How to Setup and Use the Celestron NexStar 8se - Getting First Light

[@laurierken]

Found you last night on a 75" TV, came in this morning to work just to leave a comment. What a great video. Comprehensive and informative. I was a bit intimidated, I'm about to buy the Celestron 8SE (long story, my wife said I wasn't spending that kind of money on a telescope, I dragged home a bunch of old pallets from work, took them apart, sanded them down, and made Christmas trees out of them. Sold each one for a hundred bucks. Ordering my telescope this week...) but in the back of my mind I was thinking I'm buying something I couldn't figure out. You instilled confidence. Thanks from Canada!

[@AstroExplorers]

Not a problem at all. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Be sure to check out the ones on star align, I know I wish I had had them a couple years ago when I first got the telescope. Would've saved me a bunch of grief :)

[@scottmurphy650]

If most are like me, you found that focusing the telescope with the focusing knob was a rather tedious and slightly imprecise way to do it. Although they are not inexpensive, think about getting an electronic focuser. It is super smooth and makes focusing SOOO much easier and precise (using a bahtinov mask) using the hand controller or the Celestron CPWI software. Another very useful accessory is a Telrad reflex sight instead of that red dot. It is so much easier and more precise than that red dot. The red dot will obscure a star when it is aligned, so you can no longer see the star. The center of the Telrad is a small red circle which makes it much easier to see the star, planet or whatever you are using and center it perfectly.

[@lordprotector3367]

Thanks for the video. The manual doesn't give a clue how to fit the tube onto the arm, although there's only one way it can fit. After seeing this I was able to do it in about 30 seconds!

[@yelsew91]

Amazing video. I got the 6se. What I have noticed is the red dot needs a shim as it doesn’t really align. I would love tutorials on using the remote.

[@lightsout3127]

Loved out many videos yours its the most open to step by step 100% tks

[@Tatvam_]

So I can't see colored images through the eyepiece???? I have to take a picture to see the colors....???

[@DouglasLippert]

The 6” optical tube is the weight limit for the stock mount. If you wish to get the 8” CST then you should get the NexStar Evolution instead. Don’t forget to purchase or make a dew shield.

[@jackcovington645]

Just unboxed my 8SE. Many thanks for this video. It really helps. Well done.

[@SaraFink-ri3yx]

Thank you so much! I've never used a telescope before and I'm so excited to get started.

[@tick_magnetedschaper5611]

Funny. I just spent the morning looking for one of my lenses. It still is in hiding. Everything else was together. Thanks for a fun video!

[@Wildlifevideopicture]

Thank you so much for this thorough review of nexstar. I am about to buy a Nexstar 8se this spring 2024 or in the fall. I had astronomy as one of my hobbies when I was a child so want to pick up this interest again. Greetings Karl-David Sweden.

[@Spaceflightlover2010]

Fantastic presentation. Thanks. First time I am on this end of the telescope in a long number of years.

[@AstroExplorers]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@daniellachance8778]

Good day, sir. You will be my mentor, since I’m getting my very first « big boy » telescope in less than 24 hours. I’m getting this Celestron NexStar 8SE with a bunch of oculars and filters. I will follow your channel, my Friend. Looking forward for more setup and educational videos. Have a great day and Clear Sky !!

[@blackflyman]

Great help. Thanks. Just tried and even though I'm aligning two stars Vega and Arcturus, it say quickly "failed" then says my finder is a problem. After Vega, it slewed almost right on Arcturus so I don't know why I'm getting an error message. Got to figure that one out but your videos are so helpful. Thanks!

[@blackflyman]

"Finder off" I just found out is just a reminder...wow.

[@pppjourneyonabike5992]

Does the tripod need to face a certain direction? And be level?

[@johnorchard6158]

I am in the market for the 8se. Thank you for your patience in producing such a great hands on video. J

[@samlentini4716]

Hi, I've been enjoying your videos and tonight took my 8se outside. I aligned it during daylight with the finderscope and once it got dark pointed it towards Jupiter. Unfortunately I saw nothing. Am I using an incorrect lens or something else. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[@JoseRhodeIsland]

Any luck mate? I’m having same issue

[@jackfrost4033]

I had to remove and replace 4 screws in the primary housing to replace the red dot finder and install the starsense undoing the screws was easy, putting them back in was more difficult especially towards the end with significant forcing is this abnormal?

[@slyanover]

Thank you for your videos. Very helpful for this beginner.

[@GregMCrowe]

Great video! Thank you for taking your time and going through the setup process at a nice pace! Really helps for someone who is new to the 8SE like myself. Great quality and production on your work. Thank you again from light polluted Los Angeles!

