NexStar 127 SLT

[Event_Horizon]

Just to say, wasn't sure what discussion page to put this in, so I posted here.

My question is in two parts involving the telescope from the title.

First of all, I want to control it from my computer but I'm not sure which cables or adapters to buy in order to do it.

Secondly I would like to take pictures with it, I found the Celestron nightscape, but again I don't know how to connect it to my PC

I was wondering what is the best equipment for controlling from PC, and taking pictures are?

Any useful feedback will be appreciated

Many Thanks,

E_H

[tekkydave]

This the lead you will need

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/serial-cable-for-skywatcher-and-celestron-mounts.html

it plugs into connector on base of hand controller and pc serial port. If your pc only has usb ports you will also need a usb to serial adapter

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/celestron-usb-to-rs-232-adapter.html

[Cornelius Varley]

The telescope should have been supplied with a cable for this purpose. If not you can purchase one like this one http://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/serial-cable-for-skywatcher-and-celestron-mounts.html . You may also need a good quality serial/usb adapter. To control the mount from your computer  you can use a planetarium program that supports mount control such as Stellarium  http://www.stellarium.org/ or Carte du Ciel (CdC) http://www.ap-i.net/skychart/en/start . For CdC you will also need to download the Ascom platform  http://ascom-standards.org/ together with the Celestron unified mount drivers http://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/ScopeDrivers.htm . 

The Celestron Nightscape camera is a camera designed for deep sky object (DSO) imaging and as such is unsuitable for for telescope/mount combination, it is also expensive. Your mount will not not allow you to tracking accurately enough for DSO imaging and is also the incorrect type (alt-azimuth). Alt-az mounts track across the sky in a zig-zag motion and also don't compensate for field rotation (the stars cross the sky in a smooth arc but the mount doesn't) For this you would need an equatorial mount. Your telescope and mount are more suited to lunar / planetary imaging and would recommend one of the ZWO or QHY lunar / planetary cameras for this http://www.365astronomy.com/astrophotography-zwo-asi-cmos-cameras-c-5_31_436.html or http://www.modernastronomy.com/camerasPlanetary.html .

[tekkydave]

I use a ZWO ASI120MC with my 127slt and sharpcap capture software for planetary.

[Event_Horizon]

The telescope should have been supplied with a cable for this purpose. 

I was supplied with the program installation CD for it (First Light), but no cable as far as I can tell. 

Thanks for the info on the other parts though, very helpful

[tekkydave]

I was supplied with the program installation CD for it (First Light), but no cable as far as I can tell. 

Thanks for the info on the other parts though, very helpful

I bought mine from FLO and there was no lead supplied. I don't think its included in the Celestron box. I got one on ebay which also included the usb adapter

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Celestron-12m-NexStar-PC-cable-serial-to-USB-Adapter-/280709376015?pt=UK_Telescope_Adapters&hash=item415b95280f