Review of the Celestron StarSense Auto Alignment Telescope Camera

[@zoflo728]

I have an old Nexstar 6se. During Covid, I added this and the Wi-Fi fob and it has completely changed the game. Downloaded the SkyPortal app. and I use the scope so much more often now. So easy to set up and use. What used to be such a cumbersome setup is now something I can easily do after work if I want. Completely revived my scope and interest.

[@kevinmooney9114]

I copy that. It's a gamechanger and i'm lovin it.

[@nightshadehelis9821]

Bro, THANK YOU. I just purchased this as my first telescope and I'm beyond excited. I sit outside and stare at the stars on beautiful Michigan nights. It hasn't arrived yet and I'm so damn excited and thrilled to see the rings of saturn.

[@scott496011]

Last week I purchased an 8se. I saw Jupiter and its moons last night just by pointing the scope in that direction. That was pretty cool. I ordered the StarSense and mounted onto my scope this evening.... but after no rain in the Houton area like all summer, we have clouds tonight with a chance of rain. Maybe by the end of the week I will be able to finish setting it up on my new scope.

[@NightSkySurferAstro]

that clouds upon ordering equipment.... it's a conspiracy... Big Telescope with UPS/ FedEx.... it's a thing... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWfRoKehn7B-mqcsi=twPrhSUwQyD4I6c_

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Congrats, hope your evening clouds have parted 😉

[@briangleeson1528]

Cool video. Thanks for the demo. I always like to see something like this in action before I buy. I just bought a Evolution 6.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Congrats on the Evo 6 :)

[@simonhivet1970]

Amazing. thanks for video

[@FilmModeler]

The moment you mentioned your back and neck not being sore I was sold. haha.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

The struggle is real!

[@walteryanes9068]

Well explained video love it, thanks a million 👏👏👏

[@astrotherapist]

This is really cool. Could you do a video that demonstrates how well the alignment is when you put a camera in the eyepiece like a ZWO ASI camera? That would really be great!

[@MikeLikesChannel]

That's a good idea, I'll add that to my list of upcoming videos 👍

[@nidith]

Thanks for this great video. This is exactly what i was looking for. I was considering using this telescope for astroPhotography, but i guess I can't as it is.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

So glad it helped you out. There’s no reason you can’t use it for astrophotography, particularly for the moon and planets - it’s extremely good.

[@ronmac1832]

Pretty neat tool! I’m wondering if it can be adapted to Sky-Watcher mounts.

[@Fractalite]

There is a version with an extra interface box for Skywatcher and it still includes the Celestron Starsense handpaddle to replace the Skywatcher one .

[@josephbradley7216]

Crazy, on my TV it was showing a blank screen on your hand controller. Must be something to do with refresh rate or something. Looks fine on my phone.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

That is funny, yeah I would imagine it does have to do with the refresh rate. I usually film these in 4k60, but who even knows what KZbin does to the original file to save bandwidth.

[@noregret4life]

I have Nexstar Evolution 8, couple of questions: After adding the StarSense to a Nexstar Evolution does it still work with the app and all? Or do you then have to use the handheld remote of the StarSense? Also, the Evolution can use your phone's GPS data via the app connection, does this not function either with the StarSense + Evo? Great video!

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Hi Lenny, so you can use the WiFi and the app, but it's one or the other - if you align with the app - don't do the alignment with the hand controller - they can confuse one another. And yep, if you use your phone app/wifi to align, the GPS data from your phone will tell the mount time/date/GPS location so you don't need the GPS accessory.

[@noregret4life]

@@MikeLikesChannel So once the alignment is done with the StarSense, you can use the app as "go-to" for selecting what the scope should point to? Did I understand correctly? Thanks for clarifying all this

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@noregret4life So if you want to use the app, that's fine - just make sure the app initializes the StarSense alignment. Just power up the scope, connect the app to the scope's wifi, and forget the hand controller is even there.

[@_Rodrigo_Inacio_]

So, once I have a WiFi adapter I will not need anything more??? I can just “waste” the starsense alignment kit and gps accessory??? I just will make everything with the app???

[@gihanilangakoon]

Thanks for this video. StarSense makes NextStar redundant , isn't it? I have StarSense using my cellphone in the dock. But, in my suburban location, it has yet to get petfect alignment

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Yeah one would be for the push-to series, this is for the NexStar automated mounts.

[@SidneyMae-n4r]

Do you have to align the star sense to a centered star through the scope like you would the finder scope?

[@SidneyMae-n4r]

Oh sorry, you answered that at the end. TY!

[@randallpatrickc]

Good review - I’m on the verge of getting one for my Evo mounted C8. Two questions: 1. Can you still use the hand controller to slew (for visual hopping) 2. I’m not having much joy with ASI Air + for alignment using my (no guidescope in use) C9.25 - any way I could still use the ASI to stack and move the Evo?

