Celestron Nexstar 6 SE Notes & Tips

Celestron Nexstar 6 SE Notes & Tips
Weight (from Celestron)
8 lbs - Optical tube (OTA) without finder, star diagonal, eyepiece, visual back

11 lbs - Mount head

9 lbs - Tripod

12 lbs - Load capacity

Finder

Star Diagonal

25mm Plossl Eyepiece

1.25" Visual Back

Leveler

Lens Cover

AC Adapter

Small Accessories Pouch

Loop a zippered pouch around the tripods center large knob and fasten with a plastic clothes clip for easy removal. The bag will hold small accessories to include the tiny leveler, other optics and misc. items that don't fit the center tray. The bag hangs in the center of the tripod and increases stability.

Install a New Weightless Finderscope

(see photos) At about $5 from China, the nearly weightless black 80EQ 5x24 standard optical refractor finderscope (with mount, lenses, crosshairs, and focusable EP) is made by Celestron. Because this unit is all plastic with resin lenses, the weight is almost nothing and it has none of the challenges the red dot finder has which currently lists for $23.95. It comes with a mount for adjusting the finderscope with three setscrews.

New Celestron AC Adaptor Accessory

The telescope has no AC power adapter. Eight AA batteries (not included) are short lived. Non rechargeables don't work because they rate at 1.2 volts and eight would fall short of the recommended 12 volts. The recommended adapter does not have enough power to drive the telescope and all accessories. Therefore a 5 amp

Celestron adapter was purchased, item number 18780. It can handle astro imaging and additional equipment. In the future, this may include a dew heater, imager, focuser, etc. 

Routing the Power Cable

The barrel on the DC plug is supposed to thread directly onto the mounts power jack and prevent accidental power out from a cable pull out. However, the mount's jack is recessed too far into the telescope's mount and the DC plug won't thread onto it. To fix this, the power cord is wrapped once around the base of the mount arm with a small loop. This allows the cord to follow the mount and the DC plug won't pull out.

Red Dot Finder

The red dot finder was removed as it did not fit onto the slide mount already on the OTA. It was replaced with a lighter weight Celestron standard finderscope with crosshairs.

Japanese Hand Warmer
Try this Japanese hand warmer. Just open a packet and shake to activate. Provides a lukewarm heat for 24 hours. Works perfectly when equalizing the thermodynamic temperature differences between outdoors and indoors, or working outdoors.

Stop Light Pollution

The light pollution may be created by your own residence. Tall skyscrapers have a habit of turning on automatic timer lighting located high above outside decks. These lights are designed to make the skyscraper look beautiful at night. Typical residences have lighting on at 6:30 pm and off at 9:30 pm. Contact an electrician to have these lights and/or timer turned off. The good news is these lights are usually low wattage, around 15, so not very bright and they are hung on the bottom side of exterior deck small roof overhangs, so they are reachable though reaching one has a certain amount of risk. On the other hand, they are located on a small overhead overhang where the telescope never points, is easily shielded or just don't observe between 6:30 and 9:30 pm or whatever timing they have set. Generally they are somewhat insignificant when observing the Moon and planets at lower elevations and the light could be filtered out with a light pollution filter. When the telescope is positioned indoors for through window observing, the light may be automatically shielded and never seen.

Celestron Nexstar 6 SE Unboxing

Celestron Nexstar 6 SE Unboxing
On Tuesday March 29, 2022, the Celestron Nexstar 6 SE telescope arrived and was placed next to the door at about 11:45 am.

The approximately 45 lb box appeared set on its side to take up minimal space in the traffic hallway next to the owners home door. When moved, it made a frightening rattling and broken glass sound. As it was marked 2-people lift, it was carried in by two people and correctly set on its bottom.

The box itself had incurred some damage and had been carefully covered over with clear strapping tape. It had a couple puncture wounds on the top lid, also covered with tape. The box was opened once or twice from the time of its original sealing. All things considered it appeared in relatively nominal condition after traveling from the USA, to South Korea, to Hong Kong, and finally to Taiwan.

The side of the box had a rather large deep incursion which was mended with clear strapping tape. 

The box top had received two puncture wounds shown on the right side of the lid as shown in this photo.

With pure luck, these two puncture wounds did not penetrate the second sealed boxing layer. So far, the telescope and tripod were packed well in these two boxes and were protected from any visible damage at this stage in the unboxing.

