Features

Overview: The NexStar 6SE, one of Celestron's signature "orange tube" telescopes, has a Schmidt-Cassegrain optical system, and comes with a built-in motor drive and a removable hand controller. It can be used for both terrestrial and celestial viewing. The 6SE comes with a sturdy pre-assembled steel tripod.

Schmidt-Cassergrain: The Schmidt-Cassergrain optical system uses a combination of mirrors and lenses, and is referred to as a compound or catadioptric telescope. This system uses large-diameter optics while maintaining very short tube lengths, which makes the telescope very portable. The Schmidt-Cassergrain design consists of a zero-power corrector plate, a spherical primary mirror, and a secondary mirror, requiring light rays to travel the length of the optical tube a total of three times.

StarPointer Finderscope: The telescope comes with a StarPointer red-dot finderscope which helps you to aim the telescope at a distant target. The finderscope must first be aligned with the telescope before use. This is done in the daytime by pointing the telescope at an object at least a quarter mile away, centering the object in the eyepiece, and aligning the finderscope's red-dot LED to the distant object. The StarPointer is powered by a CR2032 Lithium (coin-type) battery (supplied).

Hand Control: The NexStar 6SE comes with a removable, 19-button hand controller. It attaches to the telescope's fork arm via a coiled cord. The hand control has a backlit LCD window with a dual-line, 16-character display screen, direction keys, and catalog keys to help you search through the nearly 40,000-object database. The telescope comes with a 6.5' RS232 cable and NexRemote software that allow you to interface with a computer and control the telescope remotely.

Sky Align: During setup, Celestron's Sky Align technology can quickly and simply align the telescope. By pointing the telescope at three bright objects in the sky, and entering date, time, and your location on the hand control, the telescope automatically and accurately aligns itself. In addition to Sky Align, other alignment procedures include Auto Two-Star Align, Two-Star Align, One-Star Align (for locating large bright objects only), and Solar System Align. Using an optional equatorial wedge, you can also perform an EQ (equatorial) Auto Align, EQ Two-star Align, EQ One-star Align and an EQ Solar System Align.

Motor Drive: The NexStar 6SE is equipped with a fully automated GoTo mount with a database of nearly 40,000 celestial objects. This allows you automatically locate the object you desire via the built-in motor drive. Once you have the object in the eyepiece, the motor drive will also help track the object as it moves across the sky. When the drive is properly set, the object you are viewing should be centered in the eyepiece for long periods of time.

Eyepiece/Star Diagonal: The NexStar 6SE features a 25mm Plössl eyepiece, which gives the telescope a magnification of 60x. Plössl eyepieces have a 4-element lens, designed for low-to-high power observing. You can change the power of the telescope just by changing the eyepiece (ocular). The 6SE also includes a Star Diagonal, which diverts the light at a right angle from the light path of the telescope. It allows you to observe in more comfortable positions than if you were to look straight through.

Power Requirements: The NexStar 6SE can be powered by eight "AA" batteries (not included), which are stored in the telescope's base. In addition, you can operate the telescope using the optional PowerTank 12-volt power supply, or your vehicle's battery using the optional Car Battery Adapter (#18769).

Accessory Tray: The telescope comes with an accessory tray which provides a place to put extra eyepieces or other items while you're using the telescope.

Included Software: Included with the telescope is "TheSkyX -- First Light Edition" astronomy software on CD-ROM. The disc contains a 10,000 object database with printable sky maps and 75 enhanced images.

Specifications:

• Optical Design: Schmidt-Cassegrain
• Aperture: 150mm (5.91")
• Focal Length: 1500mm (59")
• Focal Ratio: f/10
• Eyepiece Focal Length: 25mm
• Eyepiece Magnification: 60x
• Highest Useful Magnification: 354x
• Lowest Useful Magnification: 21x
• Optical Tube Length: 16"
• Light Gathering Power: 459x (compared to human eye)
• Weight (with tripod): 21 pounds
• Overall Dimensions:
  • Length: 17-1/2" (including Star Diagonal)
  • Maximum Height (on tripod): 59-1/2" (including eyepiece)
  • Minimum Height (on tripod): 41-7/8" (including eyepiece)
  • Height (on base): 17" (including eyepiece)