Quick Set-up Guide for Celestron NexStar 130SLT Telescope

Quick Set-up Guide

This guide provides the essential steps to assemble and configure your Celestron NexStar 130SLT telescope. Before beginning, ensure you have all included components: optical tube, fork arm, pre-assembled tripod, computerized hand control, hand control holder, two eyepieces, finderscope, and accessory tray.

Assembly Instructions

Tripod and Accessory Tray

1. Spread the tripod legs until the center leg brace is fully extended.
2. Extend the tripod legs to the desired length by loosening the locking knobs, pulling the legs, and re-tightening the knobs. Ensure all three legs are the same length for a level platform.
3. Place the accessory tray on top of the center leg brace, aligning the grooves on the tray with the post on the brace. Turn the tray until it snaps into the clips on each leg brace.

Mounting the Telescope

1. Hold the telescope fork arm and place the bottom of the base inside the tripod mounting platform.
2. Thread the coupling screw into the hole at the bottom of the fork arm base and tighten it to secure the arm.
3. Slide the optical tube dovetail into the fork arm. Secure the tube by tightening the screw located on the inside of the fork arm assembly.

Finderscope and Eyepiece

1. To attach the finderscope, loosen the silver screw on the mounting platform, slide the finderscope in, and tighten the screw. The glass window should face the front of the telescope.
2. Select the low power (25mm) eyepiece, insert it into the focuser, and tighten the silver screw to secure it.

Power and Hand Control

1. Attach the plastic hand control holder to the tripod leg.
2. Slide the Computerized Hand Control into the holder.
3. Plug the hand control cable into the "Hand Control" port on the fork arm.
4. Install 8 AA batteries into the battery compartment located at the base of the fork arm.
5. Remove the tube lens cap before viewing.

Hand Control Setup and Alignment

Finderscope Alignment

1. Turn the power switch on the side of the fork arm to "on".
2. Use the directional arrow buttons on the hand control to point the telescope at a distant land object (e.g., a telephone pole). Center and focus the object in the 25mm eyepiece.
3. Turn on the finderscope red LED light.
4. Use the azimuth (right/left) and altitude (up/down) adjustment knobs on the finderscope to place the red dot directly over the object centered in the eyepiece.
5. Turn off the finderscope LED to conserve battery.

SkyAlign Procedure

1. When the hand control displays "NexStar SLT", press ENTER to begin alignment.
2. Use the UP and DOWN scroll buttons to select "SkyAlign" and press ENTER.
3. Enter your site and time information using the numeric keypad. Press ENTER to continue or UNDO to backspace.
4. Select "City Database" and use the scroll buttons to choose the closest city.
5. Use the directional arrow keys to slew the telescope towards any bright celestial object. Center it in the finderscope and press ENTER.
6. Once centered in the eyepiece, press ALIGN. Repeat this process for three bright objects.
7. When the display reads "Match Confirmed", the telescope is aligned.

Using the Telescope

Once aligned, press the TOUR button to see a list of visible objects. Use the INFO button to read details about a selected object. To change the motor speed, press the RATE button and select a number from 1 (slowest) to 9 (fastest). Note that the directional arrows on the hand control are for moving the telescope only and cannot be used to scroll through menu features.