Geoffw

I’ve been looking for a reasonably priced camera for deep sky, planetary and lunar imaging with my NexStar 8SE. But, this weekend I unexpectedly acquired a Coronado PST solar scope. So, I am now looking for a camera that would work effectively with both. i have recently missed out on purchasing a second hand Altair Hypercam 183C. Would this still fit the bill, or should I be looking at something else?

Anyone using the Celestron 2" Dielectric Star Diagonal with Twist-Lock who could help me with some advise before I tackle the supplier of my "new" diagonal that arrived this morning. The 1.25" ring tightens fine on any 1.25" eyepiece i insert tightening the compression ring comfortable around the eyepiece, but not the 2". Even when screwed down tight it is not putting any pressure on the two pressure rings in the body of the the device and the eyepiece or the adaptor for the 1.25" Holder sits there loosely.

I have the latest updates installed.

Can anyone using using Celestron StarSense Camera & SkySync GPS on the same scope help me here? Reading the section in the manual for using a StarSense handset with my NexStar 8SE quoted below ‘Time / Location Source’: where you choose where StarSense retrieves its time, & location. information . an ofption GPS appears when your fit the SkySync GPS unit. “This is automatically acquired when you first start using StarSense, but you can choose to manually change these settings if you wish . Some telescopes, like the Advanced VX, have a Real Time Clock (RTC), others like the CPC/CPC DX have a Global Positioning System (GPS), which saves and keeps track of time . If your telescope has neither of these, you will need to enter the time manually when setting up your telescope ..” my question to anyone who is using it with the Celestron SkySync GPS. WHEN YOU STARTUP DO YOU HAVE TO SET THE SOURCE AS “GPS” EACH TIME. USING THE MENU TREE? I know that using the standard handset there is a switch in the Utilities sub-menu that allows you to turn GPS on and off, but the menu tree in the handset that comes with the StarSense camera has a different menu and this option is not there.

Yes, I built mine to sit on th Telrad base, hence the shape and dimensions.

FXT45759-Edit-Edit.tifFXT45759-Edit-Edit.tifFXT45759-Edit-Edit.tifFXT45759-Edit-Edit.tifFXT45759-Edit-Edit.tif

To round off this topic! Fitted the Motor Focuser on to my newish Celestron NexStar 8SE. As it is controlled via the aux port I thought I should reset the the handset. Having done this the motor focuser worked really well and everything seem fine, till a rare night of clear skies and the possibility of seeing the tail end of the comet had me running the align routine, I was all over the place. It would not align. It told me the moon wasn't there in the sky when it most certainly was! I went over all the settings time and time again, but couldn't see the problem..... AND THEN THE PENNY DROPPED. I had entered the Latitude and Longitude the wrong way round. My scope thought I was somewhere around the Caribbean! A lesson truly learned!

IDIOT! Just fitted a Motor Focuser on to my newish Celestron NexStar 8SE. As it is controlled via the aux port I thought I should reset the the handset. Having done this the motor focuser worked really well and everything seem fine, till a rare night of clear skies and the possibility of seeing the tail end of the comet had me running the align routine, I was all over the place. It would not align. It told me the moon wasn't there in the sky when it most certainly was! I went over all the settings time and time again, but couldn't see the problem..... AND THEN THE PENNY DROPPED. I had entered the Latitude and Longitude the wrong way round. My scope thought I was somewhere around the Caribbean! A lesson truly learned!

>……… and it works a treat!

Well it arrived safely and complete 4 days early. £224.47 in total cheaper than anywhere in the UK or Europe - even if they could source it! Now for the fitting…..

edit in the "e" prior to pasting into the address box and it will work. Try this....... http://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/bonus-content/RRX0AL4

The link to Sky art nights extra online content link has a error in it in the February 2023 issue and will not connect. What it is trying to open is http://www.skyatnightmagazin.com/bonus-content/RRX0AL4 What it should link to is http://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/bonus-content/RRX0AL4 The link has the "e" missing off the end of http://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/

Just placed the order.

