Celestron NexStar HC manual Enter

Page 17

Trouble Shooting

with all accessories (eyepiece and Star Pointer) attached and lens cover removed as described in the Assembly section of the manual.

1.Once the NexStar is powered on , Press ENTER to begin alignment.

2.Use the Up and Down scroll keys to select AutoAlign if it is not already displayed, and press ENTER.

3.The telescope will then ask you to use the arrow keys (3) to level the telescope tube and point the front of the telescope towards north. North can be found by finding the direction of the North Star (Polaris) or by using a compass. You do not need to point at the North Star, only the north horizon. Alignment only needs to be approximate, however a close alignment will make the auto alignment more accurate. Once the telescope is in the north and level position, press

ENTER.

4.The hand control display will then ask for the following information:

Date - Enter the month, day and year of your observing session. The display will read: mm/dd/yy Time - Enter the current local time for your area and select PM or AM.

•Choose between Standard time or Daylight Savings time. Use the Up and Down scroll buttons (10) to toggle between options.

•Select the time zone that you are observing from. Again, use the Up and Down buttons (10) to scroll through the choices. To enter a numeric time zone, select Zone and enter the number for the appropriate time zone. For time zone information, refer to the Time Zone map in the appendix of this manual.

Finally, you must enter the location of your observing site. The NexStar will display a list of cities to choose from. Choose the city from the database that is closest to your current observing site. The city you choose can be saved in the hand controls memory so that it only has to be entered once from any given location. Alternatively, if you know the exact longitude and latitude of your observing site, it can be entered directly into the hand control and remembered for future use as well. To choose a location city:

1.When Select Method is displayed on the hand control screen, use the Up and Down scroll keys to select Choose City if it is not already displayed, and press ENTER.

2.The hand control will allow you to choose from either U.S. or international locations. For a listing of U.S. locations by state and then by city, press ENTER while United States is displayed. For international locations, use the Up or Down scroll key to select Internationaland press ENTER.

3.To display a list of local cities, first select your state from the alphabetical listing (or a list of countries if International locations was selected) and press ENTER.

4.Choose the closest city to your location from the displayed list and press ENTER.

The display will then ask if you would like to save this city for future use. If you press "Yes", the next time you AutoAlign the telescope, you can select User Defined instead of the Choose City. When User Defined is selected, the hand control will allow you to choose from either the location cities that were saved or any individual longitude/latitude that was saved. Use the UP and DOWN arrow keys to scroll through the stored cities, when the desired city is displayed, press ENTER. For saved locations (longitudes/latitudes), enter the number (1-9) of the location coordinates that were saved.

Based on this information, the NexStar will automatically select a bright star that is above the horizon and slew towards it. At this point the telescope is only roughly aligned, so the alignment star should only be close to the field of view of the Star Pointer finder. Once finished slewing, the display will ask you to use the arrow buttons to align the selected star with the red dot in the center of the Star Pointer's field of view. If for some reason the chosen star is not visible (perhaps behind a tree or building) you can press UNDO to select and slew to a different star. Once centered in the finder, press ENTER. The display will then instruct you to center the star in the field of view of the eyepiece. When the star is centered, press ALIGN to accept this star as your first alignment star. (There is no need to adjust the slewing rate of the motors after each alignment step. The NexStar automatically selects the best slewing rate for aligning objects in both the Star Pointer and the eyepiece). After the

first alignment star has been entered the NexStar will automatically slew to a second alignment star and have you repeat this procedure for that star. When the telescope has been aligned to both stars the display will read Alignment Successful, and you are now ready to find your first object.

If the wrong star was centered and aligned to, the NexStar display will read Bad Alignment. Should this occur, the display will automatically ask you to re-center the last alignment star and press ALIGN. If you believe that the wrong star may have been centered (remember the alignment star will always be the brightest star nearest the field of view of the finder), then re- center the star and press ALIGN. If you wish to try aligning on a different star, press UNDO and the NexStar will select two new alignment stars and automatically slew to the first star.

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Contents Page Celestial Coordinate System Telescope Maintenance Some of the many standard features of the NexStar include Flip Mirror Focuser Knob Direction Buttons Page Assembling the NexStar Powering the NexStarEyepiece Hand ControlEyepieceStarPointer Diagonal Flip Mirror Control Focuser KnobStar Pointer Finderscope with Mounting Bracket Star Pointer FinderscopePage Hand Control Rate Button Utility FeaturesGuideStar Software NexStar Hand Control Hand Control Operation Alignment ProcedureEnter Selecting an Object Object CatalogSlewing to an Object More InformationObserving Tip Tour ModeDirection Buttons Setup Procedures User Objects Helpful Utility FeaturesNexStar Ready Image Orientation Determining Field of View FocusingCalculating Magnification General Observing Hints Celestial sphere seen from the outside showing R.A. and DEC Celestial Coordinate SystemMotion of the Stars Definition Polar Alignment with optional WedgeAttaching a Camera to the NexStar Photography with the NexStarFinding the North Celestial Pole Observing the Planets Observing the MoonObserving Deep Sky Objects Observing the SunSeeing Conditions TransparencySeeing Care and Cleaning of the Optics Super Modified Achromatic SMA Eyepieces 11/4 Page Page Appendix a Technical Specifications Appendix B Glossary of Terms Page Page Appendix C Maps of Time Zones Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Celestron ONE Year Warranty Page Addendum to Nexstar Telescope Manual

NexStar HC specifications

The Celestron NexStar Hand Controller (HC) is an advanced control unit designed to enhance the astronomical observation experience for both novice and experienced stargazers. This innovative device is an integral part of the NexStar telescope series and offers a range of features that simplify the process of locating celestial objects.

One of the main features of the NexStar HC is its user-friendly interface. The controller is equipped with a large, illuminated LCD screen that displays essential information clearly, even in low-light conditions. The layout is intuitive, allowing users to quickly familiarize themselves with its functions. The keypad includes dedicated buttons for common tasks, making it easy to navigate the expansive database of celestial objects.

The NexStar HC boasts an impressive database containing over 40,000 celestial objects, making it a powerful tool for astrophotography and observational astronomy. Users can access planets, stars, galaxies, and nebulae at the touch of a button. The built-in database allows for precise and efficient locating of objects, significantly reducing the time spent searching the night sky.

One of the standout technologies featured in the NexStar Hand Controller is the GoTo functionality. This advanced tracking technology enables the telescope to automatically locate and track celestial objects with high precision. By entering the desired object into the controller, users can allow the telescope to autonomously adjust its position, providing a hassle-free experience.

Additionally, the NexStar HC supports various alignment methods, including SkyAlign, AutoAlign, and One-Star Align. These alignment techniques assist in calibrating the telescope for optimal tracking and positioning. The SkyAlign method, in particular, allows users to point the telescope at any three bright stars, and the HC will calculate the telescope's location in relation to those stars, making alignment accessible even for beginners.

The NexStar Hand Controller is also compatible with Celestron’s StarSense technology, enabling automatic alignment using a smartphone. This feature allows users to refine their observations seamlessly and provides a modern twist to traditional stargazing methods.

Other notable characteristics include programmable go-to tracking speeds and the ability to save user-defined locations. The controller’s ergonomic design ensures comfort during long observing sessions, while the robust build quality guarantees durability.

In summary, the Celestron NexStar Hand Controller combines a wealth of features and cutting-edge technologies to enhance the stargazing experience. Its user-friendly interface, extensive database, versatile alignment methods, and compatibility with advanced tracking systems make it an indispensable tool for anyone looking to explore the wonders of the night sky.
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