How to Use 2 Star Auto Align with your Celestron NexStar 8se: Part 1

[@VimyScout]

I got my son the NexStar 4se for Christmas and we was out a little earlier this evening trying to align the scope. It didn't go exactly to plan, but now i can see from your video where I went wrong. I did notice on a couple of occasions that the red dot finder was not completely accurate in conjunction with the telescope's eyepiece. I realised back in the house later I had mounted it a little too high on its place holder. In essence, I was accurately ligning up on a star with the red dot, but because the red dot was not seated correctly the eyepiece was always off when i looked through it, no star there. We did however get a good look at the moon in the end and all its craters. Excited to get back out soon with a corrected red dot of course. Thanks for sharing - much appreciated.

[@AstroExplorers]

I hear ya. It's always good to align the red dot during the day if you can. The first video in the series I did shows a good method for doing it. Glad you're enjoying the videos, and hope you have a great time with the scope!

[@michaelfrazier9537]

I've had problems using the 3-star method. So, I am going to use the Auto 2-star alignment tonight. I am going to focus on Polaris and then slew from there. Thank you for the video.

[@AstroExplorers]

Sounds great, there's also other star combinations in the description to use for the 2-star alignment if Polaris gives you a hard time.

[@Astronurd]

Polaris should not be used as an alignment star

[@scottmurphy650]

From someone that is new to this I found this very informative! I don't use the red dot that came with the 8SE, Instead I got a Telrad which I find a whole lot easier. I also got a 20mm eyepiece with an illuminated reticle that allows me to precisely align the star with the center of the eyepiece.

[@BlazingWookie]

This is extremely helpful, thank you!! 👍

[@swelensax6348]

Hi Mike, thank you so much for the video. I appreciate that, i was since 2 weeks trying to figure out what i’ve done wrong because every time i try to align i could never see the star in my eyepiece and after watching this video i went to real all the comments and someone talked about the red dot not being seated correctly and i went to check if mine was and there it was… i seated it wrong and i think tonight i will be able to use my celestron evolution 8. I subscribed because i think you’re a good teacher and i love the way you talk, nice and slow😊 Thank you so much

[@jeffreyvictor3678]

Great use of the handheld controller!

[@AstroExplorers]

Yeah, although I do like the second way with 3 star alignment more these days!

[@tiggandsoot]

These are very good videos. Thank you

[@WiseOldOwl3]

Mike any chance you can do the same video over with the Advanced EQ or similar and same set up - everything changes. I have the latest hand set - the three star alignment disappeared. The Two step fast and fine process of alignment disappeared too. Polaris is easy to find - but the hand controller won't use Polaris in the two star mode. I am somewhat stumped on two star alignment and this video helped. Then it wants the first star in the eastern Horizon. (towards Philly) I like that you take the time to show the buttons and entry points thank you. Personally, I am fed up with the alignment as it sometimes takes me 1/2 hour as some constellations are hard to spot. I have mild cataracts. But I gotta learn this. ZWO Camera is next years Christmas present to myself.

[@jonasbrack1]

man... You make it look so easy. I have the same exact telescope, and 2 star alignment does not play nice with me. I can not even get the skyportal to align. I have read that the telescope does not need to be level, is this true??

[@glennbrazier7938]

thanks for sharing this video.. when I chose custom site to enter longitude and latitude the last 2 numbers entered will reset back to 00 is there a way to fix that??

[@CecilGregoire-k4n]

Good Stuff, great video, very educational for using the Celestron NexStar 8SE telescope.

[@olivierbufole1291]

quick question: When the slew speed slows down to center it in your eyepiece, do you have to make sure your last motions are right and up?

[@AstroExplorers]

Yes, that's when you would want to do that.

[@raminigvaladze6112]

Many thanks for previous answer. After alignment is it possible to enter star coordinates such as Right Ascension and Declination to locate stars or other objects?

[@AstroExplorers]

I'm not sure, I've not tried to go by just coordinates.

[@RayPaganJr]

I like looking at the skies. Don’t know much astronomy, but love your video. Liked and subscribed. I wish I didn’t live in such a light polluted area.

[@AstroExplorers]

I hear ya! I'm in DFW, so our light pollution is terrible.

