Don't buy Celestron NexStar 8SE without watching this video first

The main advantage of an 8 inch telescope over a 5 inch one is when you take long exposure photographs. The NexStar mount isn't good enough for exposures longer than around 30 seconds. The planets and the Moon will look the same in both telescopes unless you live in the desert away from city lights. Otherwise the maximum power is less than 300 due to the sky conditions and both telescopes can give you that.

Polar alignment is often needed for astrophotography. The NexStar 5SE has a built in wedge in the tripod which allows you to easily align the 5SE with the Earth's axis of rotation. The 8SE does not have this option. If you want to make a time-lapse movie of Jupiter spinning around on it's axis the 5SE is the better telescope. This video goes into more detail.

This telescope sold for $405 on eBay. Here is the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270799562426

Here is Thunderf00t's movie of Jupiter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhPJHfR3Pco

Learn about the different firmware versions:
http://www.nexstarsite.com/Firmware.htm
http://www.nexstarsite.com/Firmware/SE45Firmware.htm


Here are links to some of the accessories you can buy for your telescope:

Case for NexStar 8SE
http://www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?CatID=13&ProdID=276

Case for NexStar 5SE
http://www.hayneedle.com/sale/jimsmobilejmitelescopecaseforcelestronnexstarse...

12 volt PowerTank
http://www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?ProdID=370

Orion WebCam for telescopes
http://www.telescope.com/Astrophotography/Astrophotography-Cameras/Orion-Star...

Celestron NexImage web cam for telescopes
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexImage-Solar-System-Imager/dp/B0002X5Q72

Nice quality eyepieces
http://www.celestron.com/c3/category.php?CatID=105

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Celestron
• NexStar
• 5SE
• 8SE
• telescope
• astrophotography

[tigereye1uk]

Hi guys which is better next star 5SE or 8SE am located in mid populated city and I want to stare at stars and nebula not only planet? Any assistance!!

[wwgeb]

@tigereye1uk For nebulae the 8 inch scope is much better than the 5 inch. You will most likely not see much in the city but if you drive to a dark place you can see a lot more than planets with the 8 inch scope. My argument about the 5 inch being better applies to looking at planets from the city, which I believe is what you will end up using your scope for. If you are willing to take a half hour to an hour drive to a dark place then get the 8 inch.

[stockscalper]

I agree, but I would recommend the 6" model. It has a lot more light gathering capability than the 5 and is as large a tube that the mount can handle. The mount/arm for the 8 is exactly the same as the 5 and 6 and it simply can't handle a tube of that size and weight. I've seen them come loose and fall off when the telescope was bumped.

[wwgeb]

@stockscalper There is always a trade off. The 6" will probably be more stable because it is on the same mount that holds the 8". The 5" is on a different (wimpier) mount that also holds the 4". I like having the wedge but I realize that most people would never use it. For my use of looking at planets I wouldn't be using the extra light from the 6" but I'm sure other people would want that.

[robemoor]

which is better Celestron NexStar 6SE Telescope vs Celestron NexStar 5SE Telescope - great video btw - keep up the good work

[wwgeb]

@robemoor Celestron makes two NexStar mounts: one for the 4" and 5" that has a wedge and another for the 6" and 8" without a wedge. In general, the bigger the scope the more light it collects. The 5" is sufficiently large for looking at planets from a light polluted city. Most people who have the 8" won't drive an hour to a dark site to look at nebulae. Instead they use it to look at planets. You will enjoy the 5" or the 6" as they are both awesome scopes. I am keeping my 5" scope.

[billy210uk]

Did you make this video and advocate the benefits of a 5 inch telescope just because you wanted to sell it?! And then probably buy an 8 inch one?!

[andrewpmack]

This dude bought two of the same scope, then turns around and sells one. Clearly, not the sharpest knife in the drawer!

The example of polar alignment in the video is a fraud. He clearly used software to align the pictures.

One useful point is the wedge in the mount of the 5", which I wasn't aware of (though that is hardly a main point of his!).

[Jules7892]

@robemoorYour Celestron NexStar 6SE is BETTER than the NexStar 5SE.You get 78% more Light gathering in the 6SE vs.the 5SE and furthermore you Resolve at 0.8 ArcSeconds on the 6SE as opposed to 0.9 ArcSecond on the 5SE.The price difference is also minimal more on the 6SE but worth the Extra Aperture.This is told to you by an experienced Astro-Photographer of ASTRONOMY December 1982 BackIssues.Don't get Fooled now by characters telling you that smaller apertures are better,this is NOT the case!!

[MrGrossebobette]

The nexstar mount is good enough for long exposure....like any other scope ,with proper guiding system ! And the built in wedge on the 5 inch is not enough sturdy !

You're and idiot !

[MrGrossebobette]

With a wedge ,and guiding system with a DSLR someone can make very good quality astrophotos of deepsky objects !

I think you are trying to find reasons because you have a 5 inch scope !

5 inch is better than 8 inch my ass ! 8 inch collect 6 times more light than the 5 inch !

[matthewjsharpe]

Shock piece of sales flim flam. No 1. rule of purchasing a telescope is buy a telescope you will use - which does mean it usually has to be well made and portable with good optics - but, the number 2 rule of buying a telescope is BUY THE BIGGEST APERTURE YOU CAN AFFORD! Rule 2 leads back to rule 1, in that, the more you can see with your scope, the more you will use it! If you can afford the 8", for gods sake, get the 8", don't listen to this guy.

[jerryy101st]

I am whit billy210uk, this guy just make this video to try to sell his other telescope. And i am going to buy the 8 inch is better quality in all the aspect of a Telescope. This guy is a loser!!!!!

[danthemanzizle]

i have an $80 telescope that is about 5 inch and supposedly goes to 600X, so far the best I've done is see jupiter's cloud stripes (only just) along with a few of its moons and orions nebula (as a fuzzy grey blob) but by far the best use of this inexpensive telescope is to look at the moon as it tracks across your field of view at full 600X magnification.

[Pizdulina1979]

Check under his house, something about this guy and his extremely well-thought out, efficiency reminds me of John Wayne Gacy...

[Pizdulina1979]

Its obvious: he bought an 8" and now he's selling his 5" and trying to say "he bought 2 - 5inchers" he's playing on the fact that they are the same length and most people wont know that, the difference is in the width and a mere 3" is hard to see on YouTube. So then he makes video to promote the GREATNESS OF THE 5" so that he can lower his overall cost on the 8". Nice try buddy, gotta give you credit though. Bottom line is apeture and 8" buries the 5". Any rookie should learn apeture, then buy