I just received mine! I’m super excited! Words can’t describe! My first scope! Psalms 19:1 NIV The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Didn't realize my finder piece was on backwards and clearly not aligned. Looking forward to taking it out again now that I watched this video. I was having difficulties. Lol thanks so much!
This is my first scope and I love it! Lots of bang for your buck. I can see various planets and the Orion Nebula from my front yard. Not only do I live in a highly light-polluted area, but there's a street light RIGHT in front of my house, so I'd say that's pretty darn good. In darker skies, I can see the Ring Nebula, Bode's Galaxy, Cigar Galaxy... Awesome scope, I highly recommend it. :)
I love my XT8 Great views when conditions are good. Did some mods on the base to make it smoother. Getting perfect collimation does take some learning and time, it that way with any 'scope. Made a tube extension out of beer case boxes really helped contrast. Great 'scope at a great price.
I have the exact same telescope but with an Orion Shorty 1.25” (31mm) lens so can I see planets with that or do I need a higher power lens for more detail?
Hi Cookie, Yes, the moon filter would work on any solar system object. It's mostly meant to cut the bright light coming through when looking at the moon, and Jupiter is much dimmer than the moon, so I'd say the only reason to use it on Jupiter is if you feel the glare is too high for yourself. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
Feel like something's wrong with mine, couldn't get it to focus on anything in a daytime for alignment I literally aligned to finder scope on Jupiter, I have a culmination laser and no matter how gently I move it around it doesn't seem to be culminated the same two times in a row, The mirror is dirty I purchased it used but I've been told that doesn't affect it much. Maybe I need some help from Orion.
Is there a specific way to insert the eyepieces? I am having trouble with my eye-relief, where I have to move my head around quite a bit to find my picture, and it is extremely difficult to keep it a round clear picture - it often gets blacked out and off-center and i can't see anything through it. I'm just inserting the eyepieces into the slot and tightening the lock-downs, but not doing it in any way to make the lens centered or anything
Hi Jason, Not really - just insert the eyepiece fully into the focuser and tighten the setscrew. I think what's happening is that you're having a hard time keeping you eye exactly centered over the beam of light coming out of the eyepiece. It takes a little practice, because the beam of light is fairly narrow, and your pupil is only 7mm diameter at most. So you have to hold your head steady to within 7mm of the eyepiece center. It might help to use the edge of the eyepiece as a brace against your eyebrow - try resting your eyebrow or the socket of your eye against it, to help brace and hold your head steady. I think you'll find that with a little practice it will become easier to hold your eye directly over the beam of light coming out of the scope. Thanks! -Ken Orion Telescopes
The XT 4.5 had the standard dovetail base so our finders should fit without an issue. You can use something like our EZ Finder here: bit.ly/3LbNHOo If you have more questions or want to discuss other finder scopes, call us at 800-447-1001 or email us at orders@telescope.com.
My wife just got me a XT8 Classic and it's a lot of fun. I would like to get additional eye pieces and filters, the problem is I really don't know what I should get to cover all my bases - moon, planets deep space, sun, etc. Also I see a huge range of prices. What would be a good set of 4 or 5 lenses to look at in terms of size (5, 10, 25, 40, etc)? Also price, I also see a wide range of pricing, I would also like to see recommendations in terms of the various prices and what I get as prices go up? Along the same line of thinking, how about filters? Thanks
Hi Dave. One great way to quickly add several great accessories for your telescope is to check out an accessory kit. We have this kit which includes a few eyepieces of various magnifications, a barlow lens (for added high power) and a whole set of planetary filters with an added moon filter: bit.ly/2LqULJg If you'd like to discuss individual items and pricing, call or email us and our experts will be happy to provide more info! Phone: 1-800-447-1001 Email: sales@telescope.com Live Chat: www.telescope.com
My XT8 + come with a 2" accessory collar and a 2" extension adapter. when is the right time to use the 2" adapter? it seems to me that all the other accessories fit into the collar. I'm trying to figure out what situation is best. should i always leave one in place?
Man, I have so many questions. I want to have one of these, but I also want to be able to take photos. I have a Lumix camera with an Mft mount. I read on the internet that you can't expose for so long because the earth is moving or rotating. I have no idea what I should buy, what costs about as much as this and where I can take long exposures with my camera? I have a lens with an f 1.6, but it has a fixed focal length and with a telescope it would be so nice. I want to have the same magnification of the objects as with the Orion xt8. sorry for my bad english at this point
Typical Dobsonian telescopes aren't ideal for long exposure photography because they don't account for field rotation. We encourage you to contact one of our knowledgeable sales representatives to talk about some great options to accommodate your goals. Contact us Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm pacific time at 1-800-447-1001 or by email at sales@telescope.com.
