MENU – SCOPE SETUP – GOTO APPROACH lets you choose the direction the scope will use when approaching an object during the final part of slewing. The best way to use it is to minimize backlash.&nb]]> While polar alignment can be difficult, the CGE has a number of features to make it easier and accurate. 

Most likely it is caused by meridian flip. Here's the explanation.

The hand control is programmed to prevent the scope from running into the mount ]]> Collimation of a SCT is critical to getting the sharpest images possible, especially when viewing planets at high magnification.  There are three stages to a really goo]]> You are probably looking at an object or objects near the meridian. Because of the way the CGE German equatorial mount is designed, motions near the meridian are different than for other parts of the sky. Th]]> While this could be several things, most likely it’s your cables. Be sure the RA and DEC cable connections are not reversed!]]> It could be an encoder problem. The encoder is a light-emitting diode (LED) device that measures how much the motor has turned. Try this general test of the encoders:

It could be the cable or it could be the encoder for the DEC motor. 

Go to SCOPE SETUP-MOUNT SETTINGS to find out. CONE VALUE gives the cone error found once calibration stars were added to the alignment. It should be less than ½-degree. You may need to shim between th]]> Periodic error correction (UTILITIES-PEC) counteracts worm gear errors to prevent trailing and improve photographs. As the worm turns, irregularities in its s]]> Time zones that are fractional ½ hour aren’t in the current firmware. These include most of India, as well as all ]]> No. The payload weight does not include the counterweights.

The payload weight is defined by Celestron’s engineering department ]]> All of these mounts do indeed support PEC and Celestron’s PECTool.

The reason you see this error message is because you are usin]]> All-Star polar alignment (All-Star) allows users to choose any bright star for polar alignment, freeing you from always having to use Polaris for this purpose. 

You need to review and adjust the button direction logic in your hand control menu.

The directions are made user-adjustable so you can match the direction the star moves in the eyepiece with the ]]> Please go to this web page on the ASCOM Initiatives website:

Once you have your solar filter over the front of your scope, you can safely point it at the sun. However, as a safety feature, the sun does not appear in the hand control unless you enable it.

Go]]> The drivers and software used with most Celestron products are (as of Fall 2009) not compatible with Mac operating systems.

Though Celestron provides no support for these work]]> If you have NexRemote, HCupdate, MCupdate,PECTool compatibility issues, simply download the latest versions from Celestron’s Manuals/Drivers page. ]]> A computer crash or communications break between your PC and the hand control during an MC update may result in either “Initializing”, blank screen, “No Response 16” or “No Resp]]> Yes you can!

Tandem support (the ability to turn the Dec axis 90 degrees and mount mu]]> Issue a command to move your mount from your autoguider program or autoguider hand control (not to be confused with the scope’s NexStar hand control).

The movement is very small, so you ne]]> There are no official settings to use with Celestron mounts that support autoguiders (these scopes have ports that will directly interface with any of the SBIG (Santa Barbara Instrument Group) type autoguide]]> The payload weight is defined by Celestron’s engineering/product development department as the load that is carried by the mount’s dovetail clamp.

These are the payloa]]> No. Only stars brighther than or equal to magnitude 2.5 (bright stars) can be used for alignments with Celestron’s NexStar computerized mounts.

Even though there are about 250]]> PEC data is stored on the motor boards in the GPS, CPC, CPC Deluxe, CGE, CGEM, CGEM DX and CGE Pro mounts in order to improve their drive accuracy. Using functions in the ha]]> First, find the AUX  port to plug it in on your mount.

For the Advanced GT using the CN-16,]]> For Celestron’s German equatorial GOTO mounts, this feature is found in the menu under UTILITIES.

There are two functions in the CALIBRATE MOUNT submenu. Depend]]> The most common dovetail bar size in the telescope market is the Vixen-style bar, which is 1-3/4” wide. This is the size used with the dovetail clamp on the Advanced GT (CG-5) mount. It is also used with the LCM, SLT, SE ]]> Interrupt the mount’s GOTO slew by pressing any arrow key. The mount will halt the GOTO in progress.

Since this is a regular h]]> TPoint and similar programs that model mount performance for pointing accuracy need the mount to start from the same position for each session.

Home position for eithe]]> The differences are not really important.

Here is the diagram for the NexGuide pinout requirements:
The dovetail bar (sometimes called a rail) is one of the great ideas in small telescope design. With the clamp on the mount and a bar on the tube, telescopes (OTAs) and mounts ca]]> Here is a quick summary of All-Star polar alignment. It is basically the same for all the mounts. Some details differ: for example, the CGE and CGE Pro will not have index marks ]]> Yes you can.

Such programs connect to the mount via ASCOM (AStronomy Common Object Model). ASCOM provides a standard interface for a range of astronomy equipment inclu]]> This mount uses the CR2032 3-volt lithium battery for the RTC.