How to use Nexstar 114 GT? PLEASE HELP!

Hi:

I just bought the Nexstar 114 GT and wonder how I can use it to view
the Polar Cap on Mars. I tried to use the 10mm eyepiece and can only
see Mars as a white source of light that is about the size of the a
pencil top. Can someone provide me some instructions on how to set it
up? Now I can use it to see the surface of moon; However, the
instruction said I should see Jupiter or even the Saturn ring with
this scope. So I guess seeing the Polar Cap with this sope should
have no problem. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks very much for
your help as this is my first time in life to use a telescope.
Thanks.

Novice

Dai Ba Wong wrote:
Hi:

I just bought the Nexstar 114 GT and wonder how I can use it to view
the Polar Cap on Mars. I tried to use the 10mm eyepiece and can only
see Mars as a white source of light that is about the size of the a
pencil top. Can someone provide me some instructions on how to set it
up? Now I can use it to see the surface of moon; However, the
instruction said I should see Jupiter or even the Saturn ring with
this scope. So I guess seeing the Polar Cap with this sope should
have no problem.

The polar cap is now getting VERY tiny. Seeing the rings of Saturn and
the moons of Jupiter (and bands on Jupiter) should be much easier than
the SPC of Mars.

Phil

Thanks for your help. So do you mean that I need to get an extra 2x
barlow and a smaller eyepiece since it originally comes with the 25 &
10 mm eyepieces only? I went to the Nexstar's support website and
they specified that this scope can only go as far as 270x. Is that
good enough to view Mars? The example image provided in the site
indicated that Mars will be a very small spot that may still be hard
to view the polar cap even with 200x. It's much bigger with 400x but
will this scope reach this limit? Thanks again for your help.

Dean Petters wrote in message ...
On saturday night i was able to see the icecap on mars using a celestron
Firstscope 114 (which i think has the same OTA as the nexstar). As for
it being "no problem", that's probably not accurate. I was using a
7.5mm Ultima eyepiece and a 2x barlow for a magnification of 243x (which
is really pushing it for this scope/mount). focusing the eyepiece at
this magnification was a challenge (focuser isn't that good either).
The scope was completely cooled down and the conditions were excellent.
It took me about 20 minutes to get the focus to a point that was good
enough to see the icecap. even so, at this magnification, the icecap
was just a 'bright spot' on the edge of mars. the size and shape of it
were indeterminate. if i was using a 10mm eyepiece, the magnification
would be only 91x and at that level, i seriously doubt the icecap would
be much more than a very small pinpoint of 'light'.

As for comparing it to jupiter and saturn, even tho mars is at it's
closest to earth, both jupiter and saturn are still larger in diameter
than mars (assuming you include the rings of saturn in the size).
seeing the swirls and spot on jupiter and the rings of saturn are much
easier than the icecap on mars.

hope this helps

Dean

Dai Ba Wong wrote:
Hi:

I just bought the Nexstar 114 GT and wonder how I can use it to view
the Polar Cap on Mars. I tried to use the 10mm eyepiece and can only
see Mars as a white source of light that is about the size of the a
pencil top. Can someone provide me some instructions on how to set it
up? Now I can use it to see the surface of moon; However, the
instruction said I should see Jupiter or even the Saturn ring with
this scope. So I guess seeing the Polar Cap with this sope should
have no problem. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks very much for
your help as this is my first time in life to use a telescope.
Thanks.

Novice

I went to the sites and they indicated that I need another eyepiece in
order to view Mars. I only have the 10 & 25 mm eyepieces that come
with the scope. So I need to buy extra eyepieces in order to view
Mars? Where can I find such accessories? Also the site indicated
that this scope will only go as far as 270x but it seems we need 400x
in order to view Mars clearly. Can I push this scope to 400x?
Thanks.

(J. Carbone) wrote in message . com...
Apparently, you are not the only person having problems. Celestron
has two separate areas devoted to support for the 114GT:

http://www.celestron.com/support/faq_114gt.htm

http://www.celestron.com/support/setup_114gt.htm

Good luck!




