The NexStar Evolution 8 203mm Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope from Celestron is a powerful, portable, versatile, and user-friendly telescope that can be used for observing everything from the Moon and planets to deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae. Using Celestron's proprietary StarBright XLT multicoating system, light transmission is increased throughout the entire optical path with antireflection multicoated lenses, highly reflective multicoated mirrors, and four-element rare-earth glass. While the focal ratio is a slow f/10, the scope's precision tracking system allows it to be a competent astrophotography/astroimaging platform for the Moon and planets.

The Evolution comes with two ways to use and control it. The first is to simply download Celestron's free Navigator app for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. The scope's Wi-Fi provides the connection to the app and expands the capabilities and functionality, including an expanded database of over 120,000 objects with detailed information on more than 200 of those objects. Second is the iconic 2-line 16-character NexStar computer controller. This is a wired piece of hardware with a database of over 40,000 celestial objects plus several astronomical catalogs including the Messier and Caldwell. Whether using the controller or mobile device, the system can assist in properly aligning the scope, provide tours of the objects and events visible whenever and wherever you're viewing, and allow for manual direction and slew control.

Designed for portability, the Evolution features a long-life lithium-iron phosphate 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. 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 you to manually move and point the telescope when it's powered off.

203mm Schmidt-Cassegrain OTA    Wireless Control with iOS/Android App    NexStar Computer Hand Controller    ISO Compliant Safe Solar Filter    Motorized and Computerized Fork Mount    Adjustable Stainless Steel Tripod

• 203mm (8") aperture
• f/10 focal ratio
• 2032mm focal length
• Crown optical glass primary mirror
• StarBright XLT optical coatings: Multilayer aluminum/SiO2 (quartz)/TiO2 (titanium dioxide) mirror coatings with flat reflectivity across the light spectrum for both astrophotography/astroimaging and visual observation
• Multilayer MgF2 (magnesium fluoride) and HfO2 (hafnium dioxide) anti-reflective lens coatings
• High-transmission water white glass corrector lens with 97.4% light transmission
• Internal focusing mechanism
• Resolution: 0.69 arcsec (Rayleigh); 0.57 arcsec (Dawes)
• Secondary mirror obstruction: 2.5"; 9.77% by area
• Fastar capability: Secondary mirror can be removed and a DSLR or imaging rig mounted in its place for fast wide-field astrophotography

• 2-line, 16-character LCD display
• 19 fiber optic backlit red LED buttons
• Database of over 40,000 celestial objects plus 100 user defined
• Automatically slew to planets, stars, constellations, and a variety of catalogs
• Camera control: For piggyback wide field or conventional astrophotography through the OTA, the controller can automatically trigger the shutter release to capture the image
• Anti-backlash compensation programs-out play between gears for more precise tracking
• Tour Mode: Shows a selection of the most popular objects for the time and date you are observing
• Constellation Tour: Allows the user to take a tour of all the best objects within a particular constellation
• Alignment procedures: SkyAlign, Auto 2-Star, 1-Star, 2-Star, and Solar System
• SkyAlign alignment: Takes minutes, with minimal effort or experience—point the telescope at three bright objects in the sky, and the telescope does the rest
• Nine slew speeds: 4°/sec, 2°/sec, 1°/sec, 0.5°/sec, 2x, 4x, 8x,16x, and 32x
• Sidereal, Solar, and Lunar tracking rates for observing the fast-moving Moon, to slower-moving deep space subjects
• RS-232 communication port allows for computer control
• Flash updates via the Celestron website

• Database Details:
• Solar system objects including the Sun, Moon, and planets
• Named objects
• Stars: Asterims, variable stars, double stars, named stars
• Caldwell catalog
• Messier catalog
• NGC catalog
• SAO catalog
• Constellations

• Connect your smart device to the telescope via direct Wi-Fi connection; no router required
• Align and control the telescope from your device
• App uses the device's camera and compass to determine location and what is available to see
• Enjoy the same features as NexStar controller, but without wires
• Expanded database to over 120,000 objects
• Detailed information on over 200 popular objects including audio commentary, statistics, history, mythology, video, and pictures
• Database includes Sun, Moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, asteroids and comets, satellites, and the International Space Station
• Simulate the night sky up to 100 years in the past or future to plan an upcoming observing session
• Compass Mode: Hold device up to the night sky and identify objects such as stars, planets, and galaxies; zoom in to view fainter objects not visible to the naked eye
• Night Vision Mode: Preserves night-adjusted vision
• Listen to more than four hours of audio narration to learn the history, mythology, and science of astronomy and the night sky
• Works as a stand-alone planetarium app
• Free for Android or iOS mobile devices
• Apple iOS 7.0 and later, or Android 4.0 and later

