29 replies to this topic

[LordP666]

Hi all, I just joined this place hoping to gain some knowledge.

 

I bough the Celestron - NexStar 8SE Telescope - Computerized Telescope for Beginners and Advanced Users, way back in 2020 and actually used it once !! Well, tried to use it.

 

Too **** complicated for my small brain.

 

What would you suggest I downsize to, something easy...maybe to look at the moon.

[CTerry]

hi there and welcome.

 

seestar if you want computer controlled simplicity.

 

or get a decent manual alt az mount and strap pretty much anything on it. point at the moon and gaze.

[SeattleScott]

Well you could get a Starsense to automate the GoTo alignment process if that’s the issue. You can also get a WiFi adapter to be able to control the scope with SkySafari or something. Doesn’t get any easier than that.

Now if you just aren’t really into faint fuzzies and just want to take a quick look at the Moon and planets, I would suggest a 5” Mak or a 4” Apo. The Mak would need to be insulated, or placed outside an hour before viewing to let it reach ambient. Insulating is easy and cheap.

[N3p]

Cool a censored f word in message #1   (I think it's illegal to do it here) the 8SE is not very complicated to use, took me 30 minutes of reading how to polar align and maybe 15 minutes to do it.  let's say 1 hour total. 

 

The views of Jupiter were very good with that 8" tube from what I remembered and the tracking was immediately effective, I liked it directly, it's a good telescope. 

Edited by N3p, 24 October 2024 - 12:06 PM.

[Sky King]

Welcome to Cloudy Nights! With any telescope you have steps you follow to setup, focus, polar align and track.  

 

Those steps repeat each time you use the telescope. So you learn them once and you got it. And the NexStar 8SE Telescope should give you a pretty nice Moon.

 

You just start with putting together the tripod and mount and drop your questions into a thread like this one, and a lot of 8SE users will help you through it.

 

There are also lots of youtubes you can watch as well. This one is for setting up the Nexstar 8SE.

 

Enjoy the night sky!

Edited by Sky King, 24 October 2024 - 09:25 PM.

[sevenofnine]

Welcome to C/N! 

 

Well, it kind of depends on how serious you want to get in this hobby as to what's the right scope for you. Know that you can operate your 8" SCT manually with just the hand controller to get to objects. You do not have to do the alignment fandango   I have a manual 8" Dob and 2 go-to scopes. I rarely use the go-to feature anymore...just tracking. So, all you really need to do is get a finderscope attached to the scope and aligned then you're off to the races in this hobby. I strongly suggest you get a good astronomy guide book. The Backyard Astronomer's Guide 4th ed. is highly recommended on this forum.

Best of luck to you! 

 

https://www.amazon.c...,aps,364&sr=8-1.

Edited by sevenofnine, 24 October 2024 - 04:42 PM.

[LordP666]

Oh boy - sorry. I didn't think a word beginning with "D" and ending in "ANG" would be censored.

 

I wish I understood everything you guys said, but some of it is over my head.

 

I bought my kit on the recommendation of a guy over at Reddit and wound up paying about $3200 when he kept adding extras to my list.

 

I really tried to do the alignment etc. And of course, I also learned about insulating the scope and keeping it warm - after that I was afraid to take it outside.

Edited by LordP666, 24 October 2024 - 12:29 PM.

[GDAstrola]

Having someone to show you the ropes can be invaluable.

An astronomy club usually will have members that are willing to help.
Which city are you in or nearest to?

[vtornado]

We can get you setup with something to view the moon and planets, but that would be more money and negate your $3200 you have invested in a nice telescope.

 

I agree with GDAstrola find an astro club near you for some help getting your scope setup.  Email them ahead of time so they can have the right person and some time there to help you.

Edited by vtornado, 24 October 2024 - 01:03 PM.

[jupiter122]

Oh boy - sorry. I didn't think a word beginning with "D" and ending in "ANG" would be censored.

 

I wish I understood everything you guys said, but some of it is over my head.

 

I bought my kit on the recommendation of a guy over at Reddit and wound up paying about $3200 when he kept adding extras to my list.

 

I really tried to do the alignment etc. And of course, I also learned about insulating the scope and keeping it warm - after that I was afraid to take it outside.

If someone sold you $3200 worth of gear in connection with the Nexstar 8SE, even if new, you probably got taken. It goes new for less than 2K and that includes every accessory you'd need for visual observing and some you don't.   Also, to get the optimal performance out of an 8" scope of that type you need to let it acclimate to temperature extremes but in most normal observing conditions you don't need to worry about it all that much.