Opening the inside large box revealed a series of smaller boxes. From left to right counterclockwise, the boxes contained the telescope mount, the optical tube assembly (OTA), a cardboard spacer, and the box holding the eyepiece, finder, and star diagonal.

When opened, the tube assembly was found connected to the mount, connected on the arm. Two pieces of protective foam encircled this part of the telescope.

The tripod was another story. As seen at the top in the photo, the pointy side of the legs had dug into the protective foam, gouging out a large area.

To the left in another box was the wrench and the tripod leg spacer plate.

The box aat left contained a 25mm Celestron Plossl eyepiece, a Celestron 1.25-inch diagonal mirror, and a red dot finder found to not fit onto the already installed slide mount on the OTA.

Now it was time to set the parts on the table and inspect in more detail.

In the next post, we'll learn more about the alarming broken glass sound.

Celestron Nexstar 6 SE Order

 

Celestron Nexstar 6 SE 150mm f/10 Schmidt Cassegrain GoTo Telescope Order

The order was placed online 3/22/2022 with B&H in the USA because their telescopes were in stock and they shipped to Taiwan. The telescope ($1099) was ordered with Celestron's 5-Amp AC Adapter ($85.95). This came to $1184.95 subtotal with International DHL Express shipping $113.81 and duties and tax at $107.33 for a total of $1406.09. Estimated delivery time was 4 to 7 days. In the final analysis, the package arrived in 7 days on Tuesday. B&H shipped the order the same day it was placed. The next option for shipping at 3-5 business days, not chosen, was Fed-ex at $227.81.

B&H included free, a Nitecore Tube v2 LED Keychain Flashlight (white light) and a Celestron 1.25" Moon Filter. Unfortunately after ordering and the order was shipped, the same web site suddenly reflected a telescope price at $999 instead of $1099. B&H was contacted by the online form with no reply. Then the message was sent by email and a resolution has not yet arrived as of Thursday March 31. The telescope arrived Tuesday morning at 11:45am local time. Several calls were placed to DHL Taiwan regarding the shipment when in transit due to some very strange tracking reports coming out of Hong Kong. More on this later.

The package appeared outside in the hallway, set by the door. It was lifted and carried into the room by 2 people. When lifted, it made a sound like the jingling of broken glass. The single box weighed about 45 lbs. When unboxed, the set screw on the visual back had come loose and was jiggling around but nothing was harmed or scratched. The order was divided into two boxes, one for the telescope and one for the AC Adapter. The AC power adapter had arrived on Monday, a day earlier in a small box.

Tracking reports were maddening. At first, they indicated the shipment running in a circle and going to and from repeat states. It seemed to take ages to leave the country. The reports continuously reported it would clear customs during transit. Apparently that never happened. It went from state to state and eventually ended up in South Korea. After Korea, it was shipped into Hong Kong where COVID is a big problem. Suddenly the reports became strange. They claimed an accident happened and authorities would permanently hold the package until the law was changed or otherwise. Another oddity, each time the tracking report was reviewed, the shipping agency rewrote the tracking steps. It seemed the package would be destroyed along with the plane and the delivery man died. Putting these horrors aside, phone calls were made to the Taiwan agency where they said it would be delivered on Monday. On Monday, only the AC adapter was received and the telescope was still stuck in Hong Kong, permanently, they said. It was surmised the small box caught one plane and the big box waited for the next plane. It finally arrived in Taiwan and was cleared, then sent out for delivery on Tuesday morning.

Photos were taken showing the unboxing and later the telescope was assembled. The red dot finder did not fit onto its slide mount and was set aside along with the slide mount that was removed from the OTA. A different Celestron lightweight finderscope was mounted on the OTA. The retainer on the power cord had no room to lock onto the power jack on the telescope mount so the cord was wrapped around the base of the mount arm. Batteries were installed so the tube could be moved to a better position. After selecting English on the hand controller, the tube moved by pressing the arrow buttons. The tripod was extended and leveled using the tiny bubble level. The plan is to add a zippered pouch to prevent losing the parts.

