Celestron StarSense

[FLO]

The Celestron StarSense has been this year's surprise hit. It was mentioned only casually in another thread yet has generated lots of enquiries, loads of 'notify me when available' clicks and several pre-orders.

Unfortunately it still hasn't been released

We have requested an ETA and will post details here as soon as we are able.

Thank-you for your patience.

[M4lcs67]

Thanks Steve,

Chris Rowland (one of Celestron's beta testers) has been using one and he says it is a good piece of kit. Was waiting myself to see if someone bought one to find out what the verdict was, but Chris has posted his own opinions further down on SGL.

[DrRobin]

It looks a great idea. I can easily waste 30 minutes trying to align my mount (EQ6), especially when there is cloud and you can't easily see or make out the alignment stars. I have always thought that Celestron's idea of just slewing the scope round to three bright stars and let the electronics work out what you chose was so much better. This camera just adds to that as it keeps on using stars to refine the accuracy. Pity Skywatcher hasn't followed suit?

I haven't any experience of Celestron's any star alignment, does it work well in practise?

Robin

[Chris Rowland]

There are people in the USA reporting that it's available in limited quantities.

There's the usual sort of thing on Censored Naysayers.

Must rush - it's clear.

Chris

[allcart]

It will be on my wish list too when it appears. I'm all for the easy life.

[Pig]

Me too, is it powered by the mount ?

[Chris Rowland]

It's a new HC and a camera module. You connect both to the mount using the HC and/or Aux connectors and apply power to the mount as usual.

Chris

[baggywrinkle]

Can it act as a guide camera too?

[baggywrinkle]

Just downloaded the manual. It seems to say it can track accurately. If on an EQ mount that should help, but on an AZ (like my 6SE) it will be limited.

It also looks like the handset takes over all the functions of the original handset on the SE series and presumably the others too.

[Chris Rowland]

Can it act as a guide camera too?

No. The image scale is about 19 arc seconds a pixel. For guiding it would need to locate the centre of the stars to within 1/10th of a pixel and that's a tall order.

Chris

[Chris Rowland]

Just downloaded the manual. It seems to say it can track accurately. If on an EQ mount that should help, but on an AZ (like my 6SE) it will be limited.

It also looks like the handset takes over all the functions of the original handset on the SE series and presumably the others too.

Not sure what you mean by limited. On an EQ mount it tracks using the Ra axis and on an AltAz mount it uses both the altitude and azimuth axes, just as the other HCs do.

Yes, the SS HC replaces the other HC entirely. It's got most of the functionality of the original HC. The menus are a lot different.

Chris

[baggywrinkle]

Re the AZ and me saying limited. I meant it would track but it still would not make an AZ good for long time exposures.

[peterbrier]

Hi All 

my first post just joined.

I currently operate my 6se scope remotely from inside the house - does anyone know if SkySense has the equivalent of Nexremote PC software or can Nexremote control SkySense

And does anyone know when skysense will be available in the UK

Thanks in anticipation

Peter

[M4lcs67]

Skysense is imminently being released in the UK. The word on the streets is it will be available in the next 3 weeks or so. The reviews are very favourable and I am seriously considering it to run my CG5. FLO have it up at £295 which is a very good price. Regarding the Nexremote, I don't know.

[peterbrier]

Thanks Malc

[FLO]

Skysense is imminently being released in the UK. The word on the streets is it will be available in the next 3 weeks or so. The reviews are very favourable and I am seriously considering it to run my CG5. FLO have it up at £295 which is a very good price. Regarding the Nexremote, I don't know.

Malc is right but unfortunately there won't be enough Celestron StarSense in the first delivery (currently on a boat somewhere in the Atlantic) to fulfil our backorders. 

We, and a handful of other retailers, met with Celestron yesterday to discuss a number of products. It quickly became clear demand for the StarSense has exceeded all our expectations. Also, with this being a new product, they are being routed through Celestron's facilities in Torrence (California) for final quality control and testing. This is good and reassuring but it does delay their journey to the UK.

We are doing everything we can but unfortunately most backorders will be fulfilled from the second delivery which is due late-Oct / early-Nov. Thereafter supply should catch up with demand and we will have them here on our shelves for overnight dispatch. 

