Celestron OMNI XLT 102 manual Planetary and Lunar Photography with Special Imagers

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Note: Digital Cameras – follow the camera instructions on focusing and shutter data.

1.Polar align the telescope. For more information on polar aligning see the Polar Alignment section earlier in the manual.

2.Remove all visual accessories.

3.Thread the Radial Guider onto your telescope.

4.Thread the T-Ring onto the Radial Guider.

5.Mount your camera body onto the T-Ring the same as you would any other lens.

6.Set the shutter speed to the "B" setting.

7.Focus the telescope on a star.

8.Center your subject in the field of your camera.

9.Find a suitable guide star in the telescope field. This can be the most time consuming process.

10.Open the shutter using a cable release.

11.Monitor your guide star for the duration of the exposure using the buttons on the hand controller to make the needed corrections.

12.Close the camera's shutter.

When getting started, use fast films to record as much detail in the shortest possible time. Here are proven recommendations:

•Ektar 1000 (color print)

•Konica 3200 (color print)

•Fujichrome 1600D (color slide)

•3M 1000 (color slide)

•Scotchchrome 400

•T-Max 3200 (black and white print)

•T-Max 400 (black and white print)

As you perfect your technique, try specialized films, that is films that are designed or specially treated for celestial photography. Here are some popular choices:

•Ektar 125 (color print)

•Fujichrome 100D (color slide)

•Tech Pan, gas hypered (black and white print)

•T-Max 400 (black and white print)

There is no exposure determination table to help you get started. The best way to determine exposure length is to look at published photos and see what film exposure combinations were used. Or take unguided sample photos of various parts of the sky while the drive is running. Always take exposures of various lengths to determine the best exposure

Planetary and Lunar Photography with Special Imagers

During the last few years a new technology has evolved which makes taking superb images of the planets and moon relatively easy and the results are truly amazing. Celestron offers the NexImage (# 93712) which is a special camera and included is software for image processing. You can capture planetary mages your first night out which rivals what professionals were doing with large telescopes just a few short years ago.

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Contents Omni XLT Series Telescopes Table of Contents Astrophotography Page Omni XLT 102 Refractor Omni XLT 150 Newtonian Omni XLT 127 Schmidt-Cassegrain Setting up the Tripod Attaching the Equatorial Mount Attaching the Center Leg Brace Installing the Counterweight BarAttaching the Slow Motion Control Knobs Cables Installing the CounterweightsAttaching the Telescope Tube to the Mount Installing the Visual Back Installing the FinderscopeInstalling the Eyepieces Installing the Star DiagonalBalancing the Mount in R.A Moving the Telescope ManuallyBalancing the Mount in DEC Adjusting the MountAdjusting the Mount in Azimuth Adjusting the Mount in AltitudePage Page Image Orientation FocusingCalculating Magnification Aligning the FinderscopeGeneral Observing Hints Determining Field of ViewCelestial Coordinate System Motion of the Stars Pointing at Polaris Latitude ScaleFinding the North Celestial Pole Polar Alignment with the Latitude Scale Polar Alignment in the Southern HemisphereFinding the South Celestial Pole SCP Pointing at Sigma OctantisDeclination Drift Method of Polar Alignment Aligning the R.A. Setting Circle 11 Vernier Scale Using the R.A. Vernier ScalePlanetary Observing Hints Observing the MoonLunar Observing Hints Observing the PlanetsSeeing Conditions Observing the SunSolar Observing Hints Observing Deep Sky ObjectsSeeing Using the Lens Cap Aperture Stop with Refractor TelescopesPiggyback Photography Using Digital Cameras Full Eyepiece Projection for a Schmidt-CassegrainLong Exposure Prime Focus Photography Planetary and Lunar Photography with Special Imagers Reducing Vibration CCD Imaging for Deep Sky ObjectsTerrestrial Photography MeteringCollimation of Refractors Care and Cleaning of the OpticsTwo 2 turns Collimation of a Schmidt-CassegrainCollimated telescope Should appear Symmetrical with Aligning the Secondary Mirror Collimation of a NewtonianBoth mirrors aligned with your eye looking into the focuser Night Time Star Collimating As a Series 1 # Page Page Appendix a Technical Specifications Appendix B Glossary of Terms Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Celestron Two Year Warranty
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