Hello Ken. I purchased my XT8 in the beginning of January. I've had the opportunity to see the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and I had a glimpse of the Andromeda Galaxy. I was blown away with how much detail I was able to see, especially with the bigger planets. I purchased the Orion 1.25in accessory kit from Amazon which came with 4 filters, 20mm lens, 7.5mm lens, and a barlow. Now I was wondering if you could recommend any other quality pieces as I have read that certain lenses provide better views because of the added coating. Two particular lenses that I am considering are a 1.25' Pentax XF 8.5mm and the 1.25' Orion Expanse 9mm lens. I'm also interested to know if you have any products that allow me to mount a handheld camera to the lens. I've taken some incredible pictures using my phone but was wondering if there were any kind of mounting brackets for this particular scope. I'm new to this hobby, so I'm learning as I go. Thank you for these informative videos. They are structured nicely for a beginner like myself. I also wanted to add that the Orion Starry Night software that comes with the XT8 has been extremely useful in finding objects in the sky. Would love to see a tutorial on how to best use it.
I was interested in the xt8.. Although the gentleman I talked to at the store made me feel if I got it I would be throwing away my money.. Any advice for someone interested in this model? Thanks
+Rocco Gargano, Well I'm new to the hobby as I mentioned and this is my first decent scope. I did a lot of research at the time of my purchase (about a year ago) and I concluded that there was nothing close to the XT8 in terms of price and power. I honestly don't know if that arguement still holds up today. I'm extremely satisified with the results I've had although my expectations for taking decent photos through the lense was a bit unrealistic for objects other than the moon. My neighbours, family, and friends have been in total awe at views of the planets we've seen. I would recommend looking into a decent lense other than the 25mm provided with the XT8. Unlocking this telescopes full potential comes down to three things: viewing conditions, knowing where to look (the starry night software that comes with it is fantastic even for a rookie like myself), and a good lense. Hope that helps
+Rocco Gargano Well, I'm not exactly sure what the conversation entailed, but I would never consider buying an XT-8 as "throwing away your money". 8" is an excellent size for lunar, planetary, and all sorts of fainter deep-sky objects. If you're unsure of what the views will be like, do an internet search for astronomy clubs in your area, and go to a star party. I guarantee you, there will be lots of 8" telescopes in use, because it's such a popular size (which should also tell you something about it not being a waste of money). Thanks! -Ken Orion Telescopes
+oriontelescopes I am trying to sell my starblast 6 I got this past christmas to upgrade to the xt8 because I want to be able to use 2 inch eyepieces and I want a little bit better views of deep sky objects. Is there a pretty noticeable difference between a 6 and 8 inch aperture?
I bought my Orion X8 in 1998 as a tool to learn the sky by doing. I am glad I did not buy something with automatic location as I learned to find the constellations, major stars and many of the Messier objects and can still find my way around the sky to them. The telescope itself is simple to use and collimate and I have always been satisfied with the views it provided for the cost, compared to the thousands of dollars spent by members of my astronomy club for similar results.
Hello from Australia! Thanks for this great video! After some extensive research I am finally getting one in two days however not the XT8 version! Can't wait to use this telescope :) By the way, what is the main difference between the XT8 and the normal one? The only thing different is the stand?
I love the XT8! I love Orion in general. I wish they could open a store here in Australia at some point!. After fumbling between getting an 8 or 10 inch scope, I finally settled with the 10!. I don't think there is much difference in the XT8 and Skywatcher/Saxon scopes. Its only just the colour and the base. Speaking of colour I wish scopes here came in a variety of colours like Orion does for their scopes. Im actually thinking of painting my scope lol.
They make filters specifically for that application, they aren't super cheap but I'd spend the money. They easily screw onto the front of the telescope.
what if your really short and have to aim high with the scope.... how would a person have to reach the eye piece to view without straining their neck? or have a camera mounted but can't see the screen...can the scope be rotated around to more of a side mount than on top.?
+Moved Page under another account Hi Moved, I don't think you'd have a problem with this style scope. You don't look through the top of it, you look through the side of it. If you look in the above video, at the beginning I'm standing up next to it. The eyepiece is at my waist level when aimed at a 45-degree angle upwards. When aimed straight up, the eyepiece reaches 3 feet, 10 inches off the ground. This type of telescope is used most comfortably when you're sitting in a chair or stool next to the eyepiece. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
oriontelescopes lol that's what I meant... the side piece. On my Lil bitty scope it let's me spin the tube. I use a homemade mount I learned to create from TH-cam. . I'm wanting to use my Nikon camera.
Question.. Whenever I focus in and it's ends up flush I have trouble when i turn in the other direction without having to help by lifting or pulling up gently while turning the focusing wheel.. I hope that makes sense. Basically said .. What do I do when it sticks and I have to pull up gently for it to catch?
