Nexstar 6SE disappointing performance

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skywatcher1983
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Nexstar 6SE disappointing performance

#1

Post by skywatcher1983 »


I bought a 2nd hand 6SE off eBay and quite honestly its rubbish. Its doesn't produce anything like what I'd call a sharp and in focus image. I'm using the focus knob BTW! This is after I've had the scope serviced, cleaned and collimated. With the standard 25mm Celestron eyepiece, the moon is blurry and I can't make out good detail of landmarks and craters. Planets produce a hazy tail which I think is to do with atmospheric distortion.

I was wondering if anyone can tell me if this is normal for this type of scope. Could things be improved with a better eyepiece or the digital monitor which outputs the signal to a laptop? I'm worried that maybe that's as good as it gets in which case I'll be looking to sell it and try another type of telescope.

Thanks v much
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Greenman Great Britain
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Re: Nexstar 6SE disappointing performance

#2

Post by Greenman »


skywatcher1983 wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 6:56 pm I bought a 2nd hand 6SE off eBay and quite honestly its rubbish. Its doesn't produce anything like what I'd call a sharp and in focus image. I'm using the focus knob BTW! This is after I've had the scope serviced, cleaned and collimated. With the standard 25mm Celestron eyepiece, the moon is blurry and I can't make out good detail of landmarks and craters. Planets produce a hazy tail which I think is to do with atmospheric distortion.

I was wondering if anyone can tell me if this is normal for this type of scope. Could things be improved with a better eyepiece or the digital monitor which outputs the signal to a laptop? I'm worried that maybe that's as good as it gets in which case I'll be looking to sell it and try another type of telescope.

Thanks v much
Something is amiss, I have no problems with my SE6 on lunar or planetary shots. The focuser takes time to get used to, but the issue could be on the eyepiece. Have you tried it with other eyepieces?
Cheers,

Tony.

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Smart Scope: Dwarf II - Club and outreach work.

AP Refractor: Altair 72EDF Deluxe F6;1x & 0.8 Flatteners; Antares Versascope 60mm finder. ASIAir Pro.Li battery pack for grab & go.

Celestron AVX Mount; X-cel LX eyepieces & Barlows 2x 3x, ZWO 2” Filter holder,

Cameras: main DSO ASI533MC; DSO guide ASI120MM; Planetary ASI224MC; DSLR Canon EOS100 stock.

Filters: Astronomik IR cut; Optolong L-Pro; Optolong L-Enhance.

Binoculars: Celestron 15 x 70.

Latitude: 52.219853
Longitude: -1.034471
Accuracy: 5 m
Bortle 4 site. https://maps.google.com/?q=52.21985,-1.03447

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yobbo89 Australia
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Re: Nexstar 6SE disappointing performance

#3

Post by yobbo89 »


who collimated it ?? you need to do a star test , you say it was collimated but the problems you discribe points towards that it isn't ...
scopes :gso/bintel f4 12"truss tube, bresser messier ar127s /skywatcher 10'' dob,meade 12'' f10 lx200 sct
cameras : asi 1600mm-c/asi1600mm-c,asi120mc,prostar lp guidecam, nikkon d60, sony a7,asi 290 mm
mounts : eq6 pro/eq8/mesu 200 v2
filters : 2'' astronomik lp/badder lrgb h-a,sII,oIII,h-b,Baader Solar Continuum, chroma 3nm ha,sii,oiii,nii,rgb,lowglow,uv/ir,Thousand Oaks Solar Filter,1.25'' #47 violet,pro planet 742 ir,pro planet 807 ir,pro planet 642 bp ir.
extras : skywatcher f4 aplanatic cc, Baader MPCC MKIII Coma Corrector,Orion Field Flattener,zwo 1.25''adc.starlight maxi 2" 9x filter wheel,tele vue 2x barlow .

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Greenman Great Britain
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Re: Nexstar 6SE disappointing performance

#4

Post by Greenman »


yobbo89 wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 7:45 pm who collimated it ?? you need to do a star test , you say it was collimated but the problems you discribe points towards that it isn't ...
Good point get some Bobs Knobs and collimating it is pretty easy - even for me. On my second hand one I found the stock screws were very tight, I actually (carefully) released them with a bit of WD-40. I’m not recommending that process (getting WD-40 on your optics would not improve thangs) it worked for me, but I’m impatient and impulsive.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bobs-k ... ation.html
Cheers,

Tony.

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Smart Scope: Dwarf II - Club and outreach work.

AP Refractor: Altair 72EDF Deluxe F6;1x & 0.8 Flatteners; Antares Versascope 60mm finder. ASIAir Pro.Li battery pack for grab & go.

Celestron AVX Mount; X-cel LX eyepieces & Barlows 2x 3x, ZWO 2” Filter holder,

Cameras: main DSO ASI533MC; DSO guide ASI120MM; Planetary ASI224MC; DSLR Canon EOS100 stock.

Filters: Astronomik IR cut; Optolong L-Pro; Optolong L-Enhance.

Binoculars: Celestron 15 x 70.

