Celestron NexGuide

[slippo74]

Hi All,

Long time since my last post here... I've been practicing :)

Like many of you I do use PHD for guiding.
However, I was looking for a standalone auto-guiding device and despite of almost no reviews over internet, I've decided to purchase a Celestron Nexguide and test on my own how these gadgets perform in the field.

The following is a 10 minutes/ISO 800 taken with a Canon 1000D, C9.25 on a CGEM (NextGuide attached to the Orion 80 short tube)
No drift alignment, just the basic 2 stars + 2 calibration. The picture is not perfectly in focus, I was only looking to see how it guides.

99558

What you think? Isn't that bad right?

[Gem]

Two star + two calibration star alignment doesn't mean the scope is polar aligned...
On a CGEM there is a separate polar alignment mode. Was that used as well? The polar alignment mode is to eliminate the need for drift alignment. The two star alignment helps the goto but won't actually polar align the mount (and hence eliminate field rotation). :)

[midnight]

I too have a Celestron NexGuide. It is apparently identical to the SynGuide.

I have used mine with 100% success so far. Beats having a laptop. However, you do need to get used to the monochrome LCD and get your guide star roughly centred and focused before slipping in the guider.

I honestly can not complain about it.

Remember it can't stop field rotation due to your polar alignment not perfect.

I'm happy with mine but I have not tried to stretch its capabilities yet.

Darrin...