The Making of Celestron Nexstar 6SE Telescope Deck Observa-toryNTO, Nexstar Telescope Observatory, is a subsidiary of HSO Humanoido Singularity Observatory.
Above: the observatory Celestron Nexstar 6 SE telescope is being tested and configured with new accessories. The OTA can support an additional ten pounds, therefore a method of swapping and removing accessories is being developed depending on a particular night's mission. So far, testing includes a Celestron NexYT smartphone holder, Svbony finderscope, Celestron all plastic finder, a green gem laser, and a rotating turret. Other items up for testing include an automatic focus motor, 80mm CT Orion guide telescope, mount expander, rotating filter holder, and cameras.
THE 6 SE TELESCOPE
The HSO enterprise is a conglomerate hub of nineteen observatories located on an island about a hundred miles from active volcanic mountains in a Eurasian tectonic earthquake zone. The location is unique with all forms of subtropical weather including some of the most desired astronomical seasonal seeing conditions in the world due to the island location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
The observatories consortium is situated thousands of feet in the air via a new modern structurally earthquake stabilized steel and granite skyscraper - with a battery of some of the world’s most powerful telescopes. When these are amped, they become some of the largest Earth-based telescopes in the world, having apertures of 20”, 200", 30”, 300", 45”, 450", 60”, 600", 92.5", 925”, 140", and 1,400-inches in diameter.
HSO also owns and operates Adjunctive telescopes in space through the concatenation of recycled NASA equipment worth over a trillion dollars. Adjunctives are driven by a supercomputer. The Celestron Nexstar 6SE has a built in positioning GOTO computer and a database of 40,000 astronomical objects. It's also controlled with other computers for various control features, predictions with past and future recreations of the night sky, regulate CCD & CMOS astronomical imaging cameras, image process, and mega store astronomical data into modern archives.
Trials and Tribulations of Building an Observatory for the New Celestron Nexstar 6SE GOTO TelescopeTelescope & Observatory Objectives & Goals The goal of the observatory and telescope is multi purposed. It will be used to conduct numerous programs that focus on the Moon, planets, astro imaging, tech experiments, a solar observatory in the daytime, and partake in a mountainous region conservation program studying animal and plant life from a distance of one hundred miles.
Above Photo - this is the approximate future appearance at the observatory location (with light pollution, air pollution, and haze subtracted) looking Southeast on the night of Monday, April 25th 2022 at 5:54 am in the morning. Seen is an exceptionally rich sky with Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Saturn and the Moon lining up during a conjunction. Given clear skies, this will be a veritable feast of celestial objects for testing and running the solar system observatory Nexstar 6 SE telescope through its paces. The more southern island South Pacific Ocean location brings a treat of spectacular southern constellations and objects into view to include Microscopium, Indus and Grus, and during the proper time and season - the Great Omega Centauri Star Cluster.
Optics
Why would we go through all this, the construction of an observatory, for such a lowly telescope you ask? It's because this is not a lowly telescope. The new Celestron Nexstar 6SE has lots of hidden powerful features that one would not expect. It also has something to do with the fact that the telescope is generally always sold out - in high demand due to its high quality.
The Celestron Nexstar 6SE telescope is a real gem - an optically perfected instrument that can slice through large seeing cells, using its subfacet size, in the atmosphere like butter and create holes of exceptional clarity. The industry has come of age, and developed the techniques necessary to generate optically exquisite spherical mirrors - exactly that which is the design basis of the Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Therefore the Celestron Nexstar 6SE has developed a reputation as being one of the finest “optically perfected” telescopes available in the world at a reasonable cost.
Left: the bookshelf is flipped on its side. From left to right, bungee cords for attaching the unit to the metal rail seen through the window, a waterproof tarp used to cover motorcycles, a small collection of the first 4 water bottles, and 3M duct tape to be used to attach the water bottles to the backing.
Overview
The goal is to inexpensively and quickly make an outdoor observatory for the Celestron Nexstar 6Se telescope to ultimately obtain high resolution observations and astroimaging of the sun, moon and planets, while conforming to all the local requirements and physical parameters. Using all common and recycled parts and components for construction, the telescope will set outside on top of a platform when in use and quickly and easily carried indoors when not in use. The platform must come from a common supplier that can both deliver across the city and assemble the unit on site in a timely fashion. It will bungee cord attach to the metal railing. It can be easily disassembled. The upper limit cost for the platform must not exceed $100. The terms balcony and deck may be used interchangeably.
— when queried about the diminutive telescope and accessories, he replied, it's destined to become one of the most powerful and capable telescopes in the world —
Left: tests include a thermal image of a cutoff bottle bottom. Remarkably the reinforced and orientated bottom of the bottle is capable of supporting a thousand pounds PSI. The observatory platform is estimated to have a bulk array of fifty bottle bottoms for a total support capability of fifty thousand pounds, enough strength for an earthquake to an estimated 5 on the richter scale. The large recycled bottle bottom is seen being tested in the Astro Imaging Lab using a thermal camera. Unlike other bottles, this bottle style contains extra plastic and is free from the distillation factory.
Telescope Retainer
It's necessary for the telescope while setting on top of the platform to have more than just rubber grippy feet. In the event of an earthquake, the telescope should have a basic anchoring system but not one with bolts. The idea is to quickly set the telescope on the platform and start observing or quickly pick up the telescope, take it indoors and stop observing. The circular mount bottom is divided into two sections - the top turns over the bottom. The bottom is stationary so this is the only area that can have a type of retainer. The retainer will be a quick fasten and quick release. To accomplish this, a taught criss crossing of bungee cords will retain the circular bottom from lateral movement. Retaining the circular top will be experimental with a fabricated slip bungee that will allow the telescope to turn but not tip over in the event of jolting. This is an invented experimental device and may be modified and changed.
