Trying to decide between the Nexstar SE 6 or 8
Question:
Trying to decide between the Nexstar SE 6 or 8? Recommendations for accessories as well. Live in small community — rural area. 4 kids ages 8 – 18. Thanks….. Robert
Answer:
Both are kid-compatible because you can adjust the eyepiece low enough for seated viewing, even for kids.
Differences:
The light gathering of the 8″ is 78% larger than the 6″, which means nothing on the Moon and planets. But it means everything for other deep-sky objects (of which there are 14,000 in the memory), which are fairly faint. An 8″ can show you a lot more than a 6″ in the sky. Weight difference is 26# vs. 32#, not consequential for an adult. All the accessories that work on the 6″ work on the 8″. The 8″ wiggles a little more (higher center of gravity), but this is not severe in visual use. Neither scope is a photographic instrument. Other than a quick snapshot of the Moon through the eyepiece, I would recommend Celestron’s 6″ or 8″ on an Advanced Series GoTo mount if photography was a critical factor. But, those scopes are 50# and 56# respectively, so substantially heavier. I don’t know where you live, but chances are darker skies are a little drive away. Both the 8″ and 6″ SE can EASILY be transported to a darker site. Accessories may be important, so I’m attaching a list of the most popular accessories with telescopes. If that matters for your budget, take them into account.
Don
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