Losmandy D Series Dovetail Plate for Celestron 8" OTA

Product Overview

This is Losmandy's D-series dovetail plate cut for the Celestron 8-inch tube. It bolts to the tube's existing holes at a 12.325"/12.70" hole separation, so no drilling is involved. The plate is 14 inches long and 0.7 inches thick, and it puts the top of the dovetail bar 1.20 inches above the top of the tube. One safety stop screw and the mounting screws are included.

Who It's For

A C8 is the most common telescope in amateur astronomy and one of the most awkward to mount well, because the factory Vixen-style rail is short and shallow. This plate replaces that compromise with a full-length D-series bar bolted straight to the tube's own holes: more clamping length in the saddle, more balance travel, and a dovetail sized for the mount rather than for a lightweight alt-az.

Key Features & Design

• Cut for the Celestron 8" OTA, bolting to existing holes at 12.325"/12.70" separation.
• 14 inches long, 0.7 inches thick.
• 1.20 inches from the top of the tube to the top of the dovetail bar.
• Safety stop screw and mounting screws included.
• D-series profile, accepted by every current Losmandy saddle.
• No drilling — it uses the holes Celestron already put in the tube.

Recommended Uses

Mounting a Celestron 8-inch SCT on a Losmandy equatorial. Replacing the factory short rail with a full-length dovetail for better balance travel. Imaging with a C8 and a camera train, where the balance point moves as the train changes. Putting a C8 on an AZ8 alt-azimuth saddle.

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

• Telescope: the Celestron 8" OTA, using its existing hole pattern.
• Saddles: any Losmandy D-series saddle — the G-11 saddle, the GM8 saddle plate, and the twin saddles on the AZ8.
• Universal alternative: the 19" DUP plate carries a 3.5" separation among its six hole patterns and is listed as fitting the Celestron 8, if you would rather have a plate that can move to another tube later.
• Guide scope: the DVR108 rings clamp to the dovetail, with the DVR66 camera ring to steady a guide camera.
• Front counterbalance: an SCT is rear-heavy once a camera is fitted. The 2" and 5" counterbalance systems bolt to the plate to trim that out.

Good to Know Before You Order

• It fits the Celestron 8" specifically. Other Celestron sizes have their own plates, and the 9.25", 11" and 14" tubes use different hole separations.
• Losmandy publishes no weight for this plate. Our listed shipping weight is our own figure rather than a Losmandy specification.
• Mounting screws are included, so nothing extra is needed to bolt it to the tube.
• Specifications are Losmandy's published figures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to set up?

No. The plate bolts to the tube's existing holes with the supplied screws, then slides into the saddle and clamps. Fit the safety stop screw and it is done.

Do I need to drill my tube?

No. It uses the holes Celestron already provides.

Will it fit a 9.25" or 11" C-tube?

No — those use different hole separations. Tell us which tube you have and we will point you at the right plate.

Why not just use the factory rail?

The factory rail is short and in the Vixen-style profile. A 14-inch D-series plate gives more clamping length and more fore-and-aft travel for balancing, which matters most with a camera fitted.

Can I mount a guide scope on it?

Yes — the DVR108 rings clamp straight onto the dovetail.

Bottom Line

In short: a 14-inch Losmandy D-series plate cut for the Celestron 8-inch tube, bolting to its existing 12.325"/12.70" holes with screws and a safety stop included — the right dovetail for putting a C8 on a Losmandy mount.