Thank-you for your patience 

Steve 

[hobsey]

I'm seriously contemplating ordering one of these.

[M4lcs67]

I have made the decision to hold off for a little while as someone (LTB) has said that it does not work properly for him.

I have a StarSense and it does not work.  It fails every time I try to use it to align the mount.  I have tried it in my moderately light polluted backyard.  I have tried it at a friends moderately dark home.  I have tried it at a dark site.  I have had 3 friends with a 100 years combined experience work with it.  I have switched my scope around, moved things to make sure there is nothing blocking or impeding the camera.....all to no avail.  The unit turns on, it moves to differing parts of the sky, it senses, it solves and then it says.......alignment failed.  Try again.

 

Im totally unimpressed with it.  I have celestron products and they all work great but my experience with the star sense is not that good.  I had dreams of 3 minute alignments but guess I can do a 10 minute alignment myself and save 329.00 bucks.

 

Whats even frustrating is that I had to take my Explore Scientific literally apart to install the bracket to hold it in place, I had to drill out the mounting holes slightly to work with my tube assembly so now I cant even sell it or return it.....Oh well....purchase one with care.....know that from what Ive read its hit or miss.......some folks LOVE theirs....others cant get them to work.

 

I will just hold on and see what happens before handing over my moolah. It will also make life easier when there are plenty available on the shelves as well.

[hobsey]

Oh, thats not good. Thanks for the input.

I guess it like everything new, there will always be teething problems with the first lot.

[allcart]

Its unfortunate, but with the weather and cloudy nights, testing will be very slow.

[FLO]

I have made the decision to hold off for a little while as someone (LTB) has said that it does not work properly for him.

LTB? Is that someone who has purchased one here in the UK? 

Rest assured we will only dispatch Celestron StarSense when they have been 100% cleared for release here in the UK 

[M4lcs67]

Hey Steve, LTB is a member from the States,  http://stargazerslounge.com/user/31835-ltb/. He has recently posted his review of the Starsense and it does seem strange that it refuses to work for him. For sure, you would think that a company as large as Celestron would allow for a piece of gear to be passed as fit for general sale if it didn't work properly then there would be serious repercussions, so I don't know what to think. As far as FLO are concerned you have your reputation to think of and I am 100% sure you would only put something for sale if it was truly up to the job. Perhaps LTB had one of the very first ones and there may have been teething troubles with the first batch? Also maybe there will be software updates for the controller as time goes along resolving glitches that may appear as the units are used more and more in real conditions?

[alanjgreen]

Quote "Whats even frustrating is that I had to take my Explore Scientific literally apart to install the bracket to hold it in place, I had to drill out the mounting holes slightly to work with my tube assembly so now I cant even sell it or return it."

Sounds like he is NOT attaching it to a Celestron mount - probably not supported.

Alan

[FLO]

I am not concerned at this stage Malc. We met with Celestron last month, they assured us when the StarSense tests 100% okay it will be released to the UK and other countries. That's good enough for me  

Steve 

[Chris Rowland]

It looks like a typical product basher.  There's a lot of it about.

There are teething troubles with this.  It seems to have escaped a bit before it was fully ready.  However Celestron are standing behind this and there have been several updates that are available to people who join the TeamCelestron group.

The current situation seems to be that the basic align functionality works for current mounts. There are question marks over the CG5 and CGE mounts, also the NexStar GPS mounts.

Known issues are operation in the Southern Hemisphere and ASPA. Both are high priority, ASPA higher.  Another problem is coping with obstructed skies, this needs to be improved but the workaround of a manual alignment where you point it at some clear areas works well.

Good things are the plate solving process. This is pretty solid and gives good positions. Another good thing is the upgrade process. It's rock solid and it's never failed me, even when what's been uploaded hasn't worked.

As it is, if you are the sort of person who wants something to work perfectly immediately and never need upgrading - wait.

If you don't mind there being a few things that don't fully work, are happy to do upgrades, or are a visual observer who doesn't need things like polar alignment then this is for you.

I've had a beta version since May so have had a fair amount of experience, in spite of the weather.  I've been impressed with how well it copes with aligning with hazy twilight skies.

Chris