The star diagonal was attached and the 25mm Plossl eyepiece inserted. Do not set anything on the battery compartment lid as it curves and things will fall off. When the power is on, the hand controller is lit. Be sure to turn off the power when working on the telescope to save batteries. As this telescope will, for the most part, focus on the Moon and planets, a Bahtinov mask is not needed. However, the reason the more powerful AC adapter was chosen is because the telescope will be expanded with accessories that draw more power such as the WIFI module, dew heater (or hair dryer) and Motor Focuser. Visual inspection shows a superbly crafted telescope without any obvious flaws.

The night is overcast so an optical analysis will need to wait. As the viewing sky is limited to a small east section obscured by a short roof and tall skyscrapers to the left and right, two and three star alignment will not work, therefore the telescope must compensate by using Solar System Alignment. As the site is extremely light polluted and no stars may be visible, this is likely the only viable option. On some nights when the haze is less, a few stars may become visible and the one star alignment may work. All in all, this is the perfect telescope for these urban light polluted and hazy sky conditions.

Celestron Nexstar 6 SE Planet Tracking

Celestron Nexstar 6 SE Telescope Planet Tracking
The Celestron Nexstar 6 Inch SE will align on one solar system object such as the Moon or a planet. This is very helpful when your viewing sky is limited to only East for example and there may be a small roof obstruction overhead and wall obstructions to the left and right. This is often the case when observing from tall skyscrapers. There may be other large skyscrapers randomly blocking parts of the view. The skyscraper itself may block North and any alignment to the North Star. Aligning on a single solar system object will remedy this. The Celestron Nexstar 6 SE comes to the rescue with SkyAlign and the Solar System option. Photo Note: only a small finderscope is needed on the main telescope, and not the StarSense AutoAlign as shown.

Here are the details for a simple Solar System Align, and projects for experimenting with other techniques.

* Solar System Align

* One Star Align

* Sync

* (Sky Limits) Slew Limits

* (Sky Limits) Filter Limits

SOLAR SYSTEM ALIGN
Solar System Align is designed to provide excellent tracking and GoTo performance by using solar system objects (the Sun, Moon and planets) to align the telescope with the sky. Solar System Align is a great way to align your telescope for daytime viewing and a quick way to align the telescope for basic nighttime observing.

WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye or with a telescope (unless you have the proper solar filter). Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result.

To perform a Solar System Align
1 - Once the telescope is powered on, use the SCROLL UP and SCROLL DOWN buttons to select Solar System. Align Press ENTER
The hand control will display the last time and location information that was entered into the hand control. Press ENTER to accept the current information or press BACK to manually edit the information (see SkyAlign section on page 10 for detailed instruction on entering time/site information).

2 - The SELECT OBJECT message will appear in the top row of the display. Use the SCROLL UP and SCROLL DOWN buttons to choose a Solar System object (a planet, the Moon, etc ) to use for alignment. Press ENTER

3 The hand control will then prompt you to use the direction arrow buttons to slew the telescope to the alignment object and carefully center it in the finderscope. Press ENTER when centered.

4 Then, center the object in the eyepiece. Press ALIGN

Once in position, the NexStar SE will model the sky based on this information and display “Align Successful”

EXPERIMENT WITH ONE STAR ALIGN

In case you have only one star and no solar system objects: One-Star Align requires you to input all the same information as you would for the Two-Star Align procedure. However, instead of slewing to two alignment stars for centering and alignment, the NexStar uses only one star to model the sky based on the information given. This will allow you to roughly slew to the coordinates of bright objects like the moon and planets and gives the NexStar SE the information it needs to track objects in altazimuth in any part of the sky. One-Star Align is not meant to accurately locate small or faint deep-sky objects or to track objects accurately for photography. 

EXPERIMENT WITH SYNC
The Sync feature can improve your telescope’s pointing accuracy in a specific region of the sky. Sync is a very useful feature when used in conjunction with the Constellation Tour and Identify features, in which you will be exploring smaller areas of the sky. To Sync on an object:

1 - Select a desired star (or object) from the STARS or DEEP SKY database and slew to it.

2 - Once the object is centered in the eyepiece, press the BACK button until you arrive at the main menu

3 - When the display reads “NexStar SE,” press the ALIGN button on the hand control.

4 - Use the SCROLL UP and SCROLL DOWN buttons and select the Sync option. Press ENTER

5 - Align the Sync object in the center of the finderscope. Press ENTER

6 - Carefully center the object in the eyepiece. Press ALIGN

Your telescope’s pointing accuracy will now be improved in that area of the sky.

