CELESTRON NexStar Evolution 9.25 Edge HD with Star Sense Auto Align User Guide

: June 6, 2024
: Celestron

Table of Contents

System Requirements
Overview
Parts List
How to Use this Quick Setup Guide
Optical Tube Assembly
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

CELESTRON NexStar Evolution 9.25 Edge HD with Star Sense Auto Align User Guide

System Requirements

AC outlet to charge the telescope with the supplied AC power adapter, works on US, UK, EU, and AU format AC outlets.
An Apple iOS device with iOS 7.0 and later or an Android device with Android 4.0 if used without the included StarSense hand control.
Free download of Celestron SkyPortal app from the App Store or Google Play if used without the included NexStar+ hand control.

Solar 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. Make sure an adult who is familiar with the correct operating procedures is with your telescope at all times, especially when children are present.

Overview

Product Overview

Optical Tube Assembly
Altitude Clutch Knob
Azimuth Clutch Knob
Fork Arm Mount
Tripod
Accessory Tray
Tripod Leg Height Adjustment Knobs
StarSense Camera
StarPointer Pro
Primary Mirror Clutch Knobs
Eyepiece
Diagonal
Visual Back
Focus Knob

Parts List

TELESCOPE

EdgeHD 9.25” Optical Tube Assembly
1.25” Prism Star Diagonal
25mm Plössl Eyepiece
2x Omni Barlow Lens
Star Pointer Pro Illuminated Reflex Finder
Visual Back
Moon Filter

MOUNT AND TRIPOD

NexStar Evolution Fork Arm Assembly
Tripod Assembly
Accessory Tray
AC to 12 Volt DC adapter with US, UK, EU, and AU format plugs

STARSENSE AUTOALIGN

StarSense Camera
StarSense Hand control
Coiled Cable (Connects camera to AUX port on mount)
2 Nylon Tipped Thumbscrews
4mm Allen Wrench

How to Use this Quick Setup Guide

Refer to this guide to get your telescope setup and aligned with StarSense and the SkyPortal app using your smart device. Here you will also find useful information about the EdgeHD optical tube assembly and different options for astrophotography. From there, refer to the full NexStar Evolution and StarSense manuals included with your telescope for more advanced settings options, including usage of the StarSense hand control.

Note that the NexStar Evolution manual refers to Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tubes and the NexStar+ hand control which are not part of your telescope. The key differences in your telescope are the 9.25” EdgeHD optical tube, StarSense AutoAlign camera, and StarSense hand control.

Quick Setup

Download the SkyPortal App, available on the App Store and Google Play.

SkyPortal iOS

celestron.com/SkyPortalApple

SkyPortal Android

celestron.com/SkyPortalGooglePlay

App Icon

Setup the Tripod

Spread the tripod legs and stand the tripod upright.
Remove the Tripod Support Nut and Washer from the central column attached to the top of the tripod.
Place the accessory tray over the central column so that each of the three arms of the tray is supporting a tripod leg.
Thread the nut and washer back onto the threaded column and firmly tighten into place. The accessory tray should not be able to move against the tripod.
Adjust the height of the tripod by loosening the lock knobs on the end of each tripod leg. Then adjust the leg height as needed and retighten the lock knobs, one leg at a time. Make sure the tripod is level.

Attach the Mount to the Tripod

Position the fork arm mount over the center post on the tripod head. Do not let go of the mount until it has registered with the center post. The mount should not wobble.
With the mount resting on the tripod head, rotate the mount until the three mounting sockets align. The sockets will click into place, indicating they are aligned.
Thread the three captive mounting bolts from underneath the tripod head into the bottom of the telescope base.

Attach the Telescope to the Mount

Loosen the orange altitude clutch lock knob and rotate the altitude axis until the quick release knob faces downward.
Tighten the altitude clutch lock knob.
Loosen the quick release knob a couple of turns to allow room for the dovetail on the telescope optical tube.
Slide the telescope optical tube into the quick release slot from the back side of the telescope. The fork arm should be on the left side of the optical tube. For correct balance, position the telescope so that you can read the “Evolution” nameplate. If you choose to add different accessories to your telescope, you can rebalance it later.

Attach StarSense to the Telescope

Partially thread the two nylon-tipped thumbscrews (included in the StarSense box) onto your StarSense camera bracket.
Slide the StarSense camera onto the mounting bracket on the telescope. Lock both thumbscrews.
Plug the supplied coiled cable into the StarSense camera and one of the 4 aux ports located on the fork.

Insert the Star Diagonal and Eyepiece

Insert the Star Diagonal into the 1.25” visual back of your telescope and tighten the thumbscrews.
Insert the 25mm Plössl eyepiece into the Star Diagonal.

Attach and Align the StarPointer Pro to the Telescope

Slide the StarPointer Pro over the dovetail base on your telescope and tighten the two silver thumbscrews to lock it in place.
Loosen the two orange ring clutch knobs and manually point the telescope to a distant object (1000 yards or more) during the day (NEVER point directly at the Sun!). You can use a bright celestial object like the Moon, but it’s easier initially to pick a stationary ground target.
Using the 25mm eyepiece, focus the telescope on the object by turning the focus knob. Ensure the object is centered.
Turn the StarPointer Pro on to full brightness to view the bullseye. Center the bullseye over your target using the up/down and left/right adjustment knobs.