[@RayPaganJr]

@@AstroExplorers I noticed you’re in a residential district. Thought at first you’d be living in a rural area. It’s a good thing though for people like me to give them an assurance that sky gazing doesn’t need to be in pitch black. BTW, I like people that know how to teach. You’re an excellent teacher. I feel I can follow your directions and learn this hobby. I picked up a bass guitar five years ago and have been teaching myself. Every teacher I took lessons from I ended up quitting because they sucked. None of them taught me a damn thing.

[@harrisonhodge2980]

on the daylight savings time issue, im in Australia and my state never uses daylight savings time but other states do. would i never select the daylight savings options or should i look for what months the other states use?

[@ralphdionne1330]

When you say move the telescope manually to center the star, are you referring to the handheld electronic device or to move the telescope with my hands. My question may sound dumb, but I'm very new to this.

[@samlentini4716]

Hi Mike, I'm considering getting a StarSense Autoalign. What are your thoughts on them? I seem to have trouble with my two star alignment process. Thanks Sam

[@Cobra-fv3ef]

I was thinking the same thing but where I am I can see many bright stars for a three star alignment. After a couple years of doing it I can do it in a couple minutes. saved me a bunch of money

[@nancydalcortivo8121]

Great step by step video! One question: Does the telescope automatically track objects in the sky after you've aligned and used the "go to" feature or is there anything else you have to do to get this to work? I'd love to see more step by step videos!

[@AstroExplorers]

It should automatically track, but you'll probably notice it slowly drift depending on how good the alignment was.

[@nancydalcortivo8121]

thank you!@@AstroExplorers

[@bulletdealer1704]

does your mount still able to move when in use? for example I attach a camera to mine, and it can pull the scope down just by the weight itself. Or even trying to focus, or swap out lenses it can move. Do you have to realign it again?

[@AstroExplorers]

If I have the camera already on it when I do the alignment, it won't move. I've not noticed it slipping when trying to focus with a camera on it.

[@abbasjafri5948]

Hi, you have to little bit tighten your Altitude assambly, where OTA attached. I am not talking the dovetail bolt. Remove two big and two small Philips head screws of Alt assambly cover, located on dovetail side. Tighten the whole assambly while hold the big nut in control box case side.

[@RonRoberts-i1q]

Hi. I Love your video's but I have a couple of options that are confusing. first I have a Celstron 8se with a StarSense, SkyPortal WiFi module, and Sky Safari App I would like to use the sky portal without the hand control, so if I use sky Portal can I remove the StarSense module and store it away?

[@JT89877]

I am having the same issue that you are talking about where the alignment gets close to the object, but isn't 100% on it. How does it track the object if it doesn't get on it?

[@AstroExplorers]

This mount tracks based on computer algorithms. The telescope can't actually see the object you want to track. There's additional equipment that can be used for tracking, such as a guide telescopes and additional cameras, and I'll go into those in later videos.

[@gilbertobuenrostro5246]

I need to know what power sorce I need

[@raminigvaladze6112]

Does it remembers alignment setting after you turn off and then turn on the telescope?

[@AstroExplorers]

No, you'll have to redo your alignment. But once you've done it a couple times, you should be able to do it in under 5 minutes.

[@josepheaton3779]

One issue I found was that the star needs to be high enough for the scope to recognize it. I tried Capella, it wasn't high enough, a few hours later the scope recognized it.

[@dougsbir]

do you not have to do a polar alignment first?

[@getmet]

Does it keep moving with the planet? I found saturn but by the time i get a filter out change into the zoom lens, it already moved.

[@AstroExplorers]

Yes, it should move with the planet. Sometimes the target can drift though, so you might have to make small adjustments as you view to keep it in the eye piece. But if you have a solid alignment you shouldn't have to do that too much.

[@AstroExplorers]

I also find you get better alignment with this technique. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWi7eYOMhr-CfK8

[@mpr49]

Great video. How often does one have to align the telescope with the Two Star or other method? Before each use?

[@AstroExplorers]

With this mount you'd want to do it each use.

[@mpr49]

@@AstroExplorers We’re new to this and concerned about our ability to align with the two star method. Thinking of splurging for Starsense on our 8se - did you do a review of that or have comments?