EXPERIMENT WITH SKY LIMITS

SLEW LIMITS This option allows you to define how far the telescope can slew in altitude without displaying a warning message. The slew limits prevent the telescope tube from slewing to an object below the horizon and can be customized to suit your equipment setup. If you are using a large eyepiece, 2” diagonal, or camera on the rear of the telescope, you may need to adjust the slew limits to prevent the rear accessories from striking the base of the telescope mount. For example, if you would like to slew to an object that is close to the zenith but you have a large camera attached that prevents the telescope from pointing straight up, you can set the maximum altitude to 80 or 85 degrees to prevent the tube from ever pointing straight up and the camera from striking your mount.

FILTER LIMITS When an alignment is complete, the hand controller automatically knows which celestial objects are above the horizon. As a result, when scrolling through the database lists (or selecting the Tour function), the NexStar hand control will display only those objects that are known to be above the horizon when you are observing. You can customize the object database by selecting altitude limits that are appropriate for your location and situation. For example, if you are observing from a mountainous location where the horizon is partially obscured, you can set your minimum altitude limit to +20 degrees. This will ensure that the hand control only displays objects that are higher in altitude than 20 degrees.

Reference: Nexstar SE Instruction Manual

https://celestron-site-support-files.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/support_files/11068-11069_6SE-8SE_Telescope_Manual_5lang_Interactive%20Web.pdf

Celestron Nexstar 6 SE Celestron Data

Celestron Nexstar 6 SE - Celestron Data
What does the Celestron website say about their own Nexstar 6 SE? Let's review the data before it disappears.

https://www.celestron.com/products/nexstar-6se-computerized-telescope

NEXSTAR 6SE COMPUTERIZED TELESCOPE Item #: 11068
Celestron’s iconic “orange tube” design is updated with all the latest features to provide the best stargazing experience for beginners and experienced observers alike.

6-inch aperture with excellent light-gathering ability provides impressive views of the Moon and planets, along with deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula, while retaining a compact form factor.

Fully automated GoTo mount with database of 40,000+ celestial objects automatically locates and tracks objects for you.

SkyAlign technology gets your telescope aligned and ready to observe in minutes. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the night sky, you can easily align your telescope on any three bright objects.

Unique single fork arm design and sturdy steel tripod all break down into separate components for easy transport and quick assembly.

Celestron’s signature orange-tube telescope combines advanced features and excellent optics in one easy-to-use system, the NexStar 6SE. It’s the perfect choice for your first serious telescope, offering striking views at an economical price.

Our Founder’s Vision, Reimagined for the 21st Century
In the 1970s, Celestron’s Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes brought the hobby of astronomy to the masses and established Celestron as the world’s premier telescope maker. Our founder, Tom Johnson, invented Celestron’s proprietary method of producing Schmidt corrector plates for superior views and maximum portability. Johnson believed in creating high-quality optical instruments at an affordable price, and inspired a generation of amateur astronomers. Four decades later, we’ve improved upon this design by adding cutting-edge features, while staying true to our founder’s intent.

View the Universe’s Most Impressive Celestial Objects
The 6SE’s six-inch primary mirror packs enough light-gathering ability to observe the best that the solar system has to offer: Cassini’s Division in Saturn’s rings, the cloud bands on Jupiter, and geographic features on the surface of the Moon. When it comes to deep sky objects, take your 6SE to a dark-sky site and you’ll see hundreds of pinpoint stars in the Hercules Globular Cluster, the spiral arms of the Whirlpool Galaxy, and more.

Revolutionary Single Fork Arm Mount
We know the best telescope is the one you will use most often. That’s why Celestron’s engineers created NexStar SE’s unique, patented single fork arm mount. It’s perfectly portable and makes setup quick and easy. What’s more, the NexStar SE breaks down into several lightweight and compact pieces, making it easy to transport, even in small vehicles. You’ll have no problem getting the NexStar SE to your favorite observing site, or setting it up quickly in your backyard.

Of course, it’s what’s inside the mount that really counts. Sturdy construction from high-quality components give NexStar SE the pointing and tracking accuracy needed to observe and follow your favorite targets with push-button ease. Use the included NexStar+ hand control to locate over 40,000 celestial objects, or take a Sky Tour and let your telescope show you the best objects currently visible.

