Celestron C8-XLT (CGE)
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203 mm Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope: the world's best-selling mid-aperture OTA
The Celestron C8-XLT is a 203 mm Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with a focal length of 2032 mm and a focal ratio of f/10, supplied as an optical tube assembly with Losmandy dovetail bar. The Schmidt-Cassegrain optics are corrected to the diffraction limit, delivering sharp images across a wide field of view in both visual and photographic configurations. The C8 is the most widely used Schmidt-Cassegrain in the mid-aperture class worldwide, combining compactness, low weight and high optical performance. The aluminium tube, just 432 mm long despite a focal length of over two metres, makes it easy to transport and compatible with mid-range mounts.
XLT coating and versatility
The optics feature Celestron's StarBright XLT multi-coatings, which maximise light transmission and image contrast. The Schmidt-Cassegrain design allows operation across a very wide focal length range through the use of focal reducers or extenders, making it one of the most modular astronomical instruments available. Focusing is achieved by shifting the primary mirror. The C8 is suited to universal use: astronomical and terrestrial, visual and photographic.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Optical design | Schmidt-Cassegrain |
| Aperture | 203 mm |
| Focal length | 2032 mm |
| Focal ratio | f/10 |
| Obstruction | 0.35 |
| Light gathering power | 843× (naked eye = 1) |
| Optical coating | StarBright XLT |
| Focusing system | Primary mirror shift |
| Fastar compatibility | No |
| Tube material | Aluminium |
| OTA length | 432 mm |
| Weight | 5.6 kg |
| Eyepiece holder | 1.25″ (31.8 mm) |
| Included eyepiece | Plössl 25 mm (81×) – 1.25″ |
| Included diagonal | Prism diagonal 1.25″ (31.8 mm) |
| Included finder | 6×30 mm with bracket |
| Mounting bar | Dovetail bar compatible with EQ5 / CG5 / EQ6 |
Included accessories
The kit includes a Plössl 25 mm eyepiece (81× magnification, 1.25″ barrel), a 1.25″ prism diagonal, a 6×30 mm finder scope with bracket, and a dovetail bar compatible with EQ5, CG5 and EQ6 mounts. The included Losmandy bar further extends mounting options to a wider range of equatorial and alt-azimuth heads in the mid and upper class.
Who is the Celestron C8-XLT for?
The Celestron C8-XLT is the reference instrument for amateur astronomers seeking a compact 203 mm Schmidt-Cassegrain OTA with high optical performance and broad modularity. The high light-gathering power (843×), long focal length and SCT system flexibility make it well suited to planetary, lunar and deep-sky observation as well as high-resolution astrophotography. Its compatibility with a wide range of Celestron and third-party accessories makes it one of the most enduring and versatile instruments for amateur and semi-professional use.