Beginner Celestron NexStar Evolution, StarSense, & SkyPortal Guide - Part 1: Set-up, Tips and Tricks

[@mw2077]

I just purchased a 9.25 evolution during a Black Friday sale, and I’ll be honest I don’t know wtf I’m doing 😂😂. But this video is a god send and it’s given me much confidence. Thank you very much

[@Flogge11]

Same here, I purchased Evolution 8 today, this is why I’m now watching KZbin videos on set up, and alignment.

[@Random_Things1001]

How much y'all pay? I just bought it for $1800

[@Flogge11]

@@Random_Things1001 I paid $3500 Australian dollars instore. Which is about $2200 USD. I could have saved a couple of hundred purchasing online. But a telescope is not the type of thing I want delivered via courier. Or delivered when Im not home.

[@ChrisNolan-i3c]

This has been the best Cody and look forward to more. Just bought the 9.25 last week and your video has explained more than the instructions

[@scottrk4930]

Hi Cody . For those , like me , who may have trouble getting their hand on the Altitude knob , you can change the orientation and put the knob up top . This works very well since there are no Home Sensors for this axis . Just pre loosen the clutch , rotate everything 180 degrees , tighten the clutch and mount the OTA . Cheers .

[@RichardKrynickRick]

I have also changed knob to an ADM knob, a bit longer thread and a bigger knob to grab onto.

[@scottrk4930]

@@RichardKrynickRick Hi Richard . Can you provide a link for this ? Sounds perfect ! Thanks !

[@greg4318]

Absolutely first class video……. my compliments

[@AstroBlender]

Thanks!

[@briankotak403]

Nice video Cody. That scope looks beautiful. I was not aware I could just pop my planetary camera into my diagonal. This will make it easier to switch from visual to photography. I would imagine I would just have to play with the focus after switching. Thanks for the helpful video. Dr B from Manitoba, Canada 🇨🇦

[@AstroBlender]

Thanks! I got my 60th anniversary EdgeHD 8 used, so it’s a little beat up, but the optics are perfect and the carbon fiber epoxy is in good shape. Yep, if you have a good Star diagonal it shouldn’t make a huge difference. If you strictly do imaging I’d remove the diagonal, but if you want to have both options, leaving the diagonal in place is preferable to me.

[@melissas9735]

Hi Cody, thank you for taking time to make these beginner videos. They are a great help. I am new to the Evo 8 and wonder if you could share which star diagonal you’re using in this video and if it will work for the regular evo 8. Can you also share which astrophotography camera you are using here and if it’s compatible with the evo 8? Great video!

[@FranciscoRoman-p6d]

Thank you, sir. Very helpful information (part 1 and part 2).

[@RichardRobinson]

Great video! I hope you can do a tutorial on the autoguider vs autoalign cameras

[@antonandersson8524]

Superb video and explanation. Bravo. 💯

[@RobertGlinka]

You mentioned raising and lowering the legs to adjust for kids or adults, i prefer to rotate the diagonal 90 degrees so the eyepiece is pointing horizontally for kids, that makes it so you don't need to realign the telescope and you can quickly adjust back for adults.

[@AstroBlender]

That is certainly preferable, for sure. I’ve had situations where I have had to adjust it due to height or back problems or something. I’ll manually move the scope. When I get a free moment I’ll just do another StarSense align.

[@colinsmart02]

Good video, thanks. The tip about attaching the OTA to the mount is helpful for me. I have a 9.25" Celestron, and it's very scary for me to hoist it, and turn the knobs. It's getting heavier each year. I basically leave everything setup! Safer (financially). I do have an ADM dovetail handle, helps a lot.

[@AstroBlender]

I’m glad you found it helpful! For the 9.25” SCT I’d always mount it with 2 people for sure! I agree the scopes definitely get heavier as time goes by! My Meade SN10 is enormous and heavy - I need to hit the gym!

[@shibamjana]

Is there any difference between evo 8inch and nexstar 8inch??? Only for OTA

[@TheZerocool3312]

I thought for all imaging you have to have the camera at a certain back focus. I'm trying to get started in planetary imaging, so any advice would be helpful.

[@AstroBlender]

Planetary you don’t have to worry about back-focus because you’re using such a tiny camera sensor and not coming anywhere near the edges of the full image circle.

[@dleemoon]

How did you get a Celestron with a carbon fiber tube?

[@AstroBlender]

60th Anniversary Evolution 8” EdgeHD from 2020 came with a carbon fiber tube. Only 600 were made.

[@AstroBlender]

Here is a link if interested further. I got my tube used. www.celestron.com/products/limited-edition-nexstar-evolution-8-hd-telescope-with-starsense-60th-anniversary-edition

[@Michael.Chapman]

Does the carbon optical tube weigh less than the standard aluminum tube? A brilliant scope, love the limited edition and the concept of the Edge HD optical design :-) Am trying to buy an Evo HD w StarSense but they are hard to find in Australian stores (no stocks). Since the ‘80s I’ve used an EQ mounted vintage 1975 C5 and a 1989 Classic 8-but would love to finally explore GoTo.

[@davidpatrickmagic]

Is this the same OTA that is offered w the Celestron Evolution? Wonderful video, very informative!

[@AstroBlender]

This was a special, 60th anniversary carbon fiber 8” EdgeHD. www.celestron.com/products/limited-edition-nexstar-evolution-8-hd-telescope-with-starsense-60th-anniversary-edition

[@karisbarfield8948]

This is a great video! What sort of camera what that?

[@AstroBlender]

Thanks! It is a Player One Astronomy Neptune C-II

[@pancholin50]

I Cody my star sense doesn't detect the camera on my scope, Do any suggestions ,I need help thank you

[@richardpallechio257]

Some comments/observations. I didn't keep the packaging and I had to send my Evolution mount back to Celestron twice. I wish I'd kept the packaging. When I'm setting up, I turn the tripod upside down on the ground, then extend the legs and set their length. That makes it easy to make sure the legs are fully separated. And when I store the tripod I use a bungee cord to keep the legs together. One person can install the OTA, with practice. When learning to do that, have a spotter! Finally, I like to use the SkyPortal app and wouldn't use the hand control at all except that slewing the OTA while at the eyepiece is much easier to do with the hand control than with the app. If it wasn't for that I'd never attach the hand control.

[@AstroBlender]

Thanks for the thoughts! I do wish the SkyPortal app controlled the skewing like the Seestar app, where your finger controls the speed, but it’s manageable at least.

[@dsneill]

HI Cody what changes are need if you want to use a wedge with this mount?

[@AstroBlender]

Well, install the wedge on the tripod first and then the telescope, then you would just need to tell StarSense you’re in EQ mode and you’d be good to go! (You can do this in the settings button in the SkyPortal app.)

[@Kaljdi]

Hey im really curious what telescope is this on this video its a 10 inch and carbon fiber wraped and its really weird because i have never seen this one?

[@AstroBlender]

It’s not a wrap, it’s an actual carbon fiber tube. Celestron 60th anniversary 8” EdgeHD Evolution.

[@JustAcrylicArts]

NO WAY THAT SHIRT IS THE SAME ONE IM WEARING RN LOL!

[@AstroBlender]

No way that’s awesome! I love that shirt.

[@JustAcrylicArts]

@@AstroBlender me too!!!!!! its one of my favourite ones along with a shirt of the milky way!!!

[@EugeneRu777]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@ПрокопийПоликарпов-в5р]

Hi, Cody. You seem to have lost weight.

[@AstroBlender]

I hope not! I have nothing to lose!