Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope Kit
Item #27197
4.9 / 5.0
Free Standard Shipping
$699.99
One of our most popular telescopes, the XT8 kit combines prodigious light grasp, easy navigation, and solid stability. It's a great value that includes a 2x Shorty Barlow, MoonMap, DeepMap, and smartphone adapter, and more!
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This item is on backorder and expected by 05/25/2024.
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  • More Info
    • Simple hands-on, point-and-view navigation without complicating counterweights, gears, clutches, polar alignment, or the need to balance the tube. Easy and fun!
    • Large 8"-diameter parabolic mirror excels for deep-sky viewing of nebulas, galaxies, and star clusters, and serves up jaw-dropping views of the planets and Moon
    • Features a precision 2" Crayford focuser with 1.25" adapter, allowing use of 1.25" eyepieces or optional 2" eyepieces
    • Stable Dobsonian base provides vibration-free images even when viewing at a high powers, and features smooth motions to make manual tracking of celestial objects a breeze
    • This kit includes some excellent value-added accessories to enhance your experience: Orion Shorty 2x Barlow (for double the magnification), Orion's MoonMap 260, DeepMap 600, and Telescope Observer's Guide, a RedBeam Mini flashlight, and a smartphone photo adapter for taking pictures through the telescope's eyepiece

    The Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope Kit will open up the night sky for you and your entire family to discover. With excellent light grasp, point-and-view ease of use, and an array of super helpful included accessories, the SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope Kit is truly one of the best telescope values on the market today.

    The XT8's big 8" (205mm) parabolic primary mirror collects 78% more light than a 6" mirror, so you get a significant increase in ability to discern 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 1219mm focal length (f/5.9) XT8 mirror delivers clear and crisp views at moderate to high magnifications on clear nights with good seeing conditions. The Moon and planets of our solar system like Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars shine brightly in the SkyQuest XT8 Classic Telescope, allowing you to inspect them in wonderful detail.

    The SkyQuest XT8 telescope features a 2" Crayford focuser equipped with a removable 2"-to-1.25" step-down adapter. So the focuser can accommodate use of 1.25" eyepieces such as the 25mm Plossl that comes with the telescope, and optional 2" oculars, which often allow for a wider apparent field of view than corresponding 1.25" eyepieces. The 25mm Plossl eyepiece provides 49x magnifying power. Of course, eyepieces of other focal lengths can be purchased to provide higher or lower magnifications.

    Classic Dobsonian Comparison Chart

    The XT8's 45"-long enameled steel optical tube glides with silky smoothness on the sturdy Dobsonian base. You just grasp the front of the tube and point it toward your target using simple up-down and left-right motions. The "red dot" (LED) finder scope makes it easy to find your target object and center it in the telescope's eyepiece. There are no complicating counterweights, gears, clutches, or polar alignment to fuss with.

    To set up the SkyQuest XT8 Classic telescope, you just lift the optical tube and set it in the base's cradle (one-time base assembly required), then connect the CorrecTension springs. Done. To transport the telescope, just unhook the springs from the base, lift the telescope tube off, and carry the base and tube separately. The base even has a convenient carry handle.

    The extra accessories in this value-packed telescope kit will enhance your stargazing experiences.

    Double the magnifying power of any 1.25" eyepiece with the Shorty 2x Barlow.

    The included Orion Shorty 2x Barlow Lens doubles the magnifying power of any 1.25" eyepiece. Using the Orion Shorty 1.25" 2x Barlow Lens is easy. Simply insert the Shorty 2x Barlow into your telescope's focuser or diagonal, and then insert any 1.25" eyepiece into the Orion Shorty, gently securing it in place with the two thumbscrews. Then, adjust the telescope's focus wheels to enjoy double the magnification of the eyepiece used.

    Explore the Moon's cratered surface with the help of the MoonMap 260.

    The included Orion MoonMap 260 will help the whole family learn the names and locations of more than 260 craters, mountains, valleys, "seas" and other interesting lunar features you can explore with your telescope. Use the MoonMap 260 to identify craters you've observed, or use it before you go out with a telescope to plan a night full of Moon-watching family fun.

    Deep Map

    Begin your night sky explorations with the included DeepMap 600.

    Full-color star map of the night sky with clearly indicated positions of 600 of the finest celestial objects to view. Star chart conveniently folds up just like a road map for easy storage and transport. Orion DeepMap 600 shows the night sky from declination +90-deg to -60-deg. Back of chart lists essential data for all 600 objects of interest, including a brief visual description of each object - an ideal reference for beginners and advanced observers alike! Printed on dew-proof plastic for durability in the field, even in damp conditions.

    star target

    Learn "What's Up" on any night with the Orion Star Target Planisphere.

