Celestron NexStar 8 SE Review

Celestron NexStar 8 SE Review: Is It Worth It?

You can carry the Celestron NexStar 8 SE Telescope anywhere, put it up in minutes, and use it to see nearby planets, constellations, moons, and nebulae in astonishing clarity.

I like that the Celestron NexStar 8 SE Telescope can be erected and disassembled nearly immediately with ZERO tools, which solves the age-old issue of time-consuming and exhausting assembly.

While watching planets, the superbly manufactured steel tripod includes an inbuilt wedge for perfect EQ alignment and feels exceptionally smooth to use.

This telescope combines outstanding usability with smart features to provide you with an unforgettable astronomy experience.

SkyAlign telescope alignment technology is included in the Celestron NexStar 8 SE Telescope. Simply choose an item from the menu, and the telescope will locate it for you, saving you a significant amount of time wasted attempting to find it yourself.

This gadget will not only let you locate thousands of galaxies, stars, planets, and other objects with the press of a button…

If you utilize the “Tour” option, it will provide you with a customized selection of the greatest items in the sky to watch from your specific time and place, no matter where you are in the globe. Simply input the date and time (along with your location) into the hand-held control panel, then point the telescope at any three brilliant objects in the night sky and let the telescope do the rest. (This is my personal favorite feature!)

But it doesn’t end there…

No, the Celestron NexStar 8 SE Telescope will not only detect things for you, but it will also teach you about them!

You don’t even need to know the names of the stars since the most popular objects will be shown on the LCD screen of your telescope’s hand-held control panel.

The mirror of the Celestron NexStar 8 SE has innovative improved coatings for optimal light transmission and clarity, is GPS compatible, and comes with a two-year guarantee.

The Drawbacks:

Cost is a possibility. This telescope is solidly in the middle of the telescope price range, but if you enjoy astronomy as much as I do, it is well worth the investment.

Pros and Cons

Positives:

• The Celestron Nexstar 8 SE comes with a 2-year guarantee. You can simply return the item if you are not satisfied with it.
• 8 Inches of aperture means that the details in even the faintest of celestial objects are revealed.
• The patented single fork arm mount makes the set-up quick and easy.
• Nexstar+ hand control accurately locates over 40,000 celestial objects
• SkyTour shows you the best objects currently visible.
• SkyAlign technology makes aligning your telescope a breeze.
• Can be controlled by your iPhone or iPad
• As one of Celestron’s most beloved telescopes, you will never have to worry about finding replacement parts for it.

Negatives:

• Some people may require time to get used to the device.
•  It’s not ideal for small children to use.
• As I mentioned before, the cost is firmly mid-range but it’s a steal when it comes to great telescopes.

Still not sure whether to invest your money in this telescope? Here are some reviews from other users!

” If I had to choose between [the Celestron Nexstar 6 SE or 8 SE], I’d say go for the 8 SE, because all other things being equal, aperture rules. I checked the specs for these and you get a lot for the money.”

-Reddit User java

“I’ve had absolutely no regrets with it. Setup time is maybe 5 minutes if it’s already dark out, it’s relatively light, easy to use, and gives a great view. I bought mine for nearly $1200, and it’s well worth it.”

-Reddit User brent1123

“The Celestron Nexstar 8SE is fun, powerful, and [has] really good optics. The night I first used it I used the Skyalignment and [it] worked perfectly along with auto 2-star alignment. That night I saw Saturn in really good detail, and what was surprising was I was able to see Swan Nebula and Hercules Cluster all from a heavy light-polluted sky.”

-Amazon Verified Purchaser, Bammieb

“This review is for the NexStar 8 SE, the 8-inch one … Easy to put together and set up. Make sure you get the AC adapter because it eats through the batteries pretty quickly. Even though it’s an Alt-Azimuth mount (not an equatorial one) it tracks objects pretty well. [talking about the attached pictures] The final result is 50 10-sec frames stacked. You can see a video of the whole thing on youtube under Nm7Pxb3jENs.”

-Amazon Verified Purchaser, Herb H

Celestron Nexstar 8 SE FAQs:

• How much time does it take to set up?

It takes around 5 minutes and no tools are required.

• Is it necessary to be an astronomer to utilize it?

No, Celestron provides a plethora of educational videos on its YouTube page, and each telescope comes with its own user manual, making it simple to get the most out of your telescope.

• What is the Celestron Nexstar 8 SE price?

Because it is against Amazon policy for me to provide the exact pricing of their items on my website because they are subject to change, the best method to verify the current price is to visit the Amazon page directly here.

• What if it fails?

This Celestron comes with a free two-year guarantee, which allows you to mail in your damaged telescope and have it fixed by the manufacturer.

The Decision…

If you’re new to astronomy or a seasoned astronomer seeking a portable scope with thoughtfully designed features, the Celestron NexStar 8 SE Telescope is an excellent option for equipment. It doesn’t get any better than this!

4.5/5 (Yeah, it’s that awesome)

If you want to possess this incredible gadget, I strongly suggest purchasing it online via Amazon here; you won’t find a new one for this low a price anywhere else.