Celestron 8 User Manual

2021/10/09 17:28 1/9 C8 & Celestron Advanced GT
OST Wiki - https://polaris.astro.physik.uni-potsdam.de/wiki/
C8 & Celestron Advanced GT
The Celestron 8 (C8) is our smallest Schmidt Cassegrain telescope not accounting for binoculars or
finderscopes. The telescope is usually attached to a Celestron Advanced GT mount, which can be can
be set up by a single person because of its compact construction.
Assembly
In the following the setup of this telescope and the mount will be explained step by step:
Description Used parts Telescope after the corresponding step
1
One needs to
carefully choose
the place where
the telescope
should be placed.
For example, the
relevant part of
the sky needs to
be visible (the
dome covers a
certain part of
the sky when the
telescope is
setup on the
roof) and the
cables of the
power supply or
the cameras
should not
become tripping
hazards. The
example setup
was performed in
the laboratory-
course room
directly behind
the door →
directly in the
way, hidden, and
no sky → Bad
choice!

Celestron 8 Specifications

General

Optical Design	Schmidt-Cassegrain
Focal Ratio	f/10
Finderscope	6x30
Aperture	203.2 mm (8 inches)
Focal Length	2032 mm

Summary

Assembly

Choosing Placement and Managing Cables

Select a suitable location, ensuring sky visibility and managing cables to avoid hazards.

Setting Up the Tripod

Assemble the tripod, which serves as the telescope's backbone, ensuring stability.

Stabilizing Tripod Legs

Use a disk and rod to stabilize the tripod legs from the inside for enhanced rigidity.

Mounting the Telescope Base

Place the mount onto the tripod base, aligning a chromed pin with its housing.

Attaching Counterweight Bar and Weights

Thread the counterweight bar into the declination axis and attach counterweights.

Attaching the Telescope Tube

Attach the telescope tube to the mount using its dovetail and clamp mechanism.

Connecting Hand Terminal and Power

Connect the hand terminal and power supply to the mount's labeled ports.

Removing the Tube Cover

Remove the protective cover from the telescope tube before further use.

Attaching Sun Filter (Optional)

Securely attach a sun filter to the tube using screws to prevent it from falling off.

Taring Rotation Axes

Balance the telescope by adjusting counterweights and tube position for each axis.

Justifying Axes to Index Positions

Move the axes to their respective index positions as illustrated in the images.

Performing Telescope Alignment

Align the telescope mount, noting the automatic movement to index positions.

Functions such as Hibernation

Troubleshooting

Additional Documentation