23% Off

Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 EdgeHD, Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope with StarSense

SKU: CNE8E MFR: 12096
Earn VIP Reward Points

Includes Free Gift ($78.95 Value)

CNECS1042
Celestron EclipSmart 10x42 Solar Binocular

Key Features

  • Enjoy stunning views with the 8-inch aperture, perfect for detailed celestial observation.
  • Achieve up to 480x magnification power, bringing planets and stars into incredible focus.
  • StarBright XLT optical coatings ensure maximum light transmission for brighter images.
  • The StarSense AutoAlign system makes telescope alignment quick and effortless for all users.
  • Explore over 120,000 celestial objects with user-friendly app database, day or night.
  • Stable stainless steel tripod minimizes vibrations, providing clear views at high power.
See More Product Details

Product Options

Free Shipping

See Options

Qty
1

Protect your gear with Adorama Protect.* Learn more

2 Year

$119.99

3 Year

$179.99

4 Year

$215.99

Available to U.S. customers only.

Need help? Ask our experts.

Overview
Compare
Accessories
Learn
Specs
Protection
Q&A

Questions & Answers

Shopper : How good is the Nextstar Evolution 8 EdgeHD telescope for photographing craters of the moon?
MARK F : Does the NexStar 8 Evolution with Star sense take 1.25" or 2"  accessory eyepieces?L Warren W : It takes 1.25" eyepiece.LARRY R : 1.25CHRISTOPHER M : If you buy a 2” diagonal you can use 2” eyepiecesALBYN R : The stock visual back is 1.25”, but it IS threaded, so it can be removed easily and replaced with a separately purchased 2” visual back if desired.YOJANER S : It takes 1.25 eyepiecesSebastien Z : 1.25´´RONALD K : The NexStar 8 Evolution takes 1.25” eyepieces. It comes with an 1.25” star diagonal.
greg w : can i purchase without the starsense?ANDREW R : https://www.adorama.com/cne8.html

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2025-03-24T06:22:29

Rated 5 out of 5

Looking at the stars

Works great. Hubby loves it. Luner eclipse looked wonderful through it. Highly recommend the scope and Adorama.

TRACIE V.

2024-01-12T14:34:01

Rated 5 out of 5

Great telescope

The Evolution 8HD is so easy to use with the Starsense Auto Align camera. The Evolution mount is a nice upgrade over the SE mount. And the optics are great. I think it was worth the price difference, but it is a decision each of will have to weigh the pros and cons of.

RAYMOND C.

2022-06-01T11:06:44

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Scope!

The Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 is a great scope, very easy to set-up and use. I suggest taking the time to assemble the different parts - tripod, mount and telescope tube while inside the house while learning the mount and the Go-To feature. The Go-To mount made finding objects simple. The only thing I have a concern with is the attach point for the telescope optical tube. When it is closed it doesn?t clamp onto the mounting bracket tightly. I don?t yet know if this is by design or not, but it is a question I need to ask. Over all I am very happy with the telescope.

Virgil J.

2022-04-28T09:04:28

Rated 4 out of 5

Better late but the stars await...

I ordered the Celestron Evolution 9.25" scope in October of 2021. I received the scope in April of 2022. I understand the current world situation but there could've been better communications throughout the process with updates and expected dates of delivery. So far, I've not had a good chance to actually use the scope but I expect great performance once I'm able to get outside and view the stars, planets and galaxies.

Tracy T.

2022-04-27T11:21:06

Rated 5 out of 5

This is the one

I'm still testing it, but, I'm very impressed with this beautiful machine. I'm looking forward to many moments of great contemplation!

JORGE C.

2021-11-12T02:21:51

Rated 5 out of 5

Amazing

Amazing and helpful

MARCO A.

2021-11-07T14:10:14

Rated 5 out of 5

A dream come true!

A dream come true! Great view and still portable I?ve wanted an up grade to my observing capability and I finally have it!!!!

ARTHUR A.

