1672 replies to this topic

[MattZ40]

Here's our 5SE with modifications I've made since getting it for my wife for Christmas in 2019:

I've added a home made dew shield with integrated heater and temp sensor, a focuser, and a combined controller / USB hub / power supply. The controller is mounted under the hand control so it spins with the scope and I only have to worry about the USB and power supply cables. Under battery power the battery is velcroed to a rotating part of the mount so there's only one cable to worry about.

There's also an SV305 camera with a CS lens I'm messing with, hence the genuine high tech wood and pipe clamp mount. You may be able to see the precision manufactured astronomical alignment shims under the camera. I have a few extra I might be willing to part with for the right price. Sure, some might call them "toothpicks" but that doesn't do them justice, they're so much more.

 

The belt drive focus motor:

 

 

The combined controller box:

It's a home made Arduino Nano based controller with USB 3.0 to laptop, 12v power in, USB 3.0 hub, 3 channel dew heater, 2 temp sensor input (3rd channel heater power follows 1st or 2nd channel), ambient temp sensor, internal temp sensor, humidity sensor, 12v supply to scope, 7.2v supply to Canon T3i, focuser controller with bluetooth, and two 1" fans. Displays show voltage in and current; internal, ambient, and scope temps; humidity, dew point, and dew heater power. Displays can be turned on/off or dimmed.
Focuser plans at: https://sourceforge....focuserpro2diy/
Dew heater plans at: https://sourceforge....wcontrollerpro/
Plans are for separate devices but I crammed them into one project box and added a USB hub.

 

Edited by MattZ40, 12 February 2021 - 01:05 PM.

[mlord]

.. since getting it for my wife ..

Sure you did.. yeah, that's it! 

[MattZ40]

Sure you did.. yeah, that's it! 

Well that was the plan...

She does love to use it though. But I've retired since then and she hasn't, so with all that time on my hands I tinker with it quite a bit. To the point she can't figure out how to use it, which was plan part II.

[Jeanlucpica]

I think it fits perfectly after the 5SE which MattZ40 just posted. Here is my Celestron NexStar 4SE:

 

Build a custom adjustment bar for more precise declination setup:

 

Added an additional dovetail to attach a guidescope or put the DSLR with lens on top for a bigger field of view:

 

Attached my DSLR (Nikon D5300) with the Baader # 2958500:

 

More images in the album:

Album: Celestron NexStar 4SE

18 images

0 comments

[MattZ40]

Build a custom adjustment bar for more precise declination setup:

Very nice!

How do you put it in alt-az mode, do you have to remove the threaded rod?

[Jeanlucpica]

Very nice!

How do you put it in alt-az mode, do you have to remove the threaded rod?

No, the threaded rod can stay in place. I just adjust it as low as possible and then - as it is not leveled because of the big thumbscrew - I do the rest by adjusting the tripod legs. Works, although it might look a little awkward at the beginning. Also to switch back to the original bar takes just a minute and an allen key. But I use mine mostly in EQ mode now. Once you figured out how to set it up there is no difference to me.

[stanislas-jean]

Hi,

I saw with a relative profit some witnesses of user with nexstar evolution mounts.

I am interested by such mount but wandering about the actual performance.

If I am aiming the following:

- pointing accuracy to be more or less 1 min of arc,

- tracking accuracy to be say the jupiter diameter more or less,

- full automatic settlement of the mount, well levelled before?

Does the evolution fullfill such targets?

Thanks a lot for your returns here.

The C8 is to be installed on, may be the C9 later and the nomade use is expected mainly.

Good skies

Stanislas-Jean

[vogo]

Hi, I'm new to this forum, but astronomy is my hobby for long years. For seven years I've had ultra light 10" dobsonian telescope. Half year ago I bought 9.25" Celestron Nexstar Evo. So here is my actual setup, with some features.

 

Bags for everything, that my wife made:

 

Telescope on terrace:

 

Quick release mechanism on Baader SkySurfer III reddot:

 

Filter wheel and Baader-Zeiss prism with ClickLock Clamp:

 

Home-brew SkySync compatible device and side hand holder bracket:

Edited by vogo, 20 March 2021 - 08:13 AM.

[coollick]

Hi,

 

Here is mine.

 

Thanks to @mlord for the Homebrew GPS/Wifi accessory for Aux bus here

Yeah, its a GoPro sized box I designed/3d printed to fit in the esp32 with a bn-180 gps module.

Designed the pcb board that takes care of most of the wiring..

Had a little fun (trial and error) printing the yellow first then switching to black filament and print with z-hopping.

Then a bit of a challenge soldering and make it all fit in that box. (if I do redesign this & the pcb, I will make it bigger)

 

DeWalt 20v attachment/adapter down converted to 12v (5Ah/100Wh should be good for all night)

 

Eye pieces

[mlord]

A tip about the Dewalt battery setup:  don't leave the battery in the holder long term, as the leakage current can drain the battery below minimum levels, resulting in a permanently "dead" battery! 

[coollick]

 Thanks for the tip, I even take them off the power tools when not in use and I will always keep an eye on the battery level when I use it.

