Celestron Celestar 8 Deluxe


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Brand and Model:Celestron Celestar 8 Deluxe
Price ($USD):$1695.00
Type:Schmidt-Cassegrain
Attributes: un-checked Go-To checked PEC
Aperture:203mm (8")
f Ratio:f/10
Focal Length:2032mm
Finder:9x50
Electric Power:Battery
Mount:Fork EQ
Tripod:Wedge/Tripod
Weight (lbs):52 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:This telescope utilizes the same superior optics used in all of Celestron's 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes and has all of the features of the Celestar 8, but is enhanced, for those who prefer a premium version of the spectacular Celestar 8.

This model has a heavier duty fork mount and drive base, with a worm gear drive system. Superior tracking accuracy is attained with this drive system, which has four tracking rates and PEC (periodic error correction). For the kind of versatility that makes observing a pleasure, the hand controller makes available a micro guide rate of .5x sidereal and a slew rate of 8x sidereal. The stepper motor drive electronics are cordless and operate on two 9 volt batteries.

The Celestar 8 Deluxe has many features that are necessary for the more serious amateur astronomer, particularly if you're interested in astrophotography or CCD imaging. The standard accessories for this telescope include: a declination motor, car battery adapter, hand controller and a tripod that's exceptionally rigid and sturdy, with adjustable height.

The Celestar 8 Deluxe telescope can be converted to a computerized telescope with optional accessories.

Ed Ting's Celestar 8 Review

Vote Highlights Vote
Celestron Celestar 8 Deluxe
I had done a previous review of this scope here. I was the one who talked about the Fastar option and how incredible it was. The time since than has only reinforced my opinion...to the point where I raised the scope rating to the highest rating of 10. No it isn't perfect....no scope is....but it is becoming obvious that this is one of the most versatile scopes out there. I have added quite a few images to my collection that prove the value of the Fastar setup. The scope has been pretty much trouble free. The only problem I had was the original tripod was a run that had a problem with the leg lock. That was changed out on warrantee by Celestron. The tripod that comes on the Deluxe is a beauty...very heavy duty and solid. I did add the Extra HEavy Duty wedge although the stock Deluxe wedge was fine...got a good deal on it and it does have some nice features. I also added the Deluxe latitude adjusting kit which is also available for the Deluxe Wedge. This is mandatory if you are doing CCD or film astrophotography to make it easy to polar align.

The one area that became more and more obvious as I got more into CCD imaging was just how accurate the tracking of the drive was. And how fine the tweaking you could do with the control pad. There was NO backlash, hesitation or wobble. Those who are into CCD imaging value a really excellent drive and mount as being more important than a good scope in the final mix. I have friends with Meade LX-200s that would kill to get the quality of tracking and unguided durations that I get.

Are there any areas that I would want improved down the road? The main one is that the mount is almost too rigid and prone to vibrations. But this is easily eliminated by a set of the Celestron Vibration Reducing Pads. These are phenomenally effective. With them the scope/mount/tripod is rock solid and vibration is not an issue at all. I feel that a set of the VRPs should be a stock item with every scope sold by Celestron...or other manufacturers for that matter!

I have been learning more and more about getting the most from this scope and the results are consistently amazing. I can't think of any other CCD/Scope combo I would recommend over this one.

Again...if you want to see what the Fastar can do go to my club's site:
http://zennla.com/sfaa/images/
Go to images with my name attached...also click on words Fastar Technology for a writeup of the system. Believe it or not...ALL of these images including the Horse Head and Veil Nebula were taken from my backyard...only 1/2 mile south of San Francisco in a residential neighborhood...hardly a dark sky spot.

Bob Berta

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38472


Celestron Celestar 8 Deluxe
I find yhr celestron deluxe to be a fine scope to use. The images are superb and the intra and extra focal images of stars appear text book! I have a friend who uses a Meade 8" LX50 and he thinks that the imaging through the celestron is superior to his scope. I would like the mount to be able to be adjusted in both axis by an adjuster, this would help in polar aligning, but that said, I can observe for five minutes or so before any significant shift becoming apparent, after spending 3 - 5 minutes aligning the scope to the pole.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38475


Celestron Celestar 8 Deluxe
Upgraded from a G-8 to the C-8 Delux. Same great optics (however, I found more image shift with my new OTA!) but much more solid mount, and tracking far superior to the "add-on" drive of my G-8. Also, I have found the set-up time to be quick and painless...especially after replacing the allen bolts with thumb screws. On the downside, is the lack of interface (compared to Meade) for auxiliary items such as electric focuser. But in general, I love this scope!!

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38469


Celestron Celestar 8 Deluxe
I'm satisfied with this scope:

OPTICS: Star very similar either side of focus.
Resolution test 1: Seperated binary stars 0.7" sep. cleanly.
Resolution test 2: Faintest star seen in dark skies -- 15th Magnitude!
Resolution test 3: Five craterlets seen on the floor of Plato.
Resolution test 4: Rima Hadley seen on Moon.

