NexStar 6SE, 8SE

Item # 11068

Item # 11069

Quick Set-up Guide

Your NexStar 6SE or 8SE includes:fork arm with optical tube; tripod; accessory tray; bubble level; computerized hand control; one 25mm eyepiece;StarPointer finderscope; Star diagonal; owners manual, The Sky CD,NexRemote Telescope Control CD,RS-232 cable.
Assemble tripod by spreading the legs out until fully extended.
Extend tripod legs 6 to 8 inches by loosening the tripod leg locking knob and pulling the leg to desired length and re-tightening knob.
To attach accessory tray, remove threaded nut and washer from accessory tray rod.
Slide accessory tray onto rod. Replace threaded nut.Tighten to secure.
Tripod legs should be the same length to provide a level platform for the telescope.A bubble level is included to assist in leveling.
Once tripod is level, put away the bubble level. Grab scope by the fork arm and line up holes on bottom of telescope with the screws on the tripod mounting platform.
Tighten three screws under tripod mounting platform to secure the fork arm to the tripod.
Hand control comes mounted in the fork arm. Hand control should fit snugly in fork arm as shown above.
Quick Set-up Guide [cont]
Slide StarPointer finderscope onto mounting platform as shown above. Tighten screws located on side of StarPointer to secure.
Insert silver barrel of diagonal into the visual back as shown above. Tighten silver screw to secure.
Tighten silver screw on the diagonal to secure in place.
Insert silver barrel of 25mm eyepiece into the diagonal as shown above. Tighten silver screw (inset) to secure.
To power up telescope, you will first need to insert batteries. Remove battery cover on fork arm base as shown above.
Place AA batteries (user supplied) inside the battery compartment located at the base of the fork arm and replace battery cover.

Focus Knob

Before you begin viewing, please remember to remove tube lens cap. While observing, tube should be positioned as shown above. In order to get the best view through the telescope, slowly turn the focus knob until the objects are in sharp focus.
Before you can begin observing, you must setup your hand control, align your finderscope and align your telescope. Step by step instructions are included in the following Hand Control Setup action.

Hand Control Guide

Before you can begin using your NexStar 6SE or 8SE, you must setup your computerized hand control and go through the SkyAlign alignment procedure. In order for the NexStar to accurately point to the objects in the sky, it must first be aligned with known positions (stars) in the sky. With this information, the telescope can create a model of the sky, which it uses to locate any object in its database 3 Power Switch
Turn power switch (located at the base of the fork arm) to onposition.The light will come on and the hand control will display NexStar SE.
You will notice that there are directional arrows in the center of the hand control. These only move the telescope. They cannot be used to scroll through menu features.
Now you will need to align the finderscope. Turn on the red LED light by turning the knob shown above. When used for the first time,remove the clear plastic disk that is located between the battery clip and the battery.See inset.
Use the hand control direction arrow buttons to point telescope at a distant land object, like a telephone pole or at night you can use the moon. Center and focus the object in the 25mm eyepiece of the telescope.
In order to accurately center an object in the eyepiece it may be necessary to change the slew speed of the motors. To change the slew speed, press the RATE button then select a number from 1 (slowest) to 9 (fastest).
With the object centered in the eyepiece, use the azimuth (right/left) and altitude (up/down) adjustment knobs on the finderscope to place the red alignment dot directly over the centered object.

Power Switch

Once you have aligned your finderscope, make sure to turn off the LED light to conserve the battery. Now you are ready to align the telescope. This will have to be done at night.
When the display reads NexStar SE, press ENTER to begin the alignment procedure.
Use the UP and DOWN scroll buttons (located on #6 and #9) to select SkyAlign then press ENTER. Now you will need to enter your site/time information.
The hand control will display the last entered time and site information. Since this is your first time using the NexStar, press UNDO to enter your site and time information.
Press ENTER to select City Database. Use the Up and Down scroll buttons (located on #6 and #9) and choose the closest city to your present location. Press ENTER after selecting the country, state and city.

Using the numeric key pad enter your time information. Press ENTER to continue. Press UNDO to backspace.
Hand Control Guide [cont]
Now, using the Up and Down scroll buttons (located on #6 and #9), verify the time zone you are in and press ENTER.
Using the numeric key pad enter the date. Press ENTER to continue. Press UNDO to backspace.
Use the directional arrow keys on the hand control to slew (move) the telescope towards any bright celestial object in the sky. Center the object in the finderscope and press ENTER.
If the finderscope has been properly aligned, the alignment star should now be visible in the field of view of the eyepiece.
The hand control will prompt you to center the bright alignment star in the center of the eyepiece. Once centered, press ALIGN. This will accept the star as your first alignment position.
For the second alignment object, choose a bright star or planet as far from the first alignment object as possible. Once again use the directional arrow buttons to center the object in the finderscope and press ENTER. Once object is centered in the eyepiece, press ALIGN.

20 TOUR

21 INFO
Repeat the process for the third alignment star. When the telescope has been aligned to the final star, the display will read Match Confirmed Press UNDO. to display the names of the three bright objects you aligned to, or press ENTER to accept these three objects for alignment.
Now that your telescope is properly aligned, you are ready to find your first object. Press the TOUR button on the hand control. The hand control will display a list of objects that are visible for the date and location entered.
Press INFO to read information about the object displayed. Press the DOWN scroll key to display the next object. Press ENTER to slew (move) to the displayed object.
For general usage information, please consult your users manual.
If you have questions or problems with set-up, please contact Celestron Technical Support: 310.803.5955