Aligning your telescope is simple and painless, too, thanks to SkyAlign. This process makes alignment as easy as 1-2-3: just center three bright objects in your eyepiece and press ALIGN. For even easier alignment, attach our StarSense AutoAlign and your NexStar SE aligns itself!

Advanced Features Let the NexStar SE Grow with You
The NexStar SE is compatible with all the high-tech accessories advanced users love. Provide GPS coordinates to your telescope with SkySync, or add automatic alignment functionality with StarSense AutoAlign.

For planetary imaging, pair your NexStar 6SE with one of our Skyris cameras. Or, experiment with wide-field deep sky astroimaging by replacing the telescope’s secondary mirror with a DSLR or astronomical CCD camera with a Fastar/HyperStar lens assembly. From your first observing session and for years to come, the NexStar SE is your trusted companion.

Specifications

OPTICAL TUBE INFO

Optical Design: Schmidt-Cassegrain

Aperture: 150mm (5.91")

Focal Length: 1500mm (59")

Focal Ratio: f/10

Focal Length of Eyepiece 1: 25mm (.98")

Magnification of Eyepiece 1: 60x

Finderscope: StarPointer™ red dot finderscope

Star Diagonal: 1.25" Star Diagonal

Optical Tube: Aluminum

Highest Useful Magnification: 354x

Lowest Useful Magnification: 21x

Limiting Stellar Magnitude: 13.4

Resolution (Rayleigh): 0.93 arc seconds

Resolution (Dawes): 0.77 arc seconds

Light Gathering Power (Compared to human eye): 459x

Secondary Mirror Obstruction: 56mm (2.2")

Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Diameter: 37%

Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Area: 14%

Optical Coatings: StarBright XLT

Optical Tube Length: 406mm (16")

Optical Tube Diameter: 181mm (7.1")

Optical Tube Weight: 8 lbs (3.6 kg)

MOUNT INFO

Mount Type: Computerized Altitude-Azimuth Single Fork Arm

Instrument load capacity: 12 lbs (5.44 kg)

Height adjustment range (includes mount and tripod): 965.2mm - 1422.4mm (38" - 56")

Tripod leg diameter: 38.1mm (1.5") Stainless Steel

Mount Head Weight: 11 lbs (5 kg)

Accessory Tray: Yes

Tripod Weight: 9 lbs (4.08 kg)

Slew Speeds: 9 slew speeds - max speed 5°/second

Tracking Rates: Sidereal, Solar and Lunar

Tracking Modes: Alt-Az, EQ North and EQ South

GPS: N/A

Dovetail Compatibility: CG-5 dovetail

Number of Auxiliary Ports: 1x AUX Port

Autoguide Port: Yes

USB Port: Yes, Hand Control input

Power Requirements: 8-AA batteries (not included) and 12 VDC-750 mA (Tip positive)

Motor Drive: DC servo motors

Alignment Procedures: SkyAlign, 1-Star Align, 2-Star Align, Auto 2-Star Align, Solar System Align, EQ North / EQ South Alignment (EQ align requires an equatorial wedge)

Periodic Error Correction: No

Computerized Hand Control: Double line, 18 character Liquid Crystal Display with 19 fiber optic backlit LED buttons

NexStar+ Database: 40,000 objects, 200 user defined programmable objects. Enhanced information on over 200 objects

Software: Celestron Starry Night Special Edition Software and SkyPortal App

Total Kit Weight: 21 lbs (9.5 kg)

Included Items: Optical tube

Single Fork Arm Mount and Tripod

Accessory Tray

Star Pointer Finderscope

NexStar+ Hand Control

25mm eyepiece

Star Diagonal

Solar Warning

Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye or with an optic (unless you have the proper solar filter). Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result.

Never use your optic to project an image of the Sun onto any surface. Internal heat build-up can damage the optic and any accessories attached to it. Never leave your optic unsupervised. Make sure an adult who is familiar with the correct operating procedures is with your optic at all times, especially when children are present.

Finderscope
Celestron is making a change to the finderscope shipped with some Celestron telescopes. In some cases, you may receive a finderscope that is different in appearance than the one pictured on the gift box, manual, Quick Setup Guide, or website. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Rest assured that the finders are identical in performance and features. The main difference is the location of the battery compartment and, therefore, the battery installation instructions.