Have been able to keep star inside reticle ( after drift method of polar alignment) for a 4 minutes with no tracking adjestments once the P.E.C. was trained. Accurately measured seperations on a variety of close binaries using micrometer eyepiece. For photos: good tracking, if polar alignment done well.

Main Beefs:

1- Battery pack location is "insane" for the user -- I wonder WHY they did it!?!
However, since I mainly use an external battery pack, I can ignore it.
2- There should be knobs instead of HEX bolts. Replaced them.
3- An easier to use latitude adjuster would be great. Purchased the add-on.

Bottom line? Very nice machine. Tracks well. Good optics. Finderscope useful. Have not used the Fastar option, but nice to know it's there. When used with a comfortable adjustable observing chair -- paradise. Very satisfied overall.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38468


Celestron Celestar 8 Deluxe
The optics of the telescope are remarkable and the fastar option is great for CCD lovers.
Optically i was able to see the arms of M51 from Fremont Peak and it was breathtaking, almost like a picture. Let me tell you, aperture makes a difference.
The PEC is an excellent plus but i personally do not use it too much. I love doing photoes and this telescope is great to align and use for picture. The mount is solid enough to allow me to have an 80mm short tube piggybacked for some widefield pictures. Only problem i found the mounting has rubber pads which are making the telescope trembling a lot. The celestron pads accessories are vital to this telescope. The drive is compatible with different autoguider (SBIG ST-4 or even 201XT) increasing the flexibility of the scope.
I strongly recommend this scope for astrphotography beginners.
Fabrizio Montauti

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38465


Celestron Celestar 8 Deluxe
The basic Deluxe is great...maybe a 8 or so rating. No real weak spots other than the PEC which doesn't work correctly...the fix is coming out this week for free from Celestron for users. The drive on mine is extremely accurate even without the PEC. I routinely go 2 minutes unguided CCD images and have gone as much as 4 minutes several times...that is pretty amazing performance.

The reason I give it a 10 is because of its Fastar optic option. I have that on my scope and along with the required SBIG ST237 and a color filter wheel if you want color will give incredible images in very short times. This is a great CCD imaging setup that will easily match the best images you have see in magazines from much more expensive and larger setups. The two most impressive things about this setup and CCD....you can get incredibly difficult images from semi light poluted areas no problem. And it will capture a mag. 18.8 star in only 60 seconds! For evidence of what this scope can do...go to my clubs web site and take a look at some of my pictures posted there:
http://zennla.com/sfaa/images/ all lower case

You can also click on the word Fastar there for a writeup I did of the system and my observing site.....ok....want evidence of what the scope is capable of...go to that web site and check out my Horse Head Nebula and the Veil Nebula....now realize that those two and ALL of these images posted were shot from my backyard only 1/2 mile south of San Francisco...hardly a dark sky spot! And the HorseHead took me 4 minutes to image in black and white...and 5 minutes each through a R,G,B and a Luminance (clear) filter. The Fastar images at f 1.95. At f6.3 you would have needed a 10 time longer exposure time....now do you see the advantage of Fastar....this has to be Celestron best kept secret. Sadly they only have this on the 8" Deluxe and U2K and the 14" SCT. This would be a killer feature on their 11" scope.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38464


Celestron Celestar 8 Deluxe
For the price, this is a nice scope. The optics show a bit if overcorrection (1/4 wave?) but in rare steady seeing stars show near-textbook airy discs with rings. The focusser does have some image shift, worse in cold (0defrees F) weather. The large 9x50 finder is surprisingly good, although I modified mine to a right angle design. I added counterweights to offset the seight of the dec motor and my 2" diagonal and the scope stays put with the clamps off-very nice. The drive seems to work well, although I have not tried imaging or photography. One word of advice: Celestron Vibration Supression Pads (VSP) - DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM!!!!!! These little gadgets take out the high power fucussing jiggles. The scope isn't perfect but it does a fine job for a mass-market telescope. I plan to keep mine a long time.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38463


Celestron Celestar 8 Deluxe
Been really satisfied

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38460


Celestron Celestar 8 Deluxe
High marks: Very good tube optical performance, stable and easy to set-up mount, accurate RA tracking motor, easy polar alignment with deluxe alt-azth option, std 9x50 finder helps star-hopping.
Low marks: Dec drive runs poorly (slow) with internal (2) 9 volt batteries (you must provide external 12vdc power), deluxe alt-azth option should be included hardware with scope (very hard to polar align dec without the $38 option), mediocre diagonal, std 9x50 finder should be provided with the necessary counter weights to correct tube unbalance.
Summary: Very good general purpose scope.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38458


Celestron Celestar 8 Deluxe
This telescope is a godsend. The first night out I swear I could almost see footprints on the moon. Now, seriously, this is a great scope. The 26mm EP is excellent and finder scope is superb. Very portable. It easily fits in the back seat of my Taurus. It took a bit of getting use to aligning it, but after the first couple of days I can get it all set up and ready to go in 5 minutes.

Buy this scope--great value at $1799

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38457

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