HyperStar on a Celestron C6 telescope! 25x faster imaging at f/2 - EAA astronomy made quick & easy

[@VK3CSJ]

Thanks Mike...just starting out, getting my observatory together, I have a CPC800XLT and two other Saxons. This Hyperstar sounds great looking forward to expermenting with it....thanks for the video, Cheers Clint - Melbourne, Australia

[@chanceydecoursey5600]

Mike new to Astro photography but love it Got a used 8 inch evolution Love it But am really thinking about hyperstar That hyrule shield rocks In the back

[@briangleeson1528]

Thank you for the video! This is exactly what I was looking for as I'm learning about the Hyperstar setups so I can eventually put my own together.

[@robbrookes4686]

So fun. Will definitely go this route.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@charlyhernandez355]

Hello ​@@MikeLikesChannel please update a video using this telescope, I'm thinking purchase a Hyperstar stuff for my 8SE

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@charlyhernandez355 Hey Charly, I have an 8” C8 hyperstar video. The 6” went to a new home.

[@georgedicker9789]

Thanks for the amazing video. I have recently bought the hyperstar and can work out how I cover the back of the scope where the camera used to fit, could someone please help me?

[@lsa168]

Nice job Mike. Good Info!

[@OlliesSpace]

Nice setup Mike, these little Hyperstars look great for some fast EAA. 👍

[@MikeLikesChannel]

It’s ridiculous how great they are for EAA. Especially for the 6” at a relatively digestible $499 new. The C8 one is twice the money.

[@scotiaastro]

Excellent video, Mike! Nice job...was in the midst of a RASA 8 vs getting a Hyperstar for my Edge 8 HD, but I think this wee C6 is a nice and affordable way to go...thanks for sharing your experience and best wishes from Scotland! :)

[@MikeLikesChannel]

You’ll love it! The portability can’t be beat.

[@rmhjr3]

Telescopes and Zelda?! You get me

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Absolutely. A man of excellent taste!

[@4sapphireb]

Do you have any problems with the camera wires on you non cooled camera? I thought if the wires were braided the stars diffraction.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Nah it hasn't been an issue.

[@dannyfurdon]

Hey Mike Awesome Video, I just got the Nexstar 6SE and once I'm comfortable with it and after some viewing I definitely interested in EAA. Being new to Scopes you can imagine that I'm a little hesitant to start unscrewing things on i.e. secondary mirror :) Have you done any videos for actually installing the Hyperstar start to finish? Looking forward to watching more of your content very easy to understand really looking forward to doing more with my scope. Thanks Danny

[@MikeLikesChannel]

You'll have a blast congrats on the 6SE! I'll have to do a video that demos hyper star installation. Starizona has one on their web site, I believe.

[@dannyfurdon]

@@MikeLikesChannel Thanks Mike I meant to come back here and mention that I checked that out on their site. Seems pretty straightforward, looking forward to more videos from you they are very helpful.

[@dannyfurdon]

Mike, I'm turning to you in hopes you may be able to lend some assistance I cant seem to get a clear answer anywhere! I'm not quite ready for the Hyperstar so I've purchased 2 ZWO cameras the asi224mc and asi183mc to get my feet wet in astrophotography. I have a Celestron Nexstar 6SE and and 9.25' OTA. I'd like to connect these to the back of either scope and the back focus question keep coming up and i just want a clear picture of what i need for spacers etc. to get this done without a focal reducer and with it. there are some pieces that come with the ZWO cameras, I'm not looking to put the cameras in the diagonal but directly to the visual back??? Any assistance would be greatly appreciate even if I could get a diagram or link to a site that would show this would be great

[@fabioyt77]

Hi Mike, excellent video, thanks!!!! just a question, c6 orange tube in the video is a nextar 6se? i am asking cause i have nexstar 6se and looking this video looks like that is possible to use Hyperstar with this tube, despite does not have "fastar" label in the front. Thanks!

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Hey there, yes it’s a 6se and it should support Hyperstar if you can unscrew the secondary mirror.