2021-09-30T11:51:27

Rated 5 out of 5

Celestron 8" Evolution SCT

The 'Swiss Army Knife' of telescopes. Others are better at some particular thing, this is good at everything but Astrophotography, which needs a better, bigger, Equatorial mount. What i have is inexpensive enough, transportable enough, big enough, simple enough, powerful enough, and configurable enough for visual and EAA astronomy for both Solar System and Deep Space Objects. Manual clutches, WiFi, and on-board power, are icing on the cake. With Barlows and reducers and HyperStar, it can go from more than f/20 down to f/2 with enough aperture and FOV to see most things, and a small wide-field triplet which would ride on the same mount and with EAA would almost everything else. I have yet to do more than observe the moon with it because of my heavy work and travel schedule. Celestron's documentation and hand control menu tree could be better. I'm glad YouTube exists. Arrived on time, well packaged and a day earlier than promised.

JOHN P.

2021-08-31T09:22:54

Rated 5 out of 5

Highly recommend

Awesome telescope and great packaging and delivery by Adorcam. Adriana was gracious enough to let me cancel the StarSense system that was on back order with no hassle at all!

GREG A.

2021-08-08T17:58:42

Rated 3 out of 5

Quality Telescope

I made my purchase just before an annual Astronomy event in Nebraska. Due to the fires in California, Oregon, Idaho, and Canada, we have been blanketed with a thick layer of smoke / haze. This has made viewing any stars almost impossible. I believe I have a good model of telescope, but will have to wait about 30 days to actually get to use it. I will have it set up with a Nikon 35MM DSLR camera for pictures So maybe by sometime in September 2021 I'll have a better review.

ROBERT M.

2021-06-25T09:41:10

Rated 5 out of 5

Bob W

Only bad thing was it took 3 to 4 mouths to get it.

ROBERT W.

2021-06-22T10:10:56

Rated 5 out of 5

Nexstar evolution 8HD Edge with Starsence

This is a very nice telescope with lots of features. This telescope works well for visual photography but the stock tripod it came with should be of sturdier design.

David E.

2021-06-18T10:37:28

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Product

Great Product and customer service

JOEL G.

2021-06-18T10:36:50

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Product

Awesome product and great customer service.

JOEL G.

2021-05-31T09:51:47

Rated 5 out of 5

Celestron Evolution 8 Edge HD

There are some hardware issues which would not exist if there was good quality control. On mine, the threads on the leg support rod and the thumb screw for the red dot sight were poorly machined. I haven't had any luck getting replacements, so I fixed the problem myself. The scope itself is wonderful. Most reviews show there is problems with the hardware. Know this as you purchase one.

CRAIG L.

2021-05-27T13:56:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Awesome!

Great product. Every works great. Long wait because of back order but worth the wait.

RICHARD M.

2021-05-27T13:52:32

Rated 5 out of 5

Awesome!

Love it! It?s better than I expected, everything worked great. It was in good condition when I received it. I did wait for awhile because it was on back order, but the wait was worth it.

Richard M.

2021-05-19T09:17:50

Rated 4 out of 5

Love this telescope!

The Celestron Edge HD telescope is a great telescope. The tracking system is spot on and the star sense alignment works very well. My only issue is the app can be a little glitchy during wifi set up and I would've like to have more eye pieces and a camera adapter with the system. I bought those separately and they work very well. I also got the Celestron eyepiece and filter package and they work well. I haven't tried the filters on planets yet but am looking forward to it. I've noticed the barrow lens can make things a little blurry but I think it might have been weather artifacts. One thing that is undeniable with the Edge HD are the optics. All and all, a great purchase.

JADE R.

2021-05-19T09:17:24

Rated 4 out of 5

Love this telescope!

The Celestron Edge HD telescope is a great telescope. The tracking system is spot on and the star sense alignment works very well. My only issue is the app can be a little glitchy during wifi set up and I would've like to have more eye pieces and a camera adapter with the system. I bought those separately and they work very well. I also got the Celestron eyepiece and filter package and they work well. I haven't tried the filters on planets yet but am looking forward to it. I've noticed the barrow lens can make things a little blurry but I think it might have been weather artifacts. One thing that is undeniable with the Edge HD are the optics. All and all, a great purchase.

JADE R.

2021-05-19T08:36:37

Rated 5 out of 5

W O W!!!

I N C R E D I B L E!!!!!!

JEB N.

2021-04-09T09:03:36

Rated 5 out of 5

Celestron Evolution 8HD

Excellent telescope; easy to use.

SIDNEY M.