Hi Rocco, If you have the same focuser that comes with this telescope, the crayford unit, I suspect one of two things - its more likely that the focuser has been damaged by focusing down to the end of travel, and then continuing to turn the knob. This can cause a small "groove" to form in the flat, and when trying to reverse direction to get out of the grove, the bearing is slipping because it's not making full contact with the drawtube. The other possibility is that the focuser just needs a little adjustment, but if it only happens in that one spot, it may not be an adjustment issue. But try tightening the central allen setscrew, just below the focus lock thumb knob. TIghten it a very small amount, just a fraction of a turn and then test. If you tighten too much, the focuser won't work smoothly. If it has been damaged, you can send it in to our repair center for evaluation. Call us at 800-676-1343 and we can help diagnose further. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
Hi Smiley, The 8" diameter pulls in 77% more light than the 6", so the biggest difference you'll notice is when looking at fainter objects. They will appear more detailed in the eyepiece. Otherwise the telescopes work exactly the same, other than a slightly higher weight for the 8" version. Thanks! -Ken Orion Telescopes
Hi DJ - no, the Classic models cannot be upgraded with GoTo functionality. The Dob bases have different designs between the 2 models. You can view our GoTo series on our website here: bit.ly/31hnGDA
Thats only half a magnitude of brightness. It will be barely be noticable. To see a true mag jump you always pick 4 inches more (in this case an 8 and a 12 inch)
Hi Cookie, The entire scope weighs 41lbs, evenly split between the base and the tube. So in two pieces, it's quite manageable as you are only lifting 20 lbs. If the telescope is in stock, it will either ship out the same day you order (assuming you order in the morning), or the next day at latest. Thanks! -Ken Orion Telescopes
Hi StoneColdGaming, At highest, the eyepiece will be at about 3'10". It's best to be sitting in a stool or chair when viewing through a dobsonian, because the eyepiece will always be at a comfortable height without needing to bend over. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
It's very important to use a properly fitted solar filter to view the sun, without a full aperture solar filter permanent eye damage can occur. With a solar filter, the same eyepieces used for observing at night can be used.
Hi FrenzySnipez, The download card that was included with the telescope installs StarryNight Planetarium software, and that's a good starting point for finding some of the showpiece deep-sky objects. Getting a good star chart such as the #4150 DeepMap 600, or a book like #51315 Turn Left at Orion are also great ways to do it and give you even more resolution. This method of finding objects is called star-hopping, where you connect the dots of easy to see naked eye stars to trace a path to an object you want to see. Thanks! -Ken Orion Telescopes
Hi FrenzySnipez, Any telescope can be put in an observatory, but since you are going to the trouble to build one, you might as well go big. The idea for an observatory is that you don't have to constantly set up and break down the scope each night. So either a very large dob, so anything mounted on one of the bigger EQ mounts such as the Atlas or HDX would work great. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
Hi ken big fan of your videos!! After talking with an Orion employee on the site chat, they kind of leaned me away from the xt8. I have the starblast 6 and they told me the 8 inch was not really a big difference vs what I had. I mainly am upgrading for the deep sky objects and to be able to see the more distant planets like uranus and neptune. Is that true about it not being much of an upgrade? She also told me it only is about 40% brighter than the 6 and I could have sworn on your videos you said 77% more.
+IVIajorJacobs Hi IVIajor, Yes, it's a pretty big upgrade in terms of light grasp. And it is a 77% brighter image, so I'm sure how they came up with 40%, sorry about that! It's the area of the mirror that determines the light, and the formula is simple: Larger aperture divided by smaller aperture, and then square that number for the light grasp difference. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
You can view the XT8 as a much larger version of the StarBlast 4.5 Astro. There are some differences of course, but in general, the XT8 is a larger 8 inch reflector on a Dob style mount. This larger aperture is means the XT8 is more capable of viewing deeper sky objects over the 4.5 inch. However, the StarBlast 4.5 provides its own great views and it's much smaller which makes it more portable for some people. There are several important factors that would make one telescope a better choice over another. If you would like to discuss these telescopes or others, please contact us one of the following ways: Phone: 1-800-447-1001 Email: sales@telescope.com Live Chat: www.telescope.com
I went to a store in Maryland an asked about this telescope and gentleman said I should not buy the xt8 .. He insisted I buy the 10. Could someone please help me out.. This would be my second scope..the first being total trash. What would be legitimate expectations with the xt8? Thanks for any response.
You will certainly see a little more detail with the 10 over the 8 especially on the more distant objects. Ive seen the andromeda galaxy and it looks like a bright yellow cluster, hardly able to make out any detail. With the 10 Ive read that people can make out a little more colour and slighlty better detail overall. Just keep in mind the 10 is a big scope and mobility wise it isnt as easy to move around. I can pick up the xt8 with it still mounted on its base.
