Celestron Nexstar 8i Computerized Go-To Telescope Kit
by Celestron

List Price: $2,258.99
Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details

• 203mm (8-inch) diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain refractor
• Compass calibration, enabling you to point to true north more accurately
• Manually slew across the sky in seconds or track a star equatorially
• Electronic controls allows you to move the telescope at six different rates
• Auxiliary Port for optional accessories, including GPS module

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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Celestron Nexstar 8i Computerized Go-To Telescope Kit

Customer Review: Easy to use!
Summary: 5 Stars

Description of Celestron Nexstar 8i Computerized Go-To Telescope Kit

Specifications include:

• 203mm (8") Diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain
• Focal Length of 2032mm
• Focal Ratio of f/10
• 6-degree per second slew speed
• Fully enclosed high speed motors on both axes
• Integrated hand controller built into the side of the fork arm
• Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with Starbright coating
• Designated AutoGuider port
• Auxiliary Port for optional Accessories, including CN-16 GPS module
• Battery Compartment for 8 (user supplied) AA batteries
• Weight: 34.5 lbs.
• Made in the U.S.A.

• Multicoated 25mm Plossl Eyepiece (50x)
• Star Pointer Finderscope
• Star Diagonal - 1.25"
• Visual Back - 1.25"
• Heavy Duty Base with Rubber Feet
• Electronic Hand Control

Celestron has long been recognized as a leader in Schmidt-Cassegrain technology. Our line of Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes ranges from the highly portable C5+ all the way up to the powerful CG-14, and includes several cutting edge computerized telescopes. Celestron's potent combination of superior optics, fine drive systems and well-crafted mechanics puts these telescopes in a class by themselves.

Schmidt-Cassegrain, or catadioptric, telescopes use a combination of mirrors and lenses to fold the optics and form an image. Incoming light enters through a thin aspheric Schmidt correcting lens, then strikes the spherical primary mirror and is reflected back up the tube. The light is then intercepted by a small secondary mirror which reflects the light out an opening in the rear of the instrument, where the image is formed at the eyepiece.

More advantages of the Schmidt-Cassegrain design are:

• Excellent optical systems delivering razor sharp images over a wide field.
• High performance in almost all situations; terrestrial viewing and photography; lunar, planetary and deep-sky observing; astrophotography with fast film; CCD imaging.
• Best all-around, multifunction telescope design; it combines all the optical advantages of both mirrors and lenses, while canceling their disadvantages.
• Focal ratios generally in the range of f/10, which is useful for all types of photography.
• A telescope that's compact, portable, easy to use, durable, virtually maintenance free and has a closed tube.
• The best near focus capability of any type of telescope design.
• Large apertures at quite reasonable prices.

Hand figuring of an optical system is a complex optical procedure done only on a commercial basis by Celestron. The art of hand figuring does take time but the results are easily evidenced by the superior resultant astrophotographs and viewing obtained. Celestron 's optical testing is performed on double-pass auto-collimators in a temperature controlled environment. This ensures the highest quality on a consistent basis. Our commitment to the most careful optical fabrication and most stringent testing and quality control is for one purpose: to produce the very best Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes available anywhere.

All Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes utilize the multicoated Starbright coatings group. High Reflectivity (HR) coatings are used on the mirrors for increased reflectivity and Anti-Reflection (AR) coatings are used on the correcting lens for increased light transmission. In fact, Celestron's Starbright coatings provide "the best light transmission by a large margin over the competition," according to Sky & Telescope magazine. In addition, the optical systems are optimally baffled to ensure the highest contrast levels. To provide consistent customer satisfaction and high performance, all Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain optical assemblies, at each aperture size, utilize the same superior optics, whether in a basic or full featured model.

If the 4,000 object computerized database and automatic alignment capabilities aren?t inspiring enough, add to that the easily assembled, quick-release fork arm and you have the smartest, most user-friendly telescope available today. And NexStar telescopes love to travel. Sturdy and solid, they provide rigid low-vibration performance, with quiet, high precision servo motors. Powered by 8 AA user supplied batteries or an optional AC adapter (#18770), NexStar telescopes aren?t tethered to civilization ? they carry it with them. Best of all, those sophisticated electronics are designed by the highly skilled engineers of Celestron, right down to the circuit boards, for tested superior performance.

Moon viewing 101
The moon is often one of the first celestial objects a beginner will look at through his or her telescope. Here are a couple hints for you once you get your hands on your new NexStar 8i.

Often, it is tempting to look at the Moon when it is full. At this time, the face we see is fully illuminated and its light can be overpowering. In addition, little or no contrast can be seen during this phase. One of the best times to observe the Moon is during its partial phases (around the time of first or third quarter). Long shadows reveal a great amount of detail on the lunar surface. At low power you will be able to see most of the lunar disk at one time. The optional Reducer/Corrector lens allows for breath-taking views of the entire lunar disk when used with a low power eyepiece. Change to higher power (magnification) to focus in on a smaller area. Choose the lunar tracking rate from the NexStar's MENU tracking rate options to keep the moon centered in the eyepiece even at high magnifications.

Observing the Planets
Other fascinating targets include the five naked-eye planets. You can see Venus go through its lunar-like phases. Mars can reveal a host of surface detail and one, if not both, of its polar caps. You will be able to see the cloud belts of Jupiter and the great Red Spot (if it is visible at the time you are observing). In addition, you will also be able to see the moons of Jupiter as they orbit the giant planet. Saturn, with its beautiful rings, is easily visible at moderate power. Remember that atmospheric conditions are usually the limiting factor on how much planetary detail will be visible. So avoid observing the planets when they are low on the horizon or when they are directly over a source of radiating heat, such as a rooftop or chimney.

The Nuts and Bolts

Optical Tube Star Pointer Finderscope Eyepiece Star Diagonal Focuser Knob Battery Compartment ON/OFF Switch / 12v power Fork Arm Hand Control Schmidt Corrector Plate (not shown)

Catadioptric

• Camera & Photo > Binoculars, Telescopes & Optics > Telescopes > Catadioptric