If your red dot finderscope looks like the unit pictured here, you can ignore this message.

If you received a red dot finderscope that looks like the unit pictured here, follow the instructions below to replace the battery:

1. The battery compartment on this finderscope is located on top of the unit. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the screw holding the battery door closed. The screw is captured and will not fall out when you open the battery door.

2. Lift the battery door open to expose the CR-2032 button battery.

3. With your fingernail on either side of the battery, pry the battery up and out of the battery compartment.

4. Place the new CR-2032 battery, positive (+) side up, under the two copper battery clips at the front of the battery compartment.



5. Press the battery down to snap it into the plastic battery clips on the opposite side of the battery.

6. Close the battery door and tighten the Phillips-head screw to secure the door in place.

Aligning your telescope is simple and painless, too, thanks to SkyAlign. This process makes alignment as easy as 1-2-3: just center three bright objects in your eyepiece and press ALIGN. For even easier alignment, attach our StarSense AutoAlign and your NexStar SE aligns itself!

Support & Downloads
MANUALS:

NexStar 6 SE and 8 SE Quick Setup Guide
https://celestron-site-support-files.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/support_files/11068_11069%20NexStar%206_8%20SE_QSG_5Lang_F.pdf

Schmidt-Cassegrain Optics Manual
https://s3.amazonaws.com/celestron-site-support-files/support_files/1299179004_91024inst0405.pdf

NexStar 6SE and 8SE Manual
https://celestron-site-support-files.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/support_files/11068-11069_6SE-8SE_Telescope_Manual_5lang_Interactive%20Web.pdf

NexStar Plus Hand Control Manual
https://s3.amazonaws.com/celestron-site-support-files/support_files/nexstar_plus_hc_Addendum_5lang.pdf

Celestron PWI Telescope Control Software Manual
https://celestron-site-support-files.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/support_files/CPWI%20Software%20Manual_0620_Final.pdf

SOFTWARE & FIRMWARE:
NexRemOte Telescope Control Software
https://celestron-site-support-files.s3.amazonaws.com/support_files/NexRemoteInstall_1_7_24.exe

Celestron Firmware Manager (CFM) Software
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1935/4371/files/CFM.zip?v=1613761655

CPWI Software
https://www.celestron.com/pages/celestron-pwi-telescope-control-software

OTHER PRODUCT FILES:
Celestron NexStar+ Hand Control Troubleshooting Guide
https://celestron-site-support-files.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/support_files/Celestron%20NexStar%2B%20Hand%20Control%20Troubleshooting%20Guide.pdf

What are the Sizes of Collimation Screws
https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/what-are-the-sizes-of-collimation-screws-on-current-production-celestron-optical-tubes

NexStar SE Telescope Basic
https://celestron-site-support-files.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/support_files/NexStar_SE_Telescope_Basics_Interactive_Manual_Eng.pdf

Solar Safety Warning
https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/solar-safety-warning

How to Align a Red Dot Finder to Your Telescope Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp4_TGhU-0w

NexStar SE Additional Specifications
https://celestron-site-support-files.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/support_files/NexStar%20SE%20Series%20additional%20specifications.pdf

SCT & EdgeHD Collimation Guide
https://celestron-site-support-files.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/support_files/SCT%20%26%20EdgeHD%20Collimation%20Guide%281%29.pdf

How to Determine Which Eyepieces to Use with Your Telescope
https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/how-to-determine-which-eyepieces-to-use-with-your-telescope

NexStar Communication Protocol v 1.2
https://s3.amazonaws.com/celestron-site-support-files/support_files/1154108406_nexstarcommprot.pdf

Astronomy Basics
https://s3.amazonaws.com/celestron-site-support-files/support_files/1297798410_astronomybasics.pdf

Telescope Maintenance
https://s3.amazonaws.com/celestron-site-support-files/support_files/1297801919_telescopemainte.pdf

Celestial Observing
https://s3.amazonaws.com/celestron-site-support-files/support_files/1297801590_celestialobserv.pdf

Celestron Tech Support

Email: USTechSupport@celestron.com

Phone: 1-800-421-9649

03/16/22

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CONQUERING THE MESSIER MARATHON

https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/the-ultimate-guide-to-conquering-the-messier-marathon

