The Best 8 Inch Telescope For 2023
By, Sherry PetersonUpdated
Summary
1. Best Overall: Celestron - NexStar 8SE Telescope - Computerized Telescope
Experience the wonders of space with the Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope. The 8-inch aperture makes it easy to find and see the best our solar system has to offer, and its Schmidt-Cassegrain design allows you to use it with starsense technology. With a 2-year warranty and unlimited access to technical support from our team of US-based experts, this telescope is designed for durability, ease of assembly and use, and compatibility with your other devices. Read Review
2. Best Bang For The Buck: Zhumell - 50mm Portable Refractor Telescope
The Zhumell 50AZ is the perfect telescope for your everyday adventures. With high-quality, coated glass optics, a potent 50mm objective lens and a lightweight frame, this telescope is capable of capturing images and video through the eyepiece. It comes with a bonus bag, tripod, 3x Barlow lens and smartphone adapter to make it ultra portable. Capture images and video through the eyepiece! Read Review
3. Best Choice: Sky Watcher Classic 200 Dobsonian 8-inch Aperature Telescope
Sky Watcher Classic 200 Dobsonian 8-inch Aperture Telescope is perfect for beginners and the seasoned astronomer. It features a deluxe, tripod mount and is easy to assemble. The telescope comes with a 9-point star diagonal, eyepiece and Barlow lens, all covered by a 2-year limited warranty. Read Review
4. Best Efficient: Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope Kit
The SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope Kit is a great choice for beginners and experienced stargazers alike. With its stable Dobsonian base (which features a vibration-free image even when viewing at a high powers), this portable telescope provides smooth motions to make manual tracking of celestial objects easy. The included accessories are excellent value-added items which will enhance your experience: Orion Shorty 2x Barlow, Orion's MoonMap 260, DeepMap 600, and Telescope Observer's Guide, Read Review
If you are wondering how to choose an affordable telescope, then look no further because we have the answer. This article will provide tips and insights to help you make the right choice. Before you start shopping, it’s important that you know what you can expect to see with different telescopes.
A telescope’s magnification level is a measure of the instrument’s ability to increase apparent size or detail of an object in space. Telescopes vary in their magnification level, from spotters that offer a limited view of the night sky, up to telescopes with high magnification levels that can reveal more of an object than a normal human eye would see unaided. With this information at hand, let us look at some factors you should take into account when looking for your first telescope
We would like to introduce the telescope with 8-Inch aperture. The 8-inch primary mirror telescope for adults and kids to be used together packs enough light-gathering ability to observe the best that our Solar System has to offer, while retaining a compact form factor.
In addition, we also recommend a number of telescope products with different apertures for you to have more choices.
Before making our recommendations, our specialists spend substantial time researching and analyzing your requirements. Then we found the Celestron - NexStar 8SE Telescope - Computerized Telescope is the greatest choice for its high-quality performance. If you're looking for another one, consider Zhumell - 50mm Portable Refractor Telescope.
Our Top Picks
- Unbeatable warranty and customer support: Buy with confidence from the telescope brand, based in California since 1960. You’ll also receive a 2-year warranty and unlimited access to technical support from our team of US-based experts.
- Nexstar computerized telescope: The NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope features Celestron’s iconic orange tube design with updated technology and the latest features for amazing stargazing for beginners and experienced observers.
- Trust Zhumell for field-tested, precision-crafted optics to help you view the world in a new way with amazing clarity and detail
- Powerful eyepieces for up-close viewing: Our telescope for astronomy beginners is equipped with two high-quality eyepieces (20mm and 8mm) that provide low- and high-power views of celestial objects at night and terrestrial objects during the day
- Bonus bag, tripod, 3x Barlow lens, and smartphone adapter: This kit is ultra-portable and ready for all your adventures. Capture images and video through the eyepiece!
- 50mm objective lens: Our refractor telescope is equipped with a 50mm aperture objective lens for enhanced, bright views. Setting up and using the Zhumell 50AZ is quick and easy
- Superior optics: The Zhumell 50AZ features high-quality, coated glass optics, a potent 50mm objective lens, a lightweight frame, a smartphone adapter, and a custom case to carry it all
- 94% REFLECTIVE MIRRORS: Fully multi-coated borosilicate primary and secondary mirrors deliver exceptional views. Faintest Steller Magnitude:14.2.