ConstructionThe observatory will be constructed without tools such as saws, drills, screwdrivers or any woodworking or metal working supplies. Materials used will be limited to common recycled items - empty water bottles, leftover motorcycle weather covering, and common purchased items - bungee cords, 3M strapping/duct tape, and a bookshelf. At most, a scissors will be used to cut the tape to length.
DuplicationThe duplication of the observatory must be simple enough to recreate at other installation sites across the world, in remote locations, on foreign land, and in plain sight where one would least expect it.
Weather
The platform may set outdoors and covered with a waterproof motorcycle covering fastened with bungee cords. The life expectancy of the platform for 2 seasons or more is totally sufficient as it can be easily replaced.
Manual & Remote Operations
The observatory telescope will function both manually with the astronomer outdoors and remote with the astronomer indoors at a future date.
Appearance
It must appear as common storage items placed on the deck/balcony so as not to draw attention.
Arrangement
The platform shelf can hold a large and heavy 7AH battery on the base to help rigidity and stability. The telescope is placed at the top of the platform and its rubber grips are fully functional with the platform top. An additional retainer will be added to keep the telescope in balance and stable laterally and prevent vertical tipping. The telescope is set high enough to overlook the balcony metal railing.
Specifics
An IKEA bookshelf, the platform, will be purchased, delivered, assembled and will serve as the telescope base, replacing the stock tripod which does not fit on the deck floor. The actual bookshelf was a surprise as its design cut corners to make it more efficient for manufacturing and to save a penny. This design made its floor smaller with cutouts and a missing beam support, making it and the backing unstable and more easy to tip compared to other normal bookshelves, but this was next to impossible to learn from the online representations. After much study, it was decided to keep the spartan design and work with it through reinforcement at the other strong points and to add the physics of a unique full faced anchoring system to provide the greatest rigidity.
— with great power comes great responsibility —To complicate matters, there’s a raised granite floor section about two inches high and 3 1/4” distanced out from the metal railing. Therefore the bookshelf is unable to reach the metal railing for attachment unless modified.
The free floor space out from the metal railing is very limited and the bookshelf needs to have a depth no more than 16-inches. This must also include any standing space during setup and take down.
The bookshelf must raise the telescope so that it can be pointed above the railing when observing mountains or sky objects. Therefore a bookshelf with a height of 41 3/4” is perfect.
Tripod Replacement - Platform Bookshelfhttps://otisastro.blogspot.com/2022/04/celestron-nexstar-6-se-remounting.html
AssemblyA water bottle can be recycled but it flexes along its side. However, it’s noted the base of the water bottle is very rigid and will work in unison to support the back of the bookshelf. The firm connection will keep the bookshelf from tipping or moving.
The bookshelf has two holes in the back right and left sides near the top, perfect for threading through bungee cords and fastening to the steel railing. In the assembly, nothing is permanently changed or destroyed. The method is to assemble the entire telescope platform without any tools, no drills, no saws and no trips to the hardware or lumber companies.
Materials List & Approximate costPlatform Bookshelf, Delivery, Assembly - $100
Clear 3M Duct Tape - $25
Recycled Water Bottles - Free
Bungee Cords - $25
Motorcycle Waterproof Covering - $29
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Total Observatory Cost - less than $200
About the Observatory
This observatory is a quad - four observatories rolled into one. It has room for two telescopes performing side by side outdoors and two telescopes indoors observing and gathering data through two (side by side) panes of white optical window glass.
Singularity Observatory has a lab station, also with surrounding decks with potentially four more telescopes outdoors and two indoors. Living expanse has another balcony for telescopes and the side of the skyscraper has a balcony for telescopes. The roof peak is large enough to support a myriad of telescopes with a view in every direction. All in all, the subdivision can include at least nineteen main observatories and 38 to 56 telescopes.
The Future of NTO Nexstar Telescope Observatory
If a lot of time is spent outdoors, it's likely a waterproof and wind tested tent will be erected over the telescope and mounting platform, and a person could work inside. Tents last a couple seasons, then need replacement. In moist humid weather, the bookshelf platform could also last 2 or more seasons, depending on how its protected, exposed, or covered.
Updates Wed. Apr. 20, 2022 Bungee Cords - PChome does not have bungee cords so the cords were ordered in three standard sizes from two other online companies who could not state when it would be shipped or arrive.
The backup plan is to send someone to the night market and buy up all the bungee cords there. These come in 11, 23, and 47 inches and the objective is to obtain five of each (30, 60, 120 cm). Only one long is on hand. The backup plan is to use the one long bungee cord to fasten the platform from the top back.
Bottles: Extra thick clear plastic recycled distilled water bottles were gathered and unfortunately the quantity is not nearly enough.
So far, 11 are collected and up to 50 may be needed. It's unknown how long it will take to consume water to make a total of 50 bottles available. Other bottles tried were the wrong size and not strong enough. The backup plan is to use fewer bottles.
Tape: The full complement of twelve rolls of 3M clear
plastic tape arrived. The weatherproof motorcycle covering is already on hand.
Photo: The pic shows the deck steel railing through the window behind the platform (shown upright).
