Celestron C8 optical tube vs Celestron NexStar 8SE: specs compared
Updated 05 September 2026.
2
specs differ
Celestron C8 optical tube and Celestron NexStar 8SE differ on 2 specs: focuser / eyepiece barrel, mount.
| Spec | Celestron C8 optical tube | Celestron NexStar 8SE |
|---|---|---|
| Aperture | 203 mm (7.99 in) | 203 mm (7.99 in) |
| Focal length | 2032 mm | 2032 mm |
| Focal ratio | f/10 | f/10 |
| Optical design | Schmidt-Cassegrain | Schmidt-Cassegrain |
| Focuser / eyepiece barrel | 1.25 in visual back (SCT rear cell); a 2 in diagonal fits with an SCT-to-2 in adapter | 1.25 in visual back (SCT rear cell), accepts a 1.25 in star diagonal; a 2 in diagonal fits with an SCT-to-2 in adapter |
| Mount | Optical tube only (CGE / Vixen dovetail), no mount supplied | Computerized single-fork altazimuth (GoTo) |
| Highest useful magnification (published) | 480x | 480x |
| Optical tube weight | 12.5 lb | 12.5 lb |
Questions and answers
How do Celestron C8 optical tube and Celestron NexStar 8SE compare?
Celestron C8 optical tube and Celestron NexStar 8SE differ on 2 specs: focuser / eyepiece barrel, mount.