Product Highlights

203mm Schmidt-Cassegrain OTA
Focal Length: 2032mm, f/10 Focal Ratio
StarBright XLT Optical Coating System
Flat-Field, Coma-Free EdgeHD Optics
StarSense Auto Alignment System
Wireless Control with iOS/Android App
Motorized and Computerized Fork Mount
Multiple Automatic Alignment Systems
Adjustable Stainless Steel Tripod
Rechargeable LiFePO4 Battery

This iteration of the NexStar Evolution 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope from Celestron is a powerful, versatile, and user-friendly compact catadioptric-style scope that can be used for observing everything from the Moon and planets to deep sky objects like galaxies and nebulae. The EdgeHD optical system is designed to virtually eliminate spherical and chromatic aberrations so views through it are flat and distortion-free across the entire field of view with accurate color rendition. Using Celestron's proprietary StarBright XLT multi-coating system, light transmission is increased throughout the entire optical path with anti-reflection multi-coated lenses, highly reflective multi-coated mirrors, and 4-element rare-earth glass. While the focal ratio is a slow f/10, the scope's precision tracking system and distortion-free optical qualities allow it to be a competent astrophotography/astroimaging platform for the Moon, planets, prominent deep sky objects, and wide-field photos.

The Evolution comes with Celestron's StarSense Autoalign system that uses a digital camera to take photos of the sky that the scope is pointed. It then interfaces with an internal database to align itself. It requires virtually no input from the user except to turn it on and to confirm its position when it is finished. The scope connects to Celestron's free SkyPortal app for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets via an internal Wi-Fi module. Once aligned, the app opens up the scope's true capabilities. It has a database of over 120,000 objects and offers guided tours, automatic tracking rates for near and deep-sky objects, and multiple slew speeds.

Designed for portability, the Evolution features a long life lithium-ion phosphate (LiFePO4) battery providing up to 10 hours of continual use on a single charge. The scope comes with an AC power supply with plugs for the US, EU, UK, and AU outlets so it can go with you when you chase eclipses or other celestial events across the world. The battery powers the servo motors, auxiliary accessory ports, a USB charging port, and the built-in Wi-Fi. Manual clutches in both altitude and azimuth enable users to manually move and point the telescope when it's powered off.

Optical Performance

Aperture: 8"
Focal ratio: f/10
Focal length: 2032mm
Schmidt-Cassegrain optical design
StarBright XLT fully multi-coated optical system improves light transmission, boosts contrast, and delivers true color rendition
Proprietary EdgeHD optics corrects spherical and chromatic aberrations to produce distortion-free images across the entire field of view with true color representation
Resolution:
- Rayleigh: 0.59 arcsec
- Dawes Limit: 0.57 arcsec

StarBright XLT Coating System

Multi-layer mirror coatings made from layers of aluminum, SiO2 (quartz), TiO2 (titanium dioxide), and Si02 (silicon dioxide)
Reflectivity is flat across the light spectrum, for both astrophotography/astroimaging and visual observation
Multi-layer anti-reflective coatings made from layers of MgF2 (magnesium fluoride) and HfO2 (hafnium dioxide)
High-transmission water white glass corrector lens with 97.4% light transmission

Computer Control

Integrated Wi-Fi module
- Mount generates a local Wi-Fi signal
- Directly connect to tablet or smartphone
- Control mount via free SkyPortal app for Android and iOS
  - Android 4.0 and higher
  - iOS 6 or later
SkyPortal app:
- 120,000+ object database
- Includes:
  - Star clusters
  - Nebulae
  - Galaxies
  - Asteroids and comets
  - Satellites, including the International Space Station
- Custom SkyTour of all the best celestial objects to view based on the time, date, and location
- Simulate the night sky up to 100 years in the past, or plan a future observing session
- Night Vision Mode preserves night-adjusted vision
- Multiple assisted-alignment choices:
  - SkyAlign
  - 3-Star
  - Solar System
- Tracking rates:
  - Three rates: Sidreal, solar, and lunar
  - Automatic tracking for near and deep sky objects
- Multiple slew speeds, 4°/sec maximum
- View hundreds of astronomical photographs and NASA spacecraft images
- Listen to more than four hours of audio narration to learn the history, mythology, and science of astronomy and the night sky

StarSense AutoAlign System

Integrated digital camera takes photos of night sky and cross-references an internal database to determine location
Alignment takes minutes, with minimal effort or experience
No need to point it North or to perfectly level the scope
StarSense hand controller included for those who prefer not to interface with smartphone or tablet

Mount and Tripod

Mount:
- Motorized, computer-controlled single-arm fork mount
- Slew speeds up to 4°/sec
- variable speed sidereal, lunar, and solar tracking rates
- Altitude and azimuth clutches to manually point the telescope when it's powered off
Tripod
- Stainless steel legs
- Adjustable-height with two leg sections and locking thumbscrews
- Accessory tray locks legs in-place for added stability and vibration reduction
- Tray keeps accessories and equipment safe and organized
- Spikes at the end of the legs provide a sure footing
- No tools required to set up mount and tripod

