Telescope Comparison
Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT vs Celestron CPC 800
The specs are close. The experience isn't.
First light
Celestron · 203mm · £1,699
The automated deep-sky platform
- 203mm schmidt-cassegrain on a computerised mount with motorised tracking
- Good for: Moon, planets, bright nebulae, star clusters, and deep-sky objects
- GoTo system finds any object in its database after initial star alignment — no star atlas needed
- Tracking motors keep objects centred as Earth rotates — useful above 100×, essential for photography
- 22kg total — requires a fixed garden spot or car transport
Celestron · 203mm · £1,499
The automated deep-sky platform
- 203mm schmidt-cassegrain on a computerised mount with motorised tracking
- Good for: Moon, planets, bright nebulae, star clusters, and deep-sky objects
- GoTo system finds any object in its database after initial star alignment — no star atlas needed
- Tracking motors keep objects centred as Earth rotates — useful above 100×, essential for photography
- 18kg total — requires a fixed garden spot or car transport
The full picture
The numbers that separate these two scopes — and what they mean at the eyepiece.
Aperture
Equal light-gathering. Aperture won't settle this comparison — the mount, focal ratio, and observing experience are what differ.
Focal length
Same focal length — identical magnification with any given eyepiece. Differences come from optical design and coatings.
Focal ratio
Same focal ratio — the same eyepiece gives equivalent magnification and true field in both scopes.
Mount type
Same mount type — setup experience and ergonomics will be similar. Differences lie in build quality and included accessories.
Weight (OTA)
Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT's optical tube is 5.6kg lighter. Relevant if you plan to use it on multiple mounts or carry the tube to dark-sky sites separately.
Optical design
Both Schmidt-Cassegrain designs — versatile, compact, good for planets and deep-sky. Differences come from aperture and mount.
At the eyepiece
Both scopes · same aperture
Both scopes share essentially the same aperture — views through each will be very similar on all standard targets. The differences show up in setup, mount type, and focal ratio, not in fundamental light-gathering.
The real tradeoff
Both scopes are capable. The question is which one fits the way you actually observe.
Both scopes are solving a similar problem in a similar way. The differences are real — build quality and optical refinement — but these show up after several months of regular use, not on the first night. Pick the one whose design best matches how you actually plan to observe.
The dark side
Every scope has a personality. Here’s where each one gets difficult.
Celestron
Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT
Alignment required every session
GoTo star alignment cannot be skipped — the mount needs to know where it is pointing before it can find objects. This adds several minutes to the start of every session, every time.
Not a spontaneous telescope
At 22kg total, this goes out when you plan to go out — not for a quick look on a clear evening.
Celestron
Celestron CPC 800
Alignment required every session
GoTo star alignment cannot be skipped — the mount needs to know where it is pointing before it can find objects. This adds several minutes to the start of every session, every time.
Not a spontaneous telescope
At 18kg total, this goes out when you plan to go out — not for a quick look on a clear evening.
Which is right for you?
Two different buyers. Two different right answers.
The automated deep-sky platform
Celestron · Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT
You’ll love this if…
- You want to navigate straight to targets without a star atlas — align once and the scope slews to any object in its database on demand
- You observe from a light-polluted garden where star-hopping to faint deep-sky objects would take most of a clear night
- Astrophotography is where you're headed — the tracking equatorial mount is the essential first component of any imaging setup
This will frustrate you if…
- You find the star alignment required at the start of every session frustrating — GoTo alignment cannot be skipped, and several minutes on a cold night before you can observe is the reality
- You want to take it out for spontaneous sessions — at this weight, getting it in and out of a car on your own requires planning and ideally a second pair of hands
The automated deep-sky platform
Celestron · Celestron CPC 800
You’ll love this if…
- You want to navigate straight to targets without a star atlas — align once and the scope slews to any object in its database on demand
- You observe from a light-polluted garden where star-hopping to faint deep-sky objects would take most of a clear night
- Astrophotography is where you're headed — the tracking equatorial mount is the essential first component of any imaging setup
This will frustrate you if…
- You find the star alignment required at the start of every session frustrating — GoTo alignment cannot be skipped, and several minutes on a cold night before you can observe is the reality
- You want to take it out for spontaneous sessions — at this weight, getting it in and out of a car on your own requires planning and ideally a second pair of hands
Our verdict
Same aperture, same light-gathering, £200 price difference. The extra cost of the Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT buys a different mount — not better optics.
For most beginners, the Celestron CPC 800 is the right starting point — the optics are identical and the savings are better spent on a quality eyepiece or a dark-sky trip. The Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT makes sense if the mount it comes with is specifically what you want to learn. If I had to choose: the Celestron CPC 800 — same sky, less money.
Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT
View Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT →Celestron CPC 800
View Celestron CPC 800 →Deep field: Full specifications
Every data point, for those who want to go further.
Full specifications
Fields highlighted in blue or amber indicate the better value for that spec. Data is manufacturer-stated and may vary.
How much can it see?
| Spec | Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT | Celestron CPC 800 |
|---|---|---|
Aperture The most important spec — bigger = more light = better views | 203mm | 203mm |
Focal Length Longer = more magnification potential | 2032mm | 2032mm |
Focal Ratio Lower f-number = wider field of view; higher = more magnification per eyepiece | f/10 | f/10 |
Optical Design The type of optics — each design has different strengths | Schmidt-Cassegrain | Schmidt-Cassegrain |
Coatings Better coatings = more light transmission through the optics | StarBright XLT multi-layer coatings | Starbright XLT coatings |
How do you point it?
| Spec | Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT | Celestron CPC 800 |
|---|---|---|
Mount Type The mechanical system that holds and moves the telescope | GoTo (Computerised) | GoTo (Computerised) |
GoTo Computer-controlled pointing — finds any of thousands of objects automatically | ||
Tracking Motor keeps objects centred as the Earth rotates — essential for astrophotography |
The focuser
| Spec | Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT | Celestron CPC 800 |
|---|---|---|
Focuser Size 2" accepts wider eyepieces and gives better low-power views | 2" | 2" |
Focuser Type Rack-and-pinion is standard; Crayford and dual-speed are smoother | SCT rear-cell focuser with reducer thread | SCT rear-port with 2-inch adapter |
Size & weight
| Spec | Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT | Celestron CPC 800 |
|---|---|---|
OTA Weightⓘ Optical tube only — useful for comparing mount load capacity | 5.4kg | 11kg |
Total Weightⓘ Full setup including mount — this is what you lug to the car | 22kg | 18kg |
Tube Length | 432mm | 432mm |
Tube Material | Aluminium | Aluminium |
What's in the box?
| Spec | Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT | Celestron CPC 800 |
|---|---|---|
Eyepieces Included eyepieces — more is better, but quality matters more than quantity | 40mm eyepiece | 40mm and 13mm eyepieces |
Finder Scope Helps you locate areas of the sky before switching to the main eyepiece | 8x50 right-angle finder scope | StarPointer Pro red dot |
Diagonal Tilts the eyepiece 90° for comfortable viewing — useful on refractors |
Smart features
| Spec | Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT | Celestron CPC 800 |
|---|---|---|
Built-in Camera Records and stacks images automatically — no separate camera needed | ||
App Controlled | ||
WiFi | ||
Battery Included |
Blue highlight: Celestron Advanced VX 8 SCT advantage · Amber highlight: Celestron CPC 800 advantage · Greyed cells: equal or subjective.