• Mount:
• Motorized single-arm alt-azimuth fork mount
• Altitude and azimuth clutches to manually point the telescope when it is powered off
• Brass worm gears with steel ball bearings provide smooth movement with reduced vibration
• 146mm diameter/180-tooth stainless steel worm wheels
• Ports: One port for NexStar+ controller; one 5 VDC USB charging port for smartphones and small electronics; three auxiliary ports for optional accessories such as StarSense AutoAlign System
• Runs on one internal rechargeable 9.6V, 4.5Ah lithium-iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery
• Includes power supply with US, EU, UK, and AU plugs

• Tripod:
• Stainless steel two-section legs
• Adjustable height accommodates a variety of users
• Spikes at the end of the legs provide a sure footing on soft or uneven ground
• Tray keeps accessories and equipment safe and organized
• No tools required to set up mount and tripod

• Eyepieces:
• 1.25" diameter barrel accept most filters
• Antireflection multicoated glass
• Fold-down rubber eyecups for use with or without eyeglasses
• 40mm eyepiece produces 51x magnification
• 13mm eyepiece produces 156x magnification

• Diagonal:
• 1.25" snout and eyepiece holder
• 90° angle places head in comfortable position when optical tube assembly is pointed at or near the zenith
• Star mirror diagonal corrects view horizontally, but not vertically

• Finderscope:
• Projects a single red dot in line of sight
• Unmagnified view ensures a wide field of view to make finding objects faster and star-hopping navigation easier

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. It is said that this requires 3 stars alignment , so after three stars aligned , does that mean it will go other objects on command or you still need to align it again other objects ?

A: No, once the telescope is aligned (3-star alignment is only one of the options, but there are others), you can ask it to go to other objects directly, either by using the app or hand controller.

Q: 2. Can you not use Starsense camera, with a Starsense HC, or do you need standard HC?

A: Good morning, If the StarSense autoalign system is used, it is mandatory that the dedicated StarSense hand controller be used for the autoalignment process. However, If the StarSense camera and the autoalign system is not used, the StarSense hand controller can be used to "manually" control the telescope in place of the standard Nexstar Plus hand controller.

Q: 3. What do I need to use 2 inch EPs?

A: You need a 2 diagonal (I use a Televue) and a 2 Visual Back to mate it to the optical tube. You can use a 2 to 1.25 adaptor to mount 1.25 eyepieces into the 2 diagonal so you can switch to a high power eyepiece without having to remove the 2 diagonal and visual back.

Q: 4. What is the minimum and maximum height of the tripod with the legs spread out, and how tall is the alt-az mount?Thank you for answering my question.

A: It is 22 -40 .

Q: 5. Does this telescope and mount stay fixed on the celestial object for astrophotography, similarto equatorial mount ?

A: Yes, this mount does track celestial objects and does a pretty good job. The problem is that it is an altitude-azimuth mount and so there is an effect called "field rotation" that will always be present. This is worse directly overhead and gets less pronounced as you go towards the horizon, but is always there. You can get around this somewhat by taking lots of short exposures and stacking them with software. I can take up to 15-second individual exposures and have combined these to make the equivalent of up to a 1-hour long exposure. Overall though, this is not a serious astrophotography mount in its stock form. You can buy a "wedge" to turn it into an equatorial mount and I've heard that works pretty well. I like the Evolution mount for its ease of use and setup. It's a great star party mount and I've had a lot of fun doing casual astrophotography of the brighter astronomical objects like the Messier Catalog. But if you want to take magazine quality images of an obscure nebula, you'll need an equatorial mount.

Q: 6. Hi everyone! Who have celestron evolution 6 or 8 please write review on battery how it works and is it possible to replace it at home. Thanks!

A: Hello Armen, please contact our technical support team. A technical support representative will be happy to help explain the inner workings of the NexStar Evolution's rechargeable lithium-iron phosphate battery. The best way to reach them is by submitting a ticket here: https://www.celestron.com/pages/technical-support Sincerely, Garrett at Celestron

Q: 7. Can you do a 2 or 3 star align with a Starsense HC,or do you need standard HC?

A: You can do all of the standard Nexstar functions with the Starsense hand controller.

Q: 8. Does the OTA and Goto Arm fit in the Card Case? Is there already cutout for both included?

A: Yes, the OTA & the arm & base fit right in the cutout. The die-cut foam lining includes compartments for telescope, eyepieces, finder scope and accessories. The finder scope must be removed from the telescope and placed in a foam compartment.

Q: 9. Can this system (Evolution alt az mount/drive) be used for long tracking astro-photo exposures such as would normally be done with a wedge or equatorial mount?

A: A wedge can be purchased for this telescope, effectively making it an equatorial mount. Without the wedge, the telescope is not suitable for long exposures because the tube rotates with respect to the sky as it tracks.

Q: 10. Is the 9.6v 4.5aHr LiFePO rechargeable battery user replaceable?

A: Yes, the internal LIfePO rechargeable battery is user replaceable. For warranty service, the NexStar Evolution mount will need to be sent to Celestron for battery replacement. Please contact Celestron Technical Support for additional details. You can email them at: mail@celestronsupport.com