New Celestron Telescopes

[coldknights]

Celestron have 2 new mounts out a 6" and 8" !

http://www.celestron.com/browse-shop/astronomy/telescopes/nexstar-evolution-6

They have a free IOS and Android app you download for free
Called "SkyPortal"

[ZeroID]

Can't find SkyPortal.. searched, '0' results.

[AG Hybrid]

If I could get my hands on just the mount with a Vixen dovetail head... I would be so happy.

[mithrandir]

"SkyPortal" is just a custom version of SkySafari. I can see it on the iTunes store. Rather than add another app I'd wait for the update to SkySafari to support the scopes.

[julianh72]

SkyPortal for Android is here.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.celestron.skyportal&hl=en-GB
It's available for iOS too, but I don't have the link.

It's a free version of SkySafari 4 (basic) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simulationcurriculum .skysafari4&hl=en-GB , with the interface for the Celestron NexStar Evolution mount added in. I assume Celestron have done a deal with the developers of SkySafari as the best way to get a decent control app developed and distributed widely.

The next version of SkySafari 4 Plus https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simulationcurriculum .skysafari4plus&hl=en-GB should have the NexStar Evolution interface added anyway, but if you bought a NexStar Evolution mount now, you would want the SkyPortal app to drive it until SkySafari 4 Plus gets the update.

[Amaranthus]

The next patch (or so) of SkySafari will support the SkyQ Link wi-fi adaptor, which is great (I have this for my 8SE mount, but it has never really been much use as the Celestron app that supported it was sh!te).

[Steffen]

It's there, and it looks like a licensed version of Sky Safari (much like the Orion branded one). They appear to have added 2- and 3-star alignment to the app.

The big news is that it's free. I'm going to test it tonight, first to see whether it is a free replacement for Sky Safari and works without the scope, and second, whether it talks to my SkyFi to control my SkyWatcher mount.



I hear you brother, it looks like it would make a nice accessory for my 6" Mak.

Cheers
Steffen.

[Camelopardalis]

If you look at the Evolution scopes, the tripod on the 9.25" version is more heavy duty (like the CPC tripod?). It'd be interesting to see how the mount interfaces with the tripod...be a lovely grab and go combo for an 8" Edge HD :D

[Steffen]

So, the free SkyPortal app is indeed a cut down version of Sky Safari. The splash screen says "Powered by Sky Safari 4". I've said cut down, but it could in fact be a adaptation of Sky Safari (basic), I'm only familiar with Sky Safari Pro.

Besides a smallish object database it is missing a few features, display options such as RA/Dec or Alt-Az grid on the sky map, or the hot corner access to field-of-view and mag limit settings.

The app contains most of the object info and accompanying textual descriptions found in Sky Safari, and adds Celestron exclusive audio commentary (probably taken from some of their earlier gadgets).

The telescope control feature exclusively supports NexStar Evolution mounts, and there the app adds a few features over stock Sky Safari (even Pro). The app can perform a number of operations usually found in hand controllers, such as star alignment, tracking rate, slew rate, backlash compensation, power management etc.

I couldn't get it to talk to my SkyFi connected to the HEQ5Pro, but there might be a simple solution to this, like guessing the correct ad hoc network name.

In summary, the app could be useful even for people who don't own NexStar Evolution mounts and just need a basic planetarium app for their iPad. It could also serve as a free preview of the Sky Safari look and feel.

It definitely seems that the era of wired hand controllers for controlling telescope mounts is making way to an all wireless, tablet or smart phone based age.

Cheers
Steffen.

[Amaranthus]

Steffen, a lot of those features you mention (backlash control, ability to drive Skyalign, audio commentary on a bunch of objects, etc.) were available in Celestron's SkyQ app, which was OK but far too limited. So it looks like they ported over the best features of their old app, and then underpinned it by SS Basic. A good compromise, though obviously I'd not use this given that I have SS Pro.

[ZeroID]

Cool, thanks, I have a look at it tonnight.
Maybe...
Sky is looking brilliantly clear so will try to get some imaging time, rare these days with current weather patterns.

[BlackNebula]

Hi Barry,
Does SS4 Plus not support the SkyQ Link Wi-Fi adapter on the 8SE? In the app description it mentions that it adds wireless control for Celestron.
I agree that the Celestron SkyQ app is not very useful, makes it more difficult just to align the scope! Rather just use the hand controller!

