Price range: CHF 530 through CHF 599
The Celestron StarSense AutoAlign is an accessory that fully automates the alignment of your Celestron GoTo telescope. You no longer need to know the reference stars, nor go through a long and tedious alignment procedure: simply install the StarSense camera, start alignment on the racket, and in just a few minutes your telescope is ready to point accurately at thousands of deep-sky objects, planets and bright stars.
The StarSense AutoAlign takes the technology of the SkyProdigy range and makes it available for the majority of Celestron computerized mounts. The StarSense camera replaces the optical finder: it is attached to the telescope using the
brackets supplied. The StarSense racquet replaces the classic NexStar racquet.
After entering the time, date and place of observation, you simply start the alignment procedure. The camera automatically captures a series of images of the sky at different points. For each image, StarSense identifies the stars and compares them with an internal database. Once the matches have been validated, the system calculates the exact position of the mount and builds a model of the sky.
In just a few minutes, the telescope is aligned: all that's left is to use the snowshoe's «Sky Tour» function to discover the most beautiful objects visible at the time, or directly enter the target of your choice.
StarSense AutoAlign does more than simply align two or three stars. It incorporates advanced mount modeling, which significantly improves pointing accuracy over the entire sky,
from horizon to zenith.
For demanding users, up to 10 additional calibration stars can be added. This approach makes it possible to finely correct minor mechanical imperfections and optimize the model, which is particularly useful for placing objects in the camera's field of view when shooting.
StarSense camera field : 6,88° x 5,16°.
| Sensor | Aptina MT9M034 1.2-megapixel CMOS |
| Resolution | 1280 x 960 pixels |
| Pixel size | 3.75 µm x 3.75 µm |
| Objective | 20 mm diameter doublet |
| Lens focal length | 40 mm |
| Aperture / Relative focal length | f/2 |
| Control board | 32-bit processor with embedded Linux operating system |
| USB port | USB 2.0 |
| Auxiliary port | Direct connection to compatible Celestron mounts |
| Database | 45,178 celestial objects |
| Screen | 4-line LCD display with red backlighting |
| Processor | STMicro ARM 32-bit Cortex™-M3 |
| Updates | Fully updatable software and firmware |
| RS-232 port | PC connection for updates |
Any mount with firmware version 5.x or higher is compatible with StarSense AutoAlign.
The StarSense AutoAlign is designed for people new to GoTo telescopes, as well as for experienced amateurs who want to save time and improve the precision of their mount. For beginners, it simplifies access to the sky: alignment becomes almost immediate and observation much more intuitive. For users accustomed to long sessions, it offers a highly precise pointing model, ideal for comfortable observing and shooting.
If you own a compatible Celestron mount and want to turn the installation and alignment of your telescope into a quick and reliable operation, the StarSense AutoAlign is an excellent investment to make the most of your nights under the stars.
