instruction Manual StarSeeker 70mm • StarSeeker 80mm •StarSeeker 114mm • StarSeeker 130mm IN 264 Rev.
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Assembling the StarSeeker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Attaching the Telescope to the Tripod . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Star Diagonal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Eyepiece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Objective Lens Tube Ring Clamp Star Pointer Finderscope Eyepiece Fork Arm Accessory Tray w/ Hand Control Holder Hand Control Tripod Star Diagonal Focuser Knob The Starseeker 70mm and 80mm Refractor Telescopes (80mm model shown) 3
Star Pointer Finderscope Eyepiece Focuser Knob Tube Ring Optical Tube Fork Arm Tripod Collimation Adjustment Knobs Accessory Tray w/ Hand Control Holder Hand Control StarSeeker 114mm & 130mm Reflecting Telescopes (114mm model shown) 4
Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of the Celestron StarSeeker! The StarSeeker ushers in a whole new generation of computer automated technology. Simple and friendly to use, the StarSeeker is up and running after locating just three bright objects. It’s the perfect combination of power and portability.
Assembling the StarSeeker Your StarSeeker comes in three major sections: the optical tube, fork arm and the tripod. These sections can be attached in seconds using the quick release coupling screw located under the tripod mounting platform. Remove all of the accessories from their individual boxes. Remember to save all of the containers so that they can be used to transport the telescope. Before attaching the visual accessories, the telescope tube should be mounted to its tripod.
3. Tighten the thumbscrew to hold the eyepiece in place. To remove the eyepiece, loosen the thumbscrew on the star diagonal and slide the eyepiece out. For StarSeeker 114mm and 130mm models: 1. Loosen the thumb screw on the eyepiece adapter at the end of the focuser barrel and remove the protective dust cap from the focuser barrel. Star pointer Eyepiece Focus knob 2. Slide the chrome portion of the low power 25mm eyepiece into the eyepiece adapter. 3.
Attaching the Hand Control The StarSeeker hand control has a phone jack type connector at the end of its cord. Plug the phone jack connector into the outlet at the base of the telescope’s fork arm. Push the connector into the outlet until it clicks into place and place the hand control into its holder as described previously in the Assembly section of the manual.
Double Stars: Alphabetical listing of the most visually stunning double, triple and quadruple stars in the sky. Variable Stars: Select list of the brightest variable stars with the shortest period of changing magnitude. 10. Scroll Keys: Used to scroll up and down within any of the menu lists. A double arrow symbol on the right side of the LCD indicates that the scroll keys can be used to view additional information. Asterisms: A unique list of some of the most recognizable star patterns in the sky. 11.
Important: The first time the StarSeeker is used, it will request information to help identify the model of telescope. Once powered on, the hand control will display the message Select Model. Use the Up and Down menu keys (10) to scroll through the different StarSeeker models. Press ENTER when your StarSeeker model is displayed on the hand control. This information will be retained for future use and will not be displayed again.
6. For the second alignment object, choose a bright star or planet as far as possible from the first alignment object. Once again use the arrow button to center the object in the finderscope and press ENTER. Then once centered in the eyepiece press the ALIGN button. 1. Once the StarSeeker is powered on , Press ENTER to begin alignment. 2. Use the Up and Down scroll keys (10) to select Auto TwoStar Align and press ENTER. 7. Repeat the process for the third alignment star.
4. StarSeeker then asks you to center in the eyepiece the alignment star you selected. Use the direction arrow buttons to slew the telescope to the alignment star and carefully center the star in the finderscope. Press ENTER when centered. 5. Then, center the star in the eyepiece and press ALIGN. HELPFUL HINT: In order to accurately center the alignment star in the eyepiece, you may wish to decrease the slew rate of the motors for fine centering.
of the sky. • If you have aligned your telescope using the One-star align method, you can use re-align to align to an additional object in the sky. This will improve the pointing accuracy of your telescope without having to re-enter addition information. To replace an existing alignment star with a new alignment star: 1. Select the desired star (or object) from the database and slew to it. 2. Carefully center the object in the eyepiece. 3. Once centered, press the UNDO button until you are at the main menu.
