Celestron StarSense: Set-Up, Alignment, & Calibration
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- In this video I partner up with Celestron to show new StarSense users how to install, set-up, align and calibrate the Celestron StarSense using the hand-controller. The auto alignment feature gives you the ability to be outside observing in under 5 minutes!
Note: This video shows how to calibrate the StarSense, which does not need to be done every session if you keep your StarSense mounted.
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Nice video. When you are actually using the StarSense, I've found that once it does its thing, you can add up to 10 additional alignment reference points, and that really improves the pointing accuracy. It's not difficult to do, simple wait for StarSense to finish its process, then BACK--> ALIGN --> ADD ALIGN REF--> ENTER, then you use the hand control arrows to slew it to a random area of the sky, finish your movement with UP & RIGHT inputs, then press ENTER and it will add a ref. point. Simply do this process another nine times. This significantly improves the pointing model.
Yes, it definitely does for sure! 10 accurate points in the sky makes the go-to accuracy near perfect. I didn't go through the process here as it isn't completely necessary and the video was getting a bit lengthy, but thank you for detailing it!
OMG! You made me feel sooooo much better. I was having issues for over 30 minutes when I realized I forgot to remove the cap from the star sense! I was having alignment/zeroing issues. I think your video will get me squared away. Excellent tutorial. Thanks!!
Thank you for your clear instructions. I just bought a 5se, with the StarSense and wifi module. I followed your instructions and read the manuals to get familiar the setup. Very easy. Had to make a slight adjustment for the calibration of the camera to tube. After that everything was great. Also used the app which was super easy to use. First telescope ever. Keep up the great videos.
best add on Ive bought for my C8 this is a great video Slymin, I found myself getting real good at the process with mine, and its so important to learn to fine center for astropx...cheers!
Real good instructional video, I'm getting back into using my scope and this was a good refresher on the use of the StarSense. 👍🏻
Love your videos. So easy to understand. Keep them coming for amateurs like me to understand. 👍
Great video. Just bought a StarSense and looking forward to getting it set up (when the UK weather allows!). Keep making the content, it’s always really useful, well presented and interesting. Cheers!
lol on your leaving the cap on it! I greatly appreciate your "true confession"! And I can also see myself doing the very same thing! Because I have actually left the cap on my 8 inch Celestron Newtonian, because I usually do it before I go outside. And since the tube is fairly long, the cap end is always above my head as I carry it outside. So I didn't notice te cap was still on while I was mounting my tube, mostly in the dark.
So I fussed about with my focus knobs, and it was quite frustrating, especially when I couldn't even manually locate the Moon! ha! ha!
But after around 5 minutes of futility, I finally figured it out!
Great video, Mr. Blender! Thank you so much for your clear and concise instructions and for your nice "pointers".
Excellent intro to the Celestron StarSense. I am going to buy one. Thanks.
Good presentation. I've left the cap on, too! You're not the only one. 🙂
Thanks, StarSense is on my list of accessories
Good bless you for admitting you left the cap on the star sense a totally noob error but I did it too.
Great video Slymin. I'm buying my first telescope in a few weeks here, and I'm been learning a lot from your videos. So we're gonna need you to start uploading at least one video a week. :)
Buttermilk Biscuits I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the video. I have so many ideas that I’ve written down, finding the time to do them with graduate school and work is tough. I’m getting there though! Thanks for your support!
Great video can't wait to get mine
Awesome Slymin! I love StarSense! I did grow beyond it..but I still love the concept!
Agreed, I currently don't use mine either, but it is incredibly convenient for visual use. For imaging I still align on my own. There is just something about doing it yourself that I enjoy!
@@AstroBlender Definitely..imagine the entire sky being navigated like a GPS...great product from Celestron!
Thank you for the huge help!
