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Our classic SkyQuest XT8 Dob isn't just good bang for the buck. It's a veritable explosion of telescope value. In a review of six 8" Dobsonian telescopes, Sky & Telescope (1/00) pronounced it the "best of the batch." Astronomy magazine (5/03) said it "brought easy enjoyment to deep-sky observing." We couldn't have said it better ourselves.
The classic XT8 combines powerful optics with the ultimate in mechanical simplicity and stability. It features a precision 8" (203mm) parabolic primary mirror, center-marked at the factory for precise collimation and mounted in a cast-aluminum support cell that provides maximum ventilation. The mirror pulls in 73% more light than a 6", enough to tease out dust lanes in nebulas, resolve the cores of prominent globular clusters, and reveal subtle structure in elusive galaxies.
You're in total control as you point the scope effortlessly to your target object anywhere in the sky. The 46"-long enameled steel tube glides on its sturdy Dobsonian base. A gentle push or pull on the navigation knob puts you right in the observing pocket.
The CorrecTension spring system applies just the right amount of friction on the altitude bearings to ensure proper tube balance.
The XT8 comes complete with a host of great accessories. You get a 6x30 achromatic finder scope in a quick-release bracket, 25mm (48x) and 10mm (120x) Sirius Plössl eyepieces (1.25"), aluminum eyepiece rack, an Orion quick-collimation cap, and a snap-on dust cover. A convenient carrying handle on the base makes transporting the scope easy, even as a whole unit with the tube attached to the base.
For the intrepid beginner to the veteran skygazer, the classic SkyQuest XT8 lives up to its billing by Astronomy magazine as a “work of art.” Get this masterpiece now at its new lower price! One-year limited warranty.