+Rocco Gargano Hi Rocco, There's lots to see in the deep-sky with with an 8", so you definitely won't be wasting your money buying an 8". The 10" pulls in 56% more light than the 8", so the deep-sky views will be even better, but the 10" is around 20 lbs heavier than the 8", so it's all up to you how much you want to transport around. My rule of thumb is to buy as big as you are comfortable carrying, because if the bigger one is too hard to carry out on any given night, and it sits in the closet more often, what good will it do you? Sure, the 10" will give you better views, I cannot argue with that, but think about how much you will be lifting. Thanks! -Ken Orion Telescopes
+oriontelescopes thanks so much for your advice !! My family is very excited about getting started.. So am I .. Ive wanted so badly to just go out and grab the first scope that looks good and in my price range.. The cool thing is by waiting,researching and using my naked eye to get familiar with some beautiful things in the night sky I know I am hooked on keeping my head up.. Thanks again!!
I have this exact setup and when looking at Venus last night, saw barely more than a dot... Let alone the moons of Jupiter. Everyone else says they're blown away by the detail, what am I missing?
Hi Pete, it also depends on what eyepieces are being used. For planets you'll want to start with a lower power eyepiece and then switch to something that would provide you with a higher magnification. Venus can be a tricky one sometimes and it's best to first practice on something easier like the moon to get a sense of the differences between lower and higher powered eyepieces. Give our Customer Service folks a call if you have any questions and they can offer some more assistance too: Phone: 1-800-447-1001 Email: sales@telescope.com Live Chat: www.telescope.com
+wolfgang15425 Yes it's a great telescope for people starting out. There's a really good video on the Orion website showing how to collimate a reflector like this: www.telescope.com/How-To-Collimate-an-Orion-Reflector-Telescope/p/99861.uts?keyword=collimate
Hello Ken and Orion staff! I have a question. How long would it be before i must collomate ( I hope I spelled that right, sorry!) the mirrors again on my XT8? Also, GREAT products and video. Clear skies to you too!
Hi Creeper, There's really no set time as it depends on how roughly the telescope is handled. If you've aligned it and you are just walking it in and out from the backyard, as long as you don't bang it on the doorway, you probably won't have to align it. But putting it in the car and driving to a darker location, the scope can get bumped out of alignment going over the dirt roads. It's a good policy to check the alignment before every viewing session, but I think you'll find in the backyard that you'll have to collimate very infrequently, and just a small tweak when it does need a little alignment. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
Hi Tom Yes, there is no limit and the base will spin a full 360 degrees in the azimuth (left/right) directions. In Altitude, it will go from 90 degrees straight up, all the way down to slightly below horizontal. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
I am so frustrated. I purchased a Sky Quest X8T. The stars just look a little bigger than normal. I still haven’t been able to see any Galaxies or Nebulae. By the time it’s dark in my neighborhood all the Planets are on the other side of the world. What am I doing wrong? These are the lenses I have: Telescopes eye pieces Orion Deep View 28mm Multicoated Orion Shorty 2x Barlow Multicoated Celestron PL 9.7mm Celestron Omni 2x Barlow Lens Fully Multicoated Orion Sirius Plosel 10mm Multicoated
Guys, I really appreciate the videos and I'm a big fan of Orion, but please the video quality is abysmal I try not to look at them and instead listen to audio. Perhaps it's time you guys moved to an HD camera. (unless of course these videos are being uploaded from an archive predating HD)
I just received mine! I’m super excited! Words can’t describe! My first scope!
Psalms 19:1 NIV
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Didn't realize my finder piece was on backwards and clearly not aligned. Looking forward to taking it out again now that I watched this video. I was having difficulties. Lol thanks so much!
Lol
This is my first scope and I love it! Lots of bang for your buck. I can see various planets and the Orion Nebula from my front yard. Not only do I live in a highly light-polluted area, but there's a street light RIGHT in front of my house, so I'd say that's pretty darn good. In darker skies, I can see the Ring Nebula, Bode's Galaxy, Cigar Galaxy... Awesome scope, I highly recommend it. :)
Ì have owned several Orion Telescope s every one was will made. They I have this same 8 Dobson. For about 10 years now it still preforms well
Can you guys get rid of the crappy plastic focusers? Please?
Is it possible to put a dobsonian this size on an equatorial mount?
Yes I use it on my Meade lx 85 goto mount just fine
so will everything you see with this be upside down?
Late late but only during the day
This man’s voice is like butter. 🧈
I love my XT8 Great views when conditions are good. Did some mods on the base to make it smoother. Getting perfect collimation does take some learning and time, it that way with any 'scope. Made a tube extension out of beer case boxes really helped contrast. Great 'scope at a great price.
I have the exact same telescope but with an Orion Shorty 1.25” (31mm) lens so can I see planets with that or do I need a higher power lens for more detail?
Does the moonfilter work for other planets as well? Jupiter for example.
Hi Cookie,
Yes, the moon filter would work on any solar system object. It's mostly meant to cut the bright light coming through when looking at the moon, and Jupiter is much dimmer than the moon, so I'd say the only reason to use it on Jupiter is if you feel the glare is too high for yourself.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
It works when trying to take pictures of the planets with a cellphone and the smartphone adapter
Feel like something's wrong with mine, couldn't get it to focus on anything in a daytime for alignment I literally aligned to finder scope on Jupiter, I have a culmination laser and no matter how gently I move it around it doesn't seem to be culminated the same two times in a row, The mirror is dirty I purchased it used but I've been told that doesn't affect it much. Maybe I need some help from Orion.
