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Celestron RASA 8 8-Inch Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph

5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 6 ratings

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About this item

  • 8-inch optical tube assembly - 42 mm T-thread camera adapter - C-thread camera adapter - Fan Battery Pack - 2-Year Warranty
  • Flat field free of optical aberrations like field curvature, coma, astigmatism and chromatic aberration across an entire APS-C sensor.
  • NEW Ultra-Stable Focus System six precision sealed ball bearings virtually eliminate image shift.
  • Integrated air cooling system 12V DC MagLev fan reduces cooldown time and provides optimal air flow while filtering out dust.
  • Internal filter mount seamlessly accommodates a Light Pollution Imaging Filter into the optical path.
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$2,079.00
Only 16 left in stock - order soon.
Ships from and sold by Celestron Direct.
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$83.99
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Only 10 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by Astromania Optics and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
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Celestron RASA 8 8-Inch Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph
Celestron RASA 8 8-Inch Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph
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Price$2,079.00$53.95$2,849.00$1,599.00
Delivery
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Customer Ratings
Tech Support
3.7
3.5
Portability
3.5
3.8
Sold By
Celestron Direct
Amazon.com
Adorama
Amazon.com
focus type
Manual Focus
Manual Focus
Manual Focus
Manual Focus
eye piece lens
Plossl
Plossl
Plossl
objective lens diameter
42 millimeters
8 inches
235 millimeters
203 millimeters
telescope mount
Equatorial Mount
GoTo
Altazimuth Mount
lens coating
390 - 800 nm
StarBright XLT
weight
22 pounds
0.7 pounds
36 pounds
10.88 kilograms
power source
Battery Powered
Battery Powered,Corded Electric
Battery Powered
finderscope
Not included
Reflex
Reflex
Reflex
optical tube length
8 inches
432 millimeters

Product Description

Capture spectacular wide-field deep sky images in seconds with Celestron’s portable astrograph, the 8” Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA). This incredibly fast f/2.0 system is the perfect companion to today’s color astronomical CMOS cameras, smaller CCD cameras, and mirrorless cameras. Thanks to its fast focal ratio and patented optical design, you can produce sharp, detailed images and, in many cases, skip the autoguider completely. Weighing in at just 17 pounds, it’s easy to transport your 8” RASA to the most remote dark sky locations.  RASA Performance Made for Everyone The 8” RASA is an imaging telescope that delivers a flat field without optical aberrations for razor sharp stars across a wide field of view. It can capture stunning deep-sky astronomical images without the challenges typically presented by longer focal length instruments at a fraction of the cost of those systems. The latest addition to the RASA family, this 8” version is a much more portable and affordable version of the heralded RASA 11, which was introduced to much acclaim in 2014. With the 8” RASA joining the lineup, a wider range of astroimagers can enjoy the benefits of the RASA design. It has many of the same thoughtfully designed features as its “big brother” RASA 11, including the integrated air-cooling system, internal filter mount, and sturdy CGE dovetail mounting bar. Purely designed for imaging, the 8” RASA cannot be used visually. The prime focus focal plane is located at the front of the optical system, so it cannot accommodate a traditional eyepiece.  Shorter Exposure Times and Virtual “Real-Time” Observing Since it is an F/2.0 optical system, imagers can use shorter exposure times to capture detail in faint objects. When combined with sensitive cameras and the proper “live stacking” software, the 8” RASA can provide an almost real-time observing experience. View images on a computer instantly that are brighter and more detailed than can be seen in much bigger telescopes with the naked eye. Because shorter exposure times are possible, your equatorial mount won’t need to accurately track over extended periods. The 8” RASA’s relatively short 400mm focal length also lessens equatorial tracking demands. In many cases, autoguiding will not be required. Weighing only 17 lb, this optical tube pairs perfectly with a wide variety of mounts.  Ultra-Stable Focus System With the launch of the 8” RASA, Celestron is unveiled a focuser design that mitigates lateral movement of the primary mirror when focusing, slewing, or tracking with the astrograph. Focusing is easier, more accurate, and more stable than ever.  The key to the Ultra-Stable Focus System is a precision linear ball bearing, which is tested during assembly to ensure optimal results.  Built for Today’s Latest Cameras Unlike the larger RASAs that work with DSLR and large CCD cameras, the 8” model was designed with color astronomical CMOS cameras, smaller CCD cameras, and mirrorless cameras in mind. The telescope does not work with standard DSLR cameras. It is optimized for sensors with up to a 22mm diagonal, but performs well with sensors up to 32mm diagonal. The APS-C sized sensors used in many mirrorless cameras are a good choice. 42mm full frame sensors will also work, but performance will be poor at the edges of the sensor and field illumination will be reduced. Additionally, we do not recommend pairing RASA 8 with any camera body more than 4” in diameter. See the chart below to determine if your camera is compatible with RASA 8.  Camera Compatible with RASA 8? Adapter required Astronomical CMOS/CCD camera with C-mount Yes C-mount adapter (included) Astronomical CMOS/CCD camera with M42-thread mount Yes M42 adapter (included) with M42 extension tubes (not included) Astronomical CMOS/CCD camera with other mount Yes Custom camera adapter Canon mirrorless with APS-C sensor Yes Canon mirrorless adapter (sold separately) Sony mirrorless with APS-C sensor Yes Sony mirrorless adapter (sold separately) Canon mirrorless with full frame (42mm) sensor Yes, but not optimized across the full sensor Canon mirrorless adapter (sold separately) Sony mirrorless with full frame (42mm) sensor Yes, but not optimized across the full sensor Sony mirrorless adapter (sold separately) DSLR No --

