Dobsonians are the best value telescope type and an 8-inch Dobsonian telescope provides the perfect balance of power to price.
In this article, we recommend the top models available and outline the key pros and cons of each.
See below for quick links or read on for further detail.
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Beginner Pick
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GOTO Pick
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Budget Pick
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Budget Pick
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Make & Model:
Celestron StarSense Explorer 8"
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Make & Model:
SkyWatcher GoTo Collapsible 8"
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Make & Model:
Sky Watcher Classic 200
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Make & Model:
Apertura AD8
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Aperture:
8-inch
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Aperture:
8-inch
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Aperture:
8-inch
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Aperture:
8-inch
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GOTO/Manual:
Manual
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GOTO/Manual:
GOTO
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GOTO/Manual:
Manual
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GOTO/Manual:
Manual
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Weight:
43.4 lbs
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Weight:
92.6 lbs
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Weight:
53 lbs
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Weight:
52.2 lbs
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Focal length:
1200 mm
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Focal length:
1200 mm
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Focal length:
1200 mm
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Focal length:
1200 mm
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Focal ratio:
F/5.9
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Focal ratio:
F/5.9
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Focal ratio:
F/5.9
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Focal ratio:
F/5.9
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Celestron Starsense Explorer 8-Inch Dobsonian Telescope
Beginner Pick
The Celestron Starsense Explorer 8-Inch Dobsonian was released in 2022 and features innovative smartphone interactivity that sets it apart from other manual models.
It is a high-quality 8-inch Dobsonian that utilizes Celestron’s StarSense Explorer technology to make finding astronomical objects to view in the night sky much easier.
How this works is you attach your smartphone to the telescope base and using the app you scan the sky above you to get a list of what is available for you to see that night (for example, the planet Jupiter or the Andromeda galaxy). It then guides you to direct the telescope yourself so you can see it.
This innovation allows you to have a manual telescope with many of the advantages of a computerized telescope without actually having to have a GOTO mount.
The bonus of this is that it is cheaper and simpler, and it doesn’t need to be plugged in or have some other external power source to keep it going.
This makes it the perfect option for beginners, but it is also suitable for anyone who would welcome help in locating things to look at in the sky.
You can watch this short video from Celestron to get a good overview of how this telescope works:
Pros
- High-quality 8-inch aperture OTA
- Innovative Starsense technology makes it easy to find astronomical objects to view in seconds
- Made by Celestron, one of the best telescope manufacturers around
Cons
- Like all Dobsonians, it is big and heavy
- Not GOTO, but the Starsense technology compensates for this
Overall, this is a great option and, unless you really want a computerized model, is our top recommendation.
The smartphone interactivity is truly awesome and the telescope is in the same price range as a regular 8-inch Dobsonian and so likely makes sense for most people. It can also be bought as a 10-inch model and 12-inch model.
Key specifications
- Aperture: 203 mm (8-inch)
- Focal Length: 1200 mm (47-inch)
- Focal Ratio: F/5.9
- Weight: 43.4 lbs (19.7 kg)
- Manual/GOTO: Manual
8-inch Dobsonian Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope
- Large 8-inch aperture parabolic primary mirror and high-reflectivity XLT optical coatings give you the power to view all the best celestial objects.
- StarSense Explorer app automatically generates a list of objects currently visible, including planets, nebulae, galaxies, star clusters and double stars.
- Manual altazimuth mount makes it easy to follow the on-screen arrows to your desired target.
- Big and heavy
Sky-Watcher 8-Inch GoTo Collapsible Dobsonian Telescope
GOTO Pick
The Sky-Watcher 8-Inch GoTo Collapsible Dobsonian Telescope is a computerized telescope. This means that it can scan the night sky and locate objects for you at the press of a button using the included handset.
This GOTO technology is pretty awesome and allows for a much simpler and quicker experience, rather than having to manually locate things yourself.
In addition, it will track the object you are viewing as it moves across the sky, so you don’t have to keep adjusting to manually track wherever you are looking at.
The downside of this is that computerized telescopes naturally cost more (roughly twice the price of a manual equivalent). In addition, they need to be plugged in to use (or have some sort of external power source), which adds cables and makes them less portable.
You can therefore weigh up whether this is worth it for you. Most people favor a GOTO telescope if they have the budget because of the simplicity that it provides.