 

Touching on a few others' comments:

 

A 4" APO, as one suggested, with mount and tripod and everything you'd need (and want)  with  such a scope will set you back 2-3 times what the 8SE costs. Might be worth it but you should know that.  

 

Carefully review what the Seestar is and isn't before you buy one. In my mind, it is NOT a telescope but a camera rig that uses live stacking (combining multiple images) and related gear to show you the resulting images. I don't believe you can see live images with it and you can't change eyepieces, and I don't think you can do straight visual observing with it.

 

Contrary to what one commenter said, not ALL telescopes require alignment etc. Manual alt-az mounts that just move horizontally and vertically do not.  On the other hand, if you have a computerized telescope, you'll have to align it even if you only using the tracking function and not the go-to function.

 

My overall sense is that if you are primarily interested in the moon and don't want to learn to use the 8Se, and don't want to spend 2-3 thousand dollars on your rig, you should consider a 3-4 inch achromatic refractor on an alt-az mount with a decent eyepiece.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Tim

Edited by jupiter122, 24 October 2024 - 01:15 PM.

[Floaters]

Welcome! I second what sevenofnine posted above. Learn to use your scope without the electronic features, since it's capable of being used without needing to understand alignment and all that. Even without a finder (which you may or may not have), the moon is a large and bright enough target that you will locate eventually and learn to focus and track.

What other equipment did you get? We can help get you started by offering advice on your finder, eyepieces and other parts.

[jrussell]

You might also dig around or ask in the Celestron Computerized Telescopes forum further down the main forums page. I would think there's bound to be one or two people there that started off where you are now.

Edited by jrussell, 24 October 2024 - 03:04 PM.

[Captain Quark]

I wish I understood everything you guys said, but some of it is over my head.

 

I bought my kit on the recommendation of a guy over at Reddit and wound up paying about $3200 when he kept adding extras to my list.

Take one thing that you don’t understand at a time, ask questions here, a separate thread for each item works well, and the people here are great at clearing up issues.

 

What extras did you get? It’s normal to spend $100s more over just the basic scope. Maybe you already have some good stuff.

 

You’ll get different opinions about what you should do. I’ll add a +1 to those saying give it another go with the scope you have. It’s great for moon and planets and lots of other stuff. It took me 6 weeks after I got my scope to be able to do much with it.

Edited by Captain Quark, 24 October 2024 - 03:08 PM.

[SeattleScott]

The cold won't hurt the scope. Regardless of insulation. The scope is metal and glass. The cold will affect you more than it affects the scope. I have set up a scope in snow before. Mostly you just have to keep the corrector lens and eyepieces from fogging up (which would shorten an observing session but shouldn't cause any permanent damage). 

 

A 4" apo:

https://astronomics....d-refractor-ota

Figure another $500 for a suitable mount. This one would be suitable:

https://www.highpoin...8bd6b387295cec7

 

A 5" Mak:

https://www.highpoin...6669c0a8c3e79a9

Could use the same mount, or perhaps something a little lighter like:

https://agenaastro.c...a-ii-mount.html

Lighter, not any cheaper however.

 

So for about $1,000-$1,200 you could have a different, manual scope and not have to learn any electronics. You would want to insulate the Mak. 

 

On the other hand:

https://www.amazon.c...821630690&psc=1

 

This would automate your GoTo alignment process. You would just set up the scope and level the tripod. Then you hit a couple buttons, sit back and wait for a few minutes until the scope aligns itself. After that you just tell it what you want to look at. 

 

If you want to simplify things even more:

https://www.bhphotov...136207949f34062

This would allow you to control the scope with your phone, rather than the hand controller. No more scrolling through menus on a keypad. Now you can just tap on what you want to see, or use a touchscreen to search for objects to look at. 

 

You can spend $500-$600 making your current scope easy to use, and get 8" aperture views, or you can spend twice as much to ditch technology and get 4"-5" views. The views through an 8" scope will be 200% brighter than through a 5" scope. 

 

Ok a third possibility, and this could be the winner:

Your current scope on the AZ5 mount. 

Your scope technically isn't goto. Your mount is goto. If you don't like the electronics, just get a manual mount. It will be an outstanding scope for the Moon, planets and anything else you can find without GoTo. And it is already insulated.

