Cheaper than Prime Day: Our favorite telescope is now $300 off at Amazon

We saw some great deals during Prime Day, but just a week later, Amazon slashed the Celestron NexStar 8SE by $300.

Known as “the world’s most popular telescope,” it is exceptionally well-rated across the board and loved by both seasoned astronomers and new, beginning astronomers on a healthy budget.

We only saw a $100 discount on this telescope during Prime Day, and there’s no guarantee it will be discounted for Black Friday on November 28 either, so this is a rare deal you won’t want to miss.

Do yourself a favor and get the Celestron NexStar 8SE for $1,399 at Amazon before the agreement is concluded.

We praised its legendary optical quality and power in our comprehensive Celestron NexStar 8SE review, and it has long held the top spot among the best telescopes. Sure, it’s not a budget telescope, but if you can afford the NexStar 8SE, you could easily go your entire life without having to invest in another telescope.

Its 8-inch aperture is fantastic for viewing the solar system and beyond, and with a few comets and supermoons gracing our skies over the next few months, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of this saving.

Picture 1 of 4

It comes with almost everything you need to get started, including the optical tube itself, a tripod and accessory tray, a motorized stand, a remote control, a finderscope, a 25mm eyepiece, a star diagonal, a Bluetooth trigger, and a backpack. The only thing not included are the 8 AA batteries needed to power the motorized stand.

We wish it came with a few extra eyepieces, so we recommend investing in some Plossl eyepieces and a Barlow lens, like in this Celestron kit, but overall we think this deal is excellent value for money.

Main features: 8-inch aperture, 80-inch (2,032 mm) focal length, f/10 focal ratio, highest usable magnification 180x, total kit weight 32 pounds (14.48 kilograms), two-year warranty.

Price history: This is the cheapest we’ve seen since January 2025, when it dropped to $1,299. It wasn’t even that cheap during Prime Day events this year.

Price comparison: Amazon: $1,499 | Walmart: $1,699 | Best buy: $1,699

Consensus of opinions: Our review says: “Beginning astronomers could go a lifetime without trading this telescope for another, and intermediate or advanced astronomers will benefit from the must-have motorized feature and expandability with additional accessories.” However, casual astronomers with tighter budgets may want to look for something less expensive.

Space: ★★★★½ | Science Live: ★★★★½

Featured in the guides: Best telescopes

✅ Buy it if: You want to buy a telescope that you will not need to replace in the years to come.

❌ Do not buy it if: You have a limited budget or want a small and compact telescope for casual stargazing from a campsite or your garden.

Check out our other guides on best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors and much more.