Celestron 8 SE - Manual

The Star Diagonal The star diagonal diverts the light at a right angle from the light path of the telescope. For astronomical observing, this allows you to observe in positions that are more comfortable than if you were to look straight through. To attach the star diagonal: Figure 3-2 - The visual a...

3. Tighten the two screws on the side of the mounting track to secure the Star Pointer to the dovetail bracket. 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...

Attaching the NexStar to the Tripod The Celestron NexStar tripod is a sturdy, heavy duty mount on which to place your NexStar 6/8" telescope. This tripod can go anywhere, from your backyard to a remote observing site. The tripod comes completely assembled and only needs to have the center leg br...

The NexStar 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 40,000 objects, and common sense menu descriptions, even a beginner can master its variety of features in just ...

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...

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...

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...

• Press the UNDO button to display the next most suitable star for alignment. nce ar in the field of view of the eyepiece. When the tar is centered, press ALIGN to accept this star as your second alignment star. When the telescope has been aligned to both stars the , and you are now ready to find yo...

Solar System Align Solar System Align is designed to provide excellent tracking and GoTo p erformance by using solar system objects (Sun, Moon with a telescope (unless you have the proper solar filter). ent object you selected. Use the direction arrow buttons to slew the . position, the NexStar will...

s t one of these stars (perhaps it is behind a tree o ui ble stars. nment object and carefully center it in the fi 8. Then, center the object in the eyepiece and press ALIGN. 9. Once you press the ALIGN button the telescope will automaticall gnment. lignment stars it is best to choose stars that, a)...

Sle Onc ontrol screen, you have two options: limits (see Slew Limits in the Scope Setup section of the manual). Press UNDO to go back and select a new setting btained without having to do a star alignment. After the telescope is powered on, pressing any of the catalog eys allows you to scroll throug...

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 four direction ttons 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 nin speed rates. The NexStar has bu e different 1 = .5x...

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...

ALT-AZEQ NORTHEQ SOUTHOFF MODE SIDEREALSOLARLUNAR RATE TRACKIN G VIEW TIM E-SITE SETUP TIME-SITEANTI-BACKLASHSLEW LIMITSFILTER LIMITSDIRECTION BUTTONSGOTO APPROACH AUTOGUIDE RATESCORDW RAP SCOPE SETUP GPS ON/OFFLIGHT CONTROLFACTORY SETTINGVERSIONGET AXIS POSITIONGOTO AXIS POSITIONHIBERNATESUN MENUSC...

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...

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...

Photography with the NexStar After looking at the night sky for a while you may want to try photographing it. In addition to the specific accessories required for celestial photography, there is the need for a camera - but not just any camera. The camera does not have to have many of the features of...

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...

S S o o l l a a r r 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 o The best time to observe the Sun is in the early morning or late afternoon when the air is cooler. o To center the Sun without looking into the eyepiece, watch the shadow of the telescope tube until it forms a circular sha...

While your NexStar telescope requires little maintenance, there are a few things to remember that will ensure your telescope performs at its best. Care and Cleaning of the Optics Occasionally, dust and/or moisture may build up on the corrector plate of your telescope. Special care should be taken wh...

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 NexStar 6SE (#11068) NexStar 8SE (#11069) Design Schmidt Cassegrain Optical Design Schmidt Cassegrain Optical Design Aperture 6 inches (150mm)...

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...