[Japetus Eye]

Ok a third possibility, and this could be the winner:

Your current scope on the AZ5 mount. 

Your scope technically isn't goto. Your mount is goto. If you don't like the electronics, just get a manual mount. It will be an outstanding scope for the Moon, planets and anything else you can find without GoTo. And it is already insulated.

I also feel that the Op. is especially burdened by electronics and software interfaces, so adding more gadgets would be a waste of money (at this point). To get started, my +1 goes to this "third way", I think it would be the most realistic and appropriate, without having to spend a large amount of money on top of what has already been invested... And later, we'll see...

 

These options are also valid:
https://www.highpoin...tripod-maz01-00
https://astronomics....ltazimuth-mount (out of stock)
https://www.amazon.c...s/dp/B0CMD5YBSD (the tripod would be missing, I don't know if it would be possible to adapt the one from the Nexstar 8SE support)

[Sky King]

 

Carefully review what the Seestar is and isn't before you buy one. In my mind, it is NOT a telescope but a camera rig that uses live stacking (combining multiple images) and related gear to show you the resulting images. I don't believe you can see live images with it and you can't change eyepieces, and I don't think you can do straight visual observing with it.

 

 Hope this helps!

 

Tim

 

Tim is right. Sorry about that. I removed that reference. The recommendation for a local astronomy club member helping you sounds great. If you have the 8SE, don't buy more, just get it working. I linked setting one up above. If you get stuck, ask your questions here.

 

Edited by Sky King, 24 October 2024 - 09:26 PM.

[sevenofnine]

The easiest and cheapest way to go is simply set up the Celestron 8SE and use the hand controller to track the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn and large nebulae like Orion. You will be blown away at what you can see in an 8" telescope   It just amounts to locating the object in the finder scope once it is aligned with the telescope. This is best done in the daytime.

 

Using a low powered eyepiece in the telescope, find an object like a distant telephone pole if possible. Then lock the scope down tight and turn the 2 alignment knobs on the finder until the red dot is on the telephone pole. The closer the dot matches the center of the view in the eyepiece the better. This process takes time and patience so plan for it. So, all you have to do at night is just put the red dot on your target like the Moon or planet and the object will be in the scope's widest eyepiece. Then use the hand controller to follow the movement. This process is also explained in The Backyard Astronomer's Guide. Good luck! 

Edited by sevenofnine, 24 October 2024 - 06:04 PM.

[Sky King]

The easiest and cheapest way to go is simply set up the Celestron 8SE and use the hand controller to track the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn and large nebulae like Orion. You will be blown away at what you can see in an 8" telescope   It just amounts to locating the object using the finder scope once it is aligned with the telescope. This is best done in the daytime so you can see the controls.

 

Using a low powered eyepiece in the telescope, find an object like a distant telephone pole if possible. Then lock the scope down tight and turn the 2 alignment knobs on the finder until the red dot is on the telephone pole. The closer the dot matches the center of the view in the eyepiece the better. This process takes time and patience so plan for it. So, all you have to do at night is just put the red dot on your target like the Moon or planet and the object will be in the scope's widest eyepiece. Then use the hand controller to follow the movement. This process is also explained in The Backyard Astronomer's Guide. Good luck! 

This process will work fine. You can learn the star alignment and goto later. Get a clear night, watch the video, set it up and follow seven-of-nine's suggestions.

 

Next step: The Moon is cool, but it moves out of the frame in a short while. Later you'll learn to set "Tracking" to "Lunar" with the hand control. Now the Moon will be tracked all night and not move out of view, unless it sets. Go inside and come back out and the telescope is still following the Moon. Remember all the setup steps repeat each time you observe. Putting the telescope away is the reverse of setting it up. You will be able to do this in your sleep after a few nights. (And you may not sleep much because observing is so much fun!)

Edited by Sky King, 24 October 2024 - 06:14 PM.

[dnrmilspec]

There is hardly anything easier than learning how to setup goto.  It is infinitely easier than reading star charts.  Finding stuff manually may have its own rewards but it is certainly not "easier" to learn.

 

The OP just needs to spend some time with the many many youtube videos showing how to align his scope and go for it.

 

The system is not complicated at all.  It may be confusing the first time out of the box but a little patience will allow him to use his really nice telescope. 

 

We are all happy to help with the how-to's. 

[Freezout]

Regardless of how simple is supposed to be the go-to, maybe the OP is more fit for intuitive hands-on systems like a simple Alt-Az. 

