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On this page, I provide some information about my Celestron StarSense AutoAlign for Sky-Watcher module*, which I will call "StarSense module" for short in the following. After the acquisition of a GoTo controller, this module is the final step towards "complete astronomical incompetence." I think that I will have to live with that now (more on this under First Remarks)...
*) Ordered on February 1, from Teleskop-Spezialisten, arrived on February 7, 2018, sold in mid-November 2022.
See the appendix for the data.
Note: In mid-November 2022, I sold my Celestron StarSense AutoAlign for Sky-Watcher module. I therefore can no longer report any experiences with the StarSense module here. |
See also:
Box opened |
Ditto, upper layer removed |
Ditto, box content visible |
Box content |
Box content removed |
Box content, closer view |
Allen wrench and screws visible... |
... and viewed closer |
Handbox |
Small bracket |
Interface box |
Ditto |
StarSense module, rear view |
StarSense module, front view with cap on camera |
StarSense module, front view, cap removed |
My telescopes have a Vixen/Sky-Watcher dovetail base that fits the small camera bracket. I therefore needed to remove the pre-installed large camera bracket on the StarSense module. This is shown in the following:
Slightly loosen the socket head screw using the included 4 mm Allen wrench... |
...but do not remove the screw entirely |
Remove the lens shroud... |
...by unscrewing it |
This takes some time... |
Lens shroud removed |
Camera seen from nearby |
Ditto |
StarSense, lens shroud removed |
Large bracket removed (with some force). Do not lose the orange rings! |
Small bracket put in place |
Fastening the socket head screw again |
Lens shroud is being screwed on again. The orange rings function as washers |
StarSense with small bracket |
Ditto, rear view |
Als noted that the two orange rings, are not lost and are returned to their original positions. They function as washers.
Note that the 12 V power supply was not installed. See below for how the connection is being done.
Star Discovery mount with original handbox |
Star Discovery mount with Celestron handbox - wrongly connected! |
|
StarSense interface box |
StarSense interface box and handbox on mount |
Ditto |
StarSense interface box, viewed from below |
StarSense interface box and handbox on mount - positions exchanged for perhaps less cable clutter |
Ditto |
Note that the 12 V power supply was not installed.
Skymax-102 OTA with StarSense on mount |
Ditto, rear view |
Ditto, side view |
Ditto, side view |
Ditto, front view
|
Ditto |
Oblique rear view |
Ditto, front view |
|
As noted elsewhere, the finder
position is unfavorable - I will have to check whether this works at
all... |
Skymax-127 OTA with StarSense on mount |
Dito |
Ditto |
Ditto, side view |
Ditto |
Ditto, rear view |
Ditto |
Ditto, oblique view from front |
|
As noted elsewhere, the finder
position is unfavorable - I will have to check whether this works at
all... |
Side view, camera cut off... |
Ditto |
|
Side view, tube pointing upwards |
Ditto |
Ditto |
Other side, tube pointing upwards |
Ditto |
|
|
My first experiences with the Celestron StarSense module can be found on page Celestron StarSense AutoAlign for Sky-Watcher - First Experiences. After an initial failure, I found, purely theoretically, a procedure to make the module work. On February 12, 2018 I had the opportunity to try out my approach, and it led to success. This can also be read on the above mentioned page. Now there are, of course, still "subtleties" missing, especially how the measures to increase the pointing accuracy will work...
I collect further experiences with and some information about the StarSense module on page Celestron StarSense AutoAlign for Sky-Watcher - Further Experiences. And on page Celestron StarSense AutoAlign for Sky-Watcher - Connecting to a Mac (USB), I investigate, how I can connect the StarSense-Modul with an Apple Maciontosh using an USB cable and how I can control the mount using the SkySafari planetarium software.
Note: On page Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount - Instructions you will find instructions for using the StarSense module.
My preliminary conclusion, after my initial problems, is that Celestron does neither the buyers nor itself a favor by delivering the StarSense module with an outdated and misleading (or also wrong...) manual. I probably would never have been able to get the module up and running without a lot of try-and-error and searching the Internet. What a pity! At least, Michael Swanson's book is also a helpful resource (see links).
There are also some other details that get on my nerves. So one almost forgets that the StarSense module seems to do its job well when it finally works properly, and you do not have excessive demands on positioning accuracy. But for being able to judge the latter, I need much more experience with the device anyway.
In the meantime (end of 2020), I sold my older telescopes and will have to calibrate the StarSense module on new telescopes, either the Celestron C8 or the TS-Optics TLAPO1027... >> In mid-August 2021, I calibrated the module for the C8.
Did the StarSense module already significantly increase my incompetence? Since I am just at the beginning, and I still had to know where the calibration stars were located, not much has been achieved in this direction so far. But this will surely change over time, when the alignment will only be done automatically...
28.11.2024 |