Celestron Nexstar 8i Special Telescope Kit w/Hand Control and Tripod
by Celestron

List Price: $2,150.00
Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details

• Includes a special kit for adding a computerized hand control and a sturdy Celestron tripod
• 203mm (8-inch) diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain refractor
• Focal length of 2,032mm and focal ratio of f10
• Fully enclosed high-speed motors on both axes
• Auxiliary port for adding optional accessories

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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Celestron Nexstar 8i Special Telescope Kit w/Hand Control and Tripod

Customer Review: Great Buy And Super Fast Delivery
Summary: 5 Stars

Description of Celestron Nexstar 8i Special Telescope Kit w/Hand Control and Tripod

What can I see with the Nexstar 8i? I love the sharp, high contrast images of the planets. Cassini's division in Saturn's rings is a thin black line even when the view isn't perfect. On rare nights when the air is perfectly still and clear I've pushed the magnification past 400x; Saturn's rings and moons were still sharply etched against a black sky. Jupiter and Mars also show wonderful detail. While a smaller scope may reveal Jupiter's two major cloud belts and its famous great red spot, the Nexstar 8i is capable of showing multiple cloud bands and even some small white ovals on a good night. During its last close approach to Earth, I watched as Mars' South polar cap receded and dust storms swelled in a matter of weeks; no wonder early astronomers visualized Mars as a living planet. Deep space also takes on wonderful detail with a Nexstar 8i. Although globular cluster M13 in the constellation Hercules may be more famous, I enjoy looking at the lesser-known globulars M15 and M92 because I can begin to see the characteristic yellow color of red giant stars sprinkled among their countless pinpoints of light.

The computer-driven handset makes it easy to find celestial objects.

The real genius of the Nexstar 8i is its computerized object location and tracking system. I find the Nexstar system much easier to use than earlier computerized telescopes. You can choose from several different alignment modes, from the traditional two star alignment to the latest GPS-aided automatic setup using the optional CN-16 GPS module. I especially like the flexibility of the new "quick align" feature. Starting with "quick align" at a recent public viewing session, I was able to use Venus and the quarter Moon to synchronize my telescope alignment half an hour before sunset. The Nexstar didn't miss a target the rest of the evening. Meanwhile other computerized telescopes were sitting more than an hour, waiting for their alignment stars to appear in the twilight.

You'll want some good eyepieces to take full advantage of Celestron's excellent optics. I'd suggest starting with a set of three, Celestron's 10mm, 18mm, and 30mm Ultima eyepieces would be a good choice. These three would be ideal for viewing the planets at about 200x, galaxies at about 100x, and open star clusters at about 65x magnification. My only disappointment with the eight inch Schmidt-Cassegrain design is its limited field of view; some of my favorite objects like the Double Cluster in Perseus don't quite fit, even with a low-power eyepiece. Also be aware that you'll want an external power supply; the computer may crash after only a few hours when the on board AA batteries start to run down. The Nexstar 8i is a delightful telescope for visual observing or even web-cam images of the planets; for deep space photography, however, you'll want the greater stability of the Nexstar 8"GPS . ?Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Excellent optics
• Light and portable
• Easy, computerized finding and tracking
• GPS upgrade option

• Short battery life
• Limited field of view
• Not optimized for photography

Reflectors

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