Hand Control Operation - Celestron NexStar 8i Instruction Manual

4. Catalog Keys: The NexStar has keys on the hand control to allow direct access to each of the
catalogs in its database. The NexStar contains the following catalogs in its database:
5. Info: Displays coordinates and useful information about objects selected from the NexStar database.
6. Tour: Activates the tour mode, which seeks out all the best objects for the current date and time, and
automatically slews the NexStar to those objects.
7. Enter: Pressing Enter allows you to select any of the NexStar functions and accept entered parameters.
8. Undo: Undo will take you out of the current menu and display the previous level of the menu path.
Press Undo repeatedly to get back to a main menu or use it to erase data entered by mistake.
9. Menu: Displays the many setup and utilities functions such as tracking rate and user defined objects
and many others.
10. Scroll Keys: Used to scroll up and down within any of the menu lists. A double-arrow will appear on the
right side of the LCD when there are sub-menus below the displayed menu. Using these keys will scroll
through those sub-menus.
11. Rate: Instantly changes the rate of speed of the motors when the direction buttons are pressed.
12. RS-232 Jack: Allows you to interface with a computer and control the NexStar remotely.
H a n d C o n t r o l O
H a n d C o n t r o l O
This section describes the basic hand control procedures needed to operate the NexStar. These procedures are
grouped into three categories: Alignment, Setup and Utilities. The alignment section deals with the initial
telescope alignment as well as finding objects in the sky; the setup section discusses changing parameters such
as tracking mode and tracking rate; finally, the last section reviews all of the utilities functions such as the slew
limits, database filter limits and backlash compensation.
Messier – Complete list of all Messier objects.
NGC – Complete list of all the deep-sky objects in the Revised New General Catalog.
Caldwell – A combination of the best NGC and IC objects.
Planets - All 8 planets in our Solar System plus the Moon.
Stars – A compiled list of the brightest stars from the SAO catalog.
List – For quick access, all of the best and most popular objects in the NexStar
database have been broken down into customized lists based on their type and/or
common name:
Named Stars
Named Objects
Double Stars
Variable Stars
Asterisms
CCD Objects
IC Objects
Abell Objects
p e r a t i o n
p e r a t i o n
Common name listing of the brightest stars in the
sky.
Alphabetical listing of over 50 of the most popular
deep sky objects.
Numeric-alphabetical listing of the most visually
stunning double, triple and quadruple stars in the
sky.
Select list of the brightest variable stars with the
shortest period of changing magnitude.
A unique list of some of the most recognizable star
patterns in the sky.
A custom list of many interesting galaxy pairs, trios
and clusters that are well suited for CCD imaging.
A complete list of all the Index Catalog deep-sky
objects.
A complete list of all the Abell Catalog deep-sky
objects.
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