Thanks for the video! Great breakdown on how to use! But I wish I watched it before I used it for the first time last night. It was about 15f degrees here last night, I forgot the damn cap. Lol
I know I'm a little late, but I've been thinking about getting this to help with my alignment. You have been so helpful to me in the past. I just want to know that it will be alright to use for deep sky photography with my guide scope. Because I've noticed that you don't have it on your RASA. Thanks and keep up the good work your videos have really helped me and gotten me to really enjoy this hobby.
That calibration set up looks a real pain. The standard 2 or 3 star alignment looks nice and straightforward now. As much as I like the starsense, I think it’s overpriced
They really are good. Save so much time, and have ASPA
I should say, support ASPA, if using CPWI
Love your videos! I was wondering if you got your hands on a StarSense Autoguider yet. If so, I would love to see a tutorial/review some day! I hear great things so far and there are only about two videos on UA-cam.
The Starsense from celestron is one of the best accessories I've bought for my Nexstar evolution, works everytime, keeps its calibration, and always lands on target! Getting it to work with the skyportal app is another thing celestron needs to work on.
I wonder if the issue is purely on fork mounted software with SkyPortal. Lots of people have told me it struggles with their Evolution. It works like a charm on the Advanced VX with SkyPortal.
Hello, thank you for your videos. I've just seen the one for the focuser too.. you are actually great at explaining those products. Just two questions regarding the StarSense: Do you know if it can be used with a NexStar 8SE ? and two, how dark has to be the sky for it to work ? ie how good it's the sensitivity of the sensor ?
I like your videos, very informative!! I'm looking at the scope you were using star sense on, it looks like it would have GPS positioning? If not, i get why star sense would be useful. But if it does have GPS positioning, why use star Sense? Im very new to telescopes & astronomy but extremely fascinated with it! Keep the videos coming!!
Great Video!! I'm glad I came across it. I have been looking to add this to my setup! Thanks for posting.
Brian M. You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the great video! I am just having some issues getting started I have tried doing a manual alignment but not sure what to do after finding four sections, in the instructions it just states SarSense will be ready to use, but what is the final step after getting the four sections scanned? And do I need to reset StarSense before trying again! Thanks for all your help.
I’m new at this but do have the HPS unit which makes it so much faster and easier. I’ve had initial success with a friend who knows startsenze and failure trying it myself. I think the issue last night was that I was not close enough to polar alignment and maybe not level enough. I’m a very visual (text based) person that your vide would be that much better if you had posted a step by step out,line if the alignment process. I might add that there seems to be a mistake in the instruction booklet that comes with the device. Thanks again for the video!
Great video. Can you also make one about ASPA with Starsense.
Great info Cody, I commend you for your expertise and sharing your knowledge, thank you. Question, just to be clear. If I use the Starsense hand controller for setup and alignment, do I have to stay with the hand controller from here on out for each future observing session? Therefore, rendering the Skyportal app useless for future observing sessions? Or vice/versa, if I set up with the Skyportal app am I confined to using the Skyportal app form here on out, rending the use of the hand controller useless for future observing sessions. Thanks in advance. PE.
Super view! Question: can everything shown in video be done via Celestron PWI software?
I'm korean thankyou !
I know 8se!
I use a CPC800 to record asteroid occultations. I use the "Auto 2-star" alignment, then I use the "Precise GoTo" feature to acquire the target star from its RA/Dec. The precise goto picks a bright star close to the target star where it asks me to center, then when complete, the scope slews to the final RA/Dec. Usually it is pretty close to the correct star. I'm looking sometimes for 12th-14th magnitude stars (I view them on a camera like you demonstrated). The FOV doesn't always have enough bright (7-11 mag) stars to identify the field. That is my universe! I have the opportunity to try a Starsense and I'll compare how accurate it is to the method I am using now. Now, I said all that so I can ask this. You showed the setup basically for the initial Starsense setup. If you take the Starsense camera off the scope (to keep it from being damaged), then the next night you put it back on, so I wonder how close will the alignment be? The dismount/remount of any finder is not going to be perfect the next time. I also wouldn't wan to have to do the Starsense/Scope initial alignment each time either as it adds more time to the process. How accurate would you say it is after removing then reattaching the Starsense?