We would be happy to assist. You can call email us at support@telescope.com or call us if you're in the US at 1-800-447-1001.
Is there a specific way to insert the eyepieces? I am having trouble with my eye-relief, where I have to move my head around quite a bit to find my picture, and it is extremely difficult to keep it a round clear picture - it often gets blacked out and off-center and i can't see anything through it. I'm just inserting the eyepieces into the slot and tightening the lock-downs, but not doing it in any way to make the lens centered or anything
Hi Jason,
Not really - just insert the eyepiece fully into the focuser and tighten the setscrew.
I think what's happening is that you're having a hard time keeping you eye exactly centered over the beam of light coming out of the eyepiece. It takes a little practice, because the beam of light is fairly narrow, and your pupil is only 7mm diameter at most. So you have to hold your head steady to within 7mm of the eyepiece center.
It might help to use the edge of the eyepiece as a brace against your eyebrow - try resting your eyebrow or the socket of your eye against it, to help brace and hold your head steady. I think you'll find that with a little practice it will become easier to hold your eye directly over the beam of light coming out of the scope.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Can anyone tell me if finder scopes are universal? We have the Orion skyquest xt4.5 but missing the finder scope. Not sure where to buy another one
The XT 4.5 had the standard dovetail base so our finders should fit without an issue. You can use something like our EZ Finder here: bit.ly/3LbNHOo
If you have more questions or want to discuss other finder scopes, call us at 800-447-1001 or email us at orders@telescope.com.
Upload new more video's of 8inches dob telescope
My wife just got me a XT8 Classic and it's a lot of fun. I would like to get additional eye pieces and filters, the problem is I really don't know what I should get to cover all my bases - moon, planets deep space, sun, etc. Also I see a huge range of prices.
What would be a good set of 4 or 5 lenses to look at in terms of size (5, 10, 25, 40, etc)?
Also price, I also see a wide range of pricing, I would also like to see recommendations in terms of the various prices and what I get as prices go up?
Along the same line of thinking, how about filters?
Thanks
Hi Dave. One great way to quickly add several great accessories for your telescope is to check out an accessory kit. We have this kit which includes a few eyepieces of various magnifications, a barlow lens (for added high power) and a whole set of planetary filters with an added moon filter:
bit.ly/2LqULJg
If you'd like to discuss individual items and pricing, call or email us and our experts will be happy to provide more info!
Phone: 1-800-447-1001
Email: sales@telescope.com
Live Chat: www.telescope.com
My XT8 + come with a 2" accessory collar and a 2" extension adapter. when is the right time to use the 2" adapter? it seems to me that all the other accessories fit into the collar. I'm trying to figure out what situation is best. should i always leave one in place?
Hello, would it be possible to view Uranus with the XT8? Would a higher powered eyepiece make this more possible? Thanks. Very informative video.
What happens if there is no red dot being displayed in the EZ finder 2?
Man, I have so many questions. I want to have one of these, but I also want to be able to take photos. I have a Lumix camera with an Mft mount. I read on the internet that you can't expose for so long because the earth is moving or rotating.
I have no idea what I should buy, what costs about as much as this and where I can take long exposures with my camera? I have a lens with an f 1.6, but it has a fixed focal length and with a telescope it would be so nice. I want to have the same magnification of the objects as with the Orion xt8.
sorry for my bad english at this point
Typical Dobsonian telescopes aren't ideal for long exposure photography because they don't account for field rotation. We encourage you to contact one of our knowledgeable sales representatives to talk about some great options to accommodate your goals. Contact us Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm pacific time at 1-800-447-1001 or by email at sales@telescope.com.
Hello Ken. I purchased my XT8 in the beginning of January. I've had the opportunity to see the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and I had a glimpse of the Andromeda Galaxy. I was blown away with how much detail I was able to see, especially with the bigger planets. I purchased the Orion 1.25in accessory kit from Amazon which came with 4 filters, 20mm lens, 7.5mm lens, and a barlow. Now I was wondering if you could recommend any other quality pieces as I have read that certain lenses provide better views because of the added coating. Two particular lenses that I am considering are a 1.25' Pentax XF 8.5mm and the 1.25' Orion Expanse 9mm lens. I'm also interested to know if you have any products that allow me to mount a handheld camera to the lens. I've taken some incredible pictures using my phone but was wondering if there were any kind of mounting brackets for this particular scope. I'm new to this hobby, so I'm learning as I go. Thank you for these informative videos. They are structured nicely for a beginner like myself. I also wanted to add that the Orion Starry Night software that comes with the XT8 has been extremely useful in finding objects in the sky. Would love to see a tutorial on how to best use it.
