One great thing about the Orion Starskeer is that once you align your scope you can manually move it and it won’t loose its tracking.you can avoid it from spinning around by just manually going to the object you are looking for and you can still go back to the next object using your remote and it’s still tracking.
You can move the Celestron manually and not loose tracking as well. However, even if you slew it close to your target, it will still consider the last point of tracking the starting point. Kind of annoying but once you learn it you won't have a problem.
I wanted the 8SE, but when I read that the scope was already at the maximum weight for the mount I decided I didn't want it because I cannot do much to improve it. Stuck with the 1.25" diagonal because at a minimum a 2" diagonal with an eyepiece would add 2 lbs. to it and I spoke to another member of my astro club and he said you can hear it straining with the added weight, go to the Evolution Nexstar mount for 8". The SE mount is best with the 6SE and leaves you room to grow.
Correct. About the most you can do is take off the diagonal and add a straight through adapter for photography. The next natural progression for photography would be the AVX equatorial mount, or something similar. For observation, the Alt/Az mount is just fine.
@@JonDenver I prefer 2" eyepieces with an f10 scope for visual especially with a 40mm I prefer not to be stuck with the 1.25 40mm fov. I do very little photography.
Hey just wanted to say thank you, your video Is the only one of many that really helped me with alignment every time guaranteed. So now I'm wondering if it is possible to polar align an Alt AZ mount? It would be nice to align it during the day and leave it ready for the night
Thank you! If you have the 5 or 6se it comes with an equatorial wedge. The alignment process is a little different. If you have the 8se you can buy a wedge for about 350$ US. Keep in mind that neither of these make it a “true” equatorial. When the weather is clear for a few nights, I always set up the night before my photo shoot, align and put it in hibernation mode, and cover it. That way it’s ready to go. Sometimes I leave it out for weeks at a time. I have a really good Orion cover. Clear skies!
Thanks for the valuable tips. Interesting though... on your mount the knob to tighten the clamp holding the OTA's rail is located atop the mount, whereas mine is located 180-degrees around on the underside of the clamp. It's more hidden from view there, but it's much harder to get at to make adjustments when mounting the OTA. Other images I find of the NexStar 8se Mount look like mine. How is it that yours is configured differently? Is this intentional, and why? How is it accomplished, please? Thanks very much, Jon!
I should say also that your rotate it by hand while it is not powered on. That axis is on by a belt and easy to move. Do NOT ever try to rotate the base by hand or you will damage the gears.
If you move it or power it off then yes. However, you can put it in hibernation mode, and as long as you don’t move anything, it will remember where you left off. It’s great for multiple clear nights. Just don’t shut the power off.
I tried to culminate my Nextstar 8 SCT and not only could i not get it right, but now the objects in the eyepiece are flipped upside-down. Does anybody know if I broke secondary mirror? Or if it's even fixable? I'm brand new to this.
You just went too far on one of the adjustments. Be careful not to back the secondary out too far or it will fall out. Start by focusing on a star the best you can. The focus out until you see two rings. Try to get the circle directly in the middle by adjusting the collimating screws. Then you can focus back in. Keep in mind the star will move every time you adjust a screw. I recommend getting “bob’s knobs”. They make it much easier. Hope that helps
@@JonDenver Very stupidly I have dropped my OTA putting into the slid rail I may be lucky, but it did not affect it. I was very worried for a moment; I thought shit I have done it now.
Absolutely the best setup on the CSE mount and scope I’ve seen Bravo sir!
Thank you! Make sure to subscribe to my new channel dedicated just to astrophotography. Mike High Astrophotography. I’ll be posting there very soon!
Just getting started with my brand new 8SE. Video was very helpful. Hope I can do all this in the dark!
keep up the amazing videos 💯
Working on some more. Stay tuned!
Just got my first scope (6se). This is so helpful - cheers buddy
Awesome and congrats! I really master that product line so if you have any questions please feel free to reach out. Clear skies!
@@JonDenver thanks! I definately will do
One great thing about the Orion Starskeer is that once you align your scope you can manually move it and it won’t loose its tracking.you can avoid it from spinning around by just manually going to the object you are looking for and you can still go back to the next object using your remote and it’s still tracking.
You can move the Celestron manually and not loose tracking as well. However, even if you slew it close to your target, it will still consider the last point of tracking the starting point. Kind of annoying but once you learn it you won't have a problem.
Thank you. That was helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Very helpful, thanks!!!
You're welcome!
I wanted the 8SE, but when I read that the scope was already at the maximum weight for the mount I decided I didn't want it because I cannot do much to improve it. Stuck with the 1.25" diagonal because at a minimum a 2" diagonal with an eyepiece would add 2 lbs. to it and I spoke to another member of my astro club and he said you can hear it straining with the added weight, go to the Evolution Nexstar mount for 8". The SE mount is best with the 6SE and leaves you room to grow.
Correct. About the most you can do is take off the diagonal and add a straight through adapter for photography. The next natural progression for photography would be the AVX equatorial mount, or something similar. For observation, the Alt/Az mount is just fine.
@@JonDenver I prefer 2" eyepieces with an f10 scope for visual especially with a 40mm I prefer not to be stuck with the 1.25 40mm fov. I do very little photography.
I agree 100%. You can’t beat the 2 inch for observation.
Very useful, thx
Awesome
Thank you!
Hey just wanted to say thank you, your video Is the only one of many that really helped me with alignment every time guaranteed. So now I'm wondering if it is possible to polar align an Alt AZ mount? It would be nice to align it during the day and leave it ready for the night
Thank you! If you have the 5 or 6se it comes with an equatorial wedge. The alignment process is a little different. If you have the 8se you can buy a wedge for about 350$ US. Keep in mind that neither of these make it a “true” equatorial. When the weather is clear for a few nights, I always set up the night before my photo shoot, align and put it in hibernation mode, and cover it. That way it’s ready to go. Sometimes I leave it out for weeks at a time. I have a really good Orion cover. Clear skies!
How to piggyback a DSLR on a 4se ?
Thanks for the valuable tips. Interesting though... on your mount the knob to tighten the clamp holding the OTA's rail is located atop the mount, whereas mine is located 180-degrees around on the underside of the clamp. It's more hidden from view there, but it's much harder to get at to make adjustments when mounting the OTA. Other images I find of the NexStar 8se Mount look like mine. How is it that yours is configured differently? Is this intentional, and why? How is it accomplished, please? Thanks very much, Jon!
Rotate it by hand 180 prior to setup and alignment. The mount aligns by the starting position. Your alignment will be the same.
I should say also that your rotate it by hand while it is not powered on. That axis is on by a belt and easy to move. Do NOT ever try to rotate the base by hand or you will damage the gears.
Will you have to do this process all over again when you use it again?
If you move it or power it off then yes. However, you can put it in hibernation mode, and as long as you don’t move anything, it will remember where you left off. It’s great for multiple clear nights. Just don’t shut the power off.
I tried to culminate my Nextstar 8 SCT and not only could i not get it right, but now the objects in the eyepiece are flipped upside-down. Does anybody know if I broke secondary mirror? Or if it's even fixable? I'm brand new to this.
You just went too far on one of the adjustments. Be careful not to back the secondary out too far or it will fall out. Start by focusing on a star the best you can. The focus out until you see two rings. Try to get the circle directly in the middle by adjusting the collimating screws. Then you can focus back in. Keep in mind the star will move every time you adjust a screw. I recommend getting “bob’s knobs”. They make it much easier. Hope that helps
@@JonDenver Very stupidly I have dropped my OTA putting into the slid rail I may be lucky, but it did not affect it. I was very worried for a moment; I thought shit I have done it now.