[Amaranthus]

SS4 does not support SkyQ Link yet, but Bill Tschumy from Southern Stars has said that it should be operational in the next patch. In fact the code is already there - the current version has the option to link to SkyQ, but it is just not operational. It is definitely going to happen -- and maybe within a month or so.

Driving the 8SE mount with SS4 Pro is a dream. It doesn't force you to do a Skyalign, it simply accepts the alignment already recorded by the mount. You are also able to calibrate SS4 by using an align button which is equivalent to the handset 'local sync'. Neat. I currently do it via Skywire, but will use SkyQ Link once this is operation, to free up my iPad from wires...

[Logieberra]

Here's a first, in commercially made portable mounts:

"Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with enough power for 10 hours of continuous observing".About time.

[coldknights]

I use a 6800 Mah lithium ion battery from our Dynamic perception stage zero dolly setup
So I take that battery from it and put it on our Grab and go ...GoTo Celestron Nexstar 80GT and works all night till dawn and still has plenty of life still left in it !!!
the battery is over 2 years old and came with a charger for $25 good value from EvilBay.

[Nikolas]

I boycott Celestron for their unfair pricing arrangements in
Australia.

[BlackNebula]

Thanks Barry,
Will keep my eyes open for the latest version.
SS Pro Looks and sounds pretty damn cool!
Can you align using the hand controller and then use the SS Pro to tour the sky?

[Steffen]

That's how I use it :)

Cheers
Steffen.

[ZeroID]

Downloaded, looks good but haven't had a chance to explore yet.

[ZeroID]

OK, well, it's limited in stars being the 'lite' version obviously but I now see why people like it. Lot of information and it runs very smoothly on my Samsung T3. May have to consider buying the full version a sit certainly matches and betters Stellarium in many areas.
All stars\objects are labelled in the HD designations, no NGC although it will search for them under that name. Is this a limitation of the lite version ?
I love the Mauna Kea horizon option ... surrounded by big Obs...

[julianh72]

If you check out the SkySafari 4 app, there are three versions for Android (and also iOS I believe): Basic, Plus and Pro. I think Celestron SkyPortal is essentially SkySafari 4 basic, with the addition of the Celestron NexStar Evolution controller module.

SkySafari 4 doesn't have an NGC catalogue as a dedicated search list, but there are thousands of NGC objects in its database. If you search for "104" for example, it will return a list of several objects which have "104" in their designations, including Messier 104, NGC 104, Caldwelll, 104, etc. If you search for "ngc104" or NGC 104", it takes you straight to the listing for 47 Tucanae as the only match.

The basic version of SkySafari 4 shows you 119,000 stars, plus 220 of the best-known star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies in the sky. It displays the Solar System's major planets and moons using NASA spacecraft imagery, and includes the best-known 500 (or so) asteroids, comets, and satellites. It accurately shows you the sky from anywhere on Earth, at any time up to 100 years in the past or future, and lets you identify stars, planets, and constellations with your iDevice's GPS, compass and/or gyroscope.

SkySafari 4 Plus adds a hugely expanded database, wired or wireless telescope control, and the ability to leave Earth and fly into orbit around any Solar System object or nearby star - to our basic version. It shows you 2.6 million stars, and 31,000 deep sky objects - including the entire NGC/IC catalog. It includes nearly 18,000 asteroids, comets, and satellites with updateable orbits. And it can point your GoTo or "Push-To" telescope anywhere in the sky, using your Android's built-in Wi-Fi or bluetooth, and our SkyFi or a bluetooth serial adapter.
[Note: doesn't work with the NexStar Evolution yet, but expected in an upcoming update.]

The all-new SkySafari 4 Pro has the largest database of any astronomy app, period. It contains everything in SkySafari 4 Plus - but also includes over 27 million stars from the Hubble Guide Star catalog generation 1 and 2, plus 740,000 galaxies down to 18th magnitude, over 620,000 solar system objects - including every comet and asteroid ever discovered - and a Moon map based on NASA's latest LRO data with 8x the resolution of any other SkySafari version. It shows you the sky with sub-arcsecond precision from anywhere on Earth, in the Solar System, or beyond, at any time up to one million years in the past or future - yet it runs just as fast and smoothly as our $3 basic version.
[Note: doesn't work with the NexStar Evolution yet, but expected in an upcoming update.]

http://skysafariastronomy.com/products/skysafari_android/index.html