Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
Price $2199.99
Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 HD Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope with STARSENSE (scroll down)
Price $2949.99
Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
- Explore the Universe and control your NexStar Evolution telescope with the free Celestron SkyPortal app for iOS and Android!
- Compact, portable 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube with StarBright XLT optical coatings and Fastar compatibility
- Computerized GoTo mount with high-performance brass worm gears and motors for improved tracking accuracy, along with reduced gear backlash
- Rechargeable lithium-iron phosphate battery with enough power for 10 hours of continuous observing
- 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 smart device
“This robotic WiFi telescope is the coolest app-cessory in the galaxy”
–Wired.com
“5-star overall rating”
-BBC Sky at Night Magazine
The NexStar Evolution is the first Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with integrated WiFi. Leave your hand control behind and slew to all the best celestial objects with a tap of your smartphone or tablet. Connect your device to NexStar Evolution’s built-in wireless network, and explore the universe with the Celestron mobile app for iOS and Android.
Use the planetarium interface to view the night sky in real time or display a list of celestial objects currently visible based on your time and location. Our proprietary SkyAlign alignment procedure is built right into the Celestron mobile app, so you’re ready to observe within minutes.
The most user-friendly telescope ever
Celestron engineers designed NexStar Evolution based on years of customer feedback. It offers many thoughtful design features that combine to provide you the best possible experience out under the stars.
Forget about batteries or an external power supply. For the first time ever on a consumer telescope, NexStar Evolution includes its own built-in battery. With this ultra-long life lithium-iron phosphate battery, you’ll be able to enjoy stargazing marathons up to 10 hours on a single charge. You can even use NexStar Evolution’s USB charge port to top off the other devices in your life that need to stay powered on during an observing session. An intelligent power management system senses when battery levels are low and goes into power-saving mode to keep your telescope running for as long as possible.
Setting up your NexStar Evolution is quick and painless with large, ergonomic handles. The all-metal tripod features a metal accessory tray with indentations for storing and carrying the tripod. During setup, leg etchings help you achieve a level, uniform height for your telescope. Manual clutches in both altitude and azimuth offer greater flexibility to manually point the telescope when powered off. Store up to 7 eyepieces in 2 accessory trays, one with an adjustable red LED illuminator.
Superior tracking fit for astroimaging
If you’re interested in astroimaging, the 8-inch NexStar Evolution is an excellent, affordable way to get started. It’s the only fork-mounted telescope in its price range that offers brass worm gears, along with improved motors. NexStar Evolution’s tracking accuracy is so impressive, you can capture images of deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula by simply attaching your DSLR camera. As you progress in the hobby of astroimaging, you can add our HD Pro Wedge to achieve longer exposures for more detailed astrophotos. NexStar Evolution compatible with the wedge when used with the CPC tripod (sold separately).
Of course, the Schmidt-Cassegrain optical system offers bright, sharp views with StarBright XLT optical coatings—a great choice for visual observers and budding astroimagers alike.
NexStar Evolution is equipped with 4 auxiliary ports–2 on top of the fork and 2 on the bottom. A classic NexStar+ hand control is included, but is not necessary when using NexStar Evolution with the mobile app. The telescope also includes a StarPointer finderscope, two 1.25” Plossl eyepieces, a 1.25” star diagonal, and an AC adapter.
| Optical Design | Schmidt-Cassegrain |
| Aperture | 203.2mm (8″) |
| Focal Length | 2032mm (80″) |
| Focal Ratio | f/10 |
| Focal Length of Eyepiece 1 | 40mm (1.57″) |
| Magnification of Eyepiece 1 | 51x |
| Focal Length of Eyepiece 2 | 13mm (.51″) |
| Magnification of Eyepiece 2 | 156x |
| Finderscope | Red Dot Finderscope |
| Star Diagonal | 1.25″ Star Diagonal |
| Optical Tube | Aluminum |
| Highest Useful Magnification | 480x |
| Lowest Useful Magnification | 29x |
| Limiting Stellar Magnitude | 14 |
| Resolution (Rayleigh) | 0.69 arc seconds |
| Resolution (Dawes) | 0.57 arc seconds |
| Light Gathering Power (Compared to human eye) | 843x |
| Secondary Mirror Obstruction | 64mm (2.5″) |
| Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Diameter | 31% |
| Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Area | 9.77% |
| Optical Coatings | StarBright XLT |
| Optical Tube Length | 432mm (17″) |
| Optical Tube Diameter | 238mm (9.37″) |
| Optical Tube Weight | 12.5 lbs (5.67 kg) |
| Dovetail | CG-5 Dovetail bar |
| MOUNT INFO: | |
