Celestron NexStar+ Hand Control USB, EQ

Celestron's NexStar+ EQ Hand Controller is the brain for their Advanced VX, CGEM, CGEM II, CGEM DX, CGX, and CGE Pro motorized and computer-controlled equatorial telescope mounts. This tethered hand box connects to and is powered by, the mount via a coiled cord. Once connected, it puts a 40,000-object database in the palm of your hand and helps you to explore near and deep-sky celestial subjects from the Moon and planets to galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. If you're not sure what is overhead, simply use the Tour Mode and the NexStar+ will show you the best objects based on your current location, date, and time.

Multiple set-ups and alignment systems help to get you observing faster, while the 3 rates ensure accurate tracking all night with little correction required. Backlash compensation and Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PPEC) help to increase the smoothness, precision, and accuracy of tracking. It's 2-line/16-character LCD screen gives you access to the intuitive menu-driven user-interface for fast navigation of the sub-menus while showing you all information in red to preserve night-adjusted vision. Variable brightness levels for the screen and button backlight ensure comfortable use.

Features:

Intuitive menu-driven user interface

Nine slew speeds: 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, 32x, 0.3°/sec, 1.0°/sec, 2°/sec, 4°/sec

Multiple tracking rates: Sidereal, Lunar, and Solar

Anti-backlash correction: Train-out intrinsic play in gears for smoother movement and tracking

Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PPEC): Improves tracking precision for long-exposure astrophotography and imaging

Database

40,000-object database

100 user-defined objects for customization

Filters for creating custom object lists

Solar System: All 7 planets plus the Moon, Sun and Pluto

Custom lists of all the brightest stars, double stars, variable stars and asterisms

Custom lists of all the best galaxies, nebulae and clusters as well as the complete Messier catalogue and select NGC objects

Functions

Alignment options: One or two-star, Solar system, Quick and Last

Sky Tour: Based on location, date, and time, the system shows the best objects in the sky and automatically slews to them

Object info: Provides useful information about the selected object such as magnitude and constellation. Includes extended information about 200 popular objects

Physical Characteristics

2-line, 16-character LCD window

Red backlighting for comfortable viewing without affecting night-adjusted vision

Adjustable brightness levels

19 function keys, backlit in red

Micro USB port: Connect to a computer, for use with software programs for point-and-click slewing capability and updating firmware via PC