I was interested in the xt8.. Although the gentleman I talked to at the store made me feel if I got it I would be throwing away my money.. Any advice for someone interested in this model? Thanks
+Rocco Gargano, Well I'm new to the hobby as I mentioned and this is my first decent scope. I did a lot of research at the time of my purchase (about a year ago) and I concluded that there was nothing close to the XT8 in terms of price and power. I honestly don't know if that arguement still holds up today. I'm extremely satisified with the results I've had although my expectations for taking decent photos through the lense was a bit unrealistic for objects other than the moon. My neighbours, family, and friends have been in total awe at views of the planets we've seen. I would recommend looking into a decent lense other than the 25mm provided with the XT8. Unlocking this telescopes full potential comes down to three things: viewing conditions, knowing where to look (the starry night software that comes with it is fantastic even for a rookie like myself), and a good lense. Hope that helps
+Rocco Gargano
Well, I'm not exactly sure what the conversation entailed, but I would never consider buying an XT-8 as "throwing away your money". 8" is an excellent size for lunar, planetary, and all sorts of fainter deep-sky objects. If you're unsure of what the views will be like, do an internet search for astronomy clubs in your area, and go to a star party. I guarantee you, there will be lots of 8" telescopes in use, because it's such a popular size (which should also tell you something about it not being a waste of money).
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
+oriontelescopes I am trying to sell my starblast 6 I got this past christmas to upgrade to the xt8 because I want to be able to use 2 inch eyepieces and I want a little bit better views of deep sky objects. Is there a pretty noticeable difference between a 6 and 8 inch aperture?
I bought my Orion X8 in 1998 as a tool to learn the sky by doing. I am glad I did not buy something with automatic location as I learned to find the constellations, major stars and many of the Messier objects and can still find my way around the sky to them. The telescope itself is simple to use and collimate and I have always been satisfied with the views it provided for the cost, compared to the thousands of dollars spent by members of my astronomy club for similar results.
When I look at somehing, my view is reversed because of the mirror system, is there a way to change this?
I don't think so. just the disadvantage of mirrors. But maybe there is some sort of lense that flips the image back around
use a star diagnol
Hello from Australia! Thanks for this great video! After some extensive research I am finally getting one in two days however not the XT8 version! Can't wait to use this telescope :)
By the way, what is the main difference between the XT8 and the normal one? The only thing different is the stand?
I love the XT8! I love Orion in general. I wish they could open a store here in Australia at some point!.
After fumbling between getting an 8 or 10 inch scope, I finally settled with the 10!.
I don't think there is much difference in the XT8 and Skywatcher/Saxon scopes. Its only just the colour and the base.
Speaking of colour I wish scopes here came in a variety of colours like Orion does for their scopes.
Im actually thinking of painting my scope lol.
Ivan N. Hey man. Where did you order it from? I'm in Oz but I can't get Orion products anywhere, even online.
I am from India , How can i buy orion xt8 classic dob telescope.
Can you use a welders shield to look at the sun or will it hurt the scope?
They make filters specifically for that application, they aren't super cheap but I'd spend the money. They easily screw onto the front of the telescope.
what if your really short and have to aim high with the scope.... how would a person have to reach the eye piece to view without straining their neck? or have a camera mounted but can't see the screen...can the scope be rotated around to more of a side mount than on top.?
+Moved Page under another account
Hi Moved,
I don't think you'd have a problem with this style scope. You don't look through the top of it, you look through the side of it. If you look in the above video, at the beginning I'm standing up next to it. The eyepiece is at my waist level when aimed at a 45-degree angle upwards.
When aimed straight up, the eyepiece reaches 3 feet, 10 inches off the ground. This type of telescope is used most comfortably when you're sitting in a chair or stool next to the eyepiece.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
oriontelescopes lol that's what I meant... the side piece. On my Lil bitty scope it let's me spin the tube. I use a homemade mount I learned to create from TH-cam. . I'm wanting to use my Nikon camera.
Oh I'm sold on this telescope! ! I'm just making preparation before I get it.
Question.. Whenever I focus in and it's ends up flush I have trouble when i turn in the other direction without having to help by lifting or pulling up gently while turning the focusing wheel.. I hope that makes sense. Basically said .. What do I do when it sticks and I have to pull up gently for it to catch?
Hi Rocco,
If you have the same focuser that comes with this telescope, the crayford unit, I suspect one of two things - its more likely that the focuser has been damaged by focusing down to the end of travel, and then continuing to turn the knob. This can cause a small "groove" to form in the flat, and when trying to reverse direction to get out of the grove, the bearing is slipping because it's not making full contact with the drawtube.
The other possibility is that the focuser just needs a little adjustment, but if it only happens in that one spot, it may not be an adjustment issue. But try tightening the central allen setscrew, just below the focus lock thumb knob. TIghten it a very small amount, just a fraction of a turn and then test. If you tighten too much, the focuser won't work smoothly.