- STURDY AND LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN: When fully assembled, the Dobsonian weighs only 45 pounds fully assembled (20 pound tube, 25 pound base).
- COMES COMPLETE: All accessories such as, 2-inch Crayford-style focuser with 1 1/4-inch adapter, two super wide-angle eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), and 9x50 straight-through finder scope are included with purchase.
- TEFLON BEARINGS: Proprietary Teflon bearings ensure smooth azimuth movement.
- LARGE APERTURE: Get a bright, bold viewing experience at a fraction of other optical designs.
- Light Gathering (compared to next size down): 78%
- PROPRIETARY TENSION CONTROL HANDLES: These patented handles allow for accurate movement without the need for perfect balance.
- Max focal length: 1200.
- Stable Dobsonian base provides vibration-free images even when viewing at a high powers, and features smooth motions to make manual tracking of celestial objects a breeze
- This kit includes some excellent value-added accessories to enhance your experience: Orion Shorty 2x Barlow (for double the magnification), Orion's MoonMap 260, DeepMap 600, and Telescope Observer's Guide, a RedBeam Mini flashlight, and a smartphone photo adapter for taking pictures through the telescope's eyepiece.
- Large 8"-diameter parabolic mirror excels for deep-sky viewing of nebulas, galaxies, and star clusters, and serves up jaw-dropping views of the planets and Moon
- Simple hands-on, point-and-view navigation without complicating counterweights, gears, clutches, polar alignment, or the need to balance the tube. Easy and fun!
- Features a precision 2" Crayford focuser with 1.25" adapter, allowing use of 1.25" eyepieces or optional 2" eyepieces
- Max focal length: 1200
- LARGE APERTURE: Get a bright, bold viewing experience at a fraction of the cost of other optical designs.
- This 8" Dobsonian telescope comes "fully loaded" with a great set of accessories and top-notch features
- Azimuth roller bearings and adjustable altitude trunnions provide silky-smooth telescope motion and precision 2" Crayford focuser features dual-speed adjustment control with 10:1 fine-focus
- Includes an 8x50 right-angle finder scope, cooling fan, eyepiece rack, and more!
- Special Kit includes Orion Deep Map, Orion 2" UltraBlock Filter, Orion 1.25" Variable Polarizing Filter, Orion Planetary Observing Guide Kit, and Orion SteadyPix Quick Smartphone Telescope Photo Adapter
- SUPERIOR TRACKING ACCURACY: This computerized GoTo mount with high-performance brass worm gears and motors tracks objects smoothly as they appear to drift across the night sky. Ideal for star parties and astroimaging.
- CELESTRON’S LEGENDARY 8” SCHMIDT-CASSEGRAIN OPTICAL TUBE: See the difference! Compact, portable 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube with StarBright XLT optical coatings provides stunning views.
- EASY TO USE IN THE FIELD: Enjoy the improved industrial design with manual clutches and integrated carry handles, plus the added convenience of two accessory trays and a USB charge port for your phone.
- BUILT-IN 10-HOUR LITHIUM IRON PHOSPHATE BATTERY: Forget about buying an external power supply. Celestron’s LiFePO4 battery is built right in for the safest, most reliable power anywhere.
- COMPUTERIZED TELESCOPE WITH WIFI FUNCTIONALITY: Explore the Universe and control your telescope with the free Celestron SkyPortal app for iOS and Android! Select any object from the app’s database and the telescope locates and tracks it automatically.
- 【Multiple Accessories】Come with 2 High-quality Eyepieces, a 1.5X Erecting Barlow Lens, a 1.25" 13% Transmission Moon Filter, a Cellphone Adapter. The telescope contains all the accessories you need to observe. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, we will do our best to help you in 24 hours.
- 【German Equatorial Mount】German Equatorial with dial and fine-turned control cables. Adjust rod to desired position, then easily secure by tightening knob. Precise positioning and fast tracking of celestial bodies make your observation more stable. You can enjoy the amazing process of manual tracking of the moon and planets.
- 【130mm Large Aperture】Large aperture 130mm telescope, high resolution, good light collecting ability, imaging brighter, more suitable for the observation of deep space celestial objective.
