Celestron CPC Series User Manual

3
TELESCOPE BASICS .................................................................................................................................................27
Image Orientation ...................................................................................................................................................27
Focusing..................................................................................................................................................................27
Calculating Magnification ......................................................................................................................................28
Determining Field of View ......................................................................................................................................28
General Observing Hints.........................................................................................................................................28
ASTRONOMY BASICS...............................................................................................................................................30
The Celestial Coordinate System.............................................................................................................................30
Motion of the Stars..................................................................................................................................................31
Polar Alignment (with optional Wedge)..................................................................................................................32
Wedge Align .......................................................................................................................................................32
Finding the North Celestial Pole.............................................................................................................................32
Declination Drift Method of Polar Alignment.....................................................................................................33
CELESTIAL OBSERVING.........................................................................................................................................35
Observing the Moon................................................................................................................................................35
Lunar Observing Hints........................................................................................................................................35
Observing the Planets .............................................................................................................................................35
Planetary Observing Hints...................................................................................................................................35
Observing the Sun ...................................................................................................................................................36
Solar Observing Hints.........................................................................................................................................36
Observing Deep Sky Objects...................................................................................................................................36
Seeing Conditions....................................................................................................................................................36
Transparency...........................................................................................................................................................36
Sky Illumination ......................................................................................................................................................36
Seeing......................................................................................................................................................................37
CELESTIAL PHOTOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................................38
Short Exposure Prime Focus Photography.............................................................................................................38
Eyepiece Projection.................................................................................................................................................39
Long Exposure Prime Focus Photography..............................................................................................................40
Periodic Error Correction (PEC) ...........................................................................................................................41
Using Periodic Error Correction..........................................................................................................................41
Terrestrial Photography..........................................................................................................................................42
Metering..............................................................................................................................................................42
Reducing Vibration.............................................................................................................................................42
F/6.3 with Reducer/Corrector..............................................................................................................................42
Auto Guiding.......................................................................................................................................................43
TELESCOPE MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................................................44
Care and Cleaning of the Optics.............................................................................................................................44
Collimation..............................................................................................................................................................44
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES.....................................................................................................................................46
APPENDIX A - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ..................................................................................................48
APPENDIX B - GLOSSARY OF TERMS..................................................................................................................49
APPENDIX C – LONGITUDES AND LATITUDES.................................................................................................52
APPENDIX D – RS-232 CONNECTION....................................................................................................................57
APPENDIX E – TIME ZONE MAP............................................................................................................................58
SKY MAPS....................................................................................................................................................................60
OBSERVATIONAL DATA SHEET ...........................................................................................................................66

Celestron CPC Series Specifications

General

Optical Design	Schmidt-Cassegrain
Mount Type	Computerized Altazimuth
Tripod	Heavy-duty stainless steel
GoTo Database	40, 000+ objects
Motorized Tracking	Yes
Focal Length	2032mm (8-inch), 2350mm (9.25-inch), 2800mm (11-inch)
Focal Ratio	f/10
Optical Coatings	StarBright XLT
Highest Useful Magnification	480x (8-inch), 555x (9.25-inch), 660x (11-inch)
Resolution (Rayleigh)	0.5 arc seconds
Resolution (Dawes)	0.57 arcseconds (8-inch), 0.42 arcseconds (11-inch)
GPS	Yes
Power Supply	12V DC
Aperture	8 in (203.2 mm) / 9.25 in (235 mm) / 11 in (279.4 mm)
Lowest Useful Magnification	29x (8-inch), 40x (11-inch)