    This handy star wheel makes it easy to see "what's up" in the night sky any night of the year. Dial in your local date and time and it shows you the locations of the constellations and deep-sky objects in the night sky. Use it to plan a stargazing session, or see what time of year your favorite constellation will be visible. Designed for use in 30°-50° latitudes.

    OTOG book

    Read the included Orion Telescope Observer's Guide and start exploring

    This 174-page guide for new telescope users will help you find, learn about, and view a variety of celestial objects. With a full page of information dedicated to each one, author Richard J. Bartlett leads you on a detailed tour of the night sky as he describes over 60 fascinating astronomical denizens that can easily be seen with a small telescope.

    Use the RedBeam Mini LED flashlight to see in the dark without disrupting dark-adapted vision.

    You don't need a big flashlight to read star maps or see inside your accessory case at night. The included 2.5" — long Orion RedBeam Mini Flashlight does the job perfectly, emitting night-vision friendly red LED light. Red light won't disrupt your eyes' dark-adapted vision, so this flashlight lets you check charts and accessories while keeping your eyes primed for viewing celestial gems through the SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope. Includes batteries and a handy key-ring.

    Cell Phone Adapter

    Take smartphone pictures of the view through your telescope with this Smartphone Telescope adapter.

    Adjustable smartphone holder clamps onto the telescope's eyepiece, allowing you to take shake-free, well-focused, high-power photos of celestial objects. Sure beats trying to steadily hand-hold your phone over the eyepiece — frustrating! You'll get lots of "keepers" with this smartphone photo adapter.

    A great telescope with the optical strength to please serious beginners and veteran skygazers alike, the Orion SkyQuest XT8 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 800-447-1001.

    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:
      Beginner
    • Optical design:
      Reflector
    • Front-end outside tube diameter:
      10.15 in.
    • Optical diameter:
      205mm
    • Focal length:
      1219mm
    • Focal ratio:
      f/5.9
    • Optics type:
      Parabolic
    • Glass material:
      Soda-lime plate
    • Eyepieces:
      Plossl 25.0mm (1.25")
    • Magnification with included eyepieces:
      49x
    • Resolving power:
      0.56arc*sec
    • Lowest useful magnification:
      29x
    • Highest useful magnification:
      300x
    • Highest theoretical magnification:
      300x
    • Limiting stellar magnitude:
      14.0
    • Optical quality:
      Diffraction limited
    • Finder scope:
      Reflex sight
    • Focuser:
      2" Crayford
    • Secondary mirror obstruction:
      46mm
    • Secondary mirror obstruction by diameter:
      22%
    • Secondary mirror obstruction by area:
      5%
    • Mirror coatings/over-coatings:
      Aluminum & Silicon Dioxide
    • Mount type:
      Dobsonian
    • Astro-imaging capability:
      Simple moon shots
    • Computerized compatibility:
      Not compatible
    • Bearing material:
      PTFE and UHMW bearings
    • Tube material:
      Steel
    • Tripod material:
      Wood
    • Length of optical tube:
      45.5 in.
    • Weight, optical tube:
      19.6 lbs.
    • Weight, mount/tripod:
      18.7 lbs.
    • Weight, fully assembled:
      39.1 lbs.
    • Focuser height at zenith:
      45 in.
    • Additional included accessories:
      Shorty 2x Barlow, MoonMap 260, DeepMap 600, RedBeam Mini LED flashlight, Observer's Guide, Smartphone photo adapter
    • Other features:
      CorrecTension tube balance system, Carry handle on base, Center mark on primary mirror for collimation
    • Warranty:
      One year
  • In The Box

    Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Reflector Telescope Optical Tube Assembly
    25mm Orion Sirius Plossl telescope eyepiece (1.25")
    EZ Finder II reflex sight
    Collimation cap
    Dust cap
    2" Crayford-style focuser
    2"-to-1.25" telescope 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
    Orion Shorty 2x Barlow Lens, 1.25"
    Orion Star Target planisphere
    Orion MoonMap 260
    Orion Telescope Observer's Guide book
    Orion RedBeam Mini LED keychain flashlight

  • Important Shipping Information

    Orders received by 1pm Eastern Standard Time for in-stock items ship the same business day. Order 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
    Standard Delivery to Canada: $40.00
    3 Day Delivery: $194.00
    2 Day Delivery: $194.00
    Next Day Delivery: $240.00

    SHIPPING RESTRICTIONS APPLY FOR THIS PRODUCT

    This product is available to ship Standard delivery within the 50 US states and US territories/protectorates address. Delivery is not available to APO/DPO/FPO addresses . Delivery is available to Canada.

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