If it has been damaged, you can send it in to our repair center for evaluation. Call us at 800-676-1343 and we can help diagnose further.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
What's the difference between the xt6 and xt8?
Hi Smiley,
The 8" diameter pulls in 77% more light than the 6", so the biggest difference you'll notice is when looking at fainter objects. They will appear more detailed in the eyepiece.
Otherwise the telescopes work exactly the same, other than a slightly higher weight for the 8" version.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Hello, my telescope is orion 8" clasic. Is possible for my telescope one mount goto dobson. Is very important this posibilty. Thank ...
Hi DJ - no, the Classic models cannot be upgraded with GoTo functionality. The Dob bases have different designs between the 2 models. You can view our GoTo series on our website here:
bit.ly/31hnGDA
@@oriontelescopes : Shame you don't have the GoTo Dobsonians anylonger!
What is the best eye peas for this telescope to look past Jupiter and saturn
A high magnification eyepiece like a 10mm or lower focal length would be good for planetary viewing.
Hi I'm thinking of going between the SkyQuest XT8 or SkyQuest XT10 how much more light does the XT10 bring in? thanks
Hi Amran. It's quite a difference, the 10 inch optics bring in 56% more light than an 8" mirror!
Thats only half a magnitude of brightness. It will be barely be noticable. To see a true mag jump you always pick 4 inches more (in this case an 8 and a 12 inch)
Is it easy to move, not too heavy etc? And how long will de shipping take?
Hi Cookie,
The entire scope weighs 41lbs, evenly split between the base and the tube. So in two pieces, it's quite manageable as you are only lifting 20 lbs. If the telescope is in stock, it will either ship out the same day you order (assuming you order in the morning), or the next day at latest.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Orion Telescopes & Binoculars Thanks for your answer! It helped me alot :)
(I'm the same guy)
what is the highest point the eyepiece can be at? (I am 5'4'')
Hi StoneColdGaming,
At highest, the eyepiece will be at about 3'10". It's best to be sitting in a stool or chair when viewing through a dobsonian, because the eyepiece will always be at a comfortable height without needing to bend over.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
@@oriontelescopes Or mount the scope on a table :D
Which eyepiece for looking directly at the sun?
It's very important to use a properly fitted solar filter to view the sun, without a full aperture solar filter permanent eye damage can occur. With a solar filter, the same eyepieces used for observing at night can be used.
How would you go about locating more distant objects through this telescope?
Hi FrenzySnipez,
The download card that was included with the telescope installs StarryNight Planetarium software, and that's a good starting point for finding some of the showpiece deep-sky objects. Getting a good star chart such as the #4150 DeepMap 600, or a book like #51315 Turn Left at Orion are also great ways to do it and give you even more resolution. This method of finding objects is called star-hopping, where you connect the dots of easy to see naked eye stars to trace a path to an object you want to see.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Thanks. Also, what telescopes would you recommend for building a home observatory?
Hi FrenzySnipez,
Any telescope can be put in an observatory, but since you are going to the trouble to build one, you might as well go big. The idea for an observatory is that you don't have to constantly set up and break down the scope each night. So either a very large dob, so anything mounted on one of the bigger EQ mounts such as the Atlas or HDX would work great.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Hi ken big fan of your videos!! After talking with an Orion employee on the site chat, they kind of leaned me away from the xt8. I have the starblast 6 and they told me the 8 inch was not really a big difference vs what I had. I mainly am upgrading for the deep sky objects and to be able to see the more distant planets like uranus and neptune. Is that true about it not being much of an upgrade? She also told me it only is about 40% brighter than the 6 and I could have sworn on your videos you said 77% more.
+IVIajorJacobs Hi IVIajor,
Yes, it's a pretty big upgrade in terms of light grasp. And it is a 77% brighter image, so I'm sure how they came up with 40%, sorry about that! It's the area of the mirror that determines the light, and the formula is simple: Larger aperture divided by smaller aperture, and then square that number for the light grasp difference.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
oriontelescopes Ok thankyou so much!!
Which telescope is better Orion skyquest XT 8 or Orion starblast 4.5 astro telescope.?
You can view the XT8 as a much larger version of the StarBlast 4.5 Astro. There are some differences of course, but in general, the XT8 is a larger 8 inch reflector on a Dob style mount. This larger aperture is means the XT8 is more capable of viewing deeper sky objects over the 4.5 inch. However, the StarBlast 4.5 provides its own great views and it's much smaller which makes it more portable for some people. There are several important factors that would make one telescope a better choice over another.
If you would like to discuss these telescopes or others, please contact us one of the following ways:
Phone: 1-800-447-1001
Email: sales@telescope.com
Live Chat: www.telescope.com
Hi ,I live in a suburban area ,will a 10inch dobsonian will give me a good experience in viewing night skys...
I went to a store in Maryland an asked about this telescope and gentleman said I should not buy the xt8 .. He insisted I buy the 10. Could someone please help me out.. This would be my second scope..the first being total trash. What would be legitimate expectations with the xt8? Thanks for any response.
