Page 4 - Some of the many standard features of the NexStar include:; Integrated hand controller – built into the side of the fork arm.; Warning
Congratulations on your purchase of the Celestron NexStar! The NexStar ushers in a whole new generation of computer automated technology. Simple and friendly to use, the NexStar is up and running after locating just three bright objects. It’s the perfect combination of power and portability. If you ...
Page 5 - NexStar 4 SE
1 2 3 12 1 Optical Tube 7 Battery Compartment 2 Star Pointer Finderscope 8 Tripod 3 Eyepiece 9 Accessory Tray / Leg Brace 4 Focuser Knob 10 ON/OFF Switch 5 Threaded Photographic Adapter 11 Hand Control 6 Flip Mirror Control 12 Liquid Crystal Display 4 8 11 10 6 9 7 5 NexStar 4 SE 5
Page 6 - Figure 3-1: The NexStar 4 Battery Compartment
The NexStar 4 comes completely pre-assembled and can be operational in a matter of minutes. The NexStar is conveniently packaged in one reusable shipping carton that contains all of the following accessories: • 25mm Eyepiece – 1 ¼ " • Star Pointer Finderscope • Steel Tripod with built-in Wedge •...
Page 7 - The Eyepiece; the
You are now ready to attach the included visual accessories onto the telescope optical tube. The Eyepiece Figure 3-2 – The Rear Cell with Visual Accessories Focuser Knob StarPointer Eyepiece Flip Mirror Control Diagonal Barrel The eyepiece, or ocular, is the optical element that magnifies the image ...
Page 8 - Star Pointer Operation; Remember to remove the plastic cover
Star Pointer Operation The star pointer is powered by a long life 3-volt lithium battery (#CR2032) located underneath the front portion of the Star Pointer. Like all finderscopes, the Star Pointer must be properly aligned with the main telescope before it can be used. This is a simple process using ...
Page 10 - The NexStar Hand Control
The NexStar 4 has a removable hand controller built into the side of the fork arm designed to give you instant access to all the functions the NexStar has to offer. With automatic slewing to nearly 40,000 objects, and common sense menu descriptions, even a beginner can master its variety of features...
Page 11 - Definition
4. Catalog Keys: The NexStar has a key on the hand control to allow direct access to each of the catalogs in its 40,000 object database. The NexStar contains the following catalogs in its database: Messier – Complete list of all Messier objects. NGC – Select list of all the deep-sky objects in the R...
Page 12 - EQ North and EQ South; Sky Align; Helpful
telescope. Finally, EQ North and EQ South alignments are designed to assist you in aligning the NexStar when polar aligned using the tripods built-in wedge. Each alignment method is discussed in detail below. Sky Align Sky Align is the easiest way to get your NexStar aligned and ready to observe. Ev...
Page 13 - Tips for Using Sky Align
5. If the finderscope has been properly aligned with the telescope tube, the alignment star should now be visible inside the field of view of the eyepiece. The hand control will ask that you center the bright alignment star in the center of the eyepiece and press the ALIGN button. This will accept t...
Page 14 - Hint; centering. This is done by pressing the RAT
• Press the UNDO button to display the next most suitable star for alignment. • Use the UP and DOWN scroll buttons to manually select any star you wish from the entire list of available stars. hen the telescope has been aligned to both stars the display will ad Align Success , and you are now ready ...
Page 15 - Align Successful; Tips for Using Solar System Align
Never look directly at the sun with the naked eye or with a telescope (unless you have the proper solar filter). Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result. 1. Select Solar System Align from the alignment options. 2. Press ENTER to accept the time/site information displayed on the display, or ...
Page 16 - NexStar SE
7. The telescope then asks you to center in the eyepiece the alignment object you selected. Use the direction arrow buttons to slew the telescope to the alignment object and carefully center it in the finderscope. Press ENTER when centered. 8. Then, center the object in the eyepiece and press ALIGN....
Page 19 - Nine available slew speeds; EQ North; Tracking Mode
D D i i r r e e c c t t i i o o n n B B u u t t t t o o n n s s The NexStar has four direction buttons in the center of the hand control which control the telescope motion in altitude (up and down) and azimuth (left and right). The telescope can be controlled at nine different speed rates. 1 = .5x 6...
Page 20 - User Defined Objects; command and press ENTER. The display will ask you to
This rate compensates for the rotation of the earth by moving the telescope at the same rate as the rotation of the earth, but in the opposite direction. When the telescope is polar aligned, this can be accomplished by moving the telescope in Right Ascension only. When mounted in Alt-Az mode, the te...
