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Celestron 8 Classic - How To

Celestron Classic
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#1 newgzr

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Posted 29 October 2024 - 05:06 PM

Hello All,

 

I recently inherited an orange Celestron 8, 200mm from family. I have no idea how to use it, or what I need to get it working. I have a viewfinder that says "Meade OR6mm multi coated".

 

I pointed it up at a star, and I can't see a thing, granted the hole to view anything is the size of a pea. Is it missing something, or is it not point and shoot?

 

Thanks!

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Edited by newgzr, 29 October 2024 - 05:09 PM.

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#2 DrBB

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Posted 29 October 2024 - 05:20 PM

Well, that's quite a decent, classic instrument! But the "viewfinder" you've got (actually called an ocular or eyepiece) is for very high-magnification viewing and as a consequence has a tiny field of view. You'll really need a lower-magnification, wider-field eyepiece to start with. Was that the only one included? 


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#3 ccwemyss

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Posted 29 October 2024 - 05:57 PM

Three are three parts in the picture. The part with the knurled ring is called a visual back. The ring screws over the threads on the back of the telescope, and provides a 1.25" tube for accessories to slide into. Currently inserted into it is a right-angle "star diagonal." It sends the view through a 90 degree turn so that when the telescope is pointed toward the sky, you don't have to get on your knees and crane your neck to look through it. The third piece is an eyepiece. It forms the image for your eye.

 

The magnification for this scope is calculated by dividing 2000 by the number on the eyepiece. That's 333X for this eyepiece. It's really for zooming in on a planet, once you've found it with a lower power eyepiece. The field of view with this combination will be just over a tenth of a degree. It's very difficult to find anything when looking at such a tiny part of the sky. As has been mentioned, you want a wider eyepiece (bigger number). You can get a 32mm Plossl eyepiece for a fairly low cost. 

 

However, you could set the scope up with its base flat on a table and point it at some distant object (at least a mile away) on the ground, and you will still be able to scan around with this eyepiece. Once you have it pointing at something (which will probably be very blurry), there is a focus knob on the back of the telescope that you turn. It moves the mirror inside of the scope, so you won't see any changes outwardly, but the view should change. If it gets more blurry, turn the knob the other way. Keep turning until it comes to focus. 

 

When viewing during the day, there will usually be heat waves that make it difficult to get really good focus. Pointing at distant streetlights at night, for example, you'll probably get better focus. 

 

If the scope never does come to good focus, then it may need collimation, which involves adjusting the front mirror using the three screws that support it. Come back here for more advice before you attempt that.

 

When properly adjusted, these scopes can deliver amazing views. 

 

Chip W


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#4 Kasmos

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Posted 29 October 2024 - 06:39 PM

Hello All,

 

I recently inherited an orange Celestron 8, 200mm from family. I have no idea how to use it, or what I need to get it working. I have a viewfinder that says "Meade OR6mm multi coated".

 

I pointed it up at a star, and I can't see a thing, granted the hole to view anything is the size of a pea. Is it missing something, or is it not point and shoot?

 

Thanks!

Like the others said, that's a high power eyepiece and most of the time you'll need much lower powered ones to enjoy the views. On any given night, the steadiness of the sky will dictate how high you can go. The 40mm, 25mm, 20mm, 12mm, and 9mm eyepieces were commonly used with the C8. But for starters you wont want to use any thing higher powered than a 9mm, or maybe even a 12mm. I'd have to go look but think mine original came with a 40mm, 25mm, and 9mm.

 

Read the manual below. It will pretty much explain everything about using it:

 

https://wiki.telesco...ting_Manual.pdf

 

Just so you know, Point and Shoot is a camera term, and not generally used for telescopes.


Edited by Kasmos, 29 October 2024 - 06:42 PM.

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#5 CHASLX200

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Posted 29 October 2024 - 06:41 PM

Hello All,

 

I recently inherited an orange Celestron 8, 200mm from family. I have no idea how to use it, or what I need to get it working. I have a viewfinder that says "Meade OR6mm multi coated".

 

I pointed it up at a star, and I can't see a thing, granted the hole to view anything is the size of a pea. Is it missing something, or is it not point and shoot?