Thanks a lot. It happened with when I forgot to remove the cap that wasted my time lol
Just happened to me...........I used to scoff at this bit of infomation (as if I would be that STUPID). Well everyone....I am that idiot.
Excellent vid! Thanks.
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for the clarification about using only the hand controller or SkyPortal. I learnt that one by trial and error.
That said, whilst using SkyPortal/SkySafari can I use the hand controller for the focus motor? Controlling it in Software is pretty painful.
Thanks for the video. I am getting mixed results with mine. Most times it’s off by quite a bit. I know I’m not 100% polar aligned but my scope is on a trolley and parks in the same spot on the balcony every session. BTW the reason I’m not 100% PA is because I have a wall to the South of my, I live in the Southern Hemisphere. I have my scope pointed South and the alt setting at my latitude. Despite this I still have inconsistent results.
One difference I noticed on your setup is that I have USB cables to the hand controller, Starsense and focusser. Could this possibly be causing a problem? I’m really keen to rid my self of all those USB cables now. Thanks for the video.
Hi, great tutorial as usual 🎉; just a question : normally i am using a cam + a barlow to do Planet AP. Wondering if would be better to make starsense calibration with this setup? ( i mean with barlow) in order to get more precision or instead doing calibration with the cam is enough? thanks a lot
Top demais show 👏👏
Thank you for this video. I have an 8se and I am using the standard alt az mount. Once the setup is complete does it plate solve when you slew to an object or only on the initial calibration? If I get good alignment as standard is there a benefit to using the starsense? Thank you in advance.
Very helpful video! I am having a couple of quirks with my system that have resulted in usability issues. I have solved one, but the other is still giving me headaches.
1. I COULD NOT get StarSense to work without connecting the Celestron GPS to my system with the splitter (StarSense is connected to the other end). It works very well with the GPS attached, but takes another minute for bootup/recognition of the GPS device. The GPS MUST also be activated in the StarSense settings. The alignment STILL fails about 30-40% of the time, but that is a vast improvement from not using the GPS inline and guessing location/time/date info, and I either got bad alignment settings or a "Alignment Failed" message nearly 100% of the time.
2. Whenever I do the calibration, the 2nd StarSense alignment (the "Realignment, actually) ALWAYS fails. I have read elsewhere that the realignment only works with a power cycle, but that just seems to be resetting and starting from scratch. To be clear, I start the 2nd alignment/realignment WITHOUT bringing the OTA to a "flat" position - I start from the final calibration point.
Listen, you are a good man. Make sure you don't get stuck with a cheating gold digger no matter how pretty she is. Find a smart girl like you, if you haven't already.
Thanks for the video, I've decided to buy the starsense!
Have a wonderful day ❤️
Cap off is important thing I had ever, same mistake.. :)
Nice video! What is the model of this telescope?
Additional question, I recently purchased and installed revolution imager 2 onto my scope. Will I be able to use the camera & and screen to create my calibration using HC?
I think it would help if you mentioned that as it comes in the box the firmware for the hand controller is several levels out of date (as of April, 2020). First thing I did when it arrived was to update it. The camera's firmware is current.
Hello. Very good video! Quick question: which program were you using on your PC ? Thanks
Nice video.
Would you say it's easier/faster to do a polar alignment with starsense or the same as if I was using only the synscan polar alignment routine?
Can we do several iterations for more accuracy?
I'm talking about polar alignment of an equatorial mount, so for astrophoto purposes, not "goto calibration" like you did in the video. Here you never used the altitude/azimuth screws of you mount right?
Because I'm not convinced yet I need it! :)
Nice video, thank's. Let me ask you, put you the same telescope, the optics tube, un the EQ mount and in the azimuth mount? Can you tell me wich is the last one that accepts the EQ brackets? Thank you so much.
