Orion SkyView Pro 8 GoTo vs Celestron Nexstar 8SE: Which high-end telescope is right for you? | T3

Do you want to develop the habit of astronomy? We compare Orion SkyView Pro 8 and Celestron Nexstar 8SE telescope to help you decide where to spend your money

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Entry-level telescopes are usually aimed at families and children, and are great for observing the moon, but if you are looking for something more "grown up" and want to study astronomy more deeply, you need to spend some time and choose a telescope with a higher and better Specification level. If you have the right telescope budget, two of them

What you can buy is

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If you have enough money to spend all the bells, whistles and gadgets on high-end telescopes, that’s great, but if you spend a lot of money, you have to be double sure that you have made no mistakes. This is where our comparison guide is Came in. Our two competitors may usually be in a range that few casual observers can't afford-not a pun. But for dedicated astronomy enthusiasts or amateurs who want stars to travel farther than humans boldly, they are still achievable goals (if you are looking for something more suitable for beginners, please go to our budget Options showdown:

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The big and bold Orion SkyView Pro 8 GoTo Reflector telescope is aimed at serious stargazers. Its impressive 1000mm focal length can allow our imagination to enter deep space, and its computerized function can accurately locate and zero in the heavenly visual interest.

High-end and high-tech alternative telescopes come from the equally familiar Celestron brand, which offers a wide range of equipment for various budgets and skills. Here, we chose the top Celestron Nexstar 8SE telescope as a close competitor of the Orion SkyView Pro 8 GoTo Reflector telescope. Celestron also has a certain degree of computerized operation, which is not only a close match in price, but also a feature set. But, which of the most competitive products that are most suitable for high-end telescopes you can buy is best for your own needs? Please read carefully to find out...

The main features of the clumsy Orion SkyView Pro 8 GoTo Reflector telescope include a large 203mm objective lens and a 1000mm wide focal length with f/4.9 aperture. These aims are to be able to resolve fine details with high power.

In addition to the "telescope" itself, the box also includes an 8x40 viewfinder mirror, 25mm and 10mm 1.25-inch eyepieces, telescope casing ring and "Starry Night" astronomy software. The key advantage is that with its computerized "GoTo" system, you can discover must-see attractions by accessing a large database. In fact, the internal stepping motor guides the scope to the celestial target, placing it directly in the field of view of the eyepiece. The ability to automatically locate and track such objects is one of the greatest features of the Orion SkyView Pro 8 GoTo Reflector telescope.

Of course, we also have a tripod with a stainless steel tube structure in the box. Orion said, on top of it, the telescope will feel like floating in the air. Similarly, the device weighs 7.5 kg. But its high-quality optical components are the most worthy of attention here.

Also distinctive is the competitive product Celestron Nexstar 8SE telescope. It offers a powerful 2032mm focal length (twice that of Orion), and matching 8-inch optics, combined here with f/10 aperture. Therefore, in theory, although Celestron can allow us to go deeper into deep space, which is an absolute advantage, the transmitted image may not generally provide the f/4.9 aperture provided by its competitors. However, the highest practical magnification recommended by Celestron for its high-end telescope is as high as 480 times.

This is Schmidt-Cassegrain's "microscope", which means it is a member of the "refraction" series, using a combination of mirrors and lenses to gather and focus light. Software is also provided here, this time a product of Starry Night SE, which has telescope control functions for computer telescopes, better than the basic software package.

Unlike the more affordable entry-level models, some initial user assembly is required here. The Orion SkyView Pro 8 GoTo mirror telescope is equipped with a sturdy stainless steel tripod as a support. In use, its 8-inch parabolic reflector is equipped with a greater light transmittance, allowing unobstructed views of the sky. In fact, its manufacturer claims that it has 73% more light than a 6-inch oscilloscope. 

More importantly, the high-end Orion is equipped with a 2-inch Crayford focuser, which is also ideal for zeroing deep space objects. The light tube weighs very light at 7.5kg, which shows that the light tube is installed in your home "observatory", obviously, you can get the power you need there without camping.

Celestron Nexstar 8SE telescope rests on a sturdy steel tripod with an accessory tray. Thanks to its equally large 8-inch lens barrel, it also has good light-gathering capabilities, which means it can provide a clear view of objects in deep space. If your budget does not fit this particular example, there are also no designated 4-inch and 6-inch models in the Celestron series. Like its Orion brand competitors, although Celestron can also conveniently use AA batteries, you still need a power source to operate it.

The Orion SkyView Pro 8 GoTo Reflector telescope has access to a huge computerized database containing 42,000 celestial bodies. Allegedly, access to these functions requires only a few buttons and a power source, and its "GoTo" system can take us to tour the night sky and display the best sites for a particular calendar month. If you plan to use this option to take pictures, you may need to further research an adapter suitable for your camera or smartphone brand.

The Orion model GoTo system includes a computer manual controller and two stepper motors connected to the base of the SkyView Pro telescope. The GoTo controller can be used for navigating the night sky or finding celestial highlights in the calendar. The manufacturer promises to update GoTo’s firmware via the Internet to keep it up to date.

In contrast, Celestron's computerized Nexstar 8SE telescope can access a database of 40,000 celestial bodies, and can activate the air tour function with a few clicks of a button. At the time of writing, it is sold with an eyepiece and filter kit with 14 accessories and a phone mirror adapter that enables users to take photos of objects found in deep space, which just makes all your Instagram followers jealous. For those who want to be serious, there is an optional SkySync GPS accessory that can be plugged into Nexstar's auxiliary port to download data from GPS satellites in operation for quick and easy alignment.

The Orion SkyView Pro 8 GoTo Reflector telescope is a good choice if you want to go beyond the moon and locate and view objects in deep space – but it does come at a price. Its manufacturer also recommends users over the age of 12 to use it, so this is a fairly advanced choice, not a choice for young children to get started. Orion is currently one of the largest companies in the telescope market, so if this particular model doesn't fit your bill or budget, you have more options.

The price of Celestron Nexstar 8SE telescope is also high, although the retail price of its 6-inch aperture "6SE" is much cheaper at the time of writing the next model of the series, which will also make it a reality. It is worthy of further investigation. However, with an 8-year warranty, this 8SE series top hat can be used with confidence. In contrast, Orion offers a fairly standard one-year manufacturer's warranty.

In direct comparison with Orion, although its core specifications and feature set are roughly similar, Celestron has brought more benefits to the desktop in the form of a longer total focal length-in fact, it is twice that provided by Orion-theoretically We explore space more deeply. However, this and Orion are both from well-known and trusted brands, so no matter which option you choose, you won't go wrong in the end.

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