[@decibellone696]

Ill admit im realivty new to this, i have a 8in SCT and i only do optical atm, but this device cost 1K US dollars. why wouldnt you just buy an F4 Newtonian ( iOptron 10" f/4 Newtonian OTA $780 us, for example) is there some advantage to this over that? other than "its what I have", maybe its a mount thing?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Got my 8” HyperStar used for $550 😉 you can find the 6” one for $375. F/4 is still quite slow compared to f/1.9

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Just bought a Celestron 6se open box optical tube on EBay tonight for $395. Plan on buying a Hyperstar. Until now, I have been getting by in my Bortle 6 sky with a Bresser 102/460 ED refractor + generic x0.8 reducer/flattener. This brings me to a f/3.6. I have a cooled and an uncooled asi294 camera. I have a Sky-Watcher A GTi go to mount and a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi go to equatorial mount. Both allow only 11 pound payload, so I can't use a Celestron 8se.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

The C6 will do very nicely with the HyperStar. So nicely in fact the Celestron is making their own RASA rig to do similar, albeit at $4000.

[@olivierbufole1291]

Can you attach the camera without the hyper star

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Yeah but it'd be prime mounted in place of the visual diagonal, you'd keep the secondary mirror, and probably use an f/6.3 reducer. Not nearly as "fast" an optical setup as Hyper*

[@StardustAstronomy]

Hey Mike this is a very informative video. Just curious to know that which camera you have used with your Hyperstar?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Hi there, it’s an ASI294MC, the uncooled version. For the EAA I typically do, it’s not usually exposures longer than 15-20 seconds; no need for a cooled camera.

[@StardustAstronomy]

@@MikeLikesChannel wow thanks for the info. I have zwo178 mc uncooled. Will try this for sure. Thanks again!

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@StardustAstronomy yeah uncooled cameras work just fine for EAA 👍

[@timothymarshall-nichols7823]

can i get a hyperstar for a meade 8" sct please

[@绝尘想]

How much the hyperstar for C6

[@MikeLikesChannel]

$499 new but used often near 400

[@steelerfan4386]

So I have a Celestron 6se and an asi224mc. I live in bortle 6 skies. When I hook up the camera to the telescope where the eyepiece would go I am not able to see stars in asi live stack. Also when I do it I get error messages like not able to stack and can’t find matching triangles. If I get this tool would I be able to see stars and will asi live stack work?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

You might try the f/6.3 Celestron reducer first… one thing about the 224MC is that the field of view is sooooo tight, because it’s a planetary imaging camera - your stacking might be a challenge.

[@steelerfan4386]

@@MikeLikesChannel If I get a deep sky camera and hook it up to where the eyepiece would be would I see stars?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@steelerfan4386 yep, with the right exposure settings. The benefit of reducers (or Hyperstar) is that you don’t need as long an exposure to gather the light. Helps considerably. SCTs are pretty slow at f/10. Fine for the moon or planets, but for stars… f/6.3 or better yet, f/2 makes things much easier.

[@steelerfan4386]

I usually put my exposure at 30 seconds and medium gain is that good?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@steelerfan4386 depends on the target. On the Orion Nebula that’s fine… but it wouldn’t be enough to resolve the horsehead at f/10. To give you an idea. At f/10… 30 seconds exposure is equivalent to a 1-2 second exposure with a Hyperstar. So you see why faster scopes have a benefit with imaging. Especially if you don’t have an equatorial mount.

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

I have to admit shooting at F2 has been a game changer great video by the way, do you use a dual band filter for emission nebulae?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

So I checked in with Starizona, and they suggested the filter I linked for my use case. Haven’t tried it yet, but will review it when I receive it. starizona.com/products/antlia-triband-rgb-ultra-filter-2-mounted?variant=43600498753793

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

@@MikeLikesChannel I use the IDAS NBZ nebula boost filter with the RASA & that one works well with emission nebulas.

[@schoolbob]

Great video Mike. I have an evolution 9.25 and I have a few of question that perhaps you can answer: (1) Are you using an altaz mount; and (2) Are you using an ASIAIR Plus (or similar); and (3) do you feel like you need an auto focuser? Thanks again for the video. I was debating pulling the trigger on the HyperStar and I think I may just do it.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Hi Chris, yep I use this on an Evolution mount, and I use an ASI Air as well. I don't have an auto-focuser because with a Bahtinov mask, I find it's sufficient.

[@pppjourneyonabike5992]

But how do you zoom in or magnify the object?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

To change magnifications, you change eyepieces. There’s also zoom eyepieces available.

[@pppjourneyonabike5992]

@@MikeLikesChannel with camera attached????

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@pppjourneyonabike5992 nope with a camera you’d only have the option to crop. It’s a prime system, so to speak.