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Celestron RASA 8 8-Inch Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph


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Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5
6 global ratings
An affordable solution for wide-angle AP with superb imaging capabilities
5 Stars
An affordable solution for wide-angle AP with superb imaging capabilities
This is really a unique scope and defies the conventional wisdom of wide-angle deep sky imaging with a refractor and long exposure times. I never stop getting amazed by how fast it is and the image quality it produces. I believe electronically assisted astronomy (EAA) is the future of amateur astronomy -- our eyes evolves way slower than CCD and CMOS cameras. With the RASA you have the most powerful EAA device currently available.Important caution: Imaging at F/2 has its unique learning curve. The most important thing is make sure the spacing requirement is precisely satisfied. The critical focus zone is of the order of microns. If you are not seeing perfect round stars on the edges out of the box, DO NOT COLLIMATE the scope before you checked back focus and tilting. High quality parts such as those offered at PreciseParts.com can be of tremendous help. Collimation is rarely the problem. They are usually fine out of the box.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2020
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5.0 out of 5 stars An affordable solution for wide-angle AP with superb imaging capabilities
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2020
This is really a unique scope and defies the conventional wisdom of wide-angle deep sky imaging with a refractor and long exposure times. I never stop getting amazed by how fast it is and the image quality it produces. I believe electronically assisted astronomy (EAA) is the future of amateur astronomy -- our eyes evolves way slower than CCD and CMOS cameras. With the RASA you have the most powerful EAA device currently available.

Important caution: Imaging at F/2 has its unique learning curve. The most important thing is make sure the spacing requirement is precisely satisfied. The critical focus zone is of the order of microns. If you are not seeing perfect round stars on the edges out of the box, DO NOT COLLIMATE the scope before you checked back focus and tilting. High quality parts such as those offered at PreciseParts.com can be of tremendous help. Collimation is rarely the problem. They are usually fine out of the box.
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7 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2020
9 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2022
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5.0 out of 5 stars Fast imaging for those that don’t have much time.
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2022
Great telescope for those that don’t have much time to image. Focus is good. Picture added was only 20 minutes with a color camera and idas nbz filter. I highly recommend this telescope
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Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2020
One person found this helpful
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