[@michaelfrazier9537]

One quick question...how do you find your GPS position? Is there an app for that?

[@AstroExplorers]

If you use the Celestron Sky portal app, you can click on location, and it will show your GPS coordinates.

[@michaelfrazier9537]

How do you get the GPS custom site? I am not sure I understand that...Thank you

[@AstroExplorers]

Hi there, you can use a website like this one, to get your current GPS location, and use that information when setting up. www.gps-coordinates.net/ If you have the Celestron Sky Portal App downloaded, you can open it, click on settings, and then click on Location, and it will give you your location data as well. Hope that helps!

[@michaelfrazier9537]

@@AstroExplorers Yep, that worked. Now I am going to practice it in my office. Thank you!

[@AstroExplorers]

@@michaelfrazier9537 Glad it worked for you!

[@whoareyou6854]

Did you see the ufo at the top of the screen at 2:04

[@getmet]

Can you hook it up to your phone?

[@AstroExplorers]

Yes you can, here's a video I did on it. Although the phone connection may not be super reliable. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWi7eYOMhr-CfK8

[@keith98point6]

Hi Mike, Many thanks for putting this informative video on line for us! I just picked up an 8SE from the local club loaner telescope program and I'm learning how to use it. Your video was just the right information at just the right time for this beginner. I've got Celestron Skyportal loaded (thanks for telling me about it), and now just need a cloudless sky to search the heavens. I just subscribed too because I think you are a good teacher. Thanks, Keith

[@hmuphilly9129]

There are SO many planes in the night sky, its not even funny also as well as elon musks alien invaders lol Question though, once aligned can you move the telescope manually to a different spot around your backyard or is it suppose to just remain stationary at one spot, pretty sure this wouldn't be the case for any latitudes longitudes with a great view of the horizon etc etc.. its just most objects I want to see from where I am seem to be at zenith where I am and its hard having the scope at one fixed spot. So can one move the scope manually after aligning?

[@AstroExplorers]

You'd have to align it again unfortunately. But once you've done it a couple times you can align in under 5 minutes.

[@hmuphilly9129]

@@AstroExplorers I think with star sense explorers no need to align again but then those are more cheaper than the nex stars but alright thanks

[@MarkWitzel]

I level the tripod before putting the scope on to avoid any potential accidents of it falling over with the scope attached. But I've never understood why it has to be level, the guide computer should be able to compensate for the unlevel scope after alignment.

[@AstroExplorers]

The guide computer makes it's calculations as if you were on level ground. If your mount is at an angle, it would be like being at a different latitude, so the tracking would not be as accurate. Once you start using a guide scope and doing active guiding, your mount level can be a bit more off.

[@jonasbrack1]

CELESTRON PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING: Keep time and location same after input, and have the system "ASK" if new location. AND please utilize BLUETOOTH instead of WIFI. that is all.

[@phillewis3108]

All the obvious stuff explained in excruciating detail… how to enter the location data- most confusing bit for a beginner - completely skipped!

[@YourFreeToys]

Jfc, Bob Ross is less annoying...

[@DillonSerdechny]

Literally came here to see custom location data be entered by cause my control is acting up.... Video skips right over it.

[@YourFreeToys]

Honestly trying to follow this he's a little bit redundant with repeating

[@dallas69]

WiFi is WiFi and today is still way to limited. WiFi can dump images to a TV So With a simple circuit board (CB) and 12v power you can not only control a Celestron alignment but transmit the image thru WiFi to any TV in your home. Problem Simple CB with WiFi or even BT transmitter can control and transmit all controls and images of any Celestron. Cheap China CB and WiFi or BT dongle will do it. Why? Noone or even Celestron has not provided a WiFi or BT receiver / transmit dongle to a simple CB USB for control and image transmission is CRAZY STUPID!

[@shahinnajafi723]

You talk tooooo much!!!!!

[@FrankFlapjack]

If the phone can find the planet - WHY CAN'T THE GOD DAMNED TELECOPE????

[@guitarpicken7777]

Needs a frame of reference.

[@shahinnajafi723]

You talk tooooo much!!!!!