 

Thanks!

Kinda hard to find stuff with a 6mm. Best to use a 32mm if you can man.



#6 newgzr

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Posted 29 October 2024 - 08:54 PM

Wow, thank you all for your advice! As you can tell, I'm a greenhorn when it comes to this stuff.

 

Are eye pieces for this pretty easy to find, or at least interchangeable? Can it be anything that fits into the 1.25" tube?

I will look into the "32mm Plossl eyepiece".  The only thing it came with is the 6mm eye piece as far as viewing tools. It does also come with the case, stand, and mounting bracket, but no instructions, so thank you for the manual link.

As far as aftermarket eye pieces, would something like this work?
https://www.amazon.c...n/dp/B07ZDL8184

I'm not sure what to look for as far as quality, but I would like to enjoy this and see what kinds of things are up there!



#7 Chucky

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Posted 29 October 2024 - 09:07 PM

I'd contact a local astronomy club for help

#8 ccwemyss

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Posted 29 October 2024 - 09:16 PM

That link is to a 10mm Plossl. 

 

If you want to support Astronomics, the Cloudy Nights sponsor, you can get a 32mm Celestron branded Plossl here:

https://astronomics....c682a5457&_ss=c

 

For a bit less, you can get the more generic GSO version at Agena Astro:

https://agenaastro.c...l-eyepiece.html

 

Some posts have mentioned a 40mm Plossl. For a 1.25" barrel, the 40mm and the 32mm have the same field of view, but the 32mm magnifies more (the view will seem to spread out more in the 32mm, but the area it covers in the sky is the same). 

 

Chip W. 



#9 rfcooley

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Posted 01 November 2024 - 11:20 PM

NEWGZR,

 

Welcome to CN Forum!  applause.gif

 

+ 1 get in touch with a local club. There will be someone there that will be glad to guide you.

 

There is a lot of experience here, decades of it on CN and while the advice is freely given there is nothing better than hands on experience.

 

You can find out about local clubs through a number of ways. Parks and Recreation Department, High Schools physics department, College physics department even the local Chamber of Commerce may know of local clubs or star parties. You can always give a shout out here to see if anybody knows of a club or star parties in your local area. Most of the National Parks and some State Parks have star party activities. There you can generally find out if there is something in your area. Somebody will know something. We all like to talk especially about Star Ware, eyepieces, telescopes, mounts and to newbies just getting in on the excitement. The best places to observe, to purchase accessories, books and other useful equipment (Our Sponsor Astronomics is a good place to contact. Mike and his staff are very knowledgeable)

 

It looks like and early C8 orange tube in the picture. In case you are wondering I own several. They are great telescopes and are generally pretty good optically. A few more pics of the telescope from the back. In the front looking at the mirror, the lens that is front of the tube will give us an idea of the shape it is in and possibly how old it is. There should be a mount with three legs that fold up and a black wedge with bolt holes that line up with the mount deck that is attached to the legs. Look around for those. If you can't find the mount, not to worry there are other options for getting it mounted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clear Skies, Never Lose the Wonder,

 

RFC8 pic.jpg


Edited by rfcooley, 01 November 2024 - 11:32 PM.

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#10 Paul Sweeney

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Posted 02 November 2024 - 10:50 AM

First off, it helps if you tell us where you live (LA, Southern Vermont, etc). Someone may live near you or know of a club in your area.

Your scope should have come with a finder scope. In the post above, both of the bigger scopes has a small orange tube just above it. Those are finder scopes. They have a 5° field of view and have a crosshair inside. You need to align the finder scope with the telescope. This can be done in daylight. You aim the telescope at something easy to identify on the horizon. Then adjust the finder scope so that the cross hairs are on the target. At night, you put the target in the cross hairs, and the target should be visible in the telescope in a low power eyepiece.

If you wear glasses, or just don't want to peek through tiny openings, then look for eyepieces with 20mm eye relief. These eyepieces will have a rubber eye guard and a large opening to look into. Your scope will work well with inexpensive eyepieces.

Edited by Paul Sweeney, 02 November 2024 - 10:51 AM.



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