Celestron Ultima 8 PEC


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Brand and Model:Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Price ($USD):2000
Type:Schmidt-Cassegrain
Attributes: checked Go-To checked PEC
Aperture:203mm (8")
f Ratio:f/10
Focal Length:2032mm
Finder:50mm
Electric Power:ac/dc
Mount:Eq. Fork
Tripod:2" alum.
Weight (lbs):66 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:Some info e-mailed in by Rod Mollise:


Nice site, enjoyed it. But I did notice one rather glaring error in your
scope listings. You list the "Ultima 8 PEC", but the information for this
listing refers to the Ultima 2000 _goto_ scope instead. The Ultima 8 PEC was
a non computer/non encoder/manual scope sold by Celestron unitl 1996. Its
major feature was an incredibly heavy duty fork mount/drive base. Early units
were powered by rechargeable batteries, but this was later changed to a
disposable 9volt battery system. The motor was a servo rather than the
steppers used on most of Celestron's modern telescopes. How heavy duty was
the fork mount on this scope? Try 60+ pounds for the Ultima 8! To support
this weight, the last runs of the U8 used the wedge normally provided for the
fork mount C11! This was an f10 telescope, like all the rest of Celestron's
output, and featured, as the name indicated a PEC drive correction system. If
you need further info on this scope, just let me know! IMHO, it's one of the
best--if not THE best--8 inch SCTs ever sold.


Vote Highlights Vote
Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
I have had mine sine 1995, and its used as often as possible. I have been somewhat disappointed of the views, but I think its related to my accessories. When I first started using the scope, the views were wonderful. Compared to a 10", it was simply better. Compared to a 6" Astro Physics, well you could see Saturns ring look like a line someone drew with a pencil (this was when they were edge on). In my 8" Ultima, it was fuzzy, but seemed to go in and out. BUT, the scope did not cool down at all, so I'm confident it would have performed better.

Overall, happy with the scope. Would love to have it optically tested however, to back up the claims of "best 8" SCT ever".

6 = Value because it was expensive at the time.
John k.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:8 Mount:8 Ease of Use:8 Value:6
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=581316


Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
The Ultima 8 PEC is simply the finest 8-inch SCT built. The Byers gears are excellent and steady with periodic error less than 5 arc seconds and no noticeable erratic error. Mount is very solid and puts all new
Celestron and Meade fork mounted scopes to shame. Works very well with CCD autoguiders like SBIG's ST-7 and ST-4! And handles additional weight very well. Optics are excellent. If you are an astro-photographer this is the scope for you!


Marlowe Observatory
Marlowe_observatory@ameritech.net

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37532


Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
The best scope ever. Had mine since the 90's.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Mount:10 Ease of Use:4 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=593661


Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
This is the telescope.The best,simple and ease to use.I f you see one in good conditions,don't think,buy it.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Mount:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=437222


Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
HI to all,I have my Ultima 8 PEC since 1995,and I think it was the last year that they were made.
This scope is a dream to use,the mount is very solid and rocksteady,the setting circles are very nice to use,with the mount carefully aligned you can easily find any object you want.
The optics are incredible sharp, images both in the deep-sky objects and planetary are superb and this one holds the collimation very well and a long time.
The tracking is great too,with a periodic error of 20 arc-seconds in RA without the PEC function on,with it can be reduced to 5 arc-seconds.Amazing.
This is a wonderfull and great telescope.Simple,easy to use and it can give a lifetime of fun and joy.
Fernando Magalhaes

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Mount:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=367675


Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
My 2nd SCT . Tracks quietly and very accurately . Optics excellent . Vibrations dampen quickly .

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37535


Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
I've used this scope for the last 8 years and love it. The mount is rock solid, literally and it tracks like a dream. The optics rarely require collimation even after a 4 mile off-road trip across the desert to my favorite observing site. My only wish is it had goto.

GJC
SD

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37534


Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Took mine to a star party last weekend. Never really had the opportunity to campare it with other scopes. After doing so, I have a new respect for this scope! Viewing through a 12 Meade LX200 at Saturn, my 8" Celestron Ultima simply outclassed in every respect, contrast, brightness, sharpness. The 12" LX200 owner said "This is the best view of Saturn I have ever seen, WOW!". What surprised me even more was deep-sky performance. In the field were numerous 8", 12" LX200, and also some 12.5 Newt. I had comments after comments of how my scope compared to the others scopes of larger sizes. The view of the Dumbell was just as good through my 8" as a 12.5 newt with Discovery Optics. M42 was stunning in a 16", my 8" however was surprised the owners of the 16 with the amount of detail visible. 6 stars in the Trapizium were seen with no averted vision, F being the most difficult, while 8" LX200 only showed 4 with a hint of the 5th (I think A). I came away feeling very good about the Ultima 8 PEC.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37533


Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
This is simply the finest fork mounted 8" SCT ever made. Why Celestron ever got rid of this model, or at the very least the mount is beyond me. A true Astrophotographers dream right out of the box. I've owned mine for 7 years. Awesome.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37531


Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
The Ultima 8 PEC I own has almost perfect optics both on the star test and on the bench. All I can say is that it exceptional. It puts the new Celestars to shame on the mechanics. This baby is made to last. I can rest my elbow on the super heavy duty wedge while focusing at 300X and the image does not move. The forks look like they were made for the army they are so robust. The drive is a Byers drive and it is steady and reliable. As someone before said, everyone thinks their scope is the best but this thing probably is the best 8" SCT ever made. The only not so positive thing is the wieght. 66 lbs.! Ouch! Oh well, its either a few more pounds or a shakier mount. I have no doubt which one I would pick. Then again - maybe it's just me..........

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37529

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