|---|---|
| Mount Type | Computerized Altitude-Azimuth Single Fork Arm |
| Instrument load capacity | 25 lbs (11 kg) |
| Height adjustment range (includes mount and tripod) | 1193.8mm – 1752.6mm (47″ – 69″) |
| Tripod Leg Diameter | 31.75mm (1.25″) Stainless Steel |
| Mount Head Weight | 16 lbs (7 kg) |
| Accessory Tray | Yes |
| Tripod Weight | 12 lbs (5.44 kg) |
| Slew Speeds | 9 slew speeds – max speed 4°/second |
| Tracking Rates | Sidereal, Solar and Lunar |
| Tracking Modes | Alt-Az, EQ North and EQ South |
| GPS | N/A |
| Dovetail Compatibility | CG-5 saddle plate |
| Number of Auxiliary ports | 4 Aux ports (Hand Control can use any of the Aux ports) |
| Autoguide port | No |
| USB Port | Yes, Hand Control input and Mount output |
| Power Requirements | Internal 9 6V, 4 5Ah lithium iron phosphate battery (LiFePO4) |
| Motor Drive | DC servo motors |
| Alignment Procedures | SkyAlign, 1-Star Align, 2-Star Align, Auto 2-Star Align, Solar System Align, Quick-Align, Last Alignment, EQ North / EQ South Alignment (EQ align requires an equatorial wedge) |
| Periodic Error Correction | No |
| Computerized Hand Control | 2 line x 18 character backlit Liquid Crystal Display, 19 LED backlit buttons, USB 2.0 port for PC connection |
| NexStar+ Database | Over 40,000 including 220 of the best deep sky and solar system objects |
| Software | Celestron’s Starry Night Special Edition Software | SkyPortal App |
| Total Kit Weight | 40.5 lbs (18.37 kg) |
| Included Items | NexStar Evolution OTA | Single Fork Arm Mount & Tripod | Accessory Tray| Built-in Wifi | Integrated Lithium-iron battery | NexStar+ Hand Control | 40mm & 13mm eyepiece | Red dot finderscope | Visual Back | Star Diagonal | 4 plug AC adapter |
Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 HD Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope with STARSENSE
- 8” EdgeHD Optics: Provides superb visual and astro-imaging performance, free of coma and field curvature.
- Rechargeable lithium-iron phosphate batterywith enough power for 10 hours of continuous observing
- Built-in WiFi: No Hand controller required! Just use your smartphone or tablet which connects to the telescope via WiFi.
- StarSense AutoAlign: Automatically aligns your telescope and works with the SkyPortal app for complete wireless control.
- Fastar/HyperStar compatible: Image deep sky objects in seconds at f/2, often eliminating the need to autoguide or track on a wedge.
- NexStar Evolution Mount: Packed with convenient features, including manual release clutches and precision machined worm gears for both axes, tray lighting, USB charge port, tray lighting for your accessories, and more.
- Fully motorized computer go-to: After automatically aligning with StarSense, select and go to objects with a tap on your smartphone.
The NexStar Evolution keeps evolving. We’ve paired our best optics with our best technology to make an incredible versatile and portable telescope system. Now, enjoy EdgeHD 8” optics and StarSense AutoAlign on the renowned Evolution mount, all controlled from your favorite tablet or phone.
With the innovative NexStar Evolution 8 HD, enjoy EdgeHD optics and controlling the telescope wirelessly with the SkyPortal app. Now equipped with StarSense AutoAlign, go-to alignment is done automatically once you tap “Connect and Align”! Observing, astro-imaging, and automatic wireless alignment are all bundled into a compact yet mechanically solid setup. This the most capable, easy-to-use and ready-for-action system we’ve ever offered.
When NexStar Evolution was introduced, it paired two of Celestron’s most acclaimed innovations, Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes and computerized go-to optics, in a compact single fork arm mount. The technology and optics continued to evolve over the years. On the technology side, we added StarSense AutoAlign for our go-to telescopes, as well as WiFi telescope control with over our new SkyPortal app. With optics, EdgeHD flat-field and coma-free astro-imaging systems were made to accommodate modern imaging with cameras of all types, especially larger format CCD and DSLR cameras. Now all of these innovations have come together in one telescope package: The NexStar Evolution 8 HD. The NexStar Evolution 8 HD covers all bases for compact and easy to use, and is perfectly capable for any observing to astro-imaging pursuit.
STARSENSE AUTOALIGN IN SKYPORTAL APP
We’ve added our StarSense AutoAlign technology to the SkyPortal app, making SkyPortal the most advanced telescope control app offered. StarSense not only automatically aligns itself from your smart device, it also has advanced mount modelling, allowing you enter up to 10 alignment points for the most precision pointing accuracy possible. Even the most advanced telescope users will love using StarSense AutoAlign through the app. This affordable accessory replaces the expensive software usually used for advanced mount modeling.
With built-in mount modeling, you’ll get superior pointing accuracy from horizon to horizon. When your alignment needs to be perfect, add up to 10 additional calibration stars to achieve a new level of accuracy, great for locating objects in the camera’s field of view for astro-imaging.