(Dai Ba Wong) wrote in message . com...
Hi:

I just bought the Nexstar 114 GT and wonder how I can use it to view
the Polar Cap on Mars. I tried to use the 10mm eyepiece and can only
see Mars as a white source of light that is about the size of the a
pencil top. Can someone provide me some instructions on how to set it
up? Now I can use it to see the surface of moon; However, the
instruction said I should see Jupiter or even the Saturn ring with
this scope. So I guess seeing the Polar Cap with this sope should
have no problem. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks very much for
your help as this is my first time in life to use a telescope.
Thanks.

Novice

Thanks Phil but I wonder how to locate the Jupiter and Saturn. I can
easily locate Mars next to the Moon but I don't know how to focus on
the Jupiter and Saturn. Can you give me some help.

Also after reading other responses I found that I may need to buy an
accessories set, such as this one from amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...761364-8578552
That means I would spend a total of 260 + tax for the scope as I got
this scope from the Costco deal (as most people did). Is 260 worthy
for the Nexstar 114 along with the accessories kit listed above? Or I
may get a scope with better quality and results among the same price
range? Please advise and thanks for your help.

Phil Wheeler wrote in message ...
Dai Ba Wong wrote:
Hi:

I just bought the Nexstar 114 GT and wonder how I can use it to view
the Polar Cap on Mars. I tried to use the 10mm eyepiece and can only
see Mars as a white source of light that is about the size of the a
pencil top. Can someone provide me some instructions on how to set it
up? Now I can use it to see the surface of moon; However, the
instruction said I should see Jupiter or even the Saturn ring with
this scope. So I guess seeing the Polar Cap with this sope should
have no problem.

The polar cap is now getting VERY tiny. Seeing the rings of Saturn and
the moons of Jupiter (and bands on Jupiter) should be much easier than
the SPC of Mars.

Phil

It's doubtful you could push this scope to 400x. And even if you did,
the quality of the view may not be such that details were visible.

as for accessories, i'd recommend a good 2x barlow. you would be able
to use it on both your eyepieces and not repeat any of the levels of
magnification. 270x is good enough to view the icecap and some surface
details, but it will probably take patience to do so (and good
conditions). now with your 10mm and a barlow, you'd be at 181x. I've
not tried that combination, so i can't really comment on it. I may try
it tonite (seeing as i have a 2x barlow and a 10mm ep).



Dai Ba Wong wrote:
Thanks for your help. So do you mean that I need to get an extra 2x
barlow and a smaller eyepiece since it originally comes with the 25 &
10 mm eyepieces only? I went to the Nexstar's support website and
they specified that this scope can only go as far as 270x. Is that
good enough to view Mars? The example image provided in the site
indicated that Mars will be a very small spot that may still be hard
to view the polar cap even with 200x. It's much bigger with 400x but
will this scope reach this limit? Thanks again for your help.

Saturn rises around midnight (and currently is in Gemini), so by 2 am it
should be visible. Jupiter rises about an hour before sunrise. so it
would be a challenge to see it.

Dai Ba Wong wrote:
Thanks Phil but I wonder how to locate the Jupiter and Saturn. I can
easily locate Mars next to the Moon but I don't know how to focus on
the Jupiter and Saturn. Can you give me some help.

Also after reading other responses I found that I may need to buy an
accessories set, such as this one from amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...761364-8578552
That means I would spend a total of 260 + tax for the scope as I got
this scope from the Costco deal (as most people did). Is 260 worthy
for the Nexstar 114 along with the accessories kit listed above? Or I
may get a scope with better quality and results among the same price
range? Please advise and thanks for your help.

Phil Wheeler wrote in message ...

Dai Ba Wong wrote:

Hi:

I just bought the Nexstar 114 GT and wonder how I can use it to view
the Polar Cap on Mars. I tried to use the 10mm eyepiece and can only
see Mars as a white source of light that is about the size of the a
pencil top. Can someone provide me some instructions on how to set it
up? Now I can use it to see the surface of moon; However, the
instruction said I should see Jupiter or even the Saturn ring with
this scope. So I guess seeing the Polar Cap with this sope should
have no problem.