Note: Remember to turn the StarPointer Pro off after each usage to preserve battery life.

Your telescope is setup and ready to align! Here’s how to quickly align your telescope for the first time.

Power the scope on and connect to its WiFi network from your phone or tablet. The WiFi network name will begin with “Celestron-XX”.

Your NexStar Evolution generates its own WiFi network, you do not have to be connected to anything else to use the telescope.
Open SkyPortal, tap the scope icon, and tap “Connect and Align”. Follow the on-screen prompts and StarSense will automatically align your telescope.
StarSense is aligned, but there’s just one first-timeonly step before you’re ready to go: Calibrate the camera to the telescope.
After the StarSense alignment is complete, select a bright star in SkyPortal by tapping it on the screen, then tap “GoTo”. If the star is not in the eyepiece’s field of view, start by centering it in the StarPointer, then center it in the eyepiece.
With the star centered in the eyepiece, tap Align, then tap Calibrate. Once the camera is calibrated, follow the prompts to start a new StarSense Auto alignment. You only need to do this the first time you are using StarSense with the telescope in SkyPortal.

Installing & Using The Barlow Lens

Your telescope also comes with a 2x Barlow lens which doubles the magnifying power of each eyepiece. To use the Barlow lens, insert the Barlow between the diagonal and the eyepiece.

Note: Start by using a low power eyepiece as it will be easier to focus.

Installing The Moon Filter

To use the moon filter, simply thread the filter to the chrome barrel of the eyepiece.

Aligned and Ready to Observe!

Tap objects on your screen and select GoTo, or search for a specific object in the search field. To start out, you can choose from “Tonight’s Best” list in SkyPortal under the Search menu.

Optical Tube Assembly

Important Information About Your Edge HD 9.25” Optical Tube Assembly

Your EdgeHD is optimized for both visual astronomy and astrophotography, delivering images free of coma or field curvature across a large image circle. Start by using the supplied 1.25” visual back, Star Diagonal, and eyepieces to familiarize yourself with the telescope.

Primary Mirror Clutch Knobs (for Astrophotography Only)

These clutch knobs (shown in overview image) hold the mirror in place to prevent movement during a long exposure astrophoto. Keep these loosened unless you are using a camera for long exposures.

When using a camera, focus the telescope first, then tighten the knobs.

Warning: Do not turn the focus knob with the clutch knobs tightened. Anytime you refocus the telescope, loosen the clutch knobs.

Optimum Camera Distance

The 9.25” EdgeHD was designed to work with your camera at a specific distance from the end of the threads (of the adapter plate shown in the diagram) on the back of the scope to the camera’s sensor.
Camera Distance

If you are using a DSLR, the distance is already set correctly when you use these standard adapters available from Celestron:

T-ring for the make and model of your camera
T-adapter for 9.25” EdgeHD

If you are using an astronomical CCD camera, you must determine the necessary adapter length to the camera body.

The total distance from the end of the adapter plate threads to the camera sensor should be 146mm.

This is the total required backfocus distance. Your camera body to the imaging sensor will take up some of this backfocus distance. Your camera manufacturer will usually specify the camera backfocus distance. For example, if your camera’s backfocus distance is 55mm, then you will need 91mm of spacing to reach 146mm.

Fastar Compatibility and Imaging at f/2

Your EdgeHD 9.25” is equipped with a removable secondary mirror that allows you to convert your f/10 telescope into an f/2 imaging system using an optional lens accessory made by Starizona. This adds versatility to use the telescope at different focal ratios for astrophotography. Imaging at f/2 is favored for wide-angle deep sky imaging with short exposures, well suited to large deep sky objects.

Optional Focal Reducer

A dedicated 0.7x Focal Reducer for the 9.25” EdgeHD is available from Celestron. This focal reducer maintains the flat-field and coma-free imaging performance specifically designed for this telescope.

Collimation

Your telescope is factory aligned and generally should not need collimation unless it is transported roughly. However, you should be aware of the eventual need to collimate your telescope to keep it operating at peak performance.

Using your included 25mm eyepiece (or a higher power eyepiece if you have one), point the telescope at a moderately bright star center it in the eyepiece.
Defocus the star about 1 turn on the focus knob.
Inspect the star pattern. When collimated, the pattern should look like a concentric doughnut. If the pattern is concentric, no adjustment is necessary.
Adjust the telescope collimation if needed by slightly adjusting the 3 Phillips head screws in front of the secondary mirror.
If the star pattern is thin on one side, adjust the collimation so that the star moves towards the thin side, then adjust the position of the telescope to re-center the star. Repeat this until you achieve correct collimation.

A defocused star where the secondary shadow is not concentric to the star pattern indicates the telescope requires collimation.
The telescope is collimated if the defocused star pattern is concentric as shown.
Secondary Mirror Collimation Adjustment Screws.