You will certainly see a little more detail with the 10 over the 8 especially on the more distant objects. Ive seen the andromeda galaxy and it looks like a bright yellow cluster, hardly able to make out any detail. With the 10 Ive read that people can make out a little more colour and slighlty better detail overall. Just keep in mind the 10 is a big scope and mobility wise it isnt as easy to move around. I can pick up the xt8 with it still mounted on its base.
+Rocco Gargano
Hi Rocco,
There's lots to see in the deep-sky with with an 8", so you definitely won't be wasting your money buying an 8". The 10" pulls in 56% more light than the 8", so the deep-sky views will be even better, but the 10" is around 20 lbs heavier than the 8", so it's all up to you how much you want to transport around.
My rule of thumb is to buy as big as you are comfortable carrying, because if the bigger one is too hard to carry out on any given night, and it sits in the closet more often, what good will it do you? Sure, the 10" will give you better views, I cannot argue with that, but think about how much you will be lifting.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
+oriontelescopes thanks so much for your advice !! My family is very excited about getting started.. So am I .. Ive wanted so badly to just go out and grab the first scope that looks good and in my price range.. The cool thing is by waiting,researching and using my naked eye to get familiar with some beautiful things in the night sky I know I am hooked on keeping my head up.. Thanks again!!
Can you add a computer to the XT8?
Unfortunately we don't offer any computer upgrades for the XT8, it would require too much modification to offer an easy to add on kit.
Thank you!
I have this exact setup and when looking at Venus last night, saw barely more than a dot... Let alone the moons of Jupiter. Everyone else says they're blown away by the detail, what am I missing?
Hi Pete, it also depends on what eyepieces are being used. For planets you'll want to start with a lower power eyepiece and then switch to something that would provide you with a higher magnification. Venus can be a tricky one sometimes and it's best to first practice on something easier like the moon to get a sense of the differences between lower and higher powered eyepieces. Give our Customer Service folks a call if you have any questions and they can offer some more assistance too:
Phone: 1-800-447-1001
Email: sales@telescope.com
Live Chat: www.telescope.com
is this one good for beginners
wolfgang15425 Yes, but there is a learning curve for collimation of the 'scope. There is a lot of information out there.
+wolfgang15425 Yes it's a great telescope for people starting out. There's a really good video on the Orion website showing how to collimate a reflector like this: www.telescope.com/How-To-Collimate-an-Orion-Reflector-Telescope/p/99861.uts?keyword=collimate
Hello Ken and Orion staff!
I have a question. How long would it be before i must collomate ( I hope I spelled that right, sorry!) the mirrors again on my XT8? Also, GREAT products and video. Clear skies to you too!
Hi Creeper,
There's really no set time as it depends on how roughly the telescope is handled. If you've aligned it and you are just walking it in and out from the backyard, as long as you don't bang it on the doorway, you probably won't have to align it. But putting it in the car and driving to a darker location, the scope can get bumped out of alignment going over the dirt roads.
It's a good policy to check the alignment before every viewing session, but I think you'll find in the backyard that you'll have to collimate very infrequently, and just a small tweak when it does need a little alignment.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Creeper_Ian02 Productions Depends on the individual 'scope and how much and how roughly you transport it
Does the base of this telescope support 360 degree rotation? If not what is the limit? Thanks very much :)
Hi Tom
Yes, there is no limit and the base will spin a full 360 degrees in the azimuth (left/right) directions. In Altitude, it will go from 90 degrees straight up, all the way down to slightly below horizontal.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Can you see uranus and neptune through this telescope?
Does it come with a moon filter?
NO
I am so frustrated. I purchased a Sky Quest X8T. The stars just look a little bigger than normal. I still haven’t been able to see any Galaxies or Nebulae. By the time it’s dark in my neighborhood all the Planets are on the other side of the world. What am I doing wrong? These are the lenses I have:
Telescopes eye pieces
Orion Deep View 28mm Multicoated
Orion Shorty 2x Barlow Multicoated
Celestron PL 9.7mm
Celestron Omni 2x Barlow Lens Fully Multicoated
Orion Sirius Plosel 10mm Multicoated
Go outside your neighborhood to the countryside.
Great description.
It's a very nice Telescope I have it
Do you have a vid on unboxing and set up for the 16 in. Looking for pre buy info that doesn’t insult my intel. Most are child level and useless.
Impossible to sharp zoom with doubler, junk.... phi...
You sound like Liam Nelson
Can you see nebulas with this?
yes indeed
Guys, I really appreciate the videos and I'm a big fan of Orion, but please the video quality is abysmal I try not to look at them and instead listen to audio. Perhaps it's time you guys moved to an HD camera. (unless of course these videos are being uploaded from an archive predating HD)
vettypayal ?? Looks as good as it needs to for what it is. We're not watching Avatar here. haha