15 replies to this topic

[Kane0304]

This past Saturday, I was lucky enough to find an old C8 telescope in a yard sale! Optically, it is in great condition (no scratches, just some dust on the corrector plate) - the mirror inside is spotless. Whoever had this took good care of it, or just didn't use it much. I got it for $150!

I cleaned it up and assembled it yesterday... It has all-manual RA & DEC knobs, a wedge, and a functioning clock drive. Using it for the first time, I found that I really enjoyed it--much more than my computerized NexStar 6SE--because of the effort I had to put in starhopping and aligning!

As far as I can tell, the closest model is a Celestar 8 from between 1996-1999, but the clock drive looks different.
Anyone know offhand what year/model this is?

How is the tracking quality with these old clock drives? Autoguiding is obviously not an option.

 

Thanks so much! 

 

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[Augustus]

Looks like a C8 Classic from the 90s.

[Jim Davis]

Take a look here: https://www.scoperev.../C8History.html

 

Looks like a couple of them.

[Mike G.]

grab the serial number off the secondary cover and go here:

https://www.cloudyni...on-c8-registry/

 

you should be able to tell when it was made at least.

[randcpoll]

I agree, C8 Classic from early 90's,but on a wedgepod.

[endless-sky]

It's very similar to my Celestar C8. The tripod looks exactly the same as the one I used to have. The fork is different and the clock drive part seems to be missing the plugs for the "hand controller" (which was only capable of RA speeding up or slowing down).

 

The back of the telescope also looks different than my C8 (which is now deforked, has its own Losmandy dovetail and I mount it on my NEQ6 Pro, when needed).

 

In any case, at 150$ for the whole thing, I would call it a pretty good steal. I mean, deal  

(I sold the fork and the clock drive a few months ago for almost that price...).

You have been pretty lucky!

[DSOGabe]

Nice steal! The great thing is that it was well cared for. But even if some work was needed at that price its still a find

[Echolight]

Looks just like this one!

https://dallas.craig...7280715903.html

[Kane0304]

Thanks, all!

 

Not to start a debate here, but I'm going to clean the outer surface of the corrector plate now. 

 

I have Kimwipes, 91% isopropyl alcohol, and reverse osmosis water (thinking 60/40). I read on another thread that apparently you don't want to use the wipes dry (??) --but I learned my lesson about water spotting when I air-dried my 6SE corrector. If I'm just swabbing off the remaining droplets after cleaning, the dry wipes should be fine, right? 

[hypergolic]

I had one from around 97 with the plain forks....on a wedgepod. 

[andysea]

What a cool scope! Were those 90s Celestrons still made in the US?

[Cpk133]

Thanks, all!

 

Not to start a debate here, but I'm going to clean the outer surface of the corrector plate now. 

 

I have Kimwipes, 91% isopropyl alcohol, and reverse osmosis water (thinking 60/40). I read on another thread that apparently you don't want to use the wipes dry (??) --but I learned my lesson about water spotting when I air-dried my 6SE corrector. If I'm just swabbing off the remaining droplets after cleaning, the dry wipes should be fine, right? 

Use a blower bulb or fine "camel hair brush" before wiping anything.  With that wedge, you might be able to turn the OTA down and use my spray bottle technique to remove most of the dust.  Distilled water and sharp stream setting on spray bottle, use light stream to walk bead of water around the corrector while avoiding gaskets.  Pick up drops by dabbing drops with tissue.  Good luck.

[Bob Myler]

Given the attached 6x30 LER (long eye relief) Viewfinder,

I believe you may have a Celestron G-8.

If it didn't come with an owner's manual, PM me....

[Augustus]

Given the attached 6x30 LER (long eye relief) Viewfinder,

I believe you may have a Celestron G-8.

If it didn't come with an owner's manual, PM me....

The G-8 came on a German equatorial (CG-5), hence the "G'"

[telesonic]

Okay... that's a great deal for $150.

 

So your C8 (tube and forks) looks to me to be a 1988/1989 Super C8. or possibly a Super C8+. Some (I think all) of these came with Byers gearsets - one of the best ever made, sadly.... the maker of these passed away not long ago.

 

Can you get a better picture of the aluminum cover on the base? That would confirm that possibility.

 

Next:

Your tripod and wedge are from a later model (1990's - ish) Celestron Celestar. That was commonly referred to as the Wedgepod, some people like them... some people hate them. I still have one around here from my Craigslist Celestar C8 purchase.

 

Are there any sticker on your C-8's tube - like "Special Coatings" Or "Starbright"? That may also help narrow down which C8 you have. It's obviously not all from the same era, but you may have some hidden gems in that fork drive.

 

Also.... more pictures are always appreciated, we love pictures here!

 

Cheers, and welcome to CN

T

 

 

[Kane0304]

grab the serial number off the secondary cover and go here:

https://www.cloudyni...on-c8-registry/

 

you should be able to tell when it was made at least.

The serial number on the base of my clock drive is 861235. The two closest with dates in the registry are 836578 (Jul '86) and 862363 ('89).  My scope isn't far behind the latter in terms of production (comparatively), so I believe I've picked up a 1989 C8 Classic with a spur gear clock drive. I haven't opened it up yet, but when I do I'll check the RA motor date stamp.

Thanks for all the help! 

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