Among all of the features that come with the vast range of telescopes on the market, a stellar eyepiece is essential for the best viewing experience. These parts alone come in all shapes and sizes, and many are built for particular use cases.
Furthermore, you can expect to find many suitable eyepieces for the Celestron NexStar 8SE, but there are definitely some that stand out from the others on the market.
These things can make it a real challenge to know which one to get, and what is best, for you.
So to get an idea of what the top choices have to offer, keep reading through this guide; I’ll be walking you through the pros and cons of each, and even giving you some pointers with what you should look for.
But first, here are my top three picks:
Best Eyepieces For Celestron NexStar 8SE
Explore Scientific 82 Degree Series
- Waterproof Argon Purge
- 1.25" Barrel
Features & Specifications:
- Eye lens: Widefield
- Finderscope: Reflex
- Focus Type: Manual focus
- Fully waterproof and gas purged
Pros
Delivering a super-wide apparent field, this eyepiece is a go-to choice for many stargazers.
It’s a fantastic option for people who are looking for a little more power, as it can help you view planets, stars, star clusters, planetary nebulae, and even active regions of the sun.
It’s also waterproof, so you can safely travel with it to many different natural environments, and the eyepiece is gas purged which means you won’t have any issues with the lens fogging up.
The overall quality benefits from enhanced multilayer deposition coatings, and you can fine-tune your view through manual adjustments.
With an 11mm focal length and 82-degree apparent field of view, this eyepiece offers a quality viewing experience for many astronomy enthusiasts. You can even improve its capabilities by using 2X, 3X, and 5X magnification focal extenders.
Cons
It seems evident that this eyepiece isn’t ideal for astrophotography. Although it provides a pretty stellar image, it isn’t clear enough for photos. Most people seem to love what this eyepiece offers, but the biggest complaint by far pertains to the clarity it delivers.
Others feel that it’s relatively costly for the quality you get out of it, and some mention that you can get better quality elsewhere for a cheaper price tag.
Nevertheless, this isn’t enough to be a deal breaker. It may not provide the level of zoom you need, but it’s possible to enhance its magnification with focal extenders.
Overall, this eyepiece is great for viewing, but you shouldn’t buy into it if your main use is for astrophotography.
Celestron – Zoom Eyepiece
- POWERFUL ZOOM EYEPIECE: Go from low to high power in an instant with this versatile eyepiece. Zooms to any focal length between 8mm and 24mm. Pick the best magnification for your subject.
- 1.25" BARREL: Compatible with any telescope that accepts 1.25” eyepieces
- FULLY MULTI-COATED OPTICS: Every lens surface is coated multiple times with Celestron's unique optical coatings to improve color and contrast and maximize brightness.
- UNBEATABLE WARRANTY & SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from Celestron, a leading telescope brand in California since 1960. Your purchase includes a 2-Year US Warranty and unlimited support from our team of US-based experts.
Features & Specifications
- Focal length: 8mm-24mm
- Field of View: Angular 40-60 degrees
- Eye relief: 15mm-18mm
- Focus type: Manual focus
Pros
Utilize low and high power settings to see a wide range of celestial objects. This eyepiece is quite versatile and has become a fan favorite for many astronomy lovers.
With the help of premium optics, viewers will get the benefit of a 40-60 degree field of view, which is great for viewing planets, the moon, and many deep-sky objects.
It’s durable and is known to deliver long-term use and reliability. Many people appreciate its substantial field of view, and it seems to carry its image integrity as you manipulate its zoom.
Better yet, it’s pretty hard to beat the price, and it offers plenty of versatility by giving viewers the ability to change its zoom from 8mm up to 24mm.
There are many fantastic ratings about this eyepiece, and for a good reason, it stands out from the rest of the crowd. You can also purchase this eyepiece with a range of accessories, such as AC adapters, Barlow lenses, and filters.
You might find other eyepieces that offer something similar, but the range of features this eyepiece is known for acts as a one-stop shop for many people.
Cons
It may be an excellent eyepiece, but also has a few downsides.
You’ll have to manually pay attention to the focal length as there aren’t any audible clicks when making adjustments.
The eyepiece may not be the best choice for harsher weather conditions, as it’s known to get damaged or potentially crack in cold weather.
Weight can also be a hindrance, depending on your equipment setup. This isn’t a huge issue, but it’s caused some people to get creative when balancing their equipment, so it stays steady.
It may come with a substantial zoom, but the eyepiece still has its limits.
Depending on how far you’re trying to look into space, it’s possible to encounter a blurry view.
Most people aren’t confident that the eyepiece is much good for viewing deep space objects. Although you might be able to source deep-space objects, the quality of your viewing experience may be lackluster.