- 【High Quality Optics】The telescope adopts a sturdy and light fram structure, the carbon fiber was covering on the telescope surface, sophisticated technology. Objective lens features fully-coated glass optics, it can improve the optical system performance of astronomical telescopes, help you observe brighter, more detailed planets.
- 【Stable Tripod】The telescope comes with a high-quality large diameter adjustable aluminum alloy tripod. Extra a tray is attached for storing small temporary attachment. The tripod stable structure stable enable you to Locate celestial objects smoothly and accurately.
- DUAL SADDLE DOVETAIL PLATE: Use your mount with a variety of optical tubes; it accommodates both CG-5 and CGE style dovetails.
- A VERSATILE ASTROIMAGING SYSTEM: Choose from 3 focal ratios—native f/10, f/7 with optional reducer, or f/2 with Fastar/Hyperstar compatibility.
- THE IDEAL VISUAL OR IMAGING TELESCOPE FOR PAYLOADS UNDER 30 LB: The most compact and portable of Celestron’s German equatorial mounts offers the same rigidity as our larger mounts with minimal flexure and an improved industrial design.
- EVERY FEATURE AN ASTROIMAGER WANTS: Permanently programmable periodic error correction (PPEC), an autoguider port, the ability to image across the meridian, CPWI software, All-Star Polar Alignment, and more.
- STUNNING IMAGES WITH EDGEHD OPTICS: EdgeHD optical design fully corrects for coma and field curvature, delivering a truly flat field. This 8” scope also includes StarBright XLT coatings for better light transmission.
- The telescope features a detachable lid, which reveals the internal structure of the tube and how it works inside. It can be a great astronomical educational kit. And the included universal phone mount helps you easily capture the moment and share with your loved ones.
- If you're not happy with our mak60 telescope or need professional suggestions, contact us anytime and our customer care will help you. And you will also receive 1-year hassel-free warranty for the telescope.
- This tabletop telescope is an upgraded version of Maksutov Planet Mate 60 Telescope. Simple navigation and no need to align make it extremely easy to use. The Dobsonian mount enables vibration free viewing, and with the finderscope, aiming and tracking your target is a breeze.
- The mak telescope stands out from other beginner level telescopes by providing sharp and crystal clear views with almost no chromatic aberrations. You can enjoy viewing both distant celestial objects including the moon, Saturn, Jupiter, and vivid terrestrial targets in nature.
- Included 20mm eyepiece renders 37.5X power. The telescope is small but powerful for its size, having 750mm focal length in a small 200mm tube. You can use other 1.25'' eyepiece to change magnification.
How Can You Gain The best 8 inch telescope That Meets Your Demands?
Looking for the best 8 inch telescope requires consideration of many criteria. Product learning varies in type, feature, and customer ranking. Overall, it comes with several difficulties in buying. So, we are available to support you occasionally.
The information and up-to-date data related to the best 8 inch telescope can be relied on by our customers at all times. First of all, let’s go through the following questions asked frequently on the sale websites:
- In what sense is it worthwhile to make this purchase?
- What should you look for when choosing the best item for your needs?
- Where can you get advice and consults for some problems related to the product?
- What would you obtain from this product?
- What products are relied on by most buyers?
The information in our article is expected to be used as a guide only. You should take the Internet into account for reference among your options. If you want the accurate picture of the best 8 inch telescope, sale websites and consulting forums are free for you guys. The data is compiled using AI and Big Data in these spaces, so you can rest assured when the ìnormation is objective and precise.
It is beneficial for you to have a closer look at the things below to evaluate and then choose which one is suitable:
Size And Portability
Telescope designs that are large or heavy can take up much space and make it difficult to transport around the house and car.
Mounting System
Ease Of Operation
Aperture
Price
Eyepieces
Total magnification is the sum of eyepiece length and focal length. A telescope that has a focal length of 500mm and an eyepiece measuring 25mm provides magnifications up to 20x.
If you have to wear glasses when looking through a telescope, it is important that your eyepiece has a substantial distance from the lens and the pupil. This is called "eye relief" and improves the comfort of corrective lenses.