Pros
- High-quality 8-inch aperture OTA from one of the most respected telescope manufacturers
- GOTO base allows you to locate astronomical objects at the press of a button from a database of 42,000+, and will track them across the night sky
- Built-in wifi so that you can control the telescope from your smartphone or tablet, rather than the handset
- Collapsible design allows it to pack up smaller for easier storage and portability
Cons
- The computerized base makes it heavier than the manual models
- The GOTO technology comes at a higher cost in comparison to the manual models
Overall, this is the perfect option if you want to the GOTO technology built into your telescope and have the budget.
Key specifications
- Aperture: 203 mm (8-inch)
- Focal Length: 1200 mm (47-inch)
- Focal Ratio: F/5.9
- Weight: 92.6 lbs (42 kg)
- Manual/GOTO: GOTO
Sky-Watcher Flextube 200 Computerized Collapsible Dobsonian Telescope
- 8-inch (203 mm) aperture
- GoTo computerized mount
- 55 lb (25 kg) weight
Apertura AD8
Budget Pick
The Apertura AD8 is a great value manual Dobsonian reflector.
It is a classic, non-collapsible design, so is rather large and cannot be shrunk like the collapsible model above.
One bonus is that it comes with premium accessories, like th the dual-speed micro focuser, a large 8×50 right angle finder, and high-quality eyepieces.
This is a simple-to-use telescope that is perfect for astronomical observing.
Pros
- High-quality 8-inch aperture OTA
- Relatively affordable
- Includes premium accessories
Cons
- Like all Dobsonians, it is big and heavy
- Not GOTO/computerized
Overall, this is a great option if you want a regular/classic 8-inch Dobsonian for astronomy, are not bothered by GOTO (or don’t have the budget).
Key specifications
- Aperture: 203 mm (8-inch)
- Focal Length: 1200 mm (47-inch)
- Focal Ratio: F/5.9
- Weight: 52.2 lbs (23.7 kg)
- Manual/GOTO: Manual
8-inch Dobsonian Telescope with Accessories
- Large 8-inch aperture for great views
- Great value price
- Includes quality accessories - dual-speed micro focuser, large 8x50 right angle finder & premium eyepieces
Sky-Watcher Classic 8-inch Dobsonian Telescope
Budget Pick
The Sky-Watcher Classic 8-inch Dobsonian Telescope is a regular, non-collapsible, manual 8-inch Dobsonian.
This is our budget pick because it currently markets as the cheapest option (but please check live prices as they vary).
This is especially great since Sky-Watcher is one of the best manufacturers out there, so you get a great telescope at a great price.
If you are interested in what you might be able to see through this scope, check out this video of what the planets Jupiter and Saturn look like through it:
Pros
- Cheap – a real bargain for the price
- High-quality telescope and base
- Made by Sky-Watcher, which are reliably one of the best telescope manufacturers
Cons
- Large and not collapsible
- Fully manual, not computerized
Overall, this is a great option if you don’t want/need GOTO and want the cheapest deal without sacrificing quality.
Key specifications
- Aperture: 203 mm (8-inch)
- Focal Length: 1200 mm (47-inch)
- Focal Ratio: F/5.9
- Weight: 53 lbs (24 kg)
- Manual/GOTO: Manual
8-inch Aperture Classic Dobsonian Telescope
- Large aperture gives a bright, bold viewing experience at a fraction of other optical designs
- Comes complete with all accessories
Are 8-Inch Dobsonian Telescopes Good and What Can You See With Them?
8-inch Dobsonians are perfect astronomy telescopes.
They have an extremely large aperture which means that they gather a lot of light and give you bright, clear views of the planets of the solar system and deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebula.
The long focal length in particular helps you get in close to view objects like our Moon, as well as the planets as you effectively zoom in close with a relatively narrow field of view.
This type of telescope – the Dobsonian reflector – provides the best bang for the buck in terms of the price to aperture ratio. For example, an 8-inch refractor or catadioptric telescope will be significantly more expensive.
The downsides of Dobsonians are:
- Size and weight – They really are huge and so will not suit everyone. Others may need more compact and/or portable models to work for them.
- Astrophotography – They are great for observing but not so great for astrophotography. See more on this in the FAQs below.
In all, 8-inch Dobs are brilliant telescopes for observing. They are simple to use and can just be rolled out to start observing whenever you want.
This video below from Ed Ting’s great YouTube channel provides some great insight into why an 8-inch Dobsonian is such a great telescope.
