Highly　sinterable　nanopowder　of　8　mol%　yttria-stabilized　cubic　zirconia　(8YSZ)　was　synthesized　via　a　hydrothermal　homogeneous　precipitation　(HHP)　method.　The　nanopowder　with　an　average　particle　size　of　26　nm,　exhibits　good　dispersibility,　narrow　particle　size　distribution　and　high　purity,　making　it　ideal　raw　material　for　preparing　transparent　ceramics.　Utilizing　spark　plasma　sintering　(SPS)　under　mild　conditions　(1200-1350　degrees　C,　80　MPa,　10　min)　in　contrast　to　hot　isostatic　pressing　(HIP),　cubic　zirconia　ceramics　with　favorable　optical　and　mechanical　properties　were　produced.　The　sample　sintered　at　1250　degrees　C　achieved　the　highest　transmittance　of　74　%@850　nm,　significantly　surpassing　the　performance　of　samples　prepared　from　two　other　commercial　8YSZ　powders.　Furthermore,　the　specimen　sintered　at　1200　degrees　C　with　a　dense　fine　microstructure　(relative　density:　99.51　%,　grain　size:　460　nm),　demonstrated　the　highest　hardness　and　fracture　toughness,　reaching　15.72　GPa　and　1.28　MPa　m(1/2),　respectively.