Additional Features
Transporting cases protect your telescope during transport from one place to another. You can choose from simple nylon or hard shells made of durable plastic with interior padding.
Small accessories for smartphones that attach to telescopes and can take photos or record video of stars, planets, etc.
A GoTo, a small onboard computer attached to a motorized mounting system is called a GoTo. Most computers come preloaded with data about the sky and celestial bodies. The motorized mount will automatically find the object by selecting a star or planet.
Magnification
FAQs
What Can I See With My Telescope?
Astronomically you can see all the planets (except Pluto), the Moon and the Sun, as well as the surface details of Mars and Jupiter. You also have the ability to view multiple stars, open and globular clusters, bright galaxies and other nearby clusters. There are many things to see on the terestria, including wildlife and sports. However, you should keep in mind that your daytime view is usually over hot areas so distant objects may shine.
What Is The Advantage Of A Large Aperture Telescope?
A larger aperture means a higher practical magnification limit. A larger aperture telescope can focus more light and allow for fainter objects to be seen than smaller apertures. A larger aperture telescope will give you better resolution when the air is stable and not turbulent.
How Do I Safely Transport My Telescope?
You can transport the telescope in two main pieces: the mount and tube. Remove the telescope tube and mount by loosening the thumbscrews from the tube rings. The accessories, such as the bracket and finderscope, should be removed from the optical tube. Cap the telescope tube, and eyepiece. You can also remove fine-adjustment control cables or counterweight rod/counterweights. To transport the tripod legs, it is necessary to remove the accessory tray. It is possible to transport the telescope in a car without any problems. Although padding can protect the tube from scratches, it is not essential. After a bumpy ride, the mirrors might not be in collimation. However, collimation can still be necessary after transport with or without padding.
Will I See Objects As They Appear In Photographs?
Both yes and no. Yes and no. Bright objects such as the Moon and certain planets, and star clusters, will display colours and features in similar ways to photographs. However, fainter objects can be more difficult. Low light levels are too low for the eye to pick up colour, so bright nebulae can appear in shades of gray with small telescopes. Digital images and colour films can be exposed for long enough time to capture light in the visible spectrum, so photos show colours you cannot see visually.
Should I Use Colour Filters?
For viewing detailed planetary details, colour filters are nearly a requirement. They can be inserted into your eyepiece barrel. You can use a particular colour to highlight specific features of planetary planets. You can often see up to three times more detail than if you look straight at the planet.
Which Mount Should I Buy For My Telescope?
The alt-azimuth mount is best if your instrument is intended for only land-use. However, astronomical and dual-use instruments will be better served by the equatorial. You should ensure that your mount is sturdy enough to support the chosen telescope. Mounts that can support longer or heavier telescopes will need to be stronger in order for them to work at higher magnifications. If in doubt, mount the telescope higher than normal.
How Much Power Does My Telescope Have?
Three types of power are available for telescopes. They can be compared to the normal performance of an ordinary human eye. These are light-gathering, magnifying, and resolution power. While all three are vital, the most significant is the resolving ability. A telescope's focal length will determine how much magnified an eyepiece can do. There is an acceptable magnification limit that can be achieved at 2x for every mm of aperture. An eyepiece with a magnification greater than this limit will not be of much use. A telescope's ability to gather light depends on its aperture size. The larger the aperture, the higher the resolution. These three powers will determine what you can see through the telescope. A 150mm telescope with a diameter of 150mm will, by comparison to the human eye and the 2x/mm rule, have a maximum practical magnifying ability of 300x and 600x light-gathering powers, as well as a resolution power of 0.8arc-seconds.
Will A Telescope Work Without An Eyepiece?
The objective cannot be used for visual reasons, since the eyes are unable to process the image created by it. You can use the telescope without an eyepiece to view cameras or other instruments.
How Do I Store My Telescope?
When storing your telescope, it is not necessary to remove the optical tube from the mount. You can store it in one place in dry and clean conditions. To prevent the telescope from becoming wet, you can cover it with heavy-duty plastic covers if it must be kept outdoors. The dust caps for the telescope's front and rear are both on. All accessories should be kept in separate boxes with their caps. To prevent dust from building up on the primary mirror, some people store the reflect telescope in two pieces. It isn't proven to work.
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About Sherry Peterson