02/17/22

WHAT IS LIGHT POLLUTION AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT VIEWS THROUGH MY TELESCOPE?

https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/what-is-light-pollution-and-how-does-it-affect-views-through-my-telescope

11/18/21

DEEP SKY CELESTIAL CATALOGS

https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/deep-sky-celestial-catalogs

11/18/21

DEEP SKY OBJECTS – NEBULAE, GALAXIES, STAR CLUSTERS

https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/deep-sky-objects-nebulae-galaxies-star-clusters

11/18/21

WHAT IS UTC? HOW CAN I USE IT TO OBSERVE OBJECTS?

https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/what-is-utc-how-can-i-use-it-to-observe-objects

11/18/21

SOLSTICES AND EQUINOXES: WHAT EVERY AMATEUR ASTRONOMER NEEDS TO KNOW

https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/solstices-and-equinoxes-what-every-amateur-astronomer-needs-to-know

11/08/21

CELESTRON NEXSTAR+ HAND CONTROL TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/celestron-nexstar-hand-control-troubleshooting-guide

10/20/21

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO OBSERVING ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES

https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/the-ultimate-guide-to-observing-artificial-satellites

10/04/21

HOW DO I ADJUST THE LCD CONTRAST IN THE STARSENSE HAND CONTROL?

https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/how-do-i-adjust-the-lcd-contrast-in-the-starsense-hand-control

10/01/21

HOW DO I ADJUST THE CONTRAST FOR THE TEXT DISPLAY IN THE NEXSTAR+ HAND CONTROL?

https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/how-do-i-adjust-the-contrast-for-the-text-display-in-the-nexstar-hand-control

MORE

https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/tagged/astronomy?page=2&view=category

Celestron Nexstar 6 SE Dealer Data

Celestron Nexstar 6 SE Dealer Data
New Telescope on the Way!

There are numerous reasons for ordering this new telescope: a Celestron NexStar 6SE 150mm f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope. This page lists dealer quotations.

Review the advertised quotations

In Stock $1,099.00
Key Features
150mm Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope
1500mm Focal Length, f/10 Focal Ratio
StarBright XLT Optical Coating System
Single-Fork Motorized GoTo Alt-Az Mount
25mm Eyepiece and StarPointer Finder
SkyAlign Alignment Technology
NexStar+ Computer Hand Controller
40,000+ Object Database with Sky Tours
Stainless Steel Tripod

Overview
Celestron's NexStar 6SE 150mm f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope is a powerful, portable, and user-friendly Schmidt-Cassegrain-style scope that can be used for observing everything from the Moon and planets to deep-sky objects like stars, galaxies, and nebulae. Using Celestron's proprietary StarBright XLT multi-coating system,

Celestron's NexStar 6SE 150mm f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope is a powerful, portable, and user-friendly Schmidt-Cassegrain-style scope that can be used for observing everything from the Moon and planets to deep-sky objects like stars, galaxies, and nebulae. Using Celestron's proprietary StarBright XLT multi-coating system, light transmission is increased throughout the entire optical path with anti-reflection multi-coated lenses, highly reflective multi-coated mirrors, and crown optical glass elements. While the focal ratio is a relatively slow f/10, the mount's precision tracking system allows it to be a competent shorter-exposure astrophotography imaging platform for the Moon and planets.

Driving the dual servo motors on the mount is the brain of the NexStar 6SE: the iconic NexStar+ computer hand controller. Packed with 40,000+ celestial objects, it can hold up to 100 additional user-defined destinations and is updatable via the Celestron website. It has multiple alignment procedures to get you observing fast—including the super-easy SkyAlign system. Capable of being used in the Northern or Southern Hemispheres, the NexStar has sidereal, lunar, and solar tracking speeds to accurately follow near- and deep-sky objects, plus nine slew speeds and the ability to automatically trigger a camera's shutter release for Fastar or piggyback wide-field photography or conventional prime-focus astrophotography.