[@timgrabarz8623]

Well done video! Thank you. I am heading to hopefully set mine up now. :)

[@telescoperealestate]

Thank you for the detailed video, tomorrow we will try again 😀

[@winterpatriot1429]

Sir, I'm a pretty recent subscriber, and still very new to the hobby. I've done visual observation before, but would still be considered somewhat of a "newbie", but I'm also venturing into EAA. I just wanted to say that I've found your videos to be really helpful, and am enjoying watching along. I have a Celestron SLT130 that's a bit older, and I recently purchased an 8SE. With it came the rain and bad Oklahoma summer weather, but it looks like we may have some clear skies in the near future, and I'm looking forward to getting to work! Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for the time and work you put into your videos. your video on using the scope with a laptop and CPWI was really helpful, and that's exactly what I'm planning on doing .. along with my camera. My next purchase (might be a little bit), is a good EQ platform. For now, I think I can get by with Alt-Az, at least for getting a feel for EEA. Have a good one!

[@joeyburrell3207]

Dude, your video is the bomb man, I’m going to buy me one next pay period.😊👍👍👍

[@AstroCrescentDIY]

Very nice setup guidelines for a new hobbyist in astronomy. Very well done. Subscribed 😀.

[@AstroExplorers]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@haroldfranklin5774]

All great videos that are very informative, easy to follow and helpful. I received a 6SE for my birthday/Christmas a unit i had researched and was ready to purchase over the 8SE for budget considerations. Quick question: since received the 6SE unit as a gift, my dilemma is if it is now worth the extra ~$700 to upgrade now to the 8SE. Is there a significant overall difference between the scopes in regards to my initial interests in of seeing and Astrophotography of the usual suspects, The Moon, Jupiter and Saturn? Help. Thank you

[@davidstaiti]

Awesome video. Subscribed. Getting back into astronomy for the first time since high school, now with my own kids ages 9-15. This 8se with all the accessories is the startup rig we've chosen to start. Arrives today! Thanks for the great content.

[@AstroExplorers]

Thanks! I hope you enjoy the new rig!

[@Ericrbo]

I still can't align lat/long it's laid out like 000.00m?

[@VisualObserver]

How was your experience with the telescope?

[@harati6744]

Thank you! Helps me a lot with the set up and manual alignment!

[@AstroExplorers]

Awesome, glad it was helpful!

[@kurpadmurthy5466]

awesome!! Great coaching!!

[@olliepopAMV]

great video, what eyepiece size did you use by chance to see Jupiter?

[@AstroExplorers]

Thanks! It was the same one described in the video when aligning the red dot sight. I believe it was 32mm, but I don't remember off the top of my head.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Great video! In summary: 1. Spend a lot of $$$ (possibly sell AltAz mount at a loss) 2. Wrestle with new EQ mount 3. Fight with esoteric, fussy astro photo software 4. Nice Images 😂

[@AstroExplorers]

No one's going to watch my future videos if you give it all away in the comments, lol.

[@ScrapYardDog64]

Not just Jupiter and Saturn but deep sky also, this scope works great on the ring & dumbell nebula plus you can fit a focus reducer to get f/6.3, super cool with binoviewers also. Its agreat allrounder. Greets from UK.. Subbed ya!

[@AstroExplorers]

It really is a wonderful telescope. I've had a lot of fun capturing DSOs with it.

[@lorettagurtler2580]

What do I do when trying to go horizontal and pushing the up button, it only went a little bit and won't wove anymore

[@dinokath]

Great video! Looking forward to how you arrived at where you are today. Just bought the same scope and want to do astrophotography. Keep it up and thanks for making this!

[@AstroExplorers]

You're welcome, I hope you enjoy your new scope!

[@Xrxox]

Subbed, neeeed a channel that can guide me with the 8SE

[@curlysue1713]

Thanks so much for the info!

[@oneeyedjack3734]

what size eye piece were you using for Saturn and Jupiter

[@JimLudwig]

Great overview. Can't wait for future videos! I have the same scope and I know im using it wrong :)

[@AstroExplorers]

If you're out there using it, you're not using it wrong :). There's just ways to use it better.

[@bobbya8622]

Very nice!!! Thanks!

[@dougsbir]

good work thankyou!

[@Ericrbo]

Outstanding!

[@garryfreemyer7187]

It took me 40 hours to collimate my dob. I failed and gave up and sent it back.

[@bradwiebelhaus7065]

Good video.

[@arrond316]

Thanks brother

[@zayaan7011]

Begin alignment meant polar alignment

[@AstroExplorers]

With this kind of mount, you're not doing a polar appointment. But you're able to align and track with objects in the night sky.