[@Milkybar882]

Can you use a guide scope with this set up? I have this exact set up and want to do Astro photography. Have found it not to be very good for that.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Nope it does not function as a guide scope, Celestron Nexstar alignments only. I'd probably look at the Zwo series of cameras for guidance purposes.

[@jackfrost4033]

Good morning there is no problem for the passage of the reducer and the camera between the ota and the mount when the telescope looks near the zenith Or did you set a slew limit?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Nah on the Evo it will clear just fine.

[@michaelfrazier9537]

How do you do the calibration! I mean, making the Starsense align with the eyepiece

[@MikeLikesChannel]

On the initial setup it'll have you confirm what it's finding. You can reset the system if you move between scopes/equipment.

[@michaelfrazier9537]

​@@MikeLikesChannelThank you

[@aristotlekumpis7095]

Nice explanation. With both the Sky Sync and StarSense, can you unplug them from the aux port once it's aligned?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

I believe you could and the alignment will last until the scope is powered off or obviously nudged/moved... but I haven't tried.

[@JohnBlackmore-h1r]

I am on my second StarSense camera and hand controller! The first one never was never detected and the he had a waiting on camera message. Well, the second one worked fine for couple of hours and started getting the same waiting on camera message. Celestron support is not helpful. They don’t want to send me a third camera unless a do a couple problem determination steps that I have done over and over and given them the results! Good luck to those using StarSense!

[@PeterMaddison2483]

Could you possibly do a focus/allignment video as i'm new to astronomy and struggling with setting it uo to view with. Where I live I am extremley restricted in earthbound objects to focus on, there basically are none as my back garden is closed in on all sides. One thing I'm struggling to get my head round is, how do I focus on an object in space, does my scope track it when I've selected it, say a simple star.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Hi Peter, yeah this is something I can demo (if Ohio ever gives me a clear night again). For many years I manually focused my scopes with the red dot finder and brighter stars in the sky (Sirius, Vega, Deneb, Polaris, Betelgeuse, Rigel, etc etc). So yeah, on nights where it's available, it's convenient to rough focus on the moon/Jupiter/Saturn, because you kind of know what's to expect with those. For stars, if they're any larger than a pinpoint of light, or take on a donut look, you're out of focus. Assuming it's a tracking scope, by default they'll track the star/selected object at a sidereal rate.

[@PeterMaddison2483]

@@MikeLikesChannel I relate it to the Chicken and the Egg theory. Which came first, focusing or allignment.

[@PeterMaddison2483]

My setup is Celestron CGX Equatorial 1100 SCT / ZWO ASI183 PRO / NEW ZWO 5V EAF / ZWO M42/M48 OAG / ZWO ASI120MM MINI /Celestron StarSense AutoAlign + other smaller bits such as dew heater, Nevada PS-08 Linear 6-8A Power Supply, Dew shield, IDAS LPS-D2 Light Pollution Suppression Filter connected to my PC indoors.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@PeterMaddison2483 I focus first, to get my alignment stars crisp and sharp, then I align 👍 I use a Bahtinov mask to confirm the diffraction spikes are nice and even on the stars.

[@PeterMaddison2483]

@@MikeLikesChannel My point in what came first (focus or allignment) was that how can you focus on a moving object...

[@amranackerman9656]

So it does not auto guide at all. It just Auto star aligns and if u wait long enuf on one target--- it just may drift out of view ?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Hey there, it tracks the target in Alt-Az mode, just not equatorially.

[@RogerSayers]

Does the GPS module set the time & date within the starsense hand controller ?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Yep

[@telebeater]

I noticed that you have a holder mounted on your scope for the Controller Unit. Where did you purchase it?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

I want to say Starizona had it.

[@Nike_S_B]

To make sure... For the starsense auto align to work you need a starsense Hand Controller as well?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Correct, both are required.

[@Davide-md9ju]

Safe? because they told me that it is not necessary, and that the SkyPortal app is enough, without using the keyboard. But I'm going crazy, it gives me constant errors, it can't find stars.

[@Nike_S_B]

@@Davide-md9ju are you leveling your telescope first?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@Davide-md9ju far as I’ve tried, yes both.

[@Davide-md9ju]

@@Nike_S_B ?

[@robertpapancsev8891]

I tought the Wifi in the telescope is for getting the GPS data from your phone no?

[@johnmarler6735]

That will work

[@atuldivekar]

Does this only do the initial alignment or does it continue to provide corrections to keep the object centered? Or is that only the celestron autoguider's capability?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

It does the initial alignment and the mount keeps it from there.

[@pepperonihead]

I just purchased a used one and it is on the way to me in Hawaii. I have a CPC 925 Edge HD so it already has GPS. Do I still need to do the initial set up with putting in my time, date, lat/Long. etc. or does the GPS do that already for the first time use?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

GPS will pull date, time and of course gps coordinates for you. Much more convenient.

