouth mount (up/down, left/right). You basically have to triangulate it with the right time and date so it knows your exact position on earth, and then it will track anything you're looking at. The process is easy -- pick three bright stars and center on each one in succession, and it will triangulate itself and you're good. It takes about 5-10 minutes.

Q: 6. Can you do a 2 or 3 star align with a Starsense HC,or do you need standard HC?

A: You can do all of the standard Nexstar functions with the Starsense hand controller.

Q: 7. Does this scope come with a hand controller?

A: Yes it comes with the hand controller but I have never used it, I always use the app to control my scope.

Q: 8. I have just taken delivery of this telescope. The 'Celestron' logo on the side of the fork mount arm (above the WIFI symbol indicator) does not light up under any circumstances. (The WIFI connection symbol light and tray accessory light work fine. ) On the regular 'Evolution' models (IE not this limited edition model) this 'Celestron' logo serves as a battery indicator light and power light. It pulses when the battery is charging and it is illuminated when the mount power is switched on. The regular 'Evolution' user manual refers to this light as the 'Celestron Power Logo'. To be clear - I am not talking about the WIFI symbol light, which is working fine. So my question is - does this Limited Edition model actually have a working 'Celestron Power Logo' light? The design of the Celestron logo on the fork arm on this limited Edition model is different from the regular Evolution models and I am wondering if it is actually meant to light up on my model?? Otherwise, how am I meant to be able to see if the battery is charging, etc??? (See "Appendix C: L.E.D. Status" of the regular Evolution manual where it confirms about the Power Logo lighting up during charging, etc) So, right now, I don't know if my Celestron Power Logo light is broken or if this precise model does not have one?? Please only respond if you are SURE of the answer to this question. I don't mean to sound rude, I just want to know if I have a defective mount or not :) I dont have a smart phone to check battery status, so it's very important for me to have a working battery status light. Celestron agree with me, because they designed the regular Evolution model with this light ;) Thanks for any help you can give me in solving this mystery.

A: Your mount is not defective. The plastic in the fork arm in front of the Power Logo is opaque on the Limited 60th Anniversary NexStar Evolution 8 #12098, so the battery light is not visible. Customers will need to download the SkyPortal App to see what the battery level on the mount is and verify that the battery is charging. We apologize for the confusion and will be making an official statement regarding this for our website shortly.

Q: 9. Can I attach a Canon 6D with a mount to this?

A: Your question is a little unclear. Do you mean attaching the camera on top of the telescope? If so, look at Celestron's universal piggyback mount. You will be able to use the mount to track. If you mean taking photos with the telescope - with the proper attachments, you probably could. The issue that you will come across is shooting near the zenith - I don't think that there is sufficient clearance for a SLR. I would check the forums.

Q: 10. Can this telescope also be powered from a mains lead or is it battery only?

A: While this telescope comes with AC adapter for charging, Celestron specifies using only battery power (though not while charging) for the evolution series telescopes.

Jim R.	18/09/2024
[Star] I have used a dob scope for a few years and while it was a good scope it had no technology associated with it. It was strictly a manual scope. The Celestron NexStar Evolution is a lot easier to use and takes up less space. The phone app allows a easy setup by picking out three stars to align. I debated getting the Star Sense attachment but since most of my viewing is within an urban area the Star Sense module needs an unpolluted sky to self align. I did upgrade the finder scope but the included scope works fine. It took over 6 months to get the scope but I am very happy with my purchase. 5

Michael	17/09/2024
[2032 mm] The optics on this telescope are outstanding. And StarSense allows me to get aligned in minutes without having to slew to a single star. Just last night I aligned it in a couple of minutes, went into CPWI (free software from Celestron) on my PC, clicked on Jupiter then Goto and it swerved around 180 degrees and locked on well enough that it was well within the view of the 40mm eyepiece. The optics are crystal clear. Even though I live in a terrible night pollution area, I was able to see banding on Jupiter and 4 moons along with the rings of Saturn all with great clarity with no filter. And having the rechargeable battery is extremely convenient. Can take it anywhere without having to worry about access to an outlet. 5

