Now, without moving the main scope, adjust the viewfinder so that the same object’s top is in the very center of the viewfinder. Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye or with an optic (unless you have the proper solar filter). The Celestron StarSense Explorer Dob is a clever upgrade to a traditional 8″ Dobsonian telescope, thanks to its integrated smartphone app that helps you find objects in the night sky. The Celestron NexStar 8SE computerized telescope is one of the best-selling telescope packages of all time. It’s time to complete the setup by telling it where in the world you are so you can find objects to look at with ease.

The Nexstar 8SE is packed full of advanced features that makes it compatible with all of the latest high-tech gadgets that you are currently using. There were some tracking issues that caused the elliptical stars, so I’ll be sure to repeat this imaging. Unlike traditional telescopes, the RASA design ingeniously places the imaging sensor at the front of the telescope tube, creating an ultra-fast f/2. If you are willing to give up the GoTo functionality and portability of this computerized telescope, you can purchase a Dobsonian telescope with more light-gathering power than the NexStar 8SE.

If there’s one thing about the house-arrest experience of 2020’s pandemic, it’s that it encourages you to take up new hobbies. I was loaned this telescope from OPT for testing purposes, and was under no obligation to provide a positive review, nor was I compensated in any way for this article (or video). The telescope does experience image shift (a common occurrence on an SCT), but it is not serious enough to take away from the visual experience.

As an astrophotographer, the first thing I noticed was the Alt-Az fork mount, and that’s not what you want if your primary interest is long-exposure astrophotography. This article gives you much more detail about what you should expect to see with 8″ of aperture, compared to just 6 inches. A wider (lower magnification) eyepiece will make the SkyAlgin process easier because the alignment star will be easier to locate in a larger area of the sky.The star diagonal is a requirement for observing with this type of telescope so you don’t crane your neck. The built in Celestron StarAlign software allows the user to align the telescope without any prior knowledge of the night sky. However, if you do want to get into astrophotography, then the tracking motor coupled to an alt-az mount has limitations. You feed your lights, darks, bias, and flats into Astro Pixel Processor (or another freeware program like Deep Sky Stacker) and it does the rest.

Be sure to take a photo of an even gray surface under noon sunlight with the filter in place so you can set a custom white balance image for the filter’s use. This is a primarily visual telescope, meant for enjoying views of the moon, planets, and the brighter nebulae and galaxies through the eyepiece. What is more, the NexStar SE breaks down into several lightweight and compact pieces, making it easy to transport, even in small vehicles. This scope is sturdy and produce nice image and overall the perfect companion for serious observation. I recommend picking up a portable 12-volt DC power supply to run the telescope for an entire night, especially if you are doing any astrophotography.With this model we are offering a Free 45 minute one to one user lesson covering important steps and useful tips to assemble and successfully use your telescope and accessories.