Celestron StarSense AutoAlign, Manual

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MOTOR SPEED BUTTON
The telescope can be controlled at nine different
speed rates . Pressing the MOTOR SPEED button
allows you to instantly change the speed of the
motors from high-speed slew rate to precise
guiding rate, or anywhere in between . Each rate
corresponds to a number on the hand control key
pad . The number 9 is the fastest rate (approximately
3 .5º per second, depending on power source) and
is used for slewing between objects and locating
alignment stars . The number 1 on the hand control
is the slowest rate (2x sidereal) and can be used
for accurate centering of objects in the eyepiece .
To change the speed rate of the motors:
1. Press MOTOR SPEED . The LCD will display
the current speed rate .
2. Press the number of the desired speed .
The hand controller has a “double button” feature
that allows you to instantly speed up the motors
without having to choose a speed rate . Simply press
the arrow button for the direction that you want
to move the telescope . While holding that button
down, press the opposite directional button . This
will increase the speed to the maximum slew rate .
When using the UP and DOWN buttons on the
hand control, the slower slew rates (6 and lower)
move the motors in the opposite direction than the
faster slew rates (7- 9) . This is so that an object
moves in the appropriate direction when looking
into the eyepiece (i .e . pressing the up arrow button
will move the star upwards in the field of view of
the eyepiece) . However, if any of the slower slew
rates (rate 6 and below) are used to center an
object in an optional finderscope, you may need to
press the opposite directional button to make the
telescope move in the correct direction .
HELP BUTTON
The HELP button gives you instant access to
helpful information and utilities that can improve
the pointing accuracy of your telescope .
• General FAQ: A quick reference guide for the
features and functions of your telescope .
• Glossary: Provides definitions for many
astronomical terms you may come across
while using your telescope .
The HELP button can also be used to improve
pointing accuracy should you notice that bright
objects are not well centered in (or completely
missing from) the eyepiece . This is particularly
useful when using the StarSense Manual align-
ment process . To use the HELP button to improve
accuracy:
1. Slew to the database object that is not visible (or
not well centered) in the eyepiece .
2. After the slew is complete press the HELP but-
ton . Do not attempt to use the direction buttons
to manually search for the object .
The telescope will then slew to a nearby bright star
and take a reference image . StarSense will make
adjustments to its sky alignment model based on
the stars captured in the image .
3. Once complete, slew the telescope back to the
original object . You should notice a considerable
improvement in pointing accuracy in that region
of the sky .
MENU BUTTON
StarSense contains many user-defined setup
functions so you can customize your telescope’s
features . Access the setup and utility features by
pressing the MENU key and scrolling through the
options below .
DATABASE SETUP
SkyTour Filters: These filters allow you to set the
magnitude limit (brightness) and object type (i .e .
globular star cluster, galaxy, etc .) for objects that
will be displayed when the SKY TOUR button
is pressed . When using your telescope from a
dark sky location, set the minimum magnitude to a
higher number . When using your telescope from
an urban location or when the Moon is full, set the
minimum magnitude to a lower number . The filter
limit can be set between 0 (very bright objects) and
25 .5 (extremely faint objects) . Press ENTER to
accept the value
Once the filter limit is set, the hand control will
display a list of all the object catalogs that are
searched when creating the customized SkyTour .
To narrow down your search you can select just the
catalogs you want to include:
1 . Use the UP and DOWN Scroll keys to select
the desired catalog .
2 . Press ENTER to select or deselect the catalog .
A selected catalog will have a small check-
mark next to it
A deselected catalog will have a small “x” next
to it .
Catalog Filters: Allows you to set the minimum
magnitude limit (brightness) for objects that will be
displayed when viewing any of the database cata-
logs . This will filter out any objects too faint to view
for the sky conditions of your observing site .
Identify Filters: Allows you to set the minimum
magnitude limit (brightness) and search radius for
objects that will be displayed when the IDENTIFY
button is pressed . This will not only allow you to set
the brightness of the object you want StarSense to
identify but also the distance away from its current
location .
The Identify Filter can be set between 0 (very
bright objects) and 25 .5 (extremely faint objects) .
The search radius filter can be set from 0º to 25 .5º .
Press ENTER to accept the value .
Allow Sun: Enable the Sun under the Solar System
object catalog and as an alignment object in Solar
System Align . Use the UP and DOWN scroll keys
to toggle between “yes” and “no” and press ENTER
to accept .
Note: Never enable the Sun without the proper solar filter
on your telescope .
TELESCOPE
Tracking Rate: StarSense will continually track
celestial objects as they move across the night sky .
You can adjust the tracking rate depending on what
type of object is being observed . Press ENTER to
select different tracking rates:
Sidereal: Compensates for the rotation of
the Earth by moving the telescope at the same
rate as the rotation of the Earth, but in the
opposite direction .
Lunar: Used for tracking the Moon .
Solar: Used for tracking the Sun for solar
observing using a proper solar filter .
Disable: Turns tracking completely off .
Setup
• Slew Limits: The slew limits prevent the
telescope tube from slewing to an object
below the horizon or slewing to an object that
is high enough that the tube might hit one of
the tripod legs . However, the slew limits can
be customized depending on your needs . For
example, if you would like to slew to an object
that is close to the zenith and are certain that
the tube will not hit the tripod legs, you can
set the maximum slew limits to 90º in altitude .
Setting your limits to 0 and 90º will allow the
telescope to slew to any object above the
horizon . Use the UP/DOWN Scroll buttons
to increase and press ENTER to accept the
values .