NexStar 8SE

This is a top notch telescope. Everything about it is quality and it is all heavy, solid stuff. The quality of the optics is superb. Surprisingly, it is very easy to put together. And then to use it, I thought it might be complicated. But it isn't. To start with, you can use the hand control like a joystick to just point it and use the finder scope! The spiret level was a breeze to use because if you extend the tripod on a level surface, it is bang on anyway. I like the useful max power of 500x and the impressive 8inch appature to gather the light. Use this with a computer connected CCD eyepiece and it is even more unbelievable good! Expensive but great quality, built to last and zip running costs. Oh, and you can get a power adapter for 12 pounds to save on the batteries too.

When setting up, don't forget the bubble-level supplied.It is an essential part of an ALT-AZ mount. Get the mount "flat" to the ground. If on old grass, with a thatch, or soft ground, tripod pads may help with "drift", over a session.With this sorted, what can I say ?!! Amazing Telescope is the minimum comment.You have gained a portable, good value telescope.It is obvious that other eyepieces may be a requirement.I bought a case of assorted eyepieces and filters (Celestron).I treated myself to a zoom lens too, great fun, but not essential.Having read other reviews (thank you all), I bought a Celestron Power Tank.AA batteries are a great option though.With a corrector plate, dewing over, in the cold is a possible issue.Again, a Celestron Dew Shield, prevents this. There are electric ones around, but a basic shround has served me well enough with a frosty air.In short you could end up buying many "extras", which are not required. I bought a focal reducer for brighter, wider angled view (F6.3 compared to C8 F10). Do you need this ? I did for some things, but could have survived without.Decide what you need to add, and don't go mad for "power/magnification". 50x Magnification for every Inch of scope is great, before the loss of resolution starts.I found Jupiter's Red Spot (more light brown at the moment), at 150x.However, know the difference between a clear sky, and good "seeing", when the stars have very little "twinkle".The atmosphere can be be deceptive from day/night. Avoid being disappointed, if a clear view is so different from one night to the next.I do not do astrophotography, Very expensive hobby. But below, with a mobile phone holder on the eyepiece, limited view of Venus at Crescent phase and a moon shot. Visual is best for me !Lastly, Alignment is very easy. 2 star, if you know the star Names, 3 star for any bright objects, but you must be accurate with location, and local time .Keep it simple, and do as much as you feel happy with, the 25mm eyepiece is fine. AA batteries are fine, don't spend a fortune with add-ons. Grow with the scope and what you want from it.A fantastic telescope. Have fun looking up !!!

This telescope is pretty good for the beginner who's not so interested in learning their way around the sky but is more inclined to be a tourist of the sky and who may intend to make use of the integrated equatorial wedge(otherwise the Nexstar 127 SLT is a better buy due to the extra inch of aperture).With 8 fresh quality AA batteries the GoTo is pretty accurate when setup properly (it uses American dating system), easily placing objects within the field of view of a 25, 32 or 40mm Plossl eyepiece. Downside is it eats through batteries as it only works at it's best with fresh batteries, if you observe a lot and for long periods a Celestron or Skywatcher 7ah or 17ah power tank is required.The focuser seems to work well with not much in the way of the vibration after focusing, the tripod is nice and stable when extended but don't go bumping into it. The accessory tray can easily hold 4 1.25" eyepieces and a Barlow Lens which I've found is all I need for observing with this scope.The optics are high quality producing good views of the moon, planets and double stars, and open clusters though these don't tend to fit in the whole view even when it's only had a short time to cool down. But if you're more interested in faint deep sky objects this telescope will have too small an aperture to satisfy you, and you'd be better off with the 8SE or a dobsonian.It is highly portable, I carry it from a living room through a hallway and two rooms in one piece fully assembled with tripod legs up and with eyepieces+barlow lens in their accessory tray, it'd be a good choice for someone living in a high flat.Last couple things is if you do get this scope or another of the SE series I highly reccomend purchasing the Celestron SkyQLink 1 or 2 either work with Android or iOS and using Skyportal app or Sky Safari 4 Plus or Pro to control the telescope, it's a lot better than using the handcontrol. You will also want a a Celestron or Skywatcher powertank to provide a steady power supply to keep the GoTo accurate for hours on end.