Altough I expected the battery to shut off when its too low, like it does with the power tools but maybe its the power tool that does that.

[mlord]

It's the power tool.  Don't ask me how I know this. 

I have since added a power-switch to the battery dock, so I can leave it in place without it draining.

Edited by mlord, 25 March 2021 - 09:29 PM.

[Smitty52]

I have upgraded from my old Bushnell North Star to this Evo 9.25.  Still waiting for a nice clear, warmish night to work my way through everything.  I have spent many a night with it but only for an hour or so each night before the single digit weather drove me back into the house.  I have added ASIAir Pro, a ZWO 533 Mc Pro camera, a 60mm finder/guide with a ZWO 120mm mini.  Also have the Celestron focuser but am waiting on the ZWO focuser so it will tie into the ASIAir.  Have gotten some decent images but really need to figure out the guidescope calibration.  Baby steps but getting there.

 

 

[Stargazer3236]

I have upgraded from my old Bushnell North Star to this Evo 9.25.  Still waiting for a nice clear, warmish night to work my way through everything.  I have spent many a night with it but only for an hour or so each night before the single digit weather drove me back into the house.  I have added ASIAir Pro, a ZWO 533 Mc Pro camera, a 60mm finder/guide with a ZWO 120mm mini.  Also have the Celestron focuser but am waiting on the ZWO focuser so it will tie into the ASIAir.  Have gotten some decent images but really need to figure out the guidescope calibration.  Baby steps but getting there.

 

Two words: Cable management!

[pretyro]

  I added a mounting collar (3D printed in nylon) to my NexStart 4SE to accommodate a smartphone (for running some star finder apps) and an additional finderscope (you can see www.cloudynights.com/topic/751689-finders/page-3 for details).  I even added a sketch of Leo to the collar to jazz it up.

 

  Nope, it doesn't hold a candle to the fancy electronic and optical upgrades in this forum -- but it does make finding stars a bit easier.

 

Edited by pretyro, 29 March 2021 - 05:57 PM.

[mlord]

Today's project:  A plywood clutter tray for the Evo-8 mount.  Final sanding and finishing yet to be completed:

 

[mlord]

Today's project:  A plywood clutter tray for the Evo-8 mount.

Four coats of clear finish applied, and it's ready for use!  No problem clearing everything at Zenith either!

 

The plywood extends just over 6-inches out from the mount, so lots of space there.  I think I'll get a small plastic yogurt bin (or similar) and screw it onto the tray as a place to dump eyepiece covers and stuff.

Edited by mlord, 01 April 2021 - 02:17 PM.

[mlord]

Here is the accessory tray loaded up.

I liberated a polyethylene nail bin from the workshop, and screwed it down with a couple of nylon machine screws, so there's no metal inside the bin to possibly scratch anything (eg. filters).

 

 

Also added some cup hooks to hang the OTA cap and the tri-bahtinov mask.  There's still lots of room for the smartphone, some red-lights, and whatever else needs to stay up off of the ground.  I'm looking forward to clear skies to try it outside, hopefully Friday and/or Sunday/Monday.

 

Cheers

[Franchisse]

I might join in the fun with my bike powered astronomad Nexstar 6"SLT

 

[Astrophotonics]

Like to keep 8SE setup as simple and versatile as possible, ASIair for occasional EAA, Pegasus Powerbox self explanatory, either 8x50 R.A., Telrad or Starsense is added, 6.3 Focal Reducer, Baader 2 inch clicklock, Wifi and splitter, any number of Cams used mostly ZWO 462MC for Planetary work, powered by Jackery 500. I'll either run this with a cellphone, tablet or laptop using CPWI.

[Cfeastside]

pic of the evo 9.25 with the milkyway.  this was at a bortle 1 location at 7800'

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[mlord]

Evo-8 at beginning of observation last evening.  HomeBrew All-In-One accessory (not visible) providing Bluetooth connection to the Android tablet, plus a joystick for fine-slewing.  Eyepieces and stuff on the DIY accessory tray.

 

Edited by mlord, 25 May 2021 - 10:47 AM.

[firemachine69]

 

Waiting on my broadband filter, electric focuser, and the aux splitter. I must say, going from a 4.xx controller to a 5.xx version was definitely nice.

 

EP is a Baader 8-24mm. Fantastic piece of glass. Will probably live 95% of the time in this scope. 

Edited by firemachine69, 08 June 2021 - 11:19 PM.

[RPitts62]

Hi All,

 

New guy here. This is my 8se set up. I just bought the wedge from another CN member and put it all together last week. That means the weather has been awful for viewing ever since and looks to be for the foreseeable future (North Florida).  NexStar 8se. Kit includes 2" inch diagonal, Apertura 10mm, Explore Scientific 15mm, Celestron 25mm 1.25" eyepieces, 6.3 focal reducer, t-ring and t-adapter for DSLR, moon and light pollution filters. The extra space in the case is for three 2" wide angle eyepieces that are ordered and I'll get at some point, whenever that might be.

 

Randy

 

 

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[RPitts62]

Here's the case.

 

Randy

 

 

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