Celestron NexStar GT User Manual

Celestron International, 2835 Columbia Street, Torrance, CA 90503 • Phone (310) 328-9560 • Fax (310) 212-5835
Addendum For NexStar GT Hand Control Section Of The Owner's Manual.
The following is an addendum to the NexStar GT section of the owner's manual that explains the current
operation and added features to your NexStar hand control. Please refer to these pages for specific
information regarding telescope alignment and hand control functions. Also included is a Quick-Setup
guide designed to help you quickly assemble and start using your NexStar 60, 80 or 114 telescope. Use
the Quick-Setup guide in conjunction with the complete assembly and operation instruction of the owner's
manual.
Celestron International
Technical Support Dept.
2835 Columbia St.
Torrance, CA 90503
310-328-9560
www.celestron.com

Celestron NexStar GT Specifications

General

Computerized Hand Control	Yes
Alignment Procedures	SkyAlign, Auto Two-Star Align, Solar System Align
Communication	RS-232
Hand Control	16-character LCD screen
Mount Type	Altazimuth
Motor Drive	DC servo motors with encoders
Tracking Rates	Sidereal, Solar, Lunar
Power Requirements	12V DC power supply
Communication Ports	RS-232

Summary

Quick Setup

Hand Control

Attaching the Hand Control

Connect the NexStar GT hand control to the telescope's fork arm using the phone jack connector.

Powering the NexStar

Learn how to power the NexStar GT using batteries or an optional AC adapter.

Hand Control Components

Overview of the NexStar GT hand controller's individual components and their functions.

Alignment Procedure

Auto-Align

Steps to perform an automatic telescope alignment using the NexStar hand control.

Two Star Alignment

Overview of the two-star alignment procedure for accurate telescope alignment.

Quick-Align

Procedure for a quick telescope alignment using basic information without slewing to stars.

NexStar Re-Alignment

How to replace an existing alignment star with a new one to improve accuracy.

Object Catalog

Selecting an Object

Methods for choosing objects from the NexStar database via the hand control.

Slewing to an Object

Instructions on how to slew the telescope to a selected celestial object.

Tour Mode

Direction Buttons

Rate Button

Set Up Procedures

Tracking Mode

Options for telescope tracking mode, including Alt-Az and polar alignment.

Tracking Rate

Explanation of different tracking rates like Sidereal, Lunar, and Solar.

View Time-Site

Function to display saved time and location data entered in the hand control.

Sidereal Time

Displays the Sidereal time for current time and location, useful for meridian objects.

Filter Limits

Customizing object display based on altitude limits to show only visible objects.

RS-232

Connecting the NexStar to a computer via RS-232 for enhanced control and programming.

User Defined Objects

How to save and manage custom celestial or terrestrial objects in the NexStar database.

Utility Features

Setup Time-Site

Allows customization of NexStar display settings for time and location parameters.

Anti-backlash

Compensates for gear backlash by adjusting motor rewind for precise pointing.

Slew Limits

Sets altitude limits to prevent slewing to objects below horizon or hitting tripod legs.

Direction Button Settings

Allows reversing the direction of the hand control buttons for azimuth and altitude movement.

Light Control

Feature to turn off keypad light and LCD display for power saving or night vision.

Select Model

Allows re-selection of the NexStar model, resetting parameters but saving user data.