Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 HD 8" f/10 EdgeHD SCT with StarSense and WiFi

This Celestron NexStar Evolution 8HD telescope is an advanced 8" f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with state-of-the-art EdgeHD optics, a StarSense autoalign system, and integrated wi-fi. If you own a smart phone or tablet, that means you are not tethered to your scope by a hand control on a coiled cord. A simple tap on your phone or tablet and you have complete operational control of your Evolution 8HD - even if you are standing many feet away from the scope.

Simply connect your smart phone or tablet to your NexStar Evolution's built-in wireless network, and you can explore the universe with Celestron's free SkyPortal mobile app for iOS and Android. The app has a database of over 120,000 celestial objects for you to explore, including a specially selected list of 220 of the best deep sky and solar system objects that you will come back to enjoy again and again.

You can use the app's planetarium interface to view the night sky in real time or to display a list of the best celestial objects that are visible to you based on your time and location. You can then have your Evolution 8HD slew to the object of your choice at speeds of up to four degrees per second, center it precisely in the eyepiece field, and then track it flawlessly while you observe and enjoy at your leisure.

Aligning on the sky when you go out is easy . . . the supplied Celestron StarSense auto alignment system does it for you. The integrated StarSense camera uses advanced multi-point mount modeling to automatically take a series of images of different parts of the sky when you turn on the NexStar Evolution 8HD. Using up to 10 stars as reference points, StarSense compares those images against its internal database of over 40,000 celestial objects. It uses these images to identify star patterns to determine your telescope's position in relation to the sky so the SkyPortal app and your smartphone can take you on your nightly sight-seeing tour of the heavens.

The Celestron NexStar Evolution 8HD includes its own built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery. You can enjoy stargazing for up to 10 hours on a single charge, then recharge it at home using the supplied AC adapter. You can even use your NexStar Evolution 8HD's built-in USB charge port to top off the other devices in your life that need to stay powered on during an observing session.

Large, ergonomic handles make setting up your NexStar Evolution 8HD quick and painless. With a total weight of only 44 lbs, the Evolution 8HD is easy to transport, whether it's out to the backyard for a quick half hour of observing or away on an all-night observing session at a distant dark sky site. The adjustable height stainless steel tripod features lines etched on the legs to help you achieve a level, uniform height for your telescope without guesswork.

Manual clutches in both altitude and azimuth give you the flexibility to manually point the telescope when it is powered off. You can store up to seven eyepieces in the two accessory trays, one on the tripod and one on the telescope drive base. An adjustable brightness red LED in the fork arm casts a soft red glow onto the accessory tray in the base to make it easier to select a different eyepiece while observing.

If you're interested in astroimaging, the 8" Celestron NexStar Evolution 8HD is an excellent and very affordable way to get started. It's the only fork-mounted telescope in its price range that offers precision worm gears, along with improved motors, for precise speed control and low periodic error. With the NexStar Evolution 8HD's good tracking accuracy, you can capture images of deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula by simply attaching your DSLR camera. As you progress in the hobby of astroimaging, you can add an optional wedge for longer exposures to bring out faint and hidden details in your astrophotos.

Celestron's superb flat field/coma-free EdgeHD Schmidt-Cassegrain optics and industry-standard StarBright XLT optical coatings give you the bright, sharp views Celestron is famous for - making the Evolution 8HD a great choice for visual observers and budding astroimagers alike.

The Celestron NexStar Evolution 8HD includes everything you need to start observing - and includes all the auto-align and wi-fi accessibility you need to make getting started a no-fuss joy. All you need to add is a smartphone or tablet and a night sky over your head.