[@brucenunn3268]

Hey Mike… this is compatible with any Celestron Mount.? Or No.? I have a different OTA as well.. Newtonian Type Optical Tube Assembly. I had some real issues Getting lined up last night and never really did.. and wouldn’t you know it the Sky conditions where as clear as I have seen them in awhile… Definitely a Missed Opportunity… 😒

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Depends on the model, for Celestron NexStar, yes.

[@dougrigel1997]

Will this work on a Celestron Advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

It won't do polar alignments for GEM mounts, unfortunately.

[@davidaaaa4611]

My StarSense did not work. I sent it back. Hand control was the problem. It just did not work. Plugged my old hand control in and it worked fine.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Gah sorry to hear this, DOA stuff does happen now and then.

[@robertpettibone4291]

What if there are obstructions like trees?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Depends how bad the obstruction is. I've been places where it struggles but if it's typical suburbia and not too tree'd? It'll be fine.

[@Michael.Chapman]

Do you get inbuilt GPS if you buy the EVO HD w StarSense? Or are you supposed to link to your phone/tablet by WiFi to obtain GPS via the Celestron App?

[@samlentini4716]

Hi, I recently bought a Celestron StarSense Autoalign but it was missing the thumbscrews from the box. Could you confirm the length and width of the thumbscrews. I want to try and buy them myself. By the way, I've watched your video quite a few times. Sam

[@MikeLikesChannel]

I actually brought a scope into Lowes once to try a few metric ones… they didn’t mind. I’m out of town but I’ll see what I can do.

[@zmc33]

very cool. celestron....take my money!

[@harvey8695]

I just got the Evo 8HD. The StarSense bracket was missing from the package so I haven't been able to use it yet. It's also been overcast here the last several days. Do you have to go through any alignment procedure each time you take the scope outdoors?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Yeah you’ll need a fresh auto star alignment each time, but the tube only has to be aligned to the starsense camera once.

[@saulpreza4933]

hi. i'm wondering how it get the time and the location? thx

[@MikeLikesChannel]

The GPS dongle allows for that.

[@KaKi87]

So without the GPS you'd still need to input the date and your location even if StarSense is mapping the sky ?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Yes, I’m not 100% on if the Evolution mount retains an internal clock to save the date/time, but the SE mounts definitely do not save that. Location would need to be entered each time… if you move from backyard to driveway not a big issue - but if you drive any amount of time, yeah you’d need new GPS coords from your phone’s compass app.

[@KaKi87]

I don't know why don't they just make an app that allows a phone to transmit date, time and GPS coordinates to the telescope instead of building expensive accessories...

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@KaKi87 the new Celestron starsense line of scopes kind of offers that and plate solves - reviewed the 10” Dob and it’s quite ingenious, but this camera is much older technology.

[@KaKi87]

Except those aren't motorized.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@KaKi87 very true. There’s an opportunity for a starsense camera that includes the gps, for sure.

[@YCOSTEMLABS]

Sir, Im an ohio sky looker and I work for a non profit. Id love to meet you and get your expertise on my new gear i got. Im in central ohio but im happy to travel. i work for a non profit and i want to get proficient at this because im doing some urban sky tours for kids and families.

[@sunnymufc66]

Hi does this work with the dx5?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

No, it's for automated, "go to" Celestron mounts.

[@immunitycorrupts3641]

I'm in Ohio also are there any Discord groups for the area ?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Discord I’m not too sure, but I’m a member of the Cincy Observatory and they have a dark site at Stone Lick state park, on nights with a new moon (or close to a new moon)

[@SonnyPruitt-q1s]

Your back and neck don't feel any pain because that heavy wallet is much lighter now that you bought all that.🤣

[@MikeLikesChannel]

True story, but I do buy my gear used which mitigates it -- a little ;)

[@Rick-or2kq]

It works well until it starts coming up cannot find camera, you update the firmware and still nothing, cannot find camera. Change cables still nothing. Then the motor control board fries and that has to be replaced, $125.00 dollars for the board. Still won't find camera.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Awww man that sucks, sorry to hear!

[@perry3928]

Glad it worked for you. Not me. Always fails. This was my last hope to stay in the hobby.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

In my experience of it failing, it was either the sight lines are too obstructed (houses too close to one another blocking out the sky) or there’s too many streetlights around and washing out the camera. Sorry to hear it’s giving you issues though, very frustrating.

[@perry3928]

@@MikeLikesChannel I have an open sky. Must be the street lights. Was thinking of wrapping it with black paper like a dew shield to block the ambient light.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@perry3928 I used to live in a very lit community and it was intermittent. Has it worked under dark skies?

[@perry3928]

@@MikeLikesChannel Haven't tried a dark site yet. Here in Rochester NY been very cloudy. Unfortunately the first clear night we had ,had a full moon as well. I have a bortle 4 sky. Will try again on the new moon phase.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@perry3928 Bortle 4 should be plenty dark if you’ve got clear enough sight lines. I’m in a neighborhood where it’s all 2 story homes on 1/3-1/2 acre lots. No issue.