Orion Build-A-Scope 8" Classic Dobsonian Telescope

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Orion Build-A-Scope 8" Classic Dobsonian Telescope

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Start with this 8" aperture, 1200mm focal length reflector telescope optical tube and the ultra-stable Dobsonian base
Add the Orion-brand focuser, finder scope, and initial eyepiece that YOU want
Add additional Orion-brand telescopes eyepieces
Accessorize even further with any Orion-brand filters, collimating tools, Barlow lenses, padded case, and more
Get the SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian telescope of your dreams!

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A powerful and capable telescope, the Orion Build-A-Scope 8" Classic Dobsonian is based on one of our most popular reflectors due to its elegant combination of precision optics, mechanical simplicity, and rock-solid stability. You and your whole family will appreciate the bright, clear views of the night sky provided by the 8" Classic. The Moon and planets of our solar system like Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars shine brightly in the Orion Build-A-Scope 8" Classic Dobsonian Telescope, allowing you to inspect them in detail. Its 8" aperture is also large enough to gather a significant amount of light from more distant celestial objects for great views of sparkling star clusters, cloudy nebulas, and faraway galaxies. The Orion Build-A-Scope 8" Classic Dobsonian Telescope is a tremendous value considering the high quality views it provides on such a wide variety of celestial objects. The point-and-view simplicity of the Dobsonian design is not as complicated as an equatorial (EQ) mount and tripod, so with a little practice, your whole family can scan the heavens just like experienced hobbyists. For any astronomer seeking serious adventure, the Build-A-Scope 8" Classic Dobsonian has it all!

Classic Dob Chart

The Orion Build-A-Scope XT8 Classic Dobsonian is built around an 8" (203mm) diameter parabolic primary mirror mounted in a cast-aluminum support cell. The mirror collects 78% more light than a 6" mirror, so you get a significant increase in ability to observe dust lanes in nebulas, resolve the cores of prominent globular star clusters, and to reveal some of the more subtle structures in faint galaxies. The 1200mm focal length (f/5.9) XT8 mirror allows you to obtain clear and crisp views at moderate to high magnifications on clear nights with good seeing conditions. Enhanced-reflectivity mirror coatings boost the 8" mirror to 94% reflectivity so as much light as possible is transmitted to the eyepiece.

The Dobsonian base of the Build-A-Scope 8" Classic Dobsonian Telescope provides a simple and stable low-profile altazimuth platform for the 8" aperture optical tube. The tube attaches securely to the base by virtue of Orion's CorrecTension Friction Optimization system, which utilizes heavy-duty springs to both securely couple the tube to the base, and to keep the telescope in constant balance to avoid drifting during observations. Even with large 2" eyepieces and accessories installed, the Build-A-Scope 8" Classic Dobsonian Telescope will remain balanced throughout your viewing sessions.

The Orion Build-A-Scope 8" Classic Dobsonian Telescope can conveniently be separated into two pieces for easy transport and storage. By unhooking the two CorrecTension springs from the Dobsonian base you can detach the 46.5" long optical tube. The 8" optical tube weighs 20.3 lbs., while the 19" diameter Dobsonian base tips the scales at 20.7 lbs. With an assembled weight of 41 lbs., the Orion Build-A-Scope 8" Classic Dobsonian can be easily moved to and from your favorite observing site, whether it's just a few steps out the back door, or many miles down the road.

With the Build-A-Scope 8" Classic Dobsonian from Orion, you decide which finder scope, focuser, and eyepiece comes with the telescope. You can choose between magnified achromatic finder scopes, red-dot reflex sights, or more deluxe right-angle correct-image or illuminated crosshair finder scope models to be included with the SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian. Next, select which focuser you want to be included with the telescope, choosing between smooth-adjusting Crayford designs with or without dual-speed fine focus control. You also get to select which telescope eyepiece is included from Orion's wide selection of quality oculars. Choose from low focal length, high magnification eyepieces, or go after the bigger picture with a wide-angle eyepiece to view a large swath of sky through the telescope.

A great telescope with the optical strength to please serious beginners and veteran skygazers alike, the Orion Build-A-Scope 8" Classic Dobsonian Telescope will provide years of astronomical adventure for you and your whole family.

Meets or exceeds all California State Environmental Quality & Safety Regulations (CARB 93120 Phase 2 Compliant).

Warranty

Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact us at 800-676-1343.

Warning

Please note this product was not designed or intended by the manufacturer for use by a child 12 years of age or younger.

Product Support

Visit our product support section for instruction manuals and more

Specs

Best for viewing

Brighter deep sky
Best for imaging

Lunar & planetary
User level

User level

Beginner - Suited for a wide range of uses, Level 1 telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

Intermediate - These scopes offer higher performance and more advanced features than Level 1 models. They typically take a bit longer to learn and need some set-up or adjustments. But anyone with the slightest technical bent will have no problem getting familiar with these models. Referring to the manual is recommended.

