Anyone own a Celestron 11'' schmidt cassegrain?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter EIRE2003
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the alignment process for a Celestron 11'' Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, specifically using the auto three-star alignment method. Participants are sharing their experiences and troubleshooting steps related to the alignment procedure, including issues with star positioning and mount setup.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their alignment setup, including the positioning of the counterweight bar and the optical tube aimed at Polaris.
  • Another participant questions the understanding of the counterweight bar's orientation and suggests that the home position should have the counterweight shaft pointing down and the scope pointing north.
  • A suggestion is made to verify the time zone and longitude settings as potential sources of error.
  • One participant raises the possibility of confusion between Betelgeuse and Procyon regarding their positions in the sky.
  • A participant confirms the identification of Betelgeuse and shares an image of their initial alignment setup, indicating that the optical tube points to the west on the horizon.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants are discussing various aspects of the alignment process, but there is no consensus on the specific cause of the alignment issue. Multiple viewpoints and suggestions are presented without a clear resolution.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the exact alignment setup and potential misinterpretations of star positions. The discussion reflects varying levels of understanding about the telescope's mount and alignment process.

EIRE2003
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Hi there,

I am using a celestron C11. But I really need some help with aligning it up through auto 3 star align.

The counter weight bar pointing approximately due north with the index marks aligned and locked.

I aligned the eyepiece with the finderscope on polaris.

I set the exact time and date, longitude and latitude for Dublin where I live.

I then selected auto three star alignment method.

I selected betelgeuse as my first alignment star, and that star was in the south east but when i clicked enter on it the telescope slewed down towards the western horizon.

What am I doing wrong??
 
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As a matter of fact, I do... :biggrin:
www.russsscope.net

However, I'm guessing yours is mounted on a Celestron CG-5 mount? Mine is on an Orion mount. But, maybe I can help...

I don't understand what you mean by this:
The counter weight bar pointing approximately due north with the index marks aligned and locked.
Since the counterweight shaft is the dec axis, it is always perpendicular to the polar axis. The hole through the center of the mount (if you don't have a polar alignment scope in it) should point at Polaris. Usually, the home position has the counerweight shaft pointed down and the scope pointed north (like the picture on the front of the manual).

Other things to check:
-Time Zone
-E vs W longitude
 
Last edited:
Yes its on a CG-5 mount.
I mean the counter weight bar is pointing down and the optical tube is pointing at polaris. And the index marks (the two pairs of triangles are aligned with each other).
 
Another possibility - Beetlegeuse is due south at sunset right now. Please don't be insulted, but you aren't mixing it up with Procyon, are you (which is in the southeast)?

The telescope and counterweights should be turning roughly parallel to the ground with the scope rotating something like 140 degrees around the dec axis. Is it actually pointed down at the ground or just lower and further south than you think it should?
 
No betelgeuse is the red supergiant star situated diagonally to rigel. And it was in the south when was I trying to align it.

The image I have attached indicates how the scope is aligned initially when pointing at polaris in the north. Is that right?
The tube points to the west on the horizon.
 

Attachments

  • C11ADM.jpg
    C11ADM.jpg
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