26 replies to this topic

[Daniel Jackson]

Sorry, this is probably a really dumb question. But I don't see any reference to this thing in the manual, and can't figure out what it is.  Probably because it's so obvious any idiot would know.  

 

Any help would be appreciated.  

 

 

 

 

[Second Time Around]

Spanner cum screwdriver?

[Rac19]

It looks like it is for tightening a hexagonal nut. I hesitate to call it a spanner, but it should perform that role. The small round hole allows it to be tied somewhere, so to is easy to find.

 

EDIT: It wasn't included with my Starsense, purchased some years ago.

Edited by Rac19, 28 January 2023 - 06:59 PM.

[Daniel Jackson]

Ah!  That makes sense, it's a tool of some sort.  ... Now I just have to find a hexagonal nut to tighten.  The darn thing is fully set up out on the porch (waiting to see if the clouds break), and I don't recall running into such a thing.  Weird.  

[Rac19]

Ah!  That makes sense, it's a tool of some sort.  ... Now I just have to find a hexagonal nut to tighten.  The darn thing is fully set up out on the porch (waiting to see if the clouds break), and I don't recall running into such a thing.  Weird.  

I can say that I have never needed such a tool.

[Jethro7]

Hello Daniel,

I believe the others are correct. Having owned two StarSenses, and not one of these things were included with either of them, maybe it wa placed in the box by accident. Or now that Celestron makes the StarSense for other telescope mounts, maybe it is for use on some other type of mount. I will admit it is a odd design for a wrench.

 

 

HAPPY SKIES AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro

Edited by Jethro7, 28 January 2023 - 07:14 PM.

[Echolight]

Looks like a computer keyboard.

[Daniel Jackson]

Yeah.  I just went out and studied the thing for five minutes, top to bottom, and there's not a hex nut to be found.  So I was just thinking the same thing, it must have been in the box "by accident" or something.  Kind of a relief, so I don't have that dreaded feeling of a rookie brain surgeon who wonders what he's supposed to do with the leftover parts.  

[Northernguy]

I also had one of those, I think it came with my evolution + star sense package. It's a really lame multi tool, including a hex wrench and also a flat head screwdriver. You can definitely toss it (or sell in the classified section  )

[Ulmer Spatz]

Now I just have to find a hexagonal nut to tighten.  

Look at the tripod legs. They may be attached to the mount with a screw knob. You hold the hex nut with the hex hole and turn the knob with your fingers to tighten the connection. There may also be some slotted screws on the tripod, perhaps on the tray for the eyepieces.

 

Tripod screw connections come loose all the time. So it's actually not a bad little tool to have around.

Edited by Ulmer Spatz, 28 January 2023 - 08:04 PM.

[Daniel Jackson]

Thanks.  The tripod legs do have knobs and hex nuts, but the hex nut are much larger than this tool.  There are screw heads on the tripod legs, but they're all phillips.  

[Rac19]

It may be a "gift" from the distributor. They sometimes get rid of some overstocked, low value items this way. Call my cynical, if you like.

[Daniel Jackson]

It may be a "gift" from the distributor. They sometimes get rid of some overstocked, low value items this way. Call my cynical, if you like.

 

 

LOL.  I bought it direct from Celestron.  But hey, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.  

[Rac19]

LOL.  I bought it direct from Celestron.  But hey, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.  

In that case, you would expect, maybe, that it would be engraved with "Celestron"

 

Put it on your keyring. Who knows, it might save your life one day. You could have it engraved with your mobile number, so that your keys can be returned, should you ever misplace them

[Rac19]

Just in passing, there is an amazing amount of text on the plastic bag, in a number of languages, for such an inconsequential item. We live us a risk averse environment.

 

Years ago, a well known IT giant gave away power plugs with bare wires exposed, for their "Unplugged" conference. There was a frantic recall.

Edited by Rac19, 28 January 2023 - 11:37 PM.

[BFaucett]

This was included with one of my Celestron scopes but I can't remember which one.

 

 

 

 

Cheers! Bob F. 

 

[RobertMaples]

I think it's main purpose is as a flat head screwdriver for bolt that holds the altitude rod to the optical tube.  Although it comes attached, maybe there is a chance of it coming loose.  Also, the hex hole fits the nuts on the tripod legs, not where the legs attach to the mount, but the three arms where the leg brace attaches to the legs.

 

EDIT:  I forgot you said the 102, the 102 doesn't have the altitude arm and I don't know if it has the same nuts on the legs, but I've got the LT80 and it works for those on it.

Edited by RobertMaples, 29 January 2023 - 12:09 AM.

[Echolight]

In that case, you would expect, maybe, that it would be engraved with "Celestron"

 

Put it on your keyring. Who knows, it might save your life one day. You could have it engraved with your mobile number, so that your keys can be returned, should you ever misplace them

Maybe you could sharpen one edge of it for defense in case you are car-jacked while you are about to unlock your car!

[sevenofnine]

I have an even fancier version from Husky that came with a real tool set. It has a tiny saw, multi-sized spanners, flat head screwdriver, knife edge and a beer bottle opener. You can guess why I kept it 

[RoofMonkey911]

I got one of those with the Starsense 114mm and I thought it was for removing the corrector lens from the eyepiece drawtube, since it’s a bird-Jones design.

Edited by RoofMonkey911, 29 January 2023 - 12:50 AM.

[rrpallechio]

My NexStar Evolution came with one.

[Rac19]

Maybe you could sharpen one edge of it for defense in case you are car-jacked while you are about to unlock your car!

Possible self defence uses are limited only by one's imagination.

[rajs]

Maybe it’s a Focal Oriented Objective Locator System tool.  Meant for the user to run approx a 1/4 - to 1 mile away and place vertically standing so the hole is visible within line of sight of the mounted telescope.  One then can adjust the alignment of their finder … or it could just be a screwdriver / wrench combo tool. 
 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

 

ps - I’ve used it for multiple purposes aforementioned  since one was included with the Omni 102AZ i purchased. Also have used it to tighten a few screws loose in my head … 😀

Edited by rajs, 29 January 2023 - 08:48 AM.

[WillR]

Don't throw it out, or as soon a you do, you will need it. As long as you keep it, you will never need it. 

 

I have drawers of this stuff.

[Daniel Jackson]

Don't throw it out, or as soon a you do, you will need it. As long as you keep it, you will never need it. 

 

I have drawers of this stuff.

 

Ha!  Yep, I know that feeling well.  There's a great satisfaction to be had when, having kept some weird little thing for years and years, suddenly you need it and realize what it is.