Advanced - These scopes provide the best performance but may require more skill to master and appreciate. They have exceptionally fine optics and mechanics. Some are easy to use but are but on the large or heavy side. Some are intended for specialized uses. These scopes will appeal to the more technically inclined. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Expert - Expert telescopes offer uncompromising optical and mechanical quality for the most demanding amateur astronomer. They may be technically involved or designed for specialized use, such as astrophotography or detailed deep sky observation. They carry a premium price, but are designed to provide the ultimate performance in the field. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Intermediate
Optical design

Optical design

Reflector telescopes use a pair of large and small mirrors to direct incoming light to the eyepiece. Refractor telescopes refract, or "bend" incoming light to a focus by means of an objective lens. Cassegrain telescopes, such as Maksutov-Cassegrains, "fold" incoming light using two mirrors and a front "corrector" lens.

Reflector
Optical diameter

Optical diameter

The optical diameter (also known as aperture), is the size of the telescope's main light collecting lens or mirror, measured in millimeters or inches. As the diameter increases, more light is collected and the resolution increases.

203mm
Focal length

Focal length

The focal ratio of an optical system is the ratio of a telescope's focal length to its aperture. Short focal ratios (f/5, f/4.5) produce wide fields of view and small image scales, while long focal lengths produce narrower fields of views and larger image scales.

1200mm
Focal ratio

Focal ratio

The focal ratio of an optical system is the ratio of a telescope's focal length to its aperture. Short focal ratios (f/5, f/4.5) produce wide fields of view and small image scales, while long focal lengths produce narrower fields of views and larger image scales.

f/5.9
Optics type

Optics type

Newtonian reflectors will have either a spherical shaped mirror, which is less expensive to produce, or a higher quality parabola, which does not result in spherical aberration. Cassegrain telescopes routinely use spheres in addition to other lenses in the optical path to correct for residual spherical aberration. Refractors use a series of lenses to provide a clear image. Designs range from a standard air-spaced doublet (two lenses in a row) to exotic designs such as oil-spaced triplets and 4-element multi group lenses.

Parabolic
Glass material

Glass material

Refractors use glass lenses to focus the light, and the glass material plays an important role in the quality of the resulting image. Standard achromatic refractors routinely use Crown and Flint for the two elements, but more expensive apochromatic refractors can use ED (extra low dispersion) glass for one or more of the lenses. Reflector mirrors are made from glass with different levels of thermal expansion. Standard mirrors are made from material such as Soda-Lime Plate glass and BK-7 glass. Glass with Pyrex or other low thermal expansion material will not change shape as dramatically during the cool-down period, resulting in more stable images during this period.

Soda-lime plate
Eyepieces

Choose an Orion eyepiece
Resolving power

Resolving power

The theoretical resolving power of a telescope can be calculated with the following formula: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 4.56 divided by aperture of telescope (in inches). In metric units, this is: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 116 divided by aperture of telescope (in millimeters). Note that the formula is independent of the telescope type or model, and is based only upon the aperture of the telescope. So the larger the telescope's aperture, the more it is capable of resolving. This is important to keep in mind when observing astronomical objects which require high resolution for best viewing, such as planets and double stars. However, it is usually atmospheric seeing conditions (not the telescope) which limits the actual resolving power on a given night; rarely is resolution less than one arc-second possible from even the best viewing locations on Earth.

0.57arc*sec
Lowest useful magnification

Lowest useful magnification

Lowest useful magnification is the power at which the exit pupil becomes 7mm in diameter. Powers below this can still be reached with the telescope to give wider fields of view, but the image no longer becomes brighter at a lower power. This is due to the fact that the exit pupil of the telescope (the beam of light exiting the eyepiece) is now larger than the average person's dark adapted pupil, and no more light can fit into the eye.

29x
Highest useful magnification

Highest useful magnification

The highest practical limit is different from the often used "highest theoretical magnification" specification. The "theoretical" limit generally is 50x the aperture of the scope in inches (2x the aperture in mm). So for example, an 80mm refractor is capable of 160x, and a 10" telescope is theoretically capable of 500x magnification. But after approximately 300x, theory breaks down and real world problems take over. The atmosphere above us is constantly in motion, and it will distort the image seen through the telescope. This effect may not be noticeable at lower powers, but at higher powers the atmosphere will dramatically blur the object, reducing the quality of the image. On a good night (a night where the air above is steady and the stars aren't twinkling), the practical upper limit of a large telescope is 300x, even thought the theoretical limit may be much higher. This doesn't mean the scope will never be able to reach those higher "theoretical" powers - there will be that rare night where the atmosphere is perfectly still and the scope can be pushed past it's practical limit, but those nights will be few and far between.

300x
Highest theoretical magnification

406x
Limiting stellar magnitude

Limiting stellar magnitude

The limiting stellar magnitude is a measure of the faintest star you can see through the telescope.

14.2
Optical quality

Optical quality

"Diffraction Limited" means that the limits of image detail are determined by the physical properties of light, and not by optical defects in the telescope.

