A Used Celestron Nexstar 6 SE

[Markadams]

Hello to you all.

I've been offered a used Celestron Nexstar 6 SE. Its about 6 months old and been used about 10 times. Its from a friend of a friend of a friend who bought it at a rash moment.

He only wants £450 for it but it doesn't come with an equipment apart from an eyepiece, star diagonal, dew shield, finder scope, tripod and the goto handset.

I think its missing a power cable, a serial 232 cable, SkyTM Level 1 software, NexRemote telescope control software. 

Do you think thats an ok price for it?

 

I see I can buy a 232 cable (though it looks like a vga connection so I'm not sure how that fits to a MacBook) and a power cable and I'd buy a power tank too. Does the software matter or could I use another?

 

Thanks for your help:)

 

Mark

[Markadams]

It didn't come with a manual either but I've found one of those on their website.

[parallaxerr]

Sounds like a reasonably good deal to me. I paid that for a new Nexstar 6/8SE mount only!

1. The mount has a built in AA battery tray to get you started, although batteries don't last long so you'll need an alternative power supply at some point. My Nexstar SE didn't come with a power cable.

2. The RS232 cable isn't a necessity, until you want to update the firmware.

3. SkyTM software, there's better free available online anyway, i.e. Stellarium etc.

4. NexRemote is available to download.

So, there's no further spend required to get you going!

 

[laudropb]

I think I would prefer to see it up and running before I purchased it.

[Markadams]

Thank you both. It would be no problem to see it in operation. 

Would I need the R232 cable to use Stellarium? And is there an adapter so it connects to a USB port so I can use a MacBook?

Thanks:)

 

 

[alanjgreen]

Looks like a great deal to me.

You need a power lead but you can get a celestron one for £16 (pretty crappy anyway) or a nice Lynx one for £24

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/celestron-car-battery-adaptor-for-all-nexstars.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/power-accessories/lynx-astro-mount-power-cable-for-celestron-mounts.html

They don't come with a power pack so you will need one of those too (but you would have needed one anyway, scopes on AA batteries don't last long as the batteries die or give an uneven current causing mount issues.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/batteries-powerpacks/skywatcher-powertank-17ah.html

It has a dew shield - he must have paid extra for that as they dont come as standard.

The RS232 cable is only used if you want to flash the nexstar software on the handset - which you dont have to do as i as sure it must have a recently up-to-date version

-- It is only half a lead anyway (the lead they supply does not actually connect to USB!) so you would need to buy the USB/232 side connection. Then you have wires from PC to scope that you have to try not to trip over while using it.

FLO sell the lead here

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-mounts/serial-cable-for-skywatcher-and-celestron-mounts.html

-- this is the "other" half lead I refer too, you need both bits to go from handset to USB (go figure!)

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-mounts/sky-watcher-synscan-usb-to-serial-rs-232-cable.html

 

If you want to connect your scope to Skysafari, then you are better off with a wifi dongle to setup a wifi network at the scope

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/se-series/celestron-skyportal-wifi-adapter.html

 

I wouldn't worry about all the software - few people even bother to install it - you dont need it to use the scope at all.

As said above, make sure you see it working before you buy it. So either he will need to borrow someone else's wires/power pack or see if he can get it working on the AA batteries for the demo.

- try to see it in the daylight. have a look through the scope as some distant roof tops/hills etc. See if the view is sharp & clear.

 

HTH,

Alan

 

[rockystar]

assuming it works (both mechanically and optically), and it's in good condition (which I would hope it is after only a dozen uses) then it sounds like a good deal.

some reasonable accessories, considering it "doesn't come with any" and I wouldn't worry about the missing bits. As mentioned you'll need a power pack really to get the best from it.

[K4PDM]

I purchased a new 8SE from an authorized dealer about a month ago and, here in the US, it came with none of those items except the manual.

It came with download instructions for Starry Night, which I think will control the scope, although I have not tried it.

I don't think anything is missing except maybe the manual.

[Dave In Vermont]

If a manual for all sorts of things is needed, the ManualsLib is a very good resource to check out for one:

https://www.manualslib.com/

Quite a good site -

Dave

[K4PDM]

The manual is also available on the Celestron website.

[iapa]

23 hours ago, Markadams said:

Hello to you all.

I've been offered a used Celestron Nexstar 6 SE. Its about 6 months old and been used about 10 times. Its from a friend of a friend of a friend who bought it at a rash moment.

He only wants £450 for it but it doesn't come with an equipment apart from an eyepiece, star diagonal, dew shield, finder scope, tripod and the goto handset.

I think its missing a power cable, a serial 232 cable, SkyTM Level 1 software, NexRemote telescope control software. 

Do you think thats an ok price for it?

 

I see I can buy a 232 cable (though it looks like a vga connection so I'm not sure how that fits to a MacBook) and a power cable and I'd buy a power tank too. Does the software matter or could I use another?

 

Thanks for your help:)

 

Mark

A mains to 12V power adapter form Maplin, £20

+3 for a demo to prove it is working

serial cables don't come as standard - £30 to the serial cable plus the USB adapter

and you are laughing

£490 for a good deal