One thing I have wondered about, must the telescope be on level ground for StarSense when you setup first time? And if I move my telescope to a different location like ..say tomorrow evening, do I have to do this with star sense again just as I did the nite before, and again like a week later ? Thanks !
Still waiting for Celestron support to get back to me about using Star Sense with Sky Sync GPS module and duel AUX splitter lead on ASGT....this new was of packaging and integrating proven technology is really pretty good. Don't think I'll bin either my finder OR telrad as one of the joys for me is finding objects for myself but as before this tech is great!. Oh one criticism is there a plug or cover for that micro usb socket?
Great vid thanks one question to you have to calibrate ever time you use it?
No, I only calibrate if I use it in a different location.
Can you use StarSence as a Guide scope? Or is it only good for setup.
would I do the EQ set up and align if I have a wedge on my alt az telescope?
Needs perfect level mount ? So what are all those computers good for if they cannot correct for my mount position ?
Once you have set up StarSense, and you want to make manual adjustments on the HC to get objects into the center, what do you press on the HC in order to give it the feedback to make corrections for the future?
Does the star sense track objects? If not, do you know of any star trackers for a fork mounted telescope?
I was aligning starsense last night with an app after I have calibrated it the other time. when looking for stars the mount went to almost vertical angle and nearly hit the diagonal on the bottom of the mount. I'm using 9.25 Nexstar evolution. After completion it was pointing in totally different direction in the sky. Not to mention the app disconnected like 3 times. When I'm about to align does the OTA have to point North? and be leveled as well. The fact that this was the only clear night in months and nothing worked on a $3.5K set-up was really frustrating.
It would have been good to start with a general explanation of what Star Sense is and what it can do.
does the camera need to be attached to the far side? I have a 6se and I attached the camera on the side close to where the tube attaches to the fork mount and the finder on the other side
Can you use the HC for just pointing after Sky Portal alignment? (Prefer tactile buttons for hopping)
StarSense puede funcionar como mi cámara guía para utilizar ASI AIR Plus?
I enjoyed your video on setting up Starsense. I see your main mount in the video was a german equatorial mount. I don't believe you mention any special settings you had to make in the hand controller to indicate it as a EQ mount. Did you have to do this? The reason I ask, is that I have a Celestron EVO 8 with a wedge. I thought I would have to select the Wedge setting in the hand controller before doing an alignment, but maybe not if you didn't have to differentiate an EQ mount vs a ALT-AZ mount. I have seen many posts on this subject of Starsense and a Wedge mount, but there seems to be a lot of confusion on this subject. Celstron's documentation is not very helpful. If all I need to do is a rough polar alignment, and a good Starsense calibration, that would be great for me. I am hoping to try some astrophotography with this setup. Thanks in advance for any guidance you may be able to give.
You took the “Finder Scope” off. Do you put the screws that came out back in?
I need to update my firmware for both mount and camera for my Evolution 9.25 scope...I had been using SkySafari Pro but didn’t point to object correctly. Now I want to calibrate using HC...after new calibration and alignment is completed and I exit HC when I start using SS Pro again will new calibration be the same for StarSense camera? Or, will I need to complete a new calibration in SS Pro?
Hello Sir, i watched this tutorial and have a question about the hand controller itself. I recently upgraded my mount and moved my StarSense over to it. It does the auto alignment but it’s completely off. Ive tried to get the controller to do a reset to recalibrate it for the new scope but I’m at a loss. It doesn’t seem to ask me the usual questions and I can’t seem to find a reset in the system menu. Feeling ignorant at this point. Any help please. I’m using an SE 8 with and AVX mount
I am in no way able to use Starsense with Skyportal. For me, Starsense only works if I use hand control. When I use SkyPortal it starts to do the alignment and in the second point SkyPortal starts pointing to the wrong places, as if it were outside the visible horizon and pointing to the ground. It is as if the telescope points to one place and SkyPortal to a completely different one.
