Geoffw

Perhaps A silly question but ho do I identify which Celestron handset I have?

Hi!

Well I'm not an expert as I only had mine on Wednesday.  I haven't found the manual terrible helpful.  But I assume from what you say you do not want the SAM (Star Adventurer Mini) to control your camera.  If that is the case your camera must have an interval timer as a feature so you can set that seperately from the SAM yourself.  The SAM will only control the shots if you have one of the cameras listed in the manual and you have obtained a connecting cable. 

I have managed to get mine to work, though it has not been clear enough to take it outside yet.  If you are controlling the camera yourself I suggest:

1: set up the SAM.  I am just aligning it manually with the sight on top while I'm getting to know it.

2: Sit your camera on it and programme the interval timer.

3: Set up the network connection and start the App on your phone.

4: When it is connected to the SAM you must enter our Location (I think (hope) you only have to do this once.

5: Choose your slew speed - Sidereal Solar etc.  Ignore everything else.

6: select "RUN"

7: Start the interval timer on your camera.

8: switch off the SAM when the camera has finished.

Well that what I'm going to try the next clear night we have.

......................... and it does the job!

That does look as though it might do the job.  Thanks!

I have this Celestron Focus Motor (#94142) attached to my scope.  I would like to obtain an extension cable that would allow me an extra couple of metres.  Any suggestions as to how I could obtain one would be appreciated.

I use the Telegizmos cover with my Nexstar 9.25" and it certainly seems an ideal all-weather cover.  Especially on those hot, sunny summer days that seem so rare.  During a gale it did fly away once when I didn't secure it properly, but with it's silvered surface it was easy enough to spot a couple of fields away! I did buy a size larger than the one recommended for my scope as I have a Telrad fitted and Telegizmos warn the it could tear the fabric.   I know they are costly, but they are looking after an expensive and delicate piece of kit in all kinds of weather.

Thanks folks for the helpful advice and information.  The dog has decided to buy me a flip-up rifle scope cover , as I hope it can be more securely attached to the finder scope, for less than a fiver post free.  From China I suspect!

Can anyone  suggest a source or a DIY replacement for a 57mm push-on object lens cover for the finder-scope on my Celestron Nextstar 9.25".  I've tried a couple of the usual suppliers without success.

The dog needs to get me a replacement!

35 minutes ago, ollypenrice said:

We are not pre-industrial beings any more, our world view has changed, but as well as having more capabilities at our disposal we also have more constraints. We don't, for instance, believe in magic. We don't believe in witchcraft. We don't believe in alchemy. We don't believe in fortune telling or astrology. Whether or not we believe in miracles is not for this forum. So one might argue that our view of 'what might or might not be possible' has has been constrained by more that it has been liberated.

Olly

Point well made Olly!  A wandering asteroid might also end the argument anyway!

Fascinating Discussion.  I think we need to go back say 250 years, so before the Industrial Revolution, , consider what humans at that time thought of their universe, their place in it and what might or might not be possible - and then consider the issue again.

Let me know how yo get on.  now waiting in the hope someone will address my problem!

Yes that is my handset.  Sorry about the misunderstanding! 

I've installed the HCupdate software on my Windows 10 PC.  It runs fine on Windows 10 but you must go through the W10 compatibility  routine and designate Windows 7.

I have then followed the instructions from https://www.nexstarsite.com/OddsNEnds/HCFirmwareUpgradeHowToVersion4.htm up to the point where you are instructed to hold down the the INFO and  UNDO buttons as you switch on the power.

That's when it all goes wrong.  All I get is the information on, what I presume, is the first Star in the catalogue.

3 hours ago, newbie alert said:

Is it a nexstar+ or a nexstar* handset?

I'm not sure what the NexStar* handset is  but I am pretty sure mine is one of the earlier ones, but can be updated.  The previous owner passed on the necessary connecting cable to me on purchase.  However when I follow the instructions to put it in programmable mode (Hold down the hand control's UNDO and INFO buttons at the same time and turn on the power to the scope)  I simple get Star information.  My kit is usable as there is a work around by editing the date during setup,  But it would be nice to have mastered doing the update.

I'll give another try tomorrow, but I'm sure I am.

No it is the old one Brian that has an INFO button rather than the Celestron Button and you're specifically told to press the INFO & UNDO buttons.

Hi folks,

I want to update the firmware on my Nexstar 925 GPS hands set. II am following the instructions on the Nexstar Resources Site https://www.nexstarsite.com/OddsNEnds/HCFirmwareUpgradeHowToVersion4.htm

I have connected my PC to the handset but when I follow the instruction to start by "Hold down the hand control's UNDO and INFO buttons at the same time and turn on the power to the scope.  Release the buttons and the hand control should now display "Transmit Data..." I get information about a star!

Not sure how to proceed.  I am finally getting around to try correcting the hand control wrong date issue!

1 hour ago, Shimrod said:

In DSS you can choose 'save as' and specify 16 bits per channel instead. Photoshop elements still won't be able to edit this format, but it can open the files and convert to 8 bits per channel which it can work with.

What are we loosing stepping down from 32 bit to 8 bit?

..and thank for pointing me to the "Save as" option!

Hi Folks,

I have Photoshop Elements but it cannot handle the 32bit TIFF output of Deepskystacker.  Is there any way around this problem?  

3 hours ago, PeterCPC said:

Try here

Peter

Thanks, I wonder if there are any similar planetary collections?

Hi,

I want to have a plays with a couple of stacking apps, before starting to take my own images.  Can anyone suggest a source for, from the camera, images in jpg or avi format that can be downloaded?

Anyone like me finding it hard to make contact with http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/ ?

Idiot - that's me. of course!  Thanks!

I'm Having a problem setting a Start Time for Stellarium. 

I go to 'Configuration / Time' and under "Start Time and Date" I select the "System Time at" radio button. I then set the start time.

After closing Stellarium  and restarting it reverted back to system date & time.

What am I missing out?

I know you won't believe me😀, but I've never placed a bet online in my life!!!!