Page 21 - Take Exposure; - Saves the object as a user defined sky object; Object Number; - Allows you to set the number of exposures per object.; Exposure Time; - Allows you to set the duration of each exposure in seconds.
For a description of how to attach a camera body to you NexStar mount, see Astronomy Basics section. To locate a firing cable for your model of camera, contact your local camera retailer or go to the following web site, http://www.microsyncdigital.com Controlling your Camera Camera Wizard The Camera...
Page 22 - Get
Exposure Delay - Allows you to set a time delay between each exposure. Sequence End - The Sequence End option lets you select whether the imaging sequence should repeat indefinitely or stop once it reaches the last entry. Get RA/DEC - Get RA/DEC - Displays the right ascension and declination for the...
Page 23 - Direction Buttons –
necessary for photographic guiding. Positive backlash compensation is applied when the mount changes its direction of movement from backwards to forwards. Similarly, negative backlash compensation is applied when the mount changes its direction of movement from forwards to backwards. When tracking i...
Page 26 - MENU; ALIGNMENT; functions
ALT-AZEQ NORTHEQ SOUTHOFF M ODE SIDEREALSOLARLUNAR RATE TRACKIN G VIEW TIM E-SITE SETUP TIME-SITEANTI-BACKLASHSLEW LIMITSFILTER LIMITSDIRECTION BUTTONSGOTO APPROACH CORDW RAP SCOPE SETUP LIGHT CONTROLFACTORY SETTINGVERSIONGET AXIS POSITIONGOTO AXIS POSITIONHIBERNATESUN MENUSCROLLING TEXTCALIBRATE GO...
Page 29 - Never loo
G G e e n n e e r r a a l l O O b b s s e e r r v v i i n n g g H H i i n n t t s s • k across or over objects that are producing heat waves. This includes asphalt parking lots on hot summer days or building rooftops. • ographing under these conditions, the processed film may come out a little grain...
Page 30 - The celestial sphere seen from the outside showing R.A. and DEC.
Up to this point, this manual covered the assembly and basic operation of your NexStar telescope. However, to understand your telescope more thoroughly , you need to know a little about the night sky. This section deals with observational astronomy in general and includes information on the night sk...
Page 32 - moves in right ascension and declination.; Loosen the Latitude Adjustment Lock on the tripod.; Wedge Align; Select
Figure 6-3 This is how the telescope is to be set up for polar alignment. The tube should be parallel to the fork arm which should be pointed to Polaris. P P o o l l a a r r A A l l i i g g n n m m e e n n t t Even though the NexStar can precisely track a celestial object while in the Alt-Az positio...
Page 33 - Photography with the NexStar 4; Thread the T-adapter securely onto the photo adapter port.
Based on your current alignment, NexStar will slew to where it thinks Polaris should be. Use the tripod’s tilt plate adjustment to place Polaris in the center of the eyepiece. Do not use the hand control’s direction buttons to position Polaris. Once Polaris is centered in the eyepiece, press ENTER; ...
Page 34 - Finding the North Celestial Pole
Finding the North Celestial Pole Figure 6-6 The position of the Big Dipper changes throughout the year and the night. In each hemisphere, there is a point in the sky around which all the other stars appear to rotate. These points are called the celestial poles and are named for the hemisphere in whi...
Page 37 - Do NOT rub in circles!
While your NexStar telescope requires little maintenance, there are a few things to remember that will ensure your telescope performs at its best. C C a a r r e e a a n n d d C C l l e e a a n n i i n n g g o o f f t t h h e e O O p p t t i i c c s s Occasionally, dust and/or moisture may build up o...
Page 39 - – 12v 7Amp hour rechargeable power supply. Comes with two 12v output
lights. This includes mercury and high and low pressure sodium vapor lights. In addition, they also block unwanted natural light (sky glow) caused by neutral oxygen emission in our atmosphere. Celestron offers a model for 1-1/4" eyepieces (#94126A). Moon Filter (#94119-A) - Celestron’s Moon Filt...
Page 40 - Appendix A - Technical Specifications
Appendix A - Technical Specifications O O O p p p t t t i i i c c c a a a l l l S S S p p p e e e c c c i i i f f f i i i c c c a a a t t t i i i o o o n n n Design Maksutov-Cassegrain Catadioptric Aperture 4 inches (102mm) Focal Length 52 inches (1325mm) F/ratio of the Optical System 13 Primary Mir...
Page 44 - Appendix D – Maps of Time Zones
Page 52 - CELESTRON TWO YEAR WARRANTY
CELESTRON TWO YEAR WARRANTY A. Celestron warrants this telescope to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for two years. Celestron will repair or replace such product or part thereof which, upon inspection by Celestron, is found to be defective in materials or workmanship. As a condition...