Tour Mode The StarSeeker includes a tour feature which automatically allows the user to choose from a list of interesting objects based on the date and time in which you are observing. The automatic tour will display only those objects that are within your set filter limits. To activate the Tour mode, press the TOUR key on the hand control. The StarSeeker will display the best objects to observe that are currently in the sky. • To see information and data about the displayed object, press the INFO key.
Lunar Used for tracking the moon when observing the lunar landscape. Solar Used for tracking the Sun when solar observing using a proper solar filter. View Time-Site - View Time-Site will display the last saved time and longitude/latitude entered in the hand control. User Defined Objects - The StarSeeker can store up to 50 different user defined objects in its memory. The objects can be daytime land objects or an interesting celestial object that you discover that is not included in the regular database.
these values and use them each time it is turned on until they are changed. Slew Limits - Sets the limits in altitude that the telescope can slew without displaying a warning message. 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.
StarSeeker StarSeeker Menu Tree: The following figure is a menu tree showing the sub-menus associated with the primary command functions.
Telescope Basics A telescope is an instrument that collects and focuses light. The nature of the optical design determines how the light is focused. Some telescopes, known as refractors, use lenses. Other telescopes, known as reflectors, use mirrors. The StarSeeker 70mm and 80mm telescopes are refractor telescopes that use an objective lens to collect light. The StarSeeker 114mm and 130mm are reflecting telescopes with a primary and secondary mirror to gather and focus light.
• Hazy skies, fog, and mist can also make it difficult to focus when viewing terrestrially. The amount of detail seen under these conditions is greatly reduced. Also, when photographing under these conditions, the processed film may come out a little grainier than normal with lower contrast and underexposed. • If you wear corrective lenses (specifically glasses), you may want to remove them when observing with an eyepiece attached to the telescope.
Viewing Conditions Viewing conditions affect what you can see through your telescope during an observing session. Conditions include transparency, sky illumination, and seeing. Understanding viewing conditions and the effect they have on observing will help you get the most out of your telescope. Transparency Transparency is the clarity of the atmosphere which is affected by clouds, moisture, and other airborne particles.
how to adjust the screw pairs to center the dot of the collimating cap in the ring of the primary mirror mark. Once the dot is centered in the ring, the telescope is collimated, and the rear cover plate can be reinstalled on the back of the mirror cell. Figure 6-1. The view of a collimated telescope as seen through the focuser of the StarSeeker 114mm and 130mm reflectors. Support screws NOTE: The center ring sticker need not ever be removed from the primary mirror.
Appendix A TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 22
Appendix B GLOSSARY OF TERMS AAbsolute magnitude: The apparent magnitude that a star would have if it were observed from a standard distance of 10 parsecs, or 32.6 light-years. The absolute magnitude of the Sun is 4.8. at a distance of 10 parsecs, it would just be visible on Earth on a clear moonless night away from surface light.
1 is 2.5 times brighter than a star of magnitude 2, and 100 times brighter than a magnitude 5 star. The brightest star, Sirius, has an apparent magnitude of -1.6, the full moon is -12.7, and the Sun’s brightness, expressed on a magnitude scale, is -26.78. The zero point of the apparent magnitude scale is arbitrary. RReflector: A telescope in which the light is collected by means of a mirror. Resolution: The minimum detectable angle an optical system can detect.
Appendix C RS-232 CONNECTION You can control your StarSeeker telescope with a computer via the RS-232 port located on the computerized hand control and using an optional RS-232 cable (Celestron #93920). The telescope can be controlled using popular astronomy software programs, such as Starry Night™ Pro.
Appendix D MAPS OF TIME ZONES 26
CELESTRON TWO YEAR WARRANTY A. Celestron warrants this telescope to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for two years. Celestron will repair or replace such product or part thereof which, upon inspection by Celestron, is found to be defective in materials or workmanship. As a condition to the obligation of Celestron to repair or replace such product, the product must be returned to Celestron together with proof-of-purchase satisfactory to Celestron. B.
