Using Stellarium with NexRemote to Control your Telescope Mount
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- Опубликовано: 8 мар 2014
- A tutorial on how to use Stellarium with NexRemote to control your Celestron telescope mount. The process is the same for other telescope manufacturers, you will just need to select your specific mount in the same area I show were I set it up for my Celestron.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I hope this helps some of you out there. I personally find it to be the best way to remotely control my scope and effectively navigate the night's sky.
Event Horizon Observatory 
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Hi Backyard Astronomy,
From what I've read on a few forums, the NexRemote software is not compatible with some versions of Windows. However, I managed to troubleshoot this issue. Here are the techniques I used and submitted to Celestron.
*For this I am using a mini-USB to USB cable.*
1. Right-click on the install file.
2. Select Troubleshoot Compatibility.
3. Then select Troubleshoot program.
4. From here check the box next to: The program worked in earlier versions of Windows but won't install or run now.
5. Under Which version of Windows did this program work on before? select Windows 7. Click: Test the Program
Once NexRemote is installed, set the PC Port to None and the Virtual Port to COM1. If you're using Stellarium, make sure you also use COM1 in your telescope settings.
And that's it. Stellarium will now detect your telescope when you run through their setup procedures.
Having said that, I'm having an interesting issue with my Celestron NexStar 8se.
I have to first say that this isn't my first telescope. I once built a 10' F5 reflector. In the case of this scope, I can't seem to see any stars through the eyepiece, however, I can align to distance objects during the day. (i.e a far away tree, etc.).
I am able to run through the Sky Align procedures with only using the finder scope, enter the date/time, city (or custom location coordinates), etc.. however it won't line up properly to any objects. For example, after a "successful" alignment, I try to select the moon, but instead it will point at an opposite point in the sky. When I select the Orion Nebula, it points well to the south of it. (We're talking about 45 degrees off). I'm curious if I'm doing something wrong, or is this a physical issue with the tripod itself?
Thank you for sharing this! I was so depressed because cpwi does not support my nexstar remote but this worked!!!!!
Stellarium is honestly makes observing so much nicer!
Absolutely agree Michael. :)
Very helpful, thanks a lot! Got it working on my second try,.. my issue on the first try was an old version of Nexremote.
Works for me quick and easy instructions
👍
Thanks for showing us how to set this up. Really helpful.
👍
+Perry Pollard Question: do I need to have ASCOM on my computer before connecting stellarium and nexstar?
I don't believe so as I remember it
@@nicklloyd9165 yes you do
How do you do a fake alignment?
How do you set up a "virtual keypad"
question, instead of taking the telescope outside to do a lineup can I use stellarium instead if so how would i do it.
is it possibly too use the same virtual com 2 too PHD guide in same time as Stellarium use it as Goto?
And do Sync/resync work(ctrl3)
I am asking now ie I have gone from eq6 too advance celestron and wonder if I could said Ascom
Thanks for the video, It's great and I'm sure it's helping many other star gazers learn... I'm one of them. I do have a question for you. I downloaded the new version of Stellarium, and after doing some reading, I was able to able to set up my Celestron NexStar 114SLT with it, and I was happy that I was able to get it to slew across the night skys and stop on the star or planet that I chose onscreen. Ok my question is, I see the name of your telescope on your screen. How do I get the name of mine to show as yours does?
Don't need Nexstar Remote , can all be done in Stellarium.
How?
Which driver we need for nexstar SE virtual remote & Do we need to install ASCOM Driver too?
So in nexremote I select com12 for the scope and that connects to the scope fine but if I select anything for the virtual port, nexremote just closes! I should add that my hand controller has a micro USB and not the old D 9 pin connector.
That thing which moves with your telescope on the screen moves but mine doesn't how come?
Are you using the NexStar Plus handset to connect NexRemote through? I was wondering whether my NexStar Plus handset on my CG-5 was compatible / able to be used for connecting via NexRemote?
+LiveSteamMad
Yes...I was using a Celestron CG5 mount in the demo...it works great.
There are two ways to controll EQ mount with your pc
1. eq mount - hand controller - pc
2. eq mount - pc
method 1 needs rj232 cable
method 2 needs eq direct cable
Depend on what I know, there are few differents between them, but I think it's minor things. using eq-direct will be more convenient.(no hand controller)
Thanks
Event Horizon Observatory Will this software track comets as well as other objects not listed in the telescopes database?
Ed,
Yes you can add objects to Stellarium by simply going to the "wrench" emblem on Stellarium and going on the menu to "Plugins" at the top, then "Solar System Editor" on the left hand side, click on "configure" at the bottom. Then "Solar System" at the top and then you can add newer objects at the bottom by importing them in "MPC" format. The next menu you will see will require internet access. Select asteroids or comets and then choose your bookmark put there by Stellarium then select "get orbital elements". You can then search for the object you want and then check mark it and add it into Stellarium. The next time you restart Stellarium they should be visible. I hope this helps you.