SUPERIOR FIT FOR ASTROIMAGING AND VISUAL ASTRONOMY
If you’re interested in astro-imaging, the 8-inch NexStar Evolution HD is an excellent way to jump in. It’s the only fork-mounted telescope in its price range that offers brass worm gears, along with improved motors. Tracking is great, and so too is the flat-field, coma-free EdgeHD optical system.You can capture images of deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula by simply attaching your DSLR camera. As you progress in the hobby of astro-imaging, you can add our Wedge for NexStar Evolution to achieve longer exposures for more detailed astrophotos.
Of course, the EdgeHD optical system offers bright, sharp views with StarBright XLT™ optical coatings—a great choice for visual observers and budding astro-imagers alike.
NexStar Evolution is equipped with 4 auxiliary ports–2 on top of the fork and 2 on the bottom. A StarSense hand control is still included, but is not necessary when using NexStar Evolution with the app. The telescope also includes a StarPointer Pro™ finderscope, two 1.25” Plossl eyepieces, a 1.25” star diagonal, and an international AC adapter.
FREE SKYPORTAL APP
Access the sky and control your telescope from an interactive planetarium on your smart device – provides the best star gazing experience for you and your friends and family – know when Jupiter’s Great Red Spot will be visible, including shadow transits, planetary occultations, conjunctions, or pick the best deep sky objects to view such as galaxies and nebulae. Learn about these objects with informative backstories and beautiful image galleries, then see them for yourself through the telescope!
Controls everything, including StarSense. Tap Connect and Align and let StarSense automatically align the telescope for you.
Upgradable to SkySafari Plus and SkySafari Pro
| Optical Design | EdgeHD |
| Aperture | 203.2mm (8″) |
| Focal Length | 2032mm (80″) |
| Focal Ratio | f/10 |
| Focal Length of Eyepiece 1 | 40mm (1.57″) |
| Magnification of Eyepiece 1 | 51x |
| Focal Length of Eyepiece 2 | 13mm (.51″) |
| Magnification of Eyepiece 2 | 156x |
| Finderscope | StarPointer Pro™ finderscope |
| Star Diagonal | 1.25″ Star Diagonal |
| Optical Tube | Aluminum |
| Highest Useful Magnification | 480x |
| Lowest Useful Magnification | 29x |
| Limiting Stellar Magnitude | 14 |
| Resolution (Rayleigh) | 0.69 arc seconds |
| Resolution (Dawes) | 0.57 arc seconds |
| Light Gathering Power (Compared to human eye) | 843x |
| Secondary Mirror Obstruction | 64mm (2.5″) |
| Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Diameter | 31% |
| Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Area | 9.77% |
| Optical Coatings | StarBright XLT |
| Optical Tube Length | 432mm (17″) |
| Optical Tube Diameter | 238mm (9.37″) |
| Optical Tube Weight | 14 lbs (6.35 kg) |
| Dovetail | CG-5 Dovetail bar |
| MOUNT INFO: | |
|---|---|
| Mount Type | Computerized Altitude-Azimuth Single Fork Arm |
| Instrument load capacity | 25 lbs (11 kg) |
| Height adjustment range (includes mount and tripod) | 1193.8mm – 1752.6mm (47″ – 69″) |
| Tripod Leg Diameter | 31.75mm (1.25″) Stainless Steel |
| Mount Head Weight | 16 lbs (7 kg) |
| Accessory Tray | Yes |
| Tripod Weight | 12 lbs (5.44 kg) |
| Slew Speeds | 9 slew speeds – max speed 4°/second |
| Tracking Rates | Sidereal, Solar and Lunar |
| Tracking Modes | Alt-Az, EQ North and EQ South |
| GPS | N/A |
| Dovetail Compatibility | CG-5 saddle plate |
| Number of Auxiliary ports | 4 Aux ports (Hand Control can use any of the Aux ports) |
| Autoguide port | No |
| USB Port | Yes, Hand Control input and Mount output |
| Power Requirements | Internal 9 6V, 4 5Ah lithium iron phosphate battery (LiFePO4) |
| Motor Drive | DC servo motors |
| Alignment Procedures | SkyAlign, 1-Star Align, 2-Star Align, Auto 2-Star Align, Solar System Align, Quick-Align, Last Alignment, EQ North / EQ South Alignment (EQ align requires an equatorial wedge) |
| Periodic Error Correction | No |
| Computerized Hand Control | 2 line x 18 character backlit Liquid Crystal Display, 19 LED backlit buttons, USB 2.0 port for PC connection |
| NexStar+ Database | Over 40,000 including 220 of the best deep sky and solar system objects |
| Software | Celestron’s Starry Night Special Edition Software | SkyPortal App |
| Total Kit Weight | 42 lbs (19.05 kg) |
| Included Items | NexStar Evolution OTA | Single Fork Arm Mount & Tripod | Accessory Tray| Built-in Wifi | Integrated Lithium-iron battery | Starsense Hand Control | 40mm & 13mm eyepiece | StarPointer Pro™ finderscope | Visual Back | Star Diagonal | 4 plug AC adapter |
