Celestron C8 S Instruction manual

The Celestron C8 S is an 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, designed for both visual astronomy and astrophotography. It features a sturdy CG-5 equatorial mount that can be easily assembled and balanced. With its 2032mm focal length, users can enjoy high magnification for detailed views of planets, the moon, and deep-sky objects. The C8 S also comes with a 6x30 finderscope for easier object acquisition, a 25mm eyepiece for a wide field of view, and a 90° star diagonal for comfortable viewing.

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INSTRUCTION MANUAL
CC55--SS ●● CC88--SS ●● CC99..2255--SS

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INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................................................................4
Warning .................................................................................................................................................................................................................4
ASSEMBLY ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................7
Setting up the Tripod .............................................................................................................................................................................................7
Attaching the Equatorial Mount.............................................................................................................................................................................8
Attaching the Center Leg Brace.............................................................................................................................................................................8
Installing the Counterweight Bar ...........................................................................................................................................................................8
Installing the Counterweight..................................................................................................................................................................................9
Attaching the Hand Control Holder .......................................................................................................................................................................9
Attaching the Slow Motion Knobs.........................................................................................................................................................................9
Attaching the Optical Tube to the Mount.............................................................................................................................................................10
Attaching the Visual Back ...................................................................................................................................................................................10
Installing the Star Diagonal..................................................................................................................................................................................11
Installing the Eyepiece.........................................................................................................................................................................................11
Installing the Finderscope ....................................................................................................................................................................................11
Removing the Lens Cap.......................................................................................................................................................................................12
Moving the Telescope Manually..........................................................................................................................................................................13
Balancing The Mount in R.A. ..............................................................................................................................................................................13
Balancing The Mount in DEC .............................................................................................................................................................................14
Adjusting the Mount ............................................................................................................................................................................................14
Adjusting the Mount in Altitude.......................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Adjusting the Mount in Azimuth......................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Attaching the Declination Cable (For GT Models Only) .....................................................................................................................................15
Powering the Telescope .......................................................................................................................................................................................15
HAND CONTROL .................................................................................................................................................................................................16
Hand Control Operation ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Alignment Procedures..........................................................................................................................................................................................18
Startup Procedure.................................................................................................................................................................................................18
Auto Align ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................19
Auto Three-Star Align .........................................................................................................................................................................................19
Quick-Align .........................................................................................................................................................................................................20
Last Alignment ....................................................................................................................................................................................................20
Re-Alignment ......................................................................................................................................................................................................20
Object Catalog .....................................................................................................................................................................................................21
Selecting an Object ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 21
Slewing to an Object ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Finding Planets.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Tour Mode .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Constellation Tour............................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Direction Buttons ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Rate Button ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Setup Procedures .................................................................................................................................................................................................23
Tracking Mode...........................................................................................................................................................................................23
Tracking Rate.............................................................................................................................................................................................23
Date/Time ..................................................................................................................................................................................................23
User Defined Objects .................................................................................................................................................................................23
Get RA/DEC ..............................................................................................................................................................................................24
Goto R.A/Dec ............................................................................................................................................................................................24
Identify.......................................................................................................................................................................................................24
Precise GoTo....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Scope Setup Features .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Setup Time-Site .........................................................................................................................................................................................25
Anti-backlash .............................................................................................................................................................................................25
Filter Limits ...............................................................................................................................................................................................25
Direction Buttons .......................................................................................................................................................................................26
Goto Approach...........................................................................................................................................................................................26
Autoguide Rates.........................................................................................................................................................................................26
Azimuth Limits ..........................................................................................................................................................................................26
East/West Filtering.....................................................................................................................................................................................27
Utility Features.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Calibrate Goto............................................................................................................................................................................................27
Home Position............................................................................................................................................................................................27
Polar Align.................................................................................................................................................................................................27
Light Control..............................................................................................................................................................................................28
Factory Settings .........................................................................................................................................................................................28
Version.......................................................................................................................................................................................................28

