Telescope review
This computerised Schmidt-Cassegrain offers an optical system that ranks as one of the best we’ve ever had the pleasure of looking through
We put the Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 to the test
Celestron’s telescopes continue to evolve and improve, and it’s done an amazing job of merging its highly regarded Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes with a computerised, single-fork mount for an easier and much more enjoyable experience when observing the night sky: meet the NexStar Evolution range.
The NexStar Evolution range has quite a moderate price tag, but according to Celestron it has everything an intermediate astronomer needs when navigating the celestial landscape to track down and gaze upon some tantalising views, whether it’s magnifying the spiral arms of the Pinwheel Galaxy (Messier 101) in Ursa Major (the Great Bear) or staying much closer to home to pick out the rings of gas giant Saturn. The telescope also provides a very good platform for astrophotography, no matter if it’s basic or at a much more advanced level.
Of the Celestron NexStar Evolution range, we tested the Evolution 8. Included with the optical tube assembly (OTA) is a robust stainless-steel tripod, which supports the whole set-up with ease. The single-fork arm is the pride of the instrument; it can mechanically navigate the night sky with the touch of a button via two perpendicular movements thanks to an alt-azimuth mount, which is powered by a long-lasting, rechargeable lithium-ion battery. In our opinion the internal battery seems to be an underappreciated aspect – it saves having to spend extra money on a battery pack, and as an added bonus an international AC adapter is also provided. On a good run the battery allows ten hours of continuous observation.
Also built into the mount is the telescope’s very own Wi-Fi network, allowing the user to connect and control the telescope via Celestron’s SkyPortal, an app that can be downloaded for free on both iOS and Android devices. By making use of the most modern technologies available, navigating from planet to star to nebula can be achieved with ease with just the touch of a button.
The icing on the cake is the eight-inch SchmidtCassegrain telescope, with improved EdgeHD optics for crisper, clearer sights of any targets you wish to observe. There are also several important extras included in this package, most notably the latest StarSense technology, which features an attachable camera and hand control to deliver a painless AutoAlign process.
There is also a StarPointer Pro finderscope, which employs a red-dot technology with a surrounding ring that aids with pinpointing your desired object in the field of view with minimal fuss.
The NexStar Evolution 8 also comes with a 1.25-inch star diagonal and two 1.25-inch Plössl eyepieces at 12.5mm and 40mm, allowing magnifications of 156x and 51x respectively. Before we headed out for a night of observing, the first thing we noted was the telescope’s weight, which totals 18.5 kilograms. The NexStar Evolution 8 will be tricky to transport for many, so it is important to take that into account before planning any skywatching trips beyond your own backyard.
“It has everything an intermediate astronomer needs when navigating the celestial landscape”
Upon arrival at our designated site for the night, the assembly of the telescope proved to be fairly straightforward – something that’s welcomed by any astronomer who just wants to get down to making observations straight away, without spending a great deal of time setting up. In less than 30 minutes the telescope was assembled, running and ready for alignment. We decided to utilise the StarSense AutoAlign camera, as it was a clear night at our location in a dark-sky reserve.
At the time of our test, using this technology was a new experience to us, but it was very straightforward and didn’t take longer than your average manual alignment. Be warned though – the technology will only work at its best under reasonably clear skies free of light pollution and with an array of stars at your disposal. Anything less and a message will pop up on the hand control that reads ‘too few stars’.
Once aligned, we couldn’t wait to test the NexStar Evolution 8’s mettle. Our iPhone 11 connected to the telescope with ease, and with the interactive interface also doubling as a planetarium app, choosing our targets was so simple. The first object on our checklist was the biggest, brightest and most obvious object visible to the naked eye: the Moon.
Our lunar companion was at waxing gibbous phase at the time of observation, with 85.9 per cent luminosity. With the 40mm eyepiece attached, the NexStar Evolution 8 offered a crisp, bright and visually stimulating sight, with the lunar surface fitting perfectly within the field of view. We recommend purchasing a Moon filter to pare down
any dazzling brightness and to improve contrast for picking out detail.
Switching to the 12.5mm Plössl allowed us to take a closer look at the rugged lunar terrain. From the dark patches of the lunar mare to the distinguishable craters of Tycho and Copernicus and the lunar terminator, the optics presented a crisp view with high clarity and resolution.
Moving away from the Moon, we explored some deep-sky targets in Orion (the Hunter). Heading over to our winter favourite, we took the time to gaze upon stellar opposites Rigel and Betelgeuse. The redness of the latter was easily recognisable, and the optical system seemed to have no major issues with chromatic or spherical aberration. Slewing to the opposite corner of Orion, we easily picked out the bluish-white hue of Rigel.
Again there were no issues or interference with the resolution of this brilliant magnitude +0.12 supergiant. Continuing our tour of the constellation, we tested the optical system on the more diffuse Orion Nebula (Messier 42), which required reverting back to the 40mm eyepiece. Even with the star-forming region’s large size, the Plössl could accommodate the majority of the nebula. The central concentration of light was a magnificent sight. Combined with the surrounding dust trails stopping the visible light in its path to Earth, there was an appreciated disparity.
As this mount is motorised – and therefore capable of tracking a celestial object as it moves across the sky – it’s a must-try for some serious astrophotography. It’s specified that the telescope can accommodate most cameras, especially larger format charge-coupled device (CCD) and DSLR cameras. However, if you’re looking to improve your images, you should purchase the ‘Wedge’ for the NexStar Evolution, which enables longexposure astrophotography.
The Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 is an extremely impressive piece of kit. It’s easy to set up, and by taking advantage of all the latest technology, combined with its optical prowess, is capable of providing a complete high-definition tour of the night sky. With a price that’s suited to large budgets, it’s a sturdy and reliable instrument that comes with a 24-month warranty. It’s a worthy investment for those who are veterans of viewing the night sky, but not so much for those who are just dipping their toe into sky-watching. For beginners and casual astronomers, we’d recommend the NexStar or Astro-Fi range of Celestron telescopes.
The NexStar Evolution 8’s optical system ranks as one of the best we’ve ever had the pleasure of looking at the universe through. Operation of its WiFi technology is seamless, while the computerised GoTo mount boasts exceedingly high performance. The NexStar Evolution 8 can be pushed to its useful magnification of 480x without suffering the consequences of poor, blurry images.