Harry	06/09/2024
[63.7 lb] This review is for the Evolution package with the 8 Edge HD and StarSense. For Visual Use: The optics are wonderful. Anyone with focusing accommodation difficulties (which includes many people in their 40's and most people in their 50's ) will find the flat focused field produced by these optics delightful. It will keep you away from the focus knob and let you enjoy the view over the entire field - not just the center. For me, it has made astronomy fun again. Photographic Use: OK for planets or small bright objects that can be imaged using short exposure times. Not suitable for general astrophotography. 5

Robert	29/08/2024
[1.25"] This was my first real telescope. I spent about a year researching and started looking at much smaller scopes and slowly increased the aperture I was looking for. I settled on the celestron nexstar Evo 8 as My goal was to be able to see deep sky as well as planets. I have only used it a few times and alignment was a breeze and tracking worked well. I live in a suburban area with a lot of light polution and can only see a few dozen stars with the naked eye. I was able to see thousands more stars, resolve double stars, and see some star clusters without issue. The releaseable clutches is a great feature and allows use of the telescope without powering up the mount. I have plans to take this telescope to areas with much darker skis once the weather warms up. 5

JMM	27/07/2024
[2032 mm] The scope is very easy to align. It also tracks nicely over long periods of time. Setup is fairly easy for a scope this size. The battery lasts reasonably long. The handheld controller is very intuitive. The wi-fi function is a little trickier to use, but not bad. 5

Rollin	17/07/2024
[f/10] Great scope and is fun learning how to locate with help from app. Easy of set up to are able to view like never before able to do. Easy set up and great battery life. 5

Kurt	15/07/2024
[63.7 lb] After using it for 3 years, I am now regretting that I did not buy the Edge HD version for just $500 more. But still, its a nice scope. I wasnt hoping much from a single arm mount but its quite rugged and heavy. With the Celestron wedge, it does tracking as good as a fork arm mount can. Battery life isnt even an issue, I could never drain the battery overnight. Its been 3 years and the battery is still in good condition. Together with the wedge it becomes quite heavy (60 lbs) so beware if you want something portable. F/6.3 reducer is a must. If you have a wedge, you dont need to worry much about alignment too. Just find the objects in the eyepiece and keep polar tracking on so the object will be there forever. You can even attach hyperstar on compatible OTAs. I will try that someday. Being an 8 SCT and option of a wedge, the scope is jack of all trades. It can do many things but cant excel on one. But if one will have only one scope, this may be the sweet spot. 5

Janice	11/07/2024
[Star] A few years ago, I indulged my lifelong interest in the stars by getting my first telescope, a used SkyProdigy6 (SP6). After struggling with it for several years, last Christmas I moved up to the Evolution 8 HD (Evo), with the intent of using it at home, and the lighter SP6 for star parties. However, once I started using the Evo, the SP6 has just sat at home gathering dust. Yes, I need to have my husband there to help me assemble it in the field, and even at a dark sky party, there are enough Wi-Fi signals bouncing around from other members and guests that I have opted to just use the HC (hand control), which is Celestrons customer support #1 suggestion where others may be using Wi-Fi telescope control, plus everyones phone in the area. I feel that is something that Celestron needs to address. But the FOV, Wow! So crisp, so clear, and the HC is ten times easier for me to use than the one I have for the SP6 because the directions dont scroll in red across the screen. Instead, it gives a two line description, and then moves on with the up or down button. It was a great move for me, I love my new telescope and recommend it. 5

Sean	05/07/2024
[2032 mm] I've only been able to use the Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 once but so far I am very impressed with it. The main selling point for me was the 8 inch aperture, built-in rechargeable battery, and the manual clutches. Setting up the scope is extremely easy and the wifi feature is convenient and a nice option to have. Using Celestron's X-Cel LX 9mm and 12mm eyepieces, I viewed Jupiter and Saturn which were very sharp but getting perfect focus takes a little finessing. 5

Matt	24/06/2024
[1.25"] This scope is solid. The optics are clear, the mount and tripod is stable and sturdy, and it is packed full of accessories to make the entire experience enjoyable. Visual use offers breath taking views of planets and bright DSOs. Connecting a DSLR with the t-adapter (purchased separately) allows short exposure astrophotography. All in all this is a fantastic scope for the price. 5