® INSTRUCTION MANUAL NexStar 5i 1 · NexStar 8i INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................4 WARNING ......................................................................................................................................................4 QUICK SETUP ..................................................................................................................................6 Assembling the NexStar..................................................................................................................8 Powering the NexStar ..............................................................................................................................8 The Hand Control ....................................................................................................................................9 The Star Diagonal....................................................................................................................................9 The Eyepiece ............................................................................................................................................9 The Star Pointer Finderscope ................................................................................................................10 HAND CONTROL ............................................................................................................................12 Rate Button.............................................................................................................................................13 Utility Features ......................................................................................................................................14 OPTIONAL COMPUTERIZED HAND CONTROL ..........................................................................17 Hand Control Operation ........................................................................................................................18 Alignment Procedures............................................................................................................................19 Auto-Align..........................................................................................................................................................19 Two-Star Alignment ...........................................................................................................................................20 Quick-Align ........................................................................................................................................................21 GPS Alignment (with Optional CN 16 Accessory).............................................................................................21 EQ Alignments ...................................................................................................................................................22 Re-Alignment .....................................................................................................................................................23 Object Catalog .......................................................................................................................................23 Finding Planets ......................................................................................................................................24 Tour Mode..............................................................................................................................................24 Direction Buttons ...................................................................................................................................25 Rate Button.............................................................................................................................................25 Setup Procedures ...................................................................................................................................25 Tracking Mode....................................................................................................................................................25 Tracking Rate......................................................................................................................................................26 View Time-Site...................................................................................................................................................26 User Defined Objects..........................................................................................................................................26 Get RA/DEC.......................................................................................................................................................27 Goto R.A/Dec .....................................................................................................................................................27 Scope Setup Features .............................................................................................................................27 Setup Time-Site ..................................................................................................................................................27 Anti-backlash......................................................................................................................................................27 Slew Limits.........................................................................................................................................................27 Filter Limits ........................................................................................................................................................27 Direction Buttons................................................................................................................................................27 Goto Approach....................................................................................................................................................28 Autoguide Rate ...................................................................................................................................................28 Cordwrap ............................................................................................................................................................28 Utility Features ......................................................................................................................................28 GPS On/Off ........................................................................................................................................................28 Compass..............................................................................................................................................................28 Alt Sensor ...........................................................................................................................................................28 Wedge Align.......................................................................................................................................................29 Light Control ......................................................................................................................................................29 Factory Settings ..................................................................................................................................................29 Version................................................................................................................................................................29 Get Alt-Az ..........................................................................................................................................................29 Goto Alt-Az ........................................................................................................................................................29 Hibernate ............................................................................................................................................................29 COMPUTERIZED HAND CONTROL QUICK SETUP ....................................................................31 TELESCOPE BASICS.....................................................................................................................33 Image Orientation ..................................................................................................................................33 Focusing.................................................................................................................................................34 Calculating Magnification .....................................................................................................................34 Determining Field of View .....................................................................................................................34 General Observing Hints .......................................................................................................................35 ASTRONOMY BASICS ...................................................................................................................36 The Celestial Coordinate System ...........................................................................................................36 Motion of the Stars .................................................................................................................................37 Polar Alignment (with optional Wedge).................................................................................................38 Finding the North Celestial Pole ...........................................................................................................39 CELESTIAL OBSERVING ..............................................................................................................40 Observing the Moon...............................................................................................................................40 Observing the Planets ............................................................................................................................40 Observing the Sun ..................................................................................................................................40 Observing Deep Sky Objects ..................................................................................................................41 Seeing Conditions ..................................................................................................................................41 Transparency .........................................................................................................................................41 Sky Illumination .....................................................................................................................................41 Seeing.....................................................................................................................................................41 CELESTIAL PHOTOGRAPHY........................................................................................................43 Short Exposure Prime Focus Photography............................................................................................43 Eyepiece Projection ...............................................................................................................................44 Long Exposure Prime Focus Photography ............................................................................................45 Terrestrial Photography.........................................................................................................................47 CCD Imaging .........................................................................................................................................47 TELESCOPE MAINTENANCE........................................................................................................48 Care and Cleaning of the Optics............................................................................................................48 Collimation.............................................................................................................................................48 OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES ...........................................................................................................51 APPENDIX A ­ TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS...........................................................................55 APPENDIX B ­ GLOSSARY OF T ...