This is very nice to point the telescope at an object that moves to "Sidereal" speed. Stellarium can also chase the ISS .. The set of stellarium and NexRemote can follow a fast object like the ISS?
I have tried to get a nextstar SLT to do this and it wont even catch up
Thanks for video. Used it to get my scope working with stellarium. Only problem I am having is I can't get program to save scope setup. I have to re enter scope set up every time I exit program and reload. Is this the same as your setup or am I missing something. Thanks: Mike
+FlyBuy777 Mike, you should be able to save your settings under the "main" tab once you click the wrench icon. You will need to then exit Stellarium and restart it and it it should be saved. There are two buttons, save settings and restore defaults. You want to click save settings. When your in the plugins tab you can also click the option to "load at startup" which will allow it to connect to your scope automatically. Of course you will need to make sure your scope is turned on and aligned prior to opening Stellarium. Hope this helps.
Can I align my telescope using Stellarium? That should be a great method when you have a cloudy night. Thanks for taking me out of the darkness in this matter. I am a new user of a CPC 1100 XLT telescope but I had no idea that you could control your telescope with Stellarium. That´s magic. Thanks for your prompt answer.
Jorge Roldan Hi... No, you have to do your alignment as normal, then connect through stellarium as the video shows to slew to different objects.
ok thanks for your very prompt answer.
question i had to reinstall windows now i can't run stellarium it the popup windows said Insufficient open GL version update drivers or use mesa or angle version does anyone know what to do in this case
+william jamel answers.launchpad.net/stellarium/+question/251880
Marcus
Celestron ships their mounts with a cable that is RS232 on one end(female) and ST4 on the other end(phone cord). Then at Best Buy get a RS 232 to USB adapter for like 17 dollars.
On a side note, my windows 8.1 comp has a conflict if I use nexremote and stellarium at the same time. Really sucks as my remote is so dim on its highest setting I still can't read it and really hoped to use my computers touch screen as my remote. Luckily I have a clear shot at Polaris so I struggle through polar alignment with my dim hand control, park scope at home position, then open stellarium and I'm synced at Polaris. Hope this helps-
Here we go- the celestron RS 232 cable part# is 93920
The adapter # is18775 but can be purchased at any Best Buy. For the record I dislike Best Buy. Just sayin
Apparrently, they don't ship their scopes with cables anymore. At least i didn't get one with mine this week.
Who needs firmware upgrades, right?
Didn’t work for me - Running Win 10 Home Edition, soon as I click ok with a virtual port the program dies - without a virtual port it works. I gave up.
Will stellarium only recognize com port after alignment is made? Is it really required?
I would align my scope as specified 5-star alignment. Then once the scope is good to go connect to com port and Stellarium. It should pick up where you are in sky, then you can slew via Stellarium. Hope this helps.
I might be dumb. So i got a PC control cable with a usb adapter on amazon today. But the 6 pin cable will only connect in the aux or controller port, not in my hand controller. I have a Nexstar SLT 127 mak
+markus ford I am not sure what cable you bought but your mount should be able to communicate via computer control via a RS-232 cable made for your model of Celestron. This is important as there are many different ones made and not just any will do. The "telephone plug looking end" will plug into the bottom of your hand controller (Not the hand controller plug or the aux on the mount) and the serial port end of the cable you will need to purchase a usb to serial port adapter. I have found the Keyspan models work well. This site may help you. It has served me well in the past. www.nexstarsite.com/PCControl.htm
Event Horizon Observatory Well i got the cable from celestron, it has 6 pins but it wont fit in the hand controller... thanks for the quick response BTW!
Hi Tommy,
Unfortunately, you cannot share comm ports. Use your comm 2 for your "go to" and set up a virtual port to patch in Stellarium. Your guide camera needs it's own comm port...shouldn't be put through stellarium but rather controlled by PHD.
Event Horizon Observatory I
i dont have the controller because it was lost, may i connect direct the telescope to the computer and use the software to control it??
No.. You will need your controller to connect to.
Or with a Skyportal wifi module, you can the connect with SkyQLink for PC
Wirelessly
Thanks for the video. I have a question as to why my Celestron Nexstar 6SE did not slew to where it was supposed to after selecting a star on Stellarium and clicking CTRL 1. My scope was level, the tube and finder scope were aligned, I used a Celestron SkySync GPS for time and location, my 3 star alignment was confirmed, the scope was not bumped, the virtual ports were matched to each other (and not the other com port), and I have the latest Nexremote version download. The telescope not even in the ball park of the intended target. Any suggestions? John
Two questions : Are you using an alt/az mount or gem? Did you do the alignment from the handpad and got the confirmation first before you connected to nexremote?
To be clear... Did you first align from the physical hand pad ... Not the virtual one on nexremote? Nexremote isn't connected until you physically align as normal.