2021-03-31T07:11:44

Rated 5 out of 5

Amazing

Absolutely the best purchase! We just moved away from the city to the mountains and are total amateurs but want to enjoy the night sky. It?s super easy setup and moving. The telescope and stand is super solid and no worries that it?s not stable. We were so excited when we saw stars in our view that we could not see with the naked eye. Highly recommended.

FREDERICK K.

2021-03-25T17:28:20

Rated 5 out of 5

Celestron Evoulution 8 HD Telescope

Great product, great value. What I appreciate the most was Adorama keeping me informed about delivery.

JESSE M.

2021-03-25T12:46:54

Rated 5 out of 5

Nice telescope.

The telescope arrived only a few days after ordering. I was only able to use it once since it's been cloudy, but the view was great.

JOHN K.

2021-03-25T08:12:15

Rated 5 out of 5

Celestron Evolution 8 HD

Excellent as expected

SIDNEY M.

2021-03-10T07:48:24

Rated 5 out of 5

A Truly Great Telescope

This is a quality telescope. I was pleased to find the tripod to be a heavy duty, sturdy model. Being a beginner, I was advised to buy this scope and grow into it. It may be the only scope I would ever need. I found the scope to be easily set up, aligned, and easily operated. I added the Starsense option which really made it easy for me to get into this hobby quickly. So far, night one setup and viewing was great. Looking forward to many more nights of viewing.

ROSS H.

2021-02-11T13:39:54

Rated 5 out of 5

Celestron NextStar Evolution 9.25

Absolutely in love with it since the moment I unboxed it. It arrived securely and very well packaged which I was nervous about until it arrived. I went with the 9.25 because of the amazing reviews and it did not disappoint. It comes with the tripod for the CPC1100 which is super stable. Yes, I do agree that the whole assembly is very heavy but think about all of the positives. I got the hang of the manual 2-3 star alignment using the keypad before I went over to the SkyPortal app. Everything is super easy to use and the quality is exceptional. Absolutely recommend this SCT. I am awaiting the new Celestron carry case for the tube only that has shipped today and am looking forward to taking it on some trips. The battery lasts crazy long and is a huge perk. USB ports to charge your devices as well as a tray for your eye pieces. WiFi is built in so no need to purchase separately. The Celestron case only fits the tube for the 9.25 and not the mount as well so be sure to plan for a larger case or a separate one for your mount. I opted for the soft carry case (sold on here) for the tube and a custom tote with foam for the mount only. I know it is probably backordered for a while but it is well worth the wait. In the grand scheme of things, time is relative anyway. 5 stars all the way. You're worth it.

Barbara W.

2021-01-31T19:02:05

Rated 5 out of 5

NexStar evolution 6

It’s better than we expected. Securely packaged for shipping. Very easy to assemble and get setup. Starsense finder and Celestron’s mobile app make it so easy to see the night skies. The delivery took a long time due to back orders but I thank Adorama for being so great with sending updates of the order.

BRIAN G.

2020-12-25T03:50:49

Rated 5 out of 5

Nexstar evolution 8

Amazing piece of optics. The edge system is well worth the extra money. The evolution mount is also top notch and has so much room for accessories with all the extra ports. The battery is also phenominal and easily lasts a while veiwong session.

JAMES W.

2020-12-10T05:42:26

Rated 4 out of 5

What good is a telescope if the tripod is not dependable

Absolutely love the quality of the telescope itself. The wifi and the skyportal app are terrific and a must have for someone learning the night sky however, the tri pod mount is less than quality. All three adjustment screws for raising and lowering the scope have stripped out in the first week of use. The thought of the telescope falling over, and tumbling has the potential of being a very expensive accident. I am having to use hose clamps to keep the tripod standing. What a pain in the beep to adjust and balance now. For the cost of this scope, I would expect the same quality in the tri pod stand as the scope.

ROBERT W.

Select a plan in the Add Protection section above and purchase with this product by clicking “Add to Cart”.

image-protection

TRUSTED PROTECTION PLANS, EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE.

Invest In Your Gear and Peace Of Mind!

Accidents happen. Protect your favorite Adorama products and purchase a protection plan to stay covered from accidental damage, mechanical or electrical failures, and more.