Optical Accessories

Eyepieces:
- 1.25" diameter barrel accept most filters
- Anti-reflection multi-coated glass
- Fold down rubber eyecups for use with or without eyeglasses
- 40mm eyepiece produces 51x magnification
- 12.5mm eyepiece produces 162.5x magnification
Diagonal:
- 90° angle puts eyepiece in comfortable viewing position, especially when OTA is aimed at or near the zenith
- Basic mirrored star diagonal corrects view vertically, but not horizontally

In the Box

Celestron Nexstar Evolution 8" f/10 Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope with StarSense

StarSense Telescope Alignment Accessory

StarPointer Pro Finderscope

12.5mm Eyepiece

40mm Eyepiece

90° Star Diagonal

Tripod with Accessory Tray

AC Adapter with US, EU, UK, and AU Plugs

Limited 2-Year Warranty

Based on Astronomy magazine’s telescope "report cards", scopes of this size and type generally perform as follows . . .
Terrestrial Observation: Observing terrestrial objects (nature studies, birding, etc.) is usually possible only with refractor and catadioptric telescopes, and convenient only when the scope is on an altazimuth mount or photo tripod. Most reflectors cannot be used for terrestrial observing. Scopes with apertures under 5" to 6" are generally most useful for terrestrial observing due to atmospheric conditions (heat waves and mirage, dust, haze, etc.) that degrade the image quality in larger scopes.	No
Lunar Observation: Visual observation of the Moon is possible with any telescope. Larger aperture scopes will provide more detail than smaller scopes, thereby getting a higher score in this category, but may require an eyepiece filter to cut down the greater glare from the Moon's sunlit surface so small details can be seen more easily. Lunar observing is more rewarding when the Moon is waxing or waning as the changing sun angle casts constantly varying shadows to reveal craters and surface features by the hundreds.	Great
Planetary Observation:	Good
Binary and Star Cluster Observation:	Very Good
Galaxy and Nebula Observation:	Good
Photography:	Yes
Terrestrial Photography: Photographing terrestrial objects (wildlife, scenery, etc.) is usually possible only with refractor and catadioptric telescopes, and convenient only when the scope is on an altazimuth mount or photo tripod. Most reflectors cannot be used for terrestrial photography. Scopes with focal ratios of f/10 and faster and apertures under 5" to 6" are generally the most useful for terrestrial photography due to atmospheric conditions (heat waves and mirage, dust, haze, etc.) that degrade the image quality in larger scopes.	No
Lunar Photography: Photography of the Moon is possible with virtually any telescope, using a 35mm camera, DSLR, or CCD-based webcam (planetary imager). While an equatorial mount with a motor drive is not strictly essential, as the exposure times will be very short, such a mount would be helpful to improve image sharpness, particularly with webcam-type cameras that take a series of exposures over time and stack them together. Reflectors may require a Barlow lens to let the camera reach focus.	Yes
Planetary Photography:	Yes
Star Cluster / Nebula / Galaxy Photography:	Yes

WiFi Tips for NexStar Evolution

Please note the following for the most reliable WiFi connection to the telescope:

Areas with high WiFi traffic, such as large star parties or crowded public spaces, can potentially pose difficulties connecting to the telescope. Additionally, multiple smart devices and multiple WiFi telescopes in the same area can generate conflicting traffic. Follow these tips to maintain the most robust connection to your telescope.

If you experience lag or connection problems in areas with high WiFi traffic - To minimize possible connection problems in high traffic areas, select a viewing site with minimal WiFi traffic. Numerous nearby devices with WiFi enabled can contribute to unwanted WiFi traffic. Disabling WiFi in nearby devices can improve connectivity to your telescope. Alternatively, high traffic areas may require the use of the included NexStar+ hand control instead of the SkyPortal app over WiFi.
If you experience conflicts when using multiple devices to control a telescope - If you have multiple smart devices, and have connected to the same WiFi telescope previously with them, then be careful of both devices unintentionally communicating to the telescope at the same time. For example, if you have previously used your smartphone to control the telescope and later use a tablet to control the same telescope, the smartphone may interfere with the telescope connection. We recommend “forgetting” the telescope WiFi network with any smart devices not currently in use.
If you experience conflicts when multiple WiFi telescopes are in the same area - If you are using multiple WiFi telescopes and have connected to them with your smart device previously, we recommend “forgetting” the other telescopes/devices not currently in use. This way, you won’t accidentally connect to the other telescopes/devices. This is especially useful at a star party where more than one WiFi telescope may be in range.

Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 8" f/10 EdgeHD with StarSense - Telescope of the Year for 2016-2017

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WiFi Tips for NexStar Evolution

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