Latitude: 52.219853
Longitude: -1.034471
Accuracy: 5 m
Bortle 4 site. https://maps.google.com/?q=52.21985,-1.03447

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AstroBee United States of America
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Re: Nexstar 6SE disappointing performance

#5

Post by AstroBee »


I too would tend towards collimation. 2nd place problem may be a bad eyepiece. As mentioned, have you checked collimation on a bright star? Just point to Sirius or Procyon and rack it out of focus. If it looks like a perfect donut then you are pretty close to collimation. If you have a higher magnification eyepiece, do the same with it.
You mention it was serviced, was it done locally via pickup and dropoff, or did you ship it somewhere to be serviced. Very, very likely the collimation got kicked out if it were shipped.
Greg M.~ "Ad Astra per Aspera"
Scopes: Celestron EdgeHD14", Explore Scientific ED152CF & ED127 APO's, StellarVue SV70T, Classic Orange-Tube C-8, Lunt 80mm Ha double-stack solar scope.
Mounts: Astro-Physics Mach One, iOptron CEM70EC Mount, iOptron ZEQ25 Mount.
Cameras: ZWO ASI2600mm Pro, ZWO 2600MC Pro, ZWO ASI1600mm
Filters: 36mm Chroma LRGB & 3nm Ha, OIII, SII, L-Pro, L-eXtreme
Eyepieces: 27mm TeleVue Panoptic, 4mm TeleVue Radian, Explore Scientific 82° 30mm, 6.7mm , Baader 13mm Hyperion, Explore Scientific 70° 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, Meade 8.8mm UWA
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Re: Nexstar 6SE disappointing performance

#6

Post by Bigzmey »


Welcome to the forum!

I agree something is amiss, 6SE should deliver nice views. Try to focus on a daytime target (tree or house in a distance).

It could be that focuser is malfunctioning and it does not move the mirror when your turn the knob. Another potential reason is that the corrector plate was installed wrong way after the service, or the screws holding secondary mirror are loose.

You can check EP quality by holding it about 12" away from your eye and looking through it during the day. It should show smallish sharp upside down image of what you are looking at.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
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Ylem United States of America
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Re: Nexstar 6SE disappointing performance

#7

Post by Ylem »


Definitely start with a quick star test as others have discribed.

The C6 is usually a very good scope that frequently gets compared to the 127mak.

Both my C6 and Mak put up nice images.

Oh, a few other things, was it properly cooled down?
I put mine out, then eat dinner and it's ready to go.
Also I have to use a dewshield on all my scopes around here.
Clear Skies,
-Jeff :telescopewink:


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Orion 80ED
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Re: Nexstar 6SE disappointing performance

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Post by Graeme1858 »


Hello Skywatcher

Did you have any problems with the dew? The humidity has been high in southern England of late.

I was down your way in New Milton in the week! The New Forest is lovely.

Welcome to the forum.

Regards

Graeme
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ASI1600MM Pro, ASI294MC Pro, ASI224MC
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skywatcher1983
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Re: Nexstar 6SE disappointing performance

#9

Post by skywatcher1983 »


Bingo! The collimation was out again and I've just managed to do it myself 1st time successfully by pointing it at a bright star. Yes Bob's nobs really help. Thanks for your help.
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Re: Nexstar 6SE disappointing performance

#10

Post by Ylem »


skywatcher1983 wrote: Sat Feb 27, 2021 7:36 pm Bingo! The collimation was out again and I've just managed to do it myself 1st time successfully by pointing it at a bright star. Yes Bob's nobs really help. Thanks for your help.
Good to hear :)
Enjoy!
I love my C6 :)
Clear Skies,
-Jeff :telescopewink:


Member; ASTRA-NJ



Orion 80ED
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Re: Nexstar 6SE disappointing performance

#11

Post by Greenman »


skywatcher1983 wrote: Sat Feb 27, 2021 7:36 pm Bingo! The collimation was out again and I've just managed to do it myself 1st time successfully by pointing it at a bright star. Yes Bob's nobs really help. Thanks for your help.
Great stuff!
Cheers,

Tony.

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Smart Scope: Dwarf II - Club and outreach work.

AP Refractor: Altair 72EDF Deluxe F6;1x & 0.8 Flatteners; Antares Versascope 60mm finder. ASIAir Pro.Li battery pack for grab & go.

Celestron AVX Mount; X-cel LX eyepieces & Barlows 2x 3x, ZWO 2” Filter holder,

Cameras: main DSO ASI533MC; DSO guide ASI120MM; Planetary ASI224MC; DSLR Canon EOS100 stock.

Filters: Astronomik IR cut; Optolong L-Pro; Optolong L-Enhance.

Binoculars: Celestron 15 x 70.

Latitude: 52.219853
Longitude: -1.034471
Accuracy: 5 m
Bortle 4 site. https://maps.google.com/?q=52.21985,-1.03447

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Re: Nexstar 6SE disappointing performance

#12

Post by JayTee »


If somebody messed with the corrector plate (ie they removed and replaced it), it may not have been put back in EXACTLY the same orientation from which it left! This in addition to collimation can produce the poor performance you are experiencing. There sometimes are reference marks on the corrector and the associated ring onto which it sits - and sometimes there aren't. If not, the only folks (that I'm aware of) that can accurately position your corrector plate back in the proper position is Celestron.

Hope you get this sorted out.

Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

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