Myself could probably have a go-to mount working, but I know I would get tired and annoyed to setup the thing and put eventually cables on, even if it's supposed to take just 5 minutes.

 

Some good suggestions have been done like trying another mount alt-az manual, or using the current one without go-to.

 

Granted, we don't really know what annoys LordP666 in going out with his telescope. Is it the weight of the thing? Is it uncomfortable? Then maybe you just need a chair. 

It may be that you purchased one ton of optics and expensive eyepieces and don't have a chair. Manipulating the telescope while standing becomes fast a chore. Doing it sitting is different!  

[Sky Muse]

https://www.bhphotov...rer_dx_102.html

[Dave Mitsky]

While it doesn't deal with purchasing or using a telescope directly, you may find some of the information on astronomy, amateur astronomy, and observing presented in my post (#22) at https://www.cloudyni...mers/?p=5184287 useful, LordP666. There are sections on various books, observing guides, the Moon, the planets, star-hopping, stellar atlases, planispheres, planetarium programs, astronomy apps, deep-sky objects, lists of worthwhile celestial objects to observe, binocular astronomy, urban astronomy, and other related topics.

[maniack]

Oh boy - sorry. I didn't think a word beginning with "D" and ending in "ANG" would be censored.

 

I wish I understood everything you guys said, but some of it is over my head.

 

I bought my kit on the recommendation of a guy over at Reddit and wound up paying about $3200 when he kept adding extras to my list.

 

I really tried to do the alignment etc. And of course, I also learned about insulating the scope and keeping it warm - after that I was afraid to take it outside.

Your best bet is to ask for help from a local club or in the Celestron Computerized Telescopes forum section.

 

But I'll give some advice on alignment:

- Align your finder to the telescope first, in the day time. Put everything together and point the telescope at a far object, say the top of a light pole or an electrical transformer. You can use the direction buttons on the keypad to move the telescope.  It's pretty straightforward to find an object in the daytime without a finder since you can reference everything you can see by eye. When doing this using the longest focal length eyepiece you have (the scope came with a 25mm Plossl which is fine). Adjust the focus of your telescope as needed. Once you have the object centered in the eyepiece use the adjustment knobs on the red dot finder so that the red dot is centered over the same object. This step is key. WIthout this you will not have a good time at night.

- When using your telescope at night try to make sure it's on level ground and all the legs are extended the same amount. On my 8SE I used a Sharpie to put lines 1 inch apart on the tripod legs so that I don't have to extend the legs all the way but can ensure they are roughly equally extended.

- Alignment option 1 (good for planets and the moon in particular) - Solar System Align - choose the object such as the moon or Saturn, then begin the alignment procedure. Use the arrow keys to move the telescope until the red dot in the finder is on top of the object. You should also be able to see the object in your eyepiece (and for alignment it's best to use the longest focal length eyepiece you have). You can press the button to move to the next step, which asks you to do center the object in your eyepiece. Once centered complete the alignment. The telescope should do a pretty good job of keeping the object in view

- Alignment option 2 (good for beginners) - SkyAlign - this will walk you through aligning on 3 bright objects, any 3 objects are fine. Bright stars, planets, or the moon. You will center each object in 2 steps, rough centering using the finder and then fine centering using the eyepiece. The telescope will calculate what objects these are automatically.

- Alignment option 3 (more accurate than #1 and faster than #2) - Two Star or Auto Two Star - you will align on 2 known bright stars. You will need to know the names of both starts for the first option, but can get by with knowing the name of just 1 bright star for the second option.

 

There's a lot more information in the manual. But you will need to familiarize yourself with how to use the hand control, how to enter your latitude/longitude/time/time zone, etc. Of course there is a solution to avoid all of this by spending more money on accessories such as a Celestron SkySync GPS unit and a Celestron StarSense AutoAlign unit.

 

I don't recommend getting advice in the beginners' forum here. You will get people telling you to buy a dobsonian instead, or a refractor, or whatever else with dozens of opinions on telescopes and mounts. Your better off in my opinion learning with what you have before making a change.

[Echolight]

ST80

[billywjackson]

I got my 8SE a little over 2 years ago. All the advice above about it is good. One thing to realize is that the onboard batteries don't last long enough to be useful. Hopefully the person who sold the gear to you included an external power supply. Looking at this site
https://www.nexstarsite.com/
and buying that book made a world of difference for me.
Hang in there, it's a pretty good setup!
Clear Skies!