Amazon Rating: 4.0/5.0 
Having chosen the
Celestron NexStar 8 SE Telescope as a
best Telescope for under $1000 I think was an excellent choice. Comparing the telescope type and size, I looked at the offerings from all of the top manufacturers, such as Celestron, Meade, Orion and Zhumell. I narrowed my choices down to Meade and Celestron, since they were the two with the most appealing SCTs. It was a very tough choice at this stage, as both companies had excellent and competitive products on offer.
I ultimately chose the Celestron NexStar 8 SE Telescope over all others due to its greater portability, and more specifically, its lower weight. Perhaps not entirely by coincidence, it was about one month before Christmas 2010 when I had my perfect advanced telescope chosen. I suggested the Celestron NexStar 8 SE Telescope, and the rest was history. Thus began my adventure with my very first Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, the Celestron Nexstar 8 SE.
When deciding on the best telescope for yourself there are so many variables to consider even if your more than the backyard star gazer. For instance the Celestron NexStar 8 SE is an optical telescope and that is the basic meaning of a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Granted it is a little more detailed than that but the Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope deign helps aid in an overall greater error correction.
StarBright XLT — An Optical System Breakthrough!
A major factor in a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope optical system performance is its transmission-the percentage of light that reaches the focal plane(where the light is focused). So improving the visual experience is the result of the Starbright XLT. A coating system on the reflective surfaces helps optimize that visual experience.
Lunar viewing: Outstanding.
Even under partially cloudy and hazy conditions, extreme magnifications revealed rich detail, subtle color variations, and vivid contrast at the terminator. As a lunar telescope, this telescope was definitely up to the task of detailed lunar surface exploration. The limiting factor was seeing conditions.
Planetary viewing: Outstanding.
Saturn was a visual feast, always appearing clear and sharp, with an obvious view of the Cassini division. On subsequent nights of better viewing, Saturn’s rings were particularly detailed, and the planet’s subtle atmospheric banding became evident, even at 325x magnification. As a planet-viewing instrument, the telescope performed admirably.
Galaxies and Nebulae: Very good.
During DSO viewing, the telescope did surprisingly well, even in its light-polluted surroundings. I was not expecting to see much in terms of deep sky objects (DSOs, essentially any object outside our solar system), so it was shocking to see M42, the Eagle nebula, leap out of the eyepiece so rich with detail. More observation revealed noticeable colors starting to make themselves apparent, to the point where a green hue, with a hint of purplish-red, were clearly noticed. This telescope had impressive light-grasp, certainly more than expected. An increase in magnification helped to resolve the individual stars of the trapezium itself, with 5 of them displaying themselves distinctly. At a dark site, I would expect jaw-dropping performance making me think this could be my best telescope I use.
Does all this make it the Best Telescope?
The Celestron Nexstar 8 SE Telescope is a magnificent instrument for visual observation. I think it is one of the best telescopes for sale available with NICE discounts on Amazon. Its expansive 8″ aperture, high quality optics, and nearly flawless, easy to use, GoTo and tracking systems, make it a joy to use and a given if your looking for the Best Telescope with a GoTo system . Given all of these qualities, its portability is extremely surprising. Those who might wish to dabble in lunar or planetary photography will enjoy the accuracy of the mount’s tracking, and will be able to produce decent quality images of those objects. So, objects that require high magnification, and / or long exposures will pose a very serious challenge. With a better mount, this 8″ SCT OTA would easily rise to the task of producing stunning, long exposure, DSO images. Those considering such an upgrade patch in the future would do well to purchase this OTA.
I’ve taken a poll on various forums to see if this is a readers favorite. They say it is the best telescope under $1000 for the GoTo and tracking system. Keep in mind choosing the best telescope for yourself means there is no right or wrong answer. People have different criteria so the best telescope for one doesn’t exactly mean it is the best telescope for another. Keep in mind if your a beginner learning to find things in the sky without computer assistance is something you should do BUT picking this as your best telescope won’t be a bad decision at all because we all like gadgets and a motorized tracking system like this has it’s perks also.
Pros:
- Excellent OTA quality with sharp, high contrast optics, and better than expected light-grasp.
- Flawless GoTo and accurate object tracking.
- Perfect platform for visual astronomy.
- Good platform for lunar / solar / planetary photography.
- Portable and lightweight, for its aperture.
- Quick and easy to set up or tear down.
Cons:
- Single fork arm and tripod not suitable for long exposure or high magnification astrophotography; highly prone to vibration.
- Somewhat paltry selection of accessories: comes with only one eyepiece, and no power adapter.
- Possible quality control issues; be sure to inspect your unit carefully upon arrival
Specifications
From other buyers…..
Enough said! It’s the best telescope I have…Get it!
–Intermediate Star Gazer in the yard
If your looking for a GoTo telescope then don’t pass this one up!
–New Guy
Where can I get the best deal? One word…Amazon especially with Free Super Saver shipping.
Where can I read more to see if this is the best telescope for me?
You got it..Amazon plus currently out of 21 reviews 14 are 4 out of 5 star ratings.
produces bright and clear images of the Moon and planets through the telescope ‘s Fully Coated Lens. The Refractor Telescope has a 90mm Lens, giving the user a larger lens than the AstroMaster 70mm EQ Telescope. This larger lens will allow more light through when viewing distant objects, such as the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. Also, these Celestron Telescopes come with two eyepieces of 50X and 100X magnification, which can pull in objects both near and far away. Celestron AstroMaster 90 EQ Telescopes have an Equatorial Mount that allow the user to follow objects in the sky much easier than an Altazimuth (Alt-az) Mount. Equatorial mounts use a set of counterweights that balances the telescope as it moves, making the movement more smooth. This is also very effective in high magnifications, when the smallest nudge of the telescope will greatly affect the viewing area. In addition, 