Repair or Replacement

Repair or Replacement

If we can’t fix it, we’ll replace it at no additional cost.

Accidental Damage

Accidental Damage

Protect your product from drops, spills, and more.

Peace of Mind

Peace of Mind

Enjoy your gear without fear. We have you covered!

Failure Protection

Failure Protection

When regular use of your product over time results in mechanical or electrical failure.

Zero Deductible

Zero Deductible

We will never charge you a deductible after the purchase of a plan.

Customer-Focused Support

Customer-Focused Support

Our claims process is simple & easy and our customer service team is happy to help.

Adorama Protect powered by Extend is available for purchase to customers in the United States. Not available for international or U.S. territories purchases. Plans on open box items do not cover pre-existing damage.
Adorama Protect plans are available for ABS clients. If you have any questions or require assistanse, please call 800-223-2500

Celestron NexStar Evolution Specifications

  • Optical Design

    Schmidt Cassegrain

  • Aperture

    203.2 mm

  • Focal Length

    1500 mm (59.06in)

  • Focal Ratio

    10

  • Focal Length of Eyepiece 1

    40 mm

  • Focal Length of Eyepiece 2

    13 mm

  • Magnification of Eyepiece 1

    38x

  • Magnification of Eyepiece 2

    150x

  • Finderscope

    StarPointer Pro

  • Star Diagonal

    1.25"

  • Mount Type

    Single Fork Arm Altazimuth

  • Tripod

    Stainless Steel

  • Power Requirements

    Internal battery included

  • HIghest Useful Magnification

    480x

  • Lowest Useful Magnification

    29x

  • Limiting Stellar Magnitude

    14

  • Resolution (Rayleigh)

    0.59 arc seconds

  • Resolution (Dawes)

    0.57 arc seconds

  • Light Gathering Power

    843x

  • Optical Coatings

    StarBright XLT

  • Optical Tube Length

    16 in

  • Total Telescope Kit Weight

    40.6 lbs

  • Max Slew Speed

    4 degrees per second

  • Tracking Rates

    Sidereal, solar and lunar

  • Alignment Procedures

    SkyAlign, 3-Star Align, Solar System Align

  • Communication Ports

    1 hand control and 3 aux ports for optional accessories

  • App Database

    Over 120,000 including 220 of the best deep sky and solar system objects

  • USB Charge Port

    Yes

  • UPC Code

    050234120968

Related Articles & Videos

Holiday 2014 Gift Guide: Onward Intrepid Outdoor Adventurers!

Holiday 2014 Gift Guide: Onward Intrepid Outdoor Adventurers!

Maybe you need a gift for someone you just can’t pin down. And we don’t mean the gift idea, we mean them. She’s always on the move—camping, being all…outdoorsy. Him, too, you know the one, always looking up—at the birds during the day and the stars at night.

Read more

50 Accessories for Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 EdgeHD, Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope with StarSense

  • All Accessories (50)
  • Batteries & Power Supply (3)
  • Eyepieces & Accessories (23)
  • Bags & Cases (1)
  • Navigational Accessories (1)
  • Telescope Accessories (4)
  • Filters (3)
  • Cleaning Accessories (2)
  • Photography Adapters (1)
  • T-Mounts (5)
  • Flash & Lighting (1)
  • Pads (1)
  • Adapters & Mounts (2)
  • Smartphone Digiscoping (1)
  • Utility Aprons (1)
  • Dew Shields (1)

About Celestron NexStar Evolution

FEATURED REVIEWS

"Evolution" says it all

By Daniel T.

Great out of the box scope spying the planets/moon and beyond. Jupiter and Saturn are especially stunning! Everything came securely and nicely packaged with no problem assembling. After trying out the Celestron 8SE, the Evolution 8 certainly comes in a class of its own as the ability to manually move the mount without powering the scope is fantastic. I primarily control my scope from my laptop making the built in Wi-Fi a very nice addition vs needing the sky portal adapter. Along with 4 a...

View full Review

See the Stars all of ‘em

By PAUL T.