The polar cap is now getting VERY tiny. Seeing the rings of Saturn and
the moons of Jupiter (and bands on Jupiter) should be much easier than
the SPC of Mars.

Phil

Saturn rises at 1:15am, so try and get it at 3:00am or so. It rises
in the west and is about 3 times dimmer than mars, but is still
evident it's not a star.

Try and find the Pleiades, a truly magnificent Open cluster. More
rewarding than Mars for the 114gt.

BTW, do a google search for cartes du ciel. Great free star chart for
the PC, prints, etc.

Luck


On 11 Sep 2003 13:07:47 -0700, (Dai Ba Wong)
wrote:

Thanks Phil but I wonder how to locate the Jupiter and Saturn. I can
easily locate Mars next to the Moon but I don't know how to focus on
the Jupiter and Saturn. Can you give me some help.

Also after reading other responses I found that I may need to buy an
accessories set, such as this one from amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...761364-8578552
That means I would spend a total of 260 + tax for the scope as I got
this scope from the Costco deal (as most people did). Is 260 worthy
for the Nexstar 114 along with the accessories kit listed above? Or I
may get a scope with better quality and results among the same price
range? Please advise and thanks for your help.

Phil Wheeler wrote in message ...
Dai Ba Wong wrote:
Hi:

I just bought the Nexstar 114 GT and wonder how I can use it to view
the Polar Cap on Mars. I tried to use the 10mm eyepiece and can only
see Mars as a white source of light that is about the size of the a
pencil top. Can someone provide me some instructions on how to set it
up? Now I can use it to see the surface of moon; However, the
instruction said I should see Jupiter or even the Saturn ring with
this scope. So I guess seeing the Polar Cap with this sope should
have no problem.

The polar cap is now getting VERY tiny. Seeing the rings of Saturn and
the moons of Jupiter (and bands on Jupiter) should be much easier than
the SPC of Mars.

Phil

wrote:
Saturn rises at 1:15am, so try and get it at 3:00am or so. It rises
in the west

Hmm .. that I will have to get up early for. I've never seen anything
rise in the West but a rocket launch from Vandenburg.

Phil

I can see the polar cap and other details clearly at 80x with my N11.
Since the cap is relatively large it should be well within the resolving
power of the 114. At 140x, they are much more evident, but with Mars low in
the sky, I wouldn't push the mag much higher than 200x here on the front
range. I would imagine, it's either the tripod vibration or vibration from
focusing that's making it difficult unless the scope is out of collimation
....

"Dean Petters" wrote in message
...
On saturday night i was able to see the icecap on mars using a celestron
Firstscope 114 (which i think has the same OTA as the nexstar). As for
it being "no problem", that's probably not accurate. I was using a
7.5mm Ultima eyepiece and a 2x barlow for a magnification of 243x (which
is really pushing it for this scope/mount). focusing the eyepiece at
this magnification was a challenge (focuser isn't that good either).
The scope was completely cooled down and the conditions were excellent.
It took me about 20 minutes to get the focus to a point that was good
enough to see the icecap. even so, at this magnification, the icecap
was just a 'bright spot' on the edge of mars. the size and shape of it
were indeterminate. if i was using a 10mm eyepiece, the magnification
would be only 91x and at that level, i seriously doubt the icecap would
be much more than a very small pinpoint of 'light'.

As for comparing it to jupiter and saturn, even tho mars is at it's
closest to earth, both jupiter and saturn are still larger in diameter
than mars (assuming you include the rings of saturn in the size).
seeing the swirls and spot on jupiter and the rings of saturn are much
easier than the icecap on mars.

hope this helps

Dean

Dai Ba Wong wrote:
Hi:

I just bought the Nexstar 114 GT and wonder how I can use it to view
the Polar Cap on Mars. I tried to use the 10mm eyepiece and can only
see Mars as a white source of light that is about the size of the a
pencil top. Can someone provide me some instructions on how to set it
up? Now I can use it to see the surface of moon; However, the
instruction said I should see Jupiter or even the Saturn ring with
this scope. So I guess seeing the Polar Cap with this sope should
have no problem. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks very much for
your help as this is my first time in life to use a telescope.
Thanks.

Novice