The Celestron NexStar 8SE has long been considered to be one of the best telescopes on the market. In our Celestron NexStar 8SE review, our trusted tester Jase Parnell-Brookes awarded it an impressive 4.5 out of 5-star score.
The Celestron NexStar 8SE missed out on the flawless review mostly for its price, which at full MSRP made it a significant investment. However, Jase still highlighted its value for money versus performance, which now that Amazon has knocked $200 off the retail price is even better, taking it down to just $1,499.99.
While there’s still a lot of numbers on that price tag, even at this price Jase reckons it’s still an ideal option for a beginner telescope. Intermediate or advanced astronomers can also benefit from upgrading to the NexStar 8SE, with its motorized function and scalability being attractive features, making it ideal as a deep space telescope or for viewing planets.
Amazon Prime Day lands later this month, but as this is the lowest price for the NexStar 8SE we’ve seen this year, you’re unlikely to see a better telescope deal than this. You’ll have to be quick though — the listing says it’s marked as limited stock, and at this price it could sell out fast.
However, Walmart is price-matching the Amazon deal along with Adorama, should you wish to purchase away from Amazon.
Paul is a deals writer for Live Science and writes across the stable of Sports and Knowledge brands at Future. He has previously worked in cycling media and authored numerous articles on Bike Perfect, Cycling News and Cycling Weekly. Paul is an award-winning photographer, having won Mountain Photographer of the Year with Trail Magazine, and has a passionate interest in all things photography.
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The Celestron NexStar 8SE is a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope design, which is renowned for impressive optical quality, and the NexStar 8SE certainly delivers here. Jase was blown away by the stunning clarity thanks to its 8-inch aperture up front, which simply drinks in light and makes it incredibly easy to see detail in the night sky.
Jase also highlighted the smoothness of the motor, and with the help of the Celestron SkyAlign app, you can align the scope using three bright stars and enjoy automated viewing almost instantly in your stargazing journey.
Although for a beginner the Celestron is a considerable outlay, Jase also noted the build quality and performance make it a telescope that will last for decades, and potentially the only telescope you’ll ever need.
There are cheaper and smaller aperture versions available in the Celestron range, including the Celestron NexStar 4SE. That’s our top choice as the best small telescope, and is currently discounted on Amazon by 13% to $649.99. Of course, the smaller you go, the less light captured, thus making your views less awe-inspiring with a drop in aperture.
Key features: 8-inch (203.2mm) aperture, 80-inch (2032mm) focal length, f/10 focal ratio, 180x highest useful magnification, 32 lbs (14.48 kg) weight, two-year warranty.
Launched: June 2005
Price history: The best price we’ve seen on the Celestron NexStar 8 SE telescope was $1,299 during the Black Friday sales of 2024. The MSRP is $1,699, which makes the current on-sale price of $1,499 a significant saving on what is a seldom-discounted model.
Price comparison: Amazon: $1,499 | Adorama: $1,499 | Walmart: $1,499
Reviews consensus: There is no doubt that the Celestron NexStar 8 SE is a fantastic telescope: It pairs Celestron’s legendary orange tube with a fully computerized GoTo system — ideal for those ready to step up from manual scopes and explore more of the night sky with precision and ease.
Live Science: ★★★★½ | Space: ★★★★½
Featured in guides: Best telescopes
✅ Buy it if: You want to view deep space objects and planets, whether you’re a beginner or advanced sky watcher. The automated motorized function means this telescope can be used by anyone with any level of experience and knowledge.
❌ Don’t buy it if: You are seeking a more budget-friendly option. One of our recommended best budget telescopes might be more suitable, or even one of the best telescopes for beginners.
Check out our guides to the best telescopes, telescopes for kids, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, and much more.