Awesome all the way around, I haven’t done telescopes in 30years and this was a COVID stay at home idea purchase and it’s very cool. I like the auto map star movements with the iOS sky software included makes viewing anything so so easy……

Over the years, the NexStar Evolution 8 EdgeHD, Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope with StarSense has continually evolved, merging our top-tier optics with our most advanced technology to create an incredibly versatile and portable telescope system. Now, you can experience the power of EdgeHD 8" optics and StarSense AutoAlign on the renowned Evolution mount, all controlled from your preferred tablet or smartphone.

The innovative NexStar Evolution 8 HD offers the convenience of controlling the telescope wirelessly via the SkyPortal app. With the addition of StarSense AutoAlign, the telescope automatically aligns itself once you tap "Connect and Align," making observing and astro-imaging a breeze. This compact yet mechanically robust setup is the most capable, user-friendly, and ready-for-action system we've ever offered.

The NexStar Evolution 8HD combines two of Celestron's most acclaimed innovations: Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes and computerized go-to optics, in a compact single fork arm mount. Over time, we've added StarSense AutoAlign for our go-to telescopes, as well as WiFi telescope control via our new SkyPortal app. Our EdgeHD flat-field and coma-free astro-imaging systems have been designed to accommodate modern imaging with all types of cameras, especially larger format CCD and DSLR cameras.

The NexStar Evolution 8HD is a comprehensive solution that is compact, easy to use, and perfectly capable for any observing or astro-imaging pursuit. Our StarSense AutoAlign technology has been integrated into the SkyPortal app, making it the most advanced telescope control app available. StarSense not only automatically aligns itself from your smart device, but it also offers advanced mount modeling, allowing you to enter up to 10 alignment points for the most precise pointing accuracy possible.

If you're interested in astro-imaging, the 8-inch NexStar Evolution HD is an excellent choice. It's the only fork-mounted telescope in its price range that offers brass worm gears, along with improved motors. The flat-field, coma-free EdgeHD optical system provides excellent tracking and allows you to capture stunning images of deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula by simply attaching your DSLR camera.

The NexStar Evolution is equipped with 4 auxiliary ports, a StarPointer Pro finderscope, two 1.25" Plossl eyepieces, a 1.25" star diagonal, and an international AC adapter. The free SkyPortal app provides an interactive planetarium on your smart device, offering the best star-gazing experience for you and your friends and family. Learn about celestial objects with informative backstories and beautiful image galleries, then see them for yourself through the telescope!

Celestron NexStar Evolution Features

  • 8" f/10 EdgeHD: Portable yet enough light gathering power to see detailed views of solar system and deep sky objects. EdgeHD optics provide superb visual and astro-imaging performance, free of coma and field curvature.
  • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with enough power for 10 hours of continuous observing
  • Built-in WiFi: No Hand controller required! Just use your smartphone or tablet which connects to the telescope via WiFi.
  • StarSense Auto Align: Automatically aligns your telescope and works with the SkyPortal app for complete wireless control.
  • Fastar/HyperStar compatible: Image deep sky objects in seconds at f/2, often eliminating the need to autoguide or track on a wedge.
  • The Renowned NexStar Evolution Mount: Packed with features that improve your experience, including manual release clutches and precision machined worm gears for both axes, tray lighting, USB charge port for your smartphone, tray lighting for your accessories, and more.
  • Fully motorized computer go-to: After automatically aligning with StarSense, select and go to objects with a tap on your smartphone.

Warranty Information

This product has a limited warranty of 24 months for parts and 24 months for labor.

Product Documents

User Manual

Key Features

  • Enjoy stunning views with the 8-inch aperture, perfect for detailed celestial observation.
  • Achieve up to 480x magnification power, bringing planets and stars into incredible focus.
  • StarBright XLT optical coatings ensure maximum light transmission for brighter images.
  • The StarSense AutoAlign system makes telescope alignment quick and effortless for all users.
  • Explore over 120,000 celestial objects with user-friendly app database, day or night.
  • Stable stainless steel tripod minimizes vibrations, providing clear views at high power.

What's in the box:

  • Optical Tube Assembly
  • StarSense AutoAlign Telescope Alignment System
  • StarPointer Pro Finderscope
  • 12.5mm Eyepiece
  • 40mm Eyepiece
  • 90deg Star Diagonal
  • Tripod with Accessory Tray
  • AC Adapter with US / EU / UK and AU Plugs
  • Celestron 2 Year Warranty