Accessories for Your NexStar
Most of Celestron's computerized telescopes come with the bare necessity
to get started - one or two eyepieces and some method of powering the scope.
One of
the most common questions I answer is "what accessories do I need for my new
scope." How common is it? I devoted an entire chapter to
accessories in my books, but
following is a very brief list of suggestions. My best advice is to
take your time and only buy things that you seem to feel are lacking when
you are actually out under the stars. If possible, join an astronomy
club. Perhaps one of the members has the item you are considering and will
allow you to try it out before you buy. If this isn't possible, do some
research. Many of the items below are completely optional depending upon
your budget and intended use.
- A
good power source - this one is actually a necessity. Several
models have the option of using AA batteries in an internal compartment, but
AA batteries are expensive (the mount won't run reliably on NiMH or NiCads)
and don't last long. The Evolution mount has a state-of-the-art
internal lithium ion battery which lasts for many hours between charges so
for that mount, you are all set straight out of the box. For all
others, read
this article.
- For
the Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT) and Maksutov models (the ones with the large
"lens" right at the front of the scope), you will need a dew shield
and in some areas, a dew heater strip. A dew shield can be made
with a foam sheet cut to size and glued into a correctly-sized tube using a hot glue gun.
Then use a long Velcro strap or a luggage strap to hold it tight to the
front of the scope. Alternately, astronomy dealers have both rigid and
folding dew shields available. Dew heater strips require additional
power and typically use a control box to vary the amount of heat.
Research carefully to get a model that meets your needs.
-
Additional eyepieces - the most common request for suggestions.
Eyepieces are definitely a matter of personal preference - everyone has an
opinion of the "best" eyepiece. And budget availability will
definitely come into play - there are literally hundreds of models available
ranging in price from around $20 (generally not recommended) up into the
several hundreds of dollars. A large section of the Accessories
chapter in my book is spent explaining the types and characteristics of
eyepieces so it isn't possible to provide enough detail in this short
article. I do suggest you "try before you buy" if at all possible
(local astro club, at a public star party). Note that what works well
in one type of scope (a short refractor for example), might not provide
pleasing views in another (SCT for example). Final bit of advice, go slow
- almost every amateur astronomer spends a substantial amount of money on
eyepieces that they end up rarely, if ever, using.
-
Replacement diagonals are the next most common accessory question I get.
The 1.25" diagonal shipped with the SCTs and Maksutovs is not the very
highest quality but it is definitely good enough to keep you going for the
first couple of years. I prefer
2" diagonals as several of my eyepieces are 2" barrels but if you go
slow on the eyepieces as I just suggested, you won't need to worry about
upgrading the diagonal until you have a good deal more experience. On
the other hand, the 1.25" diagonal shipped with the refractor models is
fairly low quality. A higher quality mirror or prism diagonal should be
considered after you decide on additional eyepieces.
-
Filters eventually make it on to most people's list, but the only filter
you need to get started is a lunar/Moon filter. The Moon is seriously
bright and this particular filter simply reduces the amount of light
painting the back of your eyeball. Colored filters and light pollution
filters can be useful, but only in larger (5" or more aperture) scopes in
special circumstances.
- A
solar filter is a necessity if you would like to view sunspots, Mercury
transiting the Sun or the partial phase of a solar eclipse through your new
scope. The best solar filters are not all that expensive and are made
from
Baader Astro Solar Film.
-
Another common accessory is a replacement finderscope, but since most
people only use the finderscope during the initial alignment, that money is
often better spent on something else.
-
Personally, I wouldn't be without a
field chair.
- A
folding table to keep things off the ground is a good idea.
- At
some point, you will likely decide you want to connect an external computer
to the scope, either to update the
firmware or control the scope.
Links in those articles will direct you on the cable you need.
-
Another alternative is ditching the hand control and aligning and
controlling your scope with the SkyPortal or SkySafari app on your
smartphone/tablet. This requires either the built-in WiFi of the
Evolution and Astro Fi mounts, or Celestron's optional
SkyPortal WiFi Module (part # 93973). Check the link to ensure
compatibility with your model of scope.
- For
completely automatic alignment, you may want to consider
StarSense AutoAlign. Check the link to ensure compatibility
with your model of scope.
These are
some of the most common accessories but certainly not an exhaustive list.
Remember, spend some time out under the stars before you start buying
additional equipment!
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