Is it possible that it is because I use SkyPortal with the handheld still connected?
can the Celestron StarSense be used with a skymax 127 ... thanks
I've given up on the StarSense. Had mine for a couple of years now and just can't get it to align properly, hell I can't even get the software/firmware updated.
Every computer I've use to try and download the CFM from Celestron site flags the CFM as malware or a virus.
As for alignment, I use the GPS accessory(over priced crap) for time/date /postion. I let the scope do it's thing before fine tuning it and when I go to look at a star or planet, the alignment is out.
Thank you for the tutorial. But it seems like a redundant thing to the computerized mount which can align the scope too. And without a computerized mount this device will just not work. Plus it's expensive. If it would work on a manual mounts, then it would be very useful. Or I assume you can use it as a guiding scope, probably, for more precise tracking if your mount is not very good at it.
I would be nice if you would show the results of what you see thru the telescope, its one thing to talk about the alignment but show us some results.
Okay, I have a question , You ONLY showed TWO ways to set this up.. 1. Skyportal app on cellphone, and 2 . Starsense Hand Controller, YOU stated if you do one, you have to do it all that way. either with hand controller or skyportal. But I don't set up using either of those options.. Can you please do one using CPWI ? or will that be the same as using the Hand Controller? Because I use CPWI to calibrate etc..
1) Can it be used it as a star tracking scope with an astrophotography camera, or is this intended mostly intended as a alignment & finder tool, for visual astronomy?
2) Can I use this scope as a star tracker, alignment tool, or finder tool, with other software/hardware controllers, such as a PC/laptop or StellarMate (ie, is it limited to just being used with Celestron software)?
What software did you say you are using around 12:00 for calibration?
Very good video, but sometimes I can't see what button you are pressing on the hand controller !!
Is the Starsense compatible with the Celestron CGX-L mount?
Can STARSENSE be mounted on CG-4 Celestron Dual Axis Motor?
So you don't need to set time, date and location if using auto ?
what scope/mount is that one your using in this video. I know at one point you put it on an SE mount, but what is the other mount and that scope your using please!!??
This is a standard 8" Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope on an Advanced VX mount.
Hey Slymin, thank you but what was the software you were using? Sounded like Backyard ES?
Yes, BackyardEOS for DSLR camera control.
Can someone explain the difference between Celestron Skyalign, Starsence, and Skyportal?
To set up for alignment, can it be done in my back yard where city light are on. Or do i have to get out of town where less city lights ??
henry huy hoang --- I've used Starsense in Brisbane, worked fine.
my star sense aligns. i did not calibrate. is this why i cant see a planet? can i use it in daylight?
I’m having a problem with my nexstar 8 celestron when I’m using sky portal my target for where my telescope is facing is west when my actual telescope is facing some other direction what can I do?
The only thing I can think of is to make sure your date/time and location settings are correct in the SkyPortal app. That should be the only reason for that. If you're using a fork mount you also want to boot-up StarSense when the telescope is in the horizontal position.
Slymin ok I just got it working thanks
So if you purchase the star sense will you get the hand controller together or you need to purchase separate?
Hand controller is included.
Yep, it comes with everything you need.
why do very few people tell you , if using an equatorial mount, set and lock your latitude after you line up and level your mount, this wont change at the same address. My mount is permanently set at 33.1 lat. If you do this you should never have to go up and down, it will follow the equatorial movement of the sky. Find your latitude online using your zip code. After that setup and calibrate starsense as you showed.
What does this complete setup cost ?
Mine must be a dud because on my 8SE I followed everything in your video to the letter and mine won’t go to a calibration star. It wants you to send the scope there and without a finder scope it’s near impossible. I gave up after 2hrs. Biggest waste of $700 I’ve ever spent.
What does “the OTA needs to be pointed horizontally” mean?!?! Like what is OTA
What kind of telescope are you using in this video
That is a standard 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.
so in order to use StarSense you gotta have StarSense Hand controller?
Alejandro Santillan --- Probably comes with the camera. My Sky Prodigy with starsense came with the controller, but i needed to buy a Nexstar conteoller to use it with the original Sky Safari wifi unit.
