Need Help with Alignment

[jlw9406]

Hello, I have purchased a Celestron SE8 Telescope. I've read the manual until i think i can quote it, and I still cannot get it to align properly not matter if i use skyalign or two star method (although the two star method gets closer by far than the skyalign 3 star method. here is the set up method i use. if you see something wrong please let me know.
I level the tripod
Mount the Scope and recheck level.
I add my location by lat/long (or long/lat as thats how its asked for 081 25 28 W / 29 51 45 N
I set the time using military time
i point at a star and center it best i can (i even tried unfocusing it so it was bigger to center in eyepiece)
i repeat these steps for the other two alignment stars (if using the three star method)
i get successful alignment and then go to solar system and select jupiter or saturn and hit enter
for the three star method most times after i hit enter the telescope slews around and points in the opposite direction from the planets i chose
for the two start method i used Vega and FomalHaut and get alignment
I chose Jupiter and Saturn again as go to planets and this time it points the right direction but is off by a pretty good margin say 20-25 degrees angle or a bit more

I updated the Firmware i have factory reset it numerous times i even flipped the way the scope fits in the mount. the only thing i know for sure thats not correct is my ac adapter power supply is only 2 amps output and the one celestron sells is 5 amp (i have one on the way).
Can ANYONE help me, ive waited until I retired to get a telescope, ive wanted one all my life as long as i can remember (as a 3rd grader I wrote to an observatory in Texas asking for star charts) but this has dampened my spirits like nothing else, im sure its a "me doing wrong" issue i just cant figure out what it is.....Thanks

[AstroBee]

Likely, the issue is the way you are inputting the coordinates or the time.
Seems like you are doing everything else correct. And maybe the location and time too, I just am not sure. It could be that it wants local time as normal 12hr instead of using 24hr military standard.

[AstroBee]

Just looked again. Your coordinates put you in India...not Florida. There is your problem. I don't think the Celestron controller asks for an E or W so you have to put the # in as -81

[planecrazzzy]

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I just ordered the "Celestron StarSense AutoAlign" ( After Tax,,,bout $500 )
.
It's spendy , but it should save set-up .

I used to think this was cheating , and wanted to learn it on my own.

I still can , but at a faster pace.

There are good Utube video's from regular guys in their back yard.

This guy had a good demonstration at the end of his video...He seemed very impressed with his new Robot.
it was cool when it slewed to the Moon from a deep space target.

.

.
Gotta Fly...
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PS I might see about mounting this ON the AVX...The option WIDE mount screws could hold a short Aluminum Angle,
Which could hold the Starsense on the left side, forward out of the way...Scope change would be easier.
and anything mounted would only need small calibration

.
I went back and bought the Wifi ($129)
At least I'll sit inside and figure this out.

[jlw9406]

Just checked my lat/long again
25 45 51N / 081 25 59W I leave off the seconds as there is no place for it, it does prompt W and N after entering numbers. Theses coordinates put it one house away because I’m not able to use the seconds to narrow it down, so I don’t think that’s my issue but I’ll check again thank you for your suggestion.

[John Baars]

As far as I can see, given your information, the time zone you are in is not specified. Florida is UTC-5.

[jlw9406]

Thanks John, I saw that option one time but I cannot find it to put it there again, any idea how I get to that screen on the hand controller?

[John Baars]

According the the manual page 11
https://www.manua.ls/celestron/nexstar-8se/manual
Menu--> scope setup-->Setup Time-site

[jlw9406]

Got that John, and it says Eastern Standard, and if I scroll it gives option -5 and I selected it, will I have to do that each time I power up as I am asked each time for the correct time, also am I correct selecting -5 or can I just hit enter when Eastern Standard pops up?

[planecrazzzy]

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Each time...
.
That's another feature that is covered with the new Starsense Alien system comes a new controller...
3 min calibrate after all the info is in.
Yours has to do it EACH time... You'll get better.

Gotta Fly...

[Lady Fraktor]

Got that John, and it says Eastern Standard, and if I scroll it gives option -5 and I selected it, will I have to do that each time I power up as I am asked each time for the correct time, also am I correct selecting -5 or can I just hit enter when Eastern Standard pops up?

You will have to enter time and date, it will show the DST/ ST option and if you have not changed just press the enter button.
If needing to get to custom site menu just press undo/ back until it comes up.

[jlw9406]

Well another night in frustration, I am beginning to think I made a 1500$ + mistake in getting this telescope. I tried all the suggestions, several times each and I am still not doing something correct. The closest I have come to getting the "goto" to point at a star and or planet is when I use standard time instead of daylight savings time which we are currently in. When I did that it actually pointed in the Almost correct direction mostly low and left of the object left by say 4-5" and low 10" or more. I use the two star method and have not Align Successful each time.



Would purchasing a 2x Barlow help in any way? I am pretty sure I center the object in the eyepiece but I do know its an objective view as there are no aiming points in a lenses. as a side note I have had NO issue with the cheap red dot pointer t works fine for me.



Any Further Advice is greatly appreciated.

[Lady Fraktor]

A barlow will not help but a crosshair eyepiece likely will.

I will dig my SLT out later and go through the procedure just to confirm.
In the meantime have you made sure your finder and telescope are in good alignment?

Another thing, how many minutes do you think it takes you to do alignment?

[SkyHiker]

I have an AVX so I can't help much but here's someone's beginner trial and error experience, https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/1235 ... star-68se/ . It mentioned something about alignment of the fork arm before the OTA is attached.

Also, I was wondering if there is no field for entering seconds, could it be that a decimal representation is needed? AFAICT Celestron uses hours minutes seconds, it's odd that there is no seconds field.

HTH

[JayTee]

This may not solve your problem, but it can never hurt. You should consider picking up an illuminated reticle eyepiece, anywhere from 12 to 25 mm. This is the eyepiece to use during a go-to alignment. Also remember your final motions to center the star in the reticle is up and right.

[jlw9406]

can anyone recommend a good crosshair lenses, I am on a fixed income and cant afford those high dollar ones

[Lady Fraktor]

I changed the pricing to USD, shipping to the USA is under $4USD. I have never had a need for a illuminated crosshair but people differ
Choices 2-4 are the cheapest, I was surprised how expensive these are now!
https://www.astroshop.eu/eyepieces/15_1 ... +eyepieces

[JayTee]

This is the one I use.

[jlw9406]

Tried to use Celestrons CPWI tonight to help align, about time i got all set up clouds rolled in, guess ill try tomorrow night.

[FlaSky]

Keep us posted.