YUse the Up and Down scroll keys to choose between City Database and Custom Site. City Database will allow you to select the closest city to your observing site from a list of either international or U.S. location. Custom Site allows you to enter the exact longitude and latitude of your observing site. Select City Database and press ENTER.

YThe 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 Statesis displayed. For international locations, use the Up or Down scroll key to select International and press ENTER.

YTo 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.

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

Time - Enter the current time for your area. You can enter either the local time (i.e. 8:00), or you can enter military time (i.e. 20:00).

YSelect PM or AM. If military time was entered, the hand control will bypass this step.

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

YSelect the time zone that you are observing from. Again, use the Up and Down buttons (10) to scroll through the choices. For time zone information, refer to the Time Zone map in the appendix of this manual.

Helpful

Date -

Enter the month, day and year of your observing session. The display will read: mm/dd/yy.

Hints

 

 

Observing

Tips

If the wrong information has been input into the hand control, the UNDO button will act as a backspace allowing the user to re-enter information.

The next time that your NexStar is auto aligned, the hand control will automatically display the last location (either a city or longitude/latitude) that was entered. Press ENTER to accept these parameters if they still apply. Pressing the UNDO button will allow you to go back and select a new city location or longitude/latitude.

YBased 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. 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 the same 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 Align Failed. Press UNDO to begin the alignment procedure again.

If you are not sure if the correct star was centered, always remember that the alignment star will be the brightest star nearest the field of view of the finder. There may be other fainter stars visible that are closer to the center of the Star Pointer, but the actual alignment star will be obviously brighter than any other star in the area.

When centering the alignment stars in the eyepiece, use the up arrow button and the right arrow button on the hand control. Centering the star from this direction will eliminate much of the backlash between the gears and assure the most accurate alignment possible.

Two Star Alignment

With the two-star alignment method, the NexStar requires the user to know the positions of only two bright stars in order to accnurately align the telescope with the sky and begin finding objects. Here is an overview of the two-star alignment procedure:

14

Page 13 Page 15
Page 14
Image 14
Celestron 80GTL manual Helpful, Hints, Two Star Alignment
Page 13 Page 15

80GTL specifications

The Celestron 80GTL is a powerful and compact telescope designed for both amateur astronomers and experienced stargazers. It combines modern technology with user-friendly features, making it an excellent choice for those looking to explore the night sky. With its 80mm aperture, the 80GTL captures enough light to reveal a variety of celestial objects, from the moon’s craters to distant galaxies.

One of the standout characteristics of the Celestron 80GTL is its innovative Altazimuth mount. This mount provides smooth and precise movements in both horizontal and vertical directions, allowing users to easily track celestial objects as they move across the sky. The setup is quick and straightforward, making it ideal for beginners who may be intimidated by more complex mounts.

The telescope is equipped with Celestron’s StarScope system, which includes a computer-controlled GoTo mount. This feature allows users to automatically locate and track over 40,000 celestial objects with the push of a button. The included hand controller is intuitive and easy to navigate, giving users instant access to stars, planets, and deep-sky objects. This technology not only enhances the viewing experience but also helps novice astronomers learn about the universe with guided tours through the night sky.

Another notable feature of the Celestron 80GTL is its sturdy construction and lightweight design. Made from high-quality materials, it boasts durability while remaining portable for easy transport. Weighing just under 10 pounds, this telescope can be taken on camping trips or excursions, allowing users to enjoy astronomy in various locations.

Additionally, users will appreciate the 80GTL’s fully coated glass optics which provide excellent image quality and contrast. The included 25mm and 10mm eyepieces offer different magnifications, catering to diverse viewing preferences. Whether observing the rings of Saturn or the detail of lunar landscapes, the 80GTL promises clear and sharp images.

In summary, the Celestron 80GTL is a highly capable telescope, combining an accessible design with advanced technologies. Its user-friendly GoTo mount, quality optics, and lightweight build make it an exceptional option for anyone wishing to delve into the wonders of the cosmos, ensuring both enjoyment and education in the field of astronomy.
Top Page Image Contents