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Get Alt-Az .................................................................................................................................................................................................28
Goto Alt-Az ...............................................................................................................................................................................................28
Hibernate....................................................................................................................................................................................................28
Turn On/Off GPS.......................................................................................................................................................................................28
TELESCOPE BASICS ...........................................................................................................................................................................................30
Image Orientation ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Focusing.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 31
Aligning the Finderscope .................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Calculating Magnification................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Determining Field of View.................................................................................................................................................................................. 32
General Observing Hints..................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
ASTRONOMY BASICS.........................................................................................................................................................................................33
The Celestial Coordinate System ........................................................................................................................................................................ 33
Motion of the Stars.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 34
Finding the North Celestial Pole ......................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Declination Drift Method of Polar Alignment..................................................................................................................................................... 37
CELESTIAL OBSERVING...................................................................................................................................................................................38
Observing the Moon............................................................................................................................................................................................ 38
Lunar Observing Hints........................................................................................................................................................................................ 38
Observing the Planets.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 38
Observing the Sun............................................................................................................................................................................................... 38
Solar Observing Hints ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Observing Deep Sky Objects .............................................................................................................................................................................. 39
Seeing Conditions ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Transparency....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Sky Illumination.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 39
Seeing ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 39
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY .....................................................................................................................................................................................41
Short Exposure Prime Focus Photography .......................................................................................................................................................... 41
Eyepiece Projection............................................................................................................................................................................................. 42
Long Exposure Prime Focus Photography .......................................................................................................................................................... 43
Terrestrial Photography....................................................................................................................................................................................... 45
Metering.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 45
Reducing Vibration ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 45
CCD Imaging ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 45
Auto Guiding ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
TELESCOPE MAINTENANCE ...........................................................................................................................................................................47
Care and Cleaning of the Optics.......................................................................................................................................................................... 47
Collimation ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 47
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES...............................................................................................................................................................................49
APPENDIX A – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS .........................................................................................................................................52
APPENDIX B – GLOSSARY OF TERMS .........................................................................................................................................................53
APPENDIX C – LONGITUDES AND LATITUDES ..........................................................................................................................................56
APPENDIX D – RS-232 CONNECTION..............................................................................................................................................................61
APPENDIX E – TIME ZONE MAP .....................................................................................................................................................................63
SKY MAPS..............................................................................................................................................................................................................65

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Congratulations on your purchase of the Celestron Advanced Series telescope (AST)! The Advanced Series of telescopes come in
standard (non-computerized) and computerized GT models. The Advanced Series is made of the highest quality materials to
ensure stability and durability. All this adds up to a telescope that gives you a lifetime of pleasure with a minimal amount of
maintenance. Furthermore, your Celestron telescope is versatile — it will grow as your interest grows.
The Advanced GT Series ushers in the next generation of computer automated telescopes. The Celestron Advanced GT
series continues in this proud tradition combining large aperture optics with the sophistication and ease of use of
our computerized GoTo mount.
If you are new to astronomy, you may wish to start off by using the built-in Sky Tour feature, which commands the telescopes to
find the most interesting objects in the sky and automatically slews to each one. Or if you are an experienced amateur, you will
appreciate the comprehensive database of over 40,000 objects, including customized lists of all the best deep-sky objects, bright
double stars and variable stars. No matter at what level you are starting out, the Advanced Series telescopes will unfold for you
and your friends all the wonders of the Universe.
Some of the many standard features of the Advanced GT include:
• Fully enclosed optical encoders for position location.
• Ergonomically designed mount that disassembles into compact and portable pieces.
• Database filter limits for creating custom object lists.
• Storage for programmable user defined objects; and
Many other high performance features!
The AST’s deluxe features combine with Celestron’s legendary Schmidt-Cassegrain optical system to give amateur astronomers
the most sophisticated and easy to use telescopes available on the market today.
Take time to read through this manual before embarking on your journey through the Universe. It may take a few observing
sessions to become familiar with your telescope, so you should keep this manual handy until you have fully mastered your
telescope’s operation. The Advanced GT hand control has built-in instructions to guide you through all the alignment procedures
needed to have the telescope up and running in minutes. Use this manual in conjunction with the on-screen instructions provided
by the hand control. The manual gives detailed information regarding each step as well as needed reference material and helpful
hints guaranteed to make your observing experience as simple and pleasurable as possible.
Your telescope is designed to give you years of fun and rewarding observations. However, there are a few things to consider
before using your telescope that will ensure your safety and protect your equipment.
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.
Never use your telescope to project an image of the sun onto any surface. Internal heat build-up can damage the telescope
and any accessories attached to it.
Never use an eyepiece solar filter or a Herschel wedge. Internal heat build-up inside the telescope can cause these devices to
crack or break, allowing unfiltered sunlight to pass through to the eye.
Never leave the telescope unsupervised, either when children are present or adults who may not be familiar with the correct
operating procedures of your telescope.

Key Features

8-inch aperture
Schmidt-Cassegrain optics
CG-5 equatorial mount
2032mm focal length
6x30 finderscope
25mm eyepiece
90° star diagonal
Go To system
database of objects
user-defined objects

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Frequently Answers and Questions

How do I align the telescope?

The Celestron C8 S comes with a computerized Go To system, which makes alignment easy. You can choose from several alignment methods, including Auto Align, Auto Three-Star Align, Quick-Align, and Last Alignment. The manual provides detailed instructions for each method.

What kind of objects can I see with this telescope?

The C8 S can be used to observe a wide variety of celestial objects, including planets, the moon, stars, nebulae, and galaxies.

How do I balance the telescope?

Balancing the telescope is important for smooth tracking. You can balance the mount in both Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (DEC). The instructions in the manual provide detailed steps for balancing.

Celestron C8 S Instruction manual

Key Features

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Frequently Answers and Questions

How do I align the telescope?

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How do I balance the telescope?