[@michellegranada8810]

Newbie here! 🙋🏽‍♀️ I’m terribly confused by the directional arrows when trying to adjust the position of my Telescope. It seems it’s not just reversed if flipped, but the stars in my view are moving at a 45° angle, not just up/down, left/right. What could be wrong here? Thank you!

[@AstroExplorers]

If your eyepiece isn't straight up and down, then that might be causing it to be moving at an odd angle. This can be common with different mounts however, and a little trial and error is usually needed to get used to the controls. I often have to do that each time I use the telescope, but with a little practice, you can get used to it.

[@malabarspyder]

AMAZING

[@gasmith841]

Great video. Subscribed

[@AstroExplorers]

Awesome, glad you liked it!

[@dschenk952]

Nice video, and explained the equipment well. I picked up a used CPC tripod to put my 8SE on, it's the tripod the Evolution 9.25 is on and is rock solid. I might have missed it, did you ever do a guiding video using this mount? I was wondering how an ASI Air would work, or if it can? Thanks for your contributions.

[@richardrojas6306]

I guess you knew already when you were installing the red dot and removed those two screws that there was no screw nuts on the inside. On my 130SLT my red dot mount had nuts on the inside that could of fallen. Luck my hand was inside grabbing the fallen nuts. I wish Celestron should include a nice drawing showing all parts. Im interested in upgrading my red dot to a 9/50 scope.

[@razorback3006]

I’m guessing you’re not accusing me of loosing your nuts I only have green dot and it’s on my rifle !!

[@AstroExplorers]

I actually hadn't already known, and they might put it in the manual they ship with the telescope, but I've not gotten all the way through it :)

[@hmuphilly9129]

I really dont like the provided finderscopes that celestron provides but thats just me

[@AstroExplorers]

I'm not a fan of it either, but it gets the job done (most of the time) until you upgrade down the road.

[@PropPlanePat]

Great video and a +1 Sub :) I found this as I am looking for a "My First Telescope" that would be a good entry point for visual but also astophotgraphy. What would your opinion be for this as a good cross over telescope? Cheers

[@AstroExplorers]

I've found it to be a good telescope for both. The biggest part was learning what my expectations should be. The night sky is filled with tons of different objects of various sizes, and it's funny what you can see in one telescope and not in another. But I know I've enjoyed this scope!

[@hmuphilly9129]

You do want the tripod to be level though mostly?

[@AstroExplorers]

Yes, having a level tripod is important for long time viewing and accuracy. But for the purposes of the videos, a quick level is fine, and I'm still able to align and use the go to functionality.

[@keeplookingup911]

Gr8 $tuff 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@debbielegros9828]

Set up my new 6se and can’t focus it. Turned that focus knob all the way, both ways til it stopped and saw nothing the whole time turning the knob. Aligned a star in the red dot but saw nothing in the lense. I think I wasted my money

[@AstroExplorers]

I would point at a tree or another object way in the distance, and see if you can get a focus on that. There's a lot of play in the focus, so doing it during the day at an object you can point at can be helpful.

[@CDigata]

its all covered in dew at end

[@ukuleila]

My advice: never try to align the finder scope using the top of a tree 😅

[@dallas69]

Problem Solution Simple circuit board (CB) with WiFi or even BT transmitter can control and transmit with all controls + images of any Celestron. Cheap China CB w USB for a WiFi or BT dongle will do it! Why? No one or even Celestron has not provided a WiFi or BT receiver / transmit dongle to a simple CB w USB for control + image transmission is. CRAZY STUPID!

[@rabingranatkagor]

мне жена дороже трусов ничего не дарила. не то что телескоп такой.

[@doragon5546]

こいつらの喋る言葉はわからん。

[@sandragayle7866]

No, I don't have a wife Why do you males always assume your talking to males? Everybody is not a male ok!? Nor do I want to be. This is supposed to be about the telescope. Oh and by the way, Some of the most brilliant minds in Astronomy are females ok? Including some of our greatest astronauts like kalpana chawla.

[@AstroExplorers]

Thanks for watching the video, I hope you found it useful in setting up your telescope. I actually received the telescope from my lovely wife. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series!

[@daniellong8204]

My dearest Karen, Why do you assume you have to be male to have a wife? Some of the greatest scientists in history were gay. So you go get you a wife, and you two enjoy rides in your Subaru out to the lake with your telescope. Life is short, live your best.

[@lillyspops]

Why are you assuming he was telling that to males? Do you not know women can also have a wife? What is wrong with you? Why do you have to be all triggered? I’m sure you’re fun at parties lol.

[@Off-Grid_Divers]

😂 grow up 😂

[@delwyn80]

Wet blanket...

[@GhandiMiranda]

Lucky you I don’t have any near towers or anything to align it 😢