You said I believe you are using "Backyard ES" is that the name of this software? If so I am having trouble finding it.
BackyardEOS if using a Nikon camera there is also BackyardNikon
Oh thank you. What if you are using a ZWO anything similar for those? Looking for help calibrating and liked that cross hair you had on this software.
Nina, Sharpcap, ASIStudio, etc. lots of options there.
Cuánto cuesta?
casi todo los videos que asen en celestron son ingles y poco en español ya que mucho lo compran en todo el mundo
Hi Slymin, how do I save the alignment into one of the 10 slots provided for saving aligments? The manual tells you how to do it but it didn't work for me. After completing the alignment and realignment (after centering/ calibrating), I chose the save/load alignment option from the 'StarSense Ready' screen and pressed 'Enter' & 'Option (Celestron Logo)' buttons together to save the alignment in slot 0 but nothing happened. What am I missing? (I need to do this because I remove the scope from the mount and take both downstairs after each observation session. Thanks in advance for your help!
“Best advice i can give all the beginners out there is don’t try to point it in your neighbors bathroom at night. Not the right telescope for that. Can’t see anything because it’s wayy too close of a peeping distance for this telescope. Not worth the restraining order and the beating when he catches you watching him change again”
I've got to say that if StarSense does not Autoalign within a couple of minutes as yours did, it may well need focussing.
This is a right pain. Celestron do not provide instructions. There is no video camera out.
The lens, not the hood, needs to be turned in iteration in and out to maximise star count. It takes a long time because it has to 'fail' and tell you how many stars is saw, or didn't. Once it starts seeing lots of stars it has to be fine focussed, moving the lens in smaller increments, as you would a telescope. You do need a 'good seeing night'.
This has to be done on the hand controller as the app does not report star count. You have to watch the controller because the "x stars found" is only displayed for a moment.
I would suggest initially autoaligning on the hand controller. The problem there is you have to know the chosen calibration star(s) is up and visible, and which one it is. Calibration on the wrong star is not much use. You may well still need the finder scope for rough alignment. Once you know the hand controller autoalign works, then switch to the phone app, or better the laptop app (set up on your LAN).
The starsense camera is focusable? How do you do that?
@@jimmypants100 I managed to get in touch with Celestron Tech and they suggested to do what I was doing - with a slight difference- two turns at a time or about 2mm. As it happens I had screwed the lens out too far. So I screwed it all the way in, made a paint index mark on the side of the lens and screwed it out two turns at a time until it registered and then maximised star count. I use StarSense Manual align so it was pointed at one chosen area with a good few stars visible. The I screwed it in and out by single turns to get the maximum star count. I had a few clouds scudding about which did not make it an easy task, some guesswork involved. It is a plate-solving system but like a guider does not have to be focused spot-on for best results - like PHD, it will lock on to a star's centroid better if it is slightly out of focus.
I then had to set the slew limits so it didn't look at the tall fence, and the cable wrap (it had had a full reset).
But then it did the full StarSense auto-align in a matter of minutes.
Imo it works well on an Alt-Az (what was a 130SLT now carrying photo cameras. The StarSense slung under an L-plate on-axis with the camera(s) loaded above on a 1/4-20). Maybe not needed on an EQ as they only really need a good polar align, location, date and time.
hi
Okay, great alignment product, but from what I can tell, it is totally useless for astrophotography, since you still don't have an accurate polar alignment. Am I wrong?
Gary, the StarSense hand-controller has the All Star Polar Alignment feature just like the NexStar+ hand-controller, so you can do a polar alignment with it.
I know this sounds stupid but what is the OTA?
OTA = Optical Tube Assembly. It's the telescope itself, not the mount or tripod.
Can't believe he didn't demonstrate the accuracy after he finished aligning it.
SMH
Apologies. I showed the accuracy in the SkyPortal version of the video, so didn't feel the need to show it twice.