

Do you want a long-term investment or will you be looking to upgrade in the future?.What size telescope do you want? What size can you manage?.What do you want to observe is it primarily planets or DSOs (or both).Here’s a list of some of the things you should ponder about: When it comes to picking which one is going to be best for you, making a list is going to be the way to go. It is that images appear brighter in XT8, and also sharper at high magnification. So using the same eyepiece, both telescopes will provide the same magnification and field of view. It’s the focal length that dictates the field of view. Regarding the optics, due to the differences in the focal ratio of both the XT6 and XT8, they have the same focal length. With any optical instrument, whether it is a telescope or a pair of binoculars, this is the one major thing that dictates its overall power and what you will ultimately be able to see.

The Orion SkyQuest XT6 and XT8 differentiate in one main way – the XT8 has an 8″ (203mm) diameter parabolic primary mirror compared to a 6″ (15mm) diameter parabolic primary mirror, meaning they provide different light-gathering abilities. If you are low on funds, the XT6 plus, is your next best bet:Ĭheck Price On Amazon Choosing Between The Orion SkyQuest XT6 and XT8
#ORION SKY QUEST XT8 PLUS#
Still, if you have the budget, then the XT8 Plus is going to be your ultimate, best buy. Again, they are more expensive than their classic alternatives. Now the plusses are again an upgrade still. There are two variations of each XT model: However, it isn’t without cost – it is more expensive. It works far better under dark or even reasonably dark skies and you get a range of extra additional accessories included too. Nevertheless, it is the XT8 that comes out on top. So as well as being able to observe the Moon and planets of our solar system you get a dramatic increase in the ability to observe DSO’s (Deep Sky Objects).īoth the XT6 and XT8 are easy to use, portable, point and view Dobsonian Telescopes that provide a lot of power for their respective prices.īeing built around parabolic mirrors ensures excellent light-gathering, and the stable base included on both variants provides vibration-free images even when viewing at high power. The XT8 is optically superior to the XT6 variant, collecting 78% more light and utilizing enhanced-reflectivity mirror coatings. So, what is better, the Orion SkyQuest XT6 vs XT8? Most astronomers agree that the XT8 is better in most circumstances than the XT6. Today, I’ll be walking you through the key similarities and differences between both variants, enabling you to select the one that suits your own needs, preferences, and budget. Not sure what is best for you? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Looking at the Orion SkyQuest XT6 and XT8.