Performance
6" (150mm) aperture
f/10 focal ratio
1500mm focal length
Crown optical glass primary mirror
StarBright XLT optical coatings: Multi-layer aluminum/SiO2 (quartz)/TiO2 (titanium dioxide) mirror coatings with flat reflectivity across the light spectrum for both astrophotography/astroimaging and visual observation
Multi-layer MgF2 (magnesium fluoride) and HfO2 (hafnium dioxide) anti-reflective lens coatings
High-transmission water white glass corrector lens with 97.4% light transmission
Internal focusing mechanism
Resolution: 0.93 arcsec (Rayleigh); 0.77 arcsec (Dawes)
Secondary mirror obstruction: 2.2"; 37% by diameter; 14% by area
Fastar capability: Secondary mirror can be removed and a DSLR or imaging rig mounted in its place for fast f/2 wide-field astrophotography

NexStar+ Computer Controller
2-line, 16-character LCD display
19 fiber optic backlit red LED buttons
Database of over 40,000 celestial objects plus 100 user defined
Automatically slew to planets, stars, constellations, and a variety of catalogs
Camera control: For piggyback wide-field or conventional astrophotography through the optical tube assembly, the controller can automatically trigger the shutter release to capture the image
Anti-backlash compensation programs out play between gears for more precise tracking
Tour Mode: Shows a selection of the most popular objects for the time and date you are observing
Constellation Tour: Allows you to take a tour of all the best objects within a particular constellation
Alignment procedures: SkyAlign, Auto 2-Star, 1-Star, 2-Star, and Solar System
SkyAlign alignment: Takes minutes, with minimal effort or experience—point the telescope at three bright objects in the sky, and the telescope does the rest
Nine slew speeds: 5°/sec, 3°/sec, 1°/sec, 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, 32x, and 64x
Sidereal, Solar, and Lunar tracking rates for observing the fast-moving Moon to slower-moving deep-space subjects
Tracking modes: Alt-Az, EQ North, EQ South, Off (no tracking when using as a terrestrial spotting scope)
Mini-USB communication port allows for computer control
Flash updatable via the Celestron website

Database Details:
Solar system objects including the Sun, Moon, and planets
Named objects
Stars: Asterims, variable stars, double stars, named stars
Caldwell catalog
Messier catalog
NGC catalog
SAO catalog
Constellations

Mount & Tripod
Mount: Single-fork alt-az
Dual-axis servo motors allow for precise tracking with virtually no vibration
Motor resolution: 0.26 arcsec
Optical encoders track mount movement to improve tracking and GoTo accuracy while allowing the mount to maintain alignment when moved manually
Communication ports: Autoguider port, Aux port, hand controller
Runs on eight user-supplied AA batteries or optional 12 VDC power supplyTripod:
Stainless steel legs
Adjustable height accommodates a variety of observation positions or users
Tray holds accessories such as eyepieces and filters and adds stability and vibration reduction
Weight: 10 pounds

Included Accessories
Eyepiece: 1.25"-diameter barrel
25mm focal length produces 60x magnification
Anti-reflection multi-coated glass improves color rendition and contrast
Threaded barrel accepts most 1.25" astronomical filters
Fold-down rubber eyecup for use with or without eyeglasses
44' field of view at 1000 yards

Diagonal
1.25" input and output accepts most 1.25" astronomical eyepieces and accessories
90° angle puts head in a comfortable position when observing at or near the zenith
Corrects view horizontally, but not vertically.

StarPointer Finder
Projects a single red dot in line of sight
Unmagnified view ensures a wide field of view to make finding objects faster and star-hopping navigation easier

Celestron 6SE Specs
Optical Tube Assembly
Optical Design Schmidt Cassegrain
Aperture 150 mm / 5.9"
Focal Length 1500 mm
Focal Ratio f/10

Focuser Internal
Eyepiece Barrel Diameter 1.25"
Diagonal 90° Star
Finderscope Yes
Optical Tube Dimensions Length: 16" / 40.6 cm

Mount
Type Motorized; Alt-Azimuth Single Fork
GoTo Capability Yes, NexStar

Tripod
Type Adjustable
Material of Tripod Stainless Steel

General
Batteries 8 x AA
GPS No
Wi-Fi No

Weight

Tripod 10 lb / 4.5 kg

OTA Optical Tube Assembly 10 lb / 4.5 kg

Altazimuth Mount 11 lbs
OTA + mount 21 lb / 9.53 kg

Total assembled (OTA + Mount + Tripod) 31 lb

Package Weight 42.25 lb

Packaging Info
Box Dimensions (LxWxH) 32 x 26 x 13