Orion 8829 38mm Q70 Wide-Field Telescope Eyepiece
- High quality 2" 38mm super-wide angle telescope eyepiece at an unbeatable price
- Super-wide 70 apparent field of view gives you that unforgettable lost in space feeling
- Five multi-coated lens elements made of high index glass deliver sharp, high contrast vistas
- Luxurious eye relief and parfocal design provide comfort and convenience
- Beautifully made with machined housings, fold-down rubber eyeguards, and barrels threaded for use with 2" Orion eyepiece filters
Features & Specifications
- Field of view: 70 degrees
- Lens diameter: 28mm
- Finderscope: Reflex
- Focus type: Manual
Pros
Known to be a high-quality 2″ 38mm telescope eyepiece that comes with a super-wide angle, it’s a multi-faceted, highly cost-efficient design. The field of view is 70 degrees, giving you plenty of space to gaze at the night sky.
Boasting high contrast vistas, users benefit from five multi-coated lens elements made of high-index glass.
For a blend of convenience and overall comfort, the eyepiece is built with a quality eye relief and parfocal design, making it an excellent choice for long viewing sessions.
It’s also made for durability as it’s crafted with sturdy, machined housings and fold-down rubber eye guards.
If you need to customize it a little, the eyepiece comes with threaded barrels, allowing you to use 2″ Orion eyepiece filters if needed.
Many fellow astronomers report a stellar viewing experience. From viewing the moon’s craters to the splendor the Milky Way has to offer, the eyepiece is great for viewing prominent objects.
Cons
It’s vital you review the specs of your telescope and this particular eyepiece.
Whether it’s due to user error or a manufacturing issue, multiple customers have had trouble attaching the eyepiece to a variety of telescopes.
Other issues that some people have come across include dust and debris under the glass. Additionally, some have encountered threading issues on the eyepiece, which is clearly a manufacturing issue.
Unfortunately, you won’t get a very good view of any deep space objects. You may be able to locate them, but your view will be relatively blurry. Many people are happy with what it’s capable of, but others hoped it would deliver a little more quality.
When compared to other similar eyepieces, most people agree this one is a little costly in comparison. It may not break the bank, but some are finding it hard to validate the asking price.
Above all else, manufacturing defects are this eyepiece’s biggest issue.
This isn’t to say that every order comes with defects, but after finding a handful of reviews that share a similar experience, it’s definitely something you’ll want to consider.
What Makes A Good Eyepiece For The Celestron Nexstar 8se?
When looking for the right eyepiece for the Celestron Nexstar 8se, you want to consider a number of features. From a strong build quality that isn’t too heavy, a substantial field of view, to an excellent focal length, you don’t want to limit yourself when it comes to your viewing sessions.
The Nexstar 8se is already considered to be one of the best telescopes you could own, so it’s only smart to have an eyepiece that’ll complement its capabilities.
An optimal feature of an eyepiece for this telescope would be an 82-degree apparent field of view, as that significantly affects what you’re able to see.
Of course, depending on what you’re looking for in the night sky, you want to make sure you can see it with pristine clarity.
This can be tricky to determine as you can’t always try before you buy, but with the help of online reviews, you can learn what an eyepiece is capable of.
In the same vein, it’s essential that your eyepiece is free of debris under the glass, and make sure it’s Argon purged, so the eyepiece doesn’t collect any moisture on the inside.
Things To Consider When Buying An Eyepiece For The 8se
When searching for any eyepiece, you always want to consider multiple aspects to ensure it’s worth the purchase. Features such as field of view and focal length may be important, but you’ll want to dive a little deeper to ensure it has what you need.
Below are a few key notes that should be reviewed before diving into a purchase.
- Budget: Even if the eyepiece seems affordable, you don’t want to just rush into making a purchase without taking a deep dive into its features and overall quality. Many eyepieces fall within a similar price range, but if you find one that seems abnormally high, you want to look into why that is.
- FOV: When looking for an eyepiece, you want to keep in mind exactly what you’re trying to accomplish from your viewing experience. The field of view an eyepiece provides is a big factor in what you’re able to see during your viewing sessions.
- Build quality: Whether you’re looking at the night sky from your backyard or in rural environments, you want to ensure the eyepiece is made of flimsy materials. There’s always the chance your telescope gets knocked around or falls over from time to time, and you want to make sure the eyepiece won’t just fall apart on contact.
Final Verdict
So there you have it, three of the best eyepieces for the Celestron 8SE.
But if I could choose only one, it would be the Explore Scientific 82 Degree Series ⬇️
- Waterproof Argon Purge
- 1.25" Barrel
Other guides you may be interested in:
- Celestron Nexstar 6SE vs 8SE [Telescope Review & Comparison]
- 10mm vs 20mm Eyepiece [What’s The Difference?]
- 1.25″ vs 2″ Eyepiece [The Ultimate Guide]
Hey, my name is Jeremy. I’m a passionate and seasoned astronomer who loves nothing more than observing the night sky. I also love researching, learning, and writing all things Space and the Universe. I created Astronomy Scope to share my knowledge, experience, suggestions, and recommendations of what I have learned along the way while helping anyone to get into and maximize their enjoyment of the hobby.