+Event Horizon Observatory I use alt/az mount on the scope. For the alignment, if memory serves me correctly, I think I had Nexremote open and used it for the alignment except for using the physical hand controller to move the scope up/down etc during the alignment process. All other inputs were with Nexremote.
+John Griffin :**Trying to align using NexRemote is was the error. Nexremote shouldn't be connected for a handshake until after a normal alignment using your physical hand controller is done. The reason for this is your mount has to know where you are in the sky before Nexremote can be used to simplify slewing to other objects. Nexremote software doesn't replace your mount handpad for alignment It only simplifies slewing to objects using a planetarium approach to finding nearby objects. Hope this helps.
+Event Horizon Observatory. I will give it a try when the weather lets up. I live in central NY and we are about to get whacked with a bit of snow. Thanks for the prompt help. John
Are you guys on Windows ? i have a Mac and still not working ,
Yes, running Windows. This has worked on Vista, 7 & 10
So how is the telescope connected to the laptop?? the missing link!
Shevill Mathers with a serial cable adapter from the telescope hand controller to the computer. If your computer doesn't have a serial port your have to buy a serial to usb converter. Here is a video which may help you. This is for Celestron. ruclips.net/video/vMea7QQGJbA/видео.html
Thank you, saw some other video's that explained this a bit more. Clear skies, Shevill at 42 South.
Are you using a serial cable or using a wifi adapter?
USB to serial adapter, then serial cable to the scope. Wifi adapter would work too. Just so long as you have connectivity to your scope through NexRemote first, then Stellarium will patch through using the virtual port on NexRemote. Hope this helps. :)
Thank you for the video and quick responses!
Most welcome!
Hope you can help me mate, my 130slt is going straight to advanced gt, not giving me options to use skyalign and is asking to align index points of which my telescope has none. Could you help mate?
Question : Have you ever done a successful alignment on your mount before?
No its second hand,it says it's aligned and I've done two star aligning in the past but when I pick a star it scews to an area that is sub horizon. Because it has no index points on the motor I can't to a proper alignment for that stage I just skip. I have just updated all firmware last night and no change. I'm out of options.
+carlosamigosAUS Check your location in the handpad and make sure your set for Southern Hemisphere.
+Perry Pollard I put in perth Western Australia and I don't think I'm given any other option. what I'm most concerned with is the fact that my first step asked of me after hitting enter is to align the index mounts and as I said there are no index markers on motor drive.
+Perry Pollard thanks for your time mate, i might have to call celestron.
this is a really helpful video...but i have a question though...i am developing my own go to system using a raspberry pi microprocessor and two servo motors. the mount is a home built eq mount. can i still use stellarium to slew my scope and track dso's using a pi..??
Hi Dwayne, i'm sorry I have no experience with raspberry pi's to be able to say yes or no to your question.
Event Horizon Observatory ..hi...thanx a million for your reply...ill b working on this project and if works out ill share a video on how i git it done...
Sounds good!
the moon its unbelivibul
how do you get nexremote
+william jamel
www.celestron.com/c3/support3/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=viewdownload&downloaditemid=588&nav=0,7
great thank you
+Event Horizon Observatory I hate to ask for a new link, but the link here no longer takes me to the software but to their horrible menu, from which you get lost in a black hole (pun intended). :)
+Russell Ahmed Looks like they changed up thier website. I would contact them directly for instructions on where /how to purchase or seek a copy from Astromart or Cloudynights classified sections or post wanteDo ad.
I am a duffer. But if I have a Go To computerised mount why should i use sellarium. Please enlighten me
AND is there any way i can attach some sort of viewing device to the eye piece so i dont have hunker down on an eyepiece all the time. I am disabeled so any such device would make it much easier
You don't have to use Stellarium it just may be easier for you to map the night sky using a visual aid such as Stellarium. You may use any number of astronomical camera's available so you do not have to use the eyepiece for visual. I have found ZWO and ASI offer some good quality inexpensive cameras that attach to your computer via USB or perhaps 12V and come with the software to use them.
@@BackyardAstronomyNow Thanks a lot that was really informativeI will try and look up these 2 cameras that you mention and I will be sure to get back to you thanks again
@@behrampardiwalla7160 Most Welcome. Try to purchase your camera used on www.cloudynights.com. Most astronomers take care of their cameras so it is like buying new but a half the price!
@@BackyardAstronomyNow Sure and thanks. Tell me would the camera work like a viewfinder. In the sense would I be able to focus the telescope thru the camera? Meaning do i get real time images? Then that would be great no need th hunch up and try and peer thru the eyepiece just relax and have a so called detached view..... look at the laptop and focus the scope!!
@@behrampardiwalla7160 Yes, but only once you have aligned your scope using your actual view finder. Then you can if you have a remote focuser. What kind of scope do you have? Also, what kind of mount are you using....Alt/Az or Equitorial?
Avoid ;-)