Celestar Manual
Using the Drive38
Outlets
On the drive base cover there are three outlets, two miniature jacks and one modular telephone jack.
Starting from the left, the first is labeled “Hand.” This is the outlet that the optional hand controller plugs
into. To plug the hand controller into the drive base:
1.
Hold the end of the cable with the modular telephone jack over the outlet in the base.
2.
Orient the jack so that the plastic tab is down.
3.
Slide the jack into the outlet until it clicks.
The hand controller is now installed and ready to use. Pressing the buttons on the hand controller will
speed the motor up or slow it down allowing you to track accurately for long exposure astrophotography.
If you are using the optional DEC motor, all corrections to the DEC axis will also be made from the hand
controller.
The next outlet is for the optional DEC motor, and appropriately labeled “DEC.” Once the DEC motor is
attached to the mount, the cable plugs into the cover plate allowing you to make all corrections to the DEC
axis from the hand controller.
The last outlet, labeled “12VDC,” is for an external power source. Celestron offers two optional adapters
for external power, one for AC (#18772) and one for DC (#18767). When plugging into an external power
source, ALWAYS plug the connector into the drive base first, then the power-source outlet. Failure to do
so could damage the circuit board.
The Hand Controller (Optional Accessory)
(Needed to operate the Celestar 8 in the Southern Hemisphere)
The hand controller (#28983) is an optional accessory that can be purchased through your Celestron dealer.
The hand controller is essential for long exposure deep sky photography. For normal observing it serves as
a convenient aid for centering objects especially at high power.
On the hand controller there are four buttons used to make guiding corrections in right ascension and
declination during astrophotography. The right and left buttons move the telescope in right ascension. The
up and down buttons are for declination corrections. The up and down buttons only work if an optional
DEC motor is being used. With the hand controller cord facing down, the default settings are as follows:
• “Right” button moves the telescope clockwise. (West*)
• “Left” button moves the telescope counter clockwise. (East*)
• “Up” button moves the telescope up. (North*)
• “Down” button moves the telescope down. (South*)
(* These are the directions if the telescope is polar aligned)
For Right Ascension, a 3x sidereal speed is available. To make the telescope slew at 3x in the clockwise or
Westerly direction, press the right button and without letting go of the right button, press the left button.
The same applies for making the telescope slew in the Easterly direction. Press the left button and without
letting go of the left button, simultaneously press the right button.
To change the direction of the north/south buttons, press the “Down” button while powering up the drive.
Once this is done, the “Down” button will move the telescope north and the “Up” button will move the
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