What To Consider When Buying an 8-Inch Dobsonian Telescope
The main things to think about when considering whether an 8-inch Dobsonian is right for you and which model to go for are:
- Size
- GOTO or manual
- Manufacturer
8-inch Dobsonian size
The one major thing you need to be aware of when considering buying an 8-inch Dobsonian is its size.
They are very big and so will only suit people who have a place in their homes to use and store them. These are not something you might have in the corner of a kid’s bedroom that can be moved around at will.
You can get an idea of this from the picture below that they stand at nearly the height of a grown adult:
Therefore, just think about where you will use it – i.e. do you have a backyard with a solid flat ground where you will use it and do you have space in a garage or similar to store it? If not, you might want to consider a more compact telescope.
One thing that can reduce the storage size is getting a flextube model, like the Sky-Watcher model recommended above. This means that the telescope can pack up smaller when not being used for easier storage.
These models tend to cost a little more though and they may need an additional component called a light shroud that wraps around the telescope when it is being used (not essential, but you might want to add it later).
GOTO or Manual
If you are ok with the size of an 8-inch Dobsonian, then the main choice to make is whether or not you want a GOTO (or computerized) model.
A GOTO telescope has in-built technology that scans the sky and locates whatever you want to see automatically. This is controlled by a handset or via an app you use on your smartphone.
This saves time and allows you to find astronomical objects much faster and therefore see much more in a session.
The additional bonus is that it will track what you are viewing as the Earth rotates. This means that it will not move out of the eyepiece when you step away. With manual telescopes you have to constantly adjust to follow the object as it moves.
The main downside of this is that it increases the cost of the telescope. In addition, though, it also means that it requires a power source – this means cables running out into your backyard, for instance.
Manufacturer
The last thing to consider is the telescope manufacturer.
The leading brands in the US are Celestron and Sky-Watcher.
Often though, there are brands like Zhumell, GSO, and Apertura that sell effectively the same telescopes manufactured in China or Taiwan, and sometimes these are cheaper.
This is where you can weigh up the risk of who you buy from. The leading brands have long-earned reputations and some degree of good customer service and support and so you may prefer to stick with them.
FAQs: Best 8-Inch Dobsonian Telescope
What is the best 8-inch Dobsonian Telescope for beginners?
The Celestron Starsense Explorer 8-Inch Dobsonian is great for beginners.
It allows you to connect your smartphone to scan the sky above you and guide to you what you want to look at.
What can you see with an 8-inch Dobsonian telescope?
8-inch Dobsonian telescopes are excellent for viewing the moon and planets of our solar system, as well as deep-sky objects like nebula and galaxies.
Are 8-inch Dobsonians good for astrophotography?
Dobsonians are perfect for astronomy but not ideal for astrophotography. It can be done, especially things like lunar imaging that doesn’t require long exposures, but they are not perfect.
This is because the Dobsonian mount is a kind of alt-azimuth mount that only moves up and down, and left and right, which is not ideal for tracking objects in the sky. Equatorial mounts, in contrast, can track smoothly in any direction.
If you want a telescope for astrophotography, you will most likely be looking for an apochromatic refractor or a Schmidt-Cassegrain catadioptric with an astrophotography mount.
Note though, that these cost more and won’t be as good for observing. Ideally, you pick one or the other, as few telescopes are perfect for both astronomy and astrophotography.
With astronomy, you really benefit from the large aperture to get good views, but it is less important for astrophotography because you will take long exposures to capture the light for the images.
Conclusion: What’s the Best 8-Inch Dobsonian For You?
Overall, we recommend:
- The Celestron Starsense Explorer 8″ is a brilliant, innovative telescope that uses smartphone interactivity to make it significantly easier to locate and view things in the night sky. It can also be bought with 10-inch or 12-inch aperture if you want even more capacity.
- The Sky-Watcher 8-Inch GoTo Collapsible Dobsonian Telescope is best if you want a computerized model and have the budget.
- Lastly, the Apertura AD8 and Sky-Watcher Classic 8″ are the best budget options. There is little to choose between these in terms of performance and so you can look around for the best price.
As noted above, make sure that you are aware of the size of these telescopes as they are large, bulky and heavy and you should ensure you have the space to store and use one before you buy.
If you don’t have the space for a big dobsonian like these, then you might want to consider some of our other telescope buying guides.