Dispatches from Amazon US Sold by Amazon US

Credit where it's due! Pardon the pun....... Wex have just got back to me with apologies. They will change their website details to remove "5-7 days" to "Special Order" and have refunded me the full part exchange credit on my account! So is it 1: Wait for UK supply 2: Astroshop (Germany) £281 +p&p 3: Amazon International (US) £224.65 inc. Import fees & p&p

My problem is I ordered from Wex who were, and still are quoting 3 to 7 days fulfilment.. but traded in a couple of lenses and accepted credit to purchase the focuser. I am now stuck with them as I am having difficulty getting the credit back so I can go elsewhere.

Does anyone know when this log jam in supplying some Celestron accessories in the UK will ease. I have had a Celestron Motor focuser on order since the beginning of November last year. What has annoyed me it that Astroshop.eu, across the channel, appears able to source them but nowhere in the UK has them in stock. https://www.astroshop.eu/motors-controls/celestron-focus-motor-for-sc-and-edgehd-telescopes/p,61748 Are other manufacturers having supply issues?

This is a very interesting thread IMO as I have severe astigmatism and am long sighted. So am I right to think it best to have a pair of distance only glasses for observing? And then reading glasses to deal with the optics and the kit?

I have recently updated to a Celestron NexStar 8SE that has one auxiliary socket. Also have the Starsense Camera, and Celestron 93973 Skyportal Wifi Module attached using a splitter to run two devices through the one aux socket. I am controlling the scope through the SkyPortal App. but would like to retain access to the Handset. Question: Can I run another aux device, and if so, what is the best way, to run a Celestron Focus Motor that also require an auxiliary connection so that I can control it through the SkyPortal App?

Just isn’t fair! Forecast for Mars meeting the Moon at 04.50 Thursday morning. Glorious dark sky Mid-Pembrokeshire (Bortle 4) or the heart of Birmingham City (Bortle 7).

A more realistic and believable answer via email this morning from FLO! ******************************************************************************* "Hello Geoff I am afraid that at the present time Celestron are unable to give us an ETA for the Focus Motor. It has been unavailable for some time now due to component shortages. Have you considered the ZWO EAF with SCT Bracket? https://www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-accessories/zwo-electronic-automatic-focuser-eaf-5v.html https://www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-accessories/zwo-eaf-bracket-for-celestron-c11-and-c14-sct-telescopes.html https://www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-accessories/zwo-eaf-bracket-for-celestron-c8-c925-sct-edge-hd-telescopes.html Best wishes Ian" ******************************************************************************* Unfortunately I am a bit stuck as I traded in a couple of camera lenses with Wex to buy it so my credit is there awaiting this mythical device.

Celestron Focus Motor Wex 3 to 7 days - I've been waiting a month FLO due 60-90 working days Rother Valley Optics "Thee wont git one till aftah christmas" Are there any in stock in the UK?

So no damage, shows you how little physics I took in in school all those years ago.

Using Laser Pointer with the Star Adventurer Tracker I have just watched a YouTube video about using the “MoveShootMove” laser pointer with a Star Adventurer Tracker. https://youtu.be/HJLfDS-ZAPc It recommend you place the laser pointer to shine through the polar scope, attaching it to the eyepiece end of the polar scope. But, surely that would damage the lens system of the Sky Adventurer's polarscope.

Had mine a couple of weeks and still no break in the cloud to try it out!!! I have a rather restricted garden so when I first give it a try, and try to calibrate it, I am likely to have to use the StarSense Manual Align feature. One thing that has been bugging me is the area of sky needed to capture an image and get an individual alignment. I can find no specification for the camera's field of view. Basically I have no horizon in the garden and taking into account the house and trees I have a band of running open sky running east to west plus a gap between two trees to the south. Has anyone any information on the StarSense camera lens and its field of view?