Diffraction limited
Finder scope

Choose an Orion finder scope
Focuser

Choose an Orion focuser
Secondary mirror obstruction

47mm
Secondary mirror obstruction by diameter

23%
Secondary mirror obstruction by area

5%
Mirror coatings/over-coatings

Aluminum & Silicon Dioxide
Mount type

Dobsonian
Astro-imaging capability

Astro-imaging capability

The astro-photographic capability of the telescope is based on the style, stability, and accuracy of the mount and tripod. Telescopes on either very lightweight mounts or non tracking mounts (such as Dobsonians) are capable of only very short exposures such as lunar photographs. If a motor drive is attached to an equatorial mount, even a small lightweight mount is capable of capturing some planetary detail. Larger EQ mounts that utilize very precise tracking and excellent stability are capable of longer exposure deep-sky photography.

Lunar & planetary
Computerized compatibility

Computerized compatibility

Some mounts are compatible with a motorized Go-To system for fully automated computer finding of objects in the night sky. Others mounts are compatible with computer finding systems which require the user to manually move the mount to the object's position as indicated by the computer finder.

Not compatible
Bearing material

PTFE and UHMW bearings
Tube material

Steel
Tripod material

Wood
Length of optical tube

44.5 in.
Weight, optical tube

18.1 lbs.
Weight, mount/tripod

20.7 lbs.
Weight, fully assembled

38.8 lbs.
Other features

CorrecTension system
Warranty

One year

In the Box

8" Aperture Reflector Telescope Optical Tube Assembly
Collimation cap
Dust cap
2"-to-1.25" eyepiece adapter
Spring coils
Pull loops
Nylon spacers
1/4" washers
Phillips-head screws
Screws with round knob attached
Left panel
Right panel
Front brace
Top base plate
Ground base plate
Base assembly screws
Hex key
Plastic feet
Feet attachment wood screws
Self-adhesive rubber bumper
Large hex-head bolt
3/8" washers
3/8" lock nut
Nylon spacer
T-nut
Handle
Socket-head cap screws
5/16" washers
5/16" nuts
Hex key
Starry Night special edition software

And of course, the focuser, finder scope, eyepieces, and other accessories you choose!

Shipping Info

Orders received by noon Pacific Time for in-stock items ship the same business day. Orders received after noon will ship the next business day. When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available. You have the option in check out to request that your order ship complete, if you'd prefer.

A per-item shipping charge (in addition to the standard shipping and handling charge) applies to this product due to its size and weight. This charge varies based on the shipping method.

Standard Delivery: $0.00
3 Day Delivery: $261.00
2 Day Delivery: $261.00
Next Day Delivery: $338.00

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About Orion Telescopes & Binoculars

Since 1975 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars has been offering telescopes for sale direct to customers, with an unswerving commitment to best quality products, value and unmatched customer care. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee says it all.

Orion offers telescopes for every level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert. From our entry level beginner telescopes for amateur astronomers to our Dobsonian telescopes to our most advanced Cassegrain telescopes and accessories, you can find the best telescope for you. And you'll enjoy discount prices by buying your telescope online, direct from Orion. Not sure how to choose a telescope? Orion's Telescope Buyer's Guide is a great place to start.

Orion binoculars are known for quality optics at a great price. We offer binoculars for every viewing interest, including astronomical binoculars, compact binoculars, waterproof binoculars, birding binoculars, and sport and hunting binoculars.

Orion's telescope and astrophotography accessories will enhance your telescope enjoyment without breaking the bank. Expand your viewing experience with accessories ranging from moon filters to power-boosting Barlow lenses to advanced computerized telescope mounts. Capture breathtaking photos with our affordable astrophotography cameras. And when you're stargazing, Orion's telescope cases and covers, observing gear, red LED flashlights, astronomy books and star charts will make your observing sessions more convenient, comfortable and meaningful.

At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, and reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!

Why Buy From Orion

Intermediate

Step 1: Choose a Finder Scope

Step 2: Choose a Focuser

Step 3: Choose Eyepieces

Step 4: Choose Filters

Step 5: Choose Additional Accessories

User level

Optical design

Optical diameter

Focal length

Focal ratio

Optics type

Glass material

Resolving power

Lowest useful magnification

Highest useful magnification

Limiting stellar magnitude

Optical quality

Astro-imaging capability

Computerized compatibility

Why Buy From Orion

Shop Our Catalogs

About Orion Telescopes & Binoculars

Why Buy From Orion

Intermediate

Step 1: Choose a Finder Scope

Step 2: Choose a Focuser

Step 3: Choose Eyepieces

Step 4: Choose Filters

Step 5: Choose Additional Accessories

User level

Optical design

Optical diameter

Focal length

Focal ratio

Optics type

Glass material

Resolving power

Lowest useful magnification

Highest useful magnification

Limiting stellar magnitude

Optical quality

Astro-imaging capability

Computerized compatibility

Why Buy From Orion

Why Buy From Orion

Shop Our Catalogs

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About Orion Telescopes & Binoculars