Please enable JavaScript in Your Browser JavaScript is not currently enabled in your browser and due to this our site will not work as it should. While JavaScript is disabled, you will not be able to add items to your cart or browse all product options. Our site is powered by industry leading standards for your protection.

The f/10 Celestron C8-A 8' SCT Optical Tube. Its database of over 40,000 objects is customizable and lists famous deep-sky objects by name and catalog number. The f/10 Celestron C8-A 8' SCT Optical Tube. Its database of over 40,000 objects is customizable and lists famous deep-sky objects by name and catalog number.

If possible, please enable JavaScript in your browser for the best possible experience. If you cannot enable JavaScript or you are having technical difficulties, please — we are always here to help! Please Enable Your Browser's Cookies Functionality Cookies are not currently enabled in your browser, and due to this the functionality of our site will be severely restricted. Web browser based cookies allow us to customize our site for you, save items in your cart, and provide you with a great experience when shopping OpticsPlanet. Driver Hama Usb 1.1 Card Reader 7 In 1. Your is important to us, and any personal information you supply to us is kept strictly confidential.

If you cannot enable cookies in your browser, please — we are always here to help!

In addition to being my personal favorite telescope, the is probably one of the most important amateur telescopes of the last 40 years. This was the first mass produced telescope, and greatly influenced amateur astronomy in the 1970's through to the present. I have constructed this web page to consolidate the information I have gathered about the C8, hopefully this will be of interest to other C8 owners or anyone interested in early Celestron telescopes. This web page contains much of the information I have learned about the C8 and includes links to several good historical backgrounds on the C8, information about C8 construction, maintenance, where to find manuals and spare parts, homebuilt C8 accessories, and links to other C8 websites.

Due to recent instances of my equipment photos being posted without my permission on (used in adds for C8's, C90's, and SCT accessories), I have had to watermark my equipment photos. Below are three photos of my 1979 C8 with a piggyback C90 on the original fork mount. The far right photo shows the C8 and C90 on an Advanced VX mount. The C8 was launched in 1970 and was the first mass produced telescope. The C8 is an 8' f/10, with a 1.25' optical back and a 6x-30 mm finderscope (also orange). The classic orange tube model was sold between 1970-1983, after which it was changed to a black tube.

Early models had a smooth orange finish, which was switched to a pebbled orange peel finish in the mid-late 1970's (note that the orange paint is lead based!). The C8 is an all metal telescope, but still compact and light: 9' x 13' x 24' (swung down) and only 21 lbs.

Celestron supplied the orange tube C8 with a 3-3/4 pound set of six counterweights that could be used separately or threaded together into a stack. The counterweights screwed into the front accessory holes on the top and bottom of the C8 ring (photos can be found on the ). There are screw holes for mounting accessories on both the front and rear cells. The rear cell accessory holes are located on the bottom (side by side, separated by 1-3/4') and are threaded 8-32. The front accessory holes (top and bottom) are located on center (12-1/4' from the rear accessory holes) and are threaded 10-24. The accessory screws extend 5.9 mm into the C8 front and rear cells. T he 1970's to early 1980's Celestron C8 came with a very stabile, non-collapsible tripod.

What makes these tripods so stabile is that the legs are composed of triangular spring steel elements. Each leg is a triangle that is assembled by bending the spring steel rods and inserting them in top and bottom brackets that hold the triangular shape. Because the spring steel must be bent to fit into the brackets, the legs are under stress and resist vibrations. Several tripod photos can be found on the webpage.

The C8 is similar to contemporary SCT optical tubes (below diagram). The (pale blue) sits on a small ledge, is centered inside the OTA by three cork pads, and secured by a rubber sided retaining ring (brown). Light enters through the corrector plate, reflects off of the (dark blue) and (light blue) mirrors, and exits the optical tube through the center (dark red) to the diagonal (yellow) and eyepiece. The secondary mirror is glued to a metal mounting plate (tan) that pivots inside the plastic secondary holder (purple). The secondary metal mounting plate pivots on a plastic peg (blue) and is held in place by three. The plastic secondary holder is glued to the outside of the corrector plate, protrudes through a circular opening in the corrector plate center, and is glued to the secondary light baffle. The telescope is focused by turning the black rear knob, which slides the primary mirror forward or backwards on the light baffle.