Celestron NexStar 8i Hand Control Operation, Named Stars, Named Objects, Double Stars, Asterisms

4.Catalog Keys: The NexStar has keys on the hand control to allow direct access to each of the catalogs in its database. The NexStar contains the following catalogs in its database:

Messier – Complete list of all Messier objects.

NGC – Complete list of all the deep-sky objects in the Revised New General Catalog. Caldwell – A combination of the best NGC and IC objects.

Planets - All 8 planets in our Solar System plus the Moon and Sun. Stars – A compiled list of the brightest stars from the SAO catalog.

List – For quick access, all of the best and most popular objects in the NexStar database have been broken down into customized lists based on their type and/or common name:

Named Stars	Common name listing of the brightest stars in the
Named Objects	sky.
	Alphabetical listing of over 50 of the most popular
Double Stars	deep sky objects.
	Numeric-alphabetical listing of the most visually
	stunning double, triple and quadruple stars in the
Variable Stars	sky.
	Select list of the brightest variable stars with the
Asterisms	shortest period of changing magnitude.
	A unique list of some of the most recognizable star
CCD Objects	patterns in the sky.
	A custom list of many interesting galaxy pairs, trios
IC Objects	and clusters that are well suited for CCD imaging.
	A complete list of all the Index Catalog deep-sky
Abell Objects	objects.
	A complete list of all the Abell Catalog deep-sky
	objects.

5.Info: Displays coordinates and useful information about objects selected from the NexStar database.

6.Tour: Activates the tour mode, which seeks out all the best objects for the current date and time, and automatically slews the NexStar to those objects.

7.Enter: Pressing Enter allows you to select any of the NexStar functions and accept entered parameters.

8.Undo: Undo will take you out of the current menu and display the previous level of the menu path. Press Undo repeatedly to get back to a main menu or use it to erase data entered by mistake.

9.Menu: Displays the many setup and utilities functions such as tracking rate and user defined objects and many others.

10.Scroll Keys: Used to scroll up and down within any of the menu lists. A double-arrow will appear on the right side of the LCD when there are sub-menus below the displayed menu. Using these keys will scroll through those sub-menus.

11.Rate: Instantly changes the rate of speed of the motors when the direction buttons are pressed.

12.RS-232 Jack: Allows you to interface with a computer and control the NexStar remotely.

Hand Control Operation

This section describes the basic hand control procedures needed to operate the NexStar. These procedures are grouped into three categories: Alignment, Setup and Utilities. The alignment section deals with the initial telescope alignment as well as finding objects in the sky; the setup section discusses changing parameters such as tracking mode and tracking rate; finally, the last section reviews all of the utilities functions such as the slew limits, database filter limits and backlash compensation.

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