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Performing StarSense Auto Align with SkyPortal Wifi

Matt Martz

February 03, 2017 18:04

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I've been struggling for a while to get either the Celestron SkyPortal app or SkySafari 5, to perform an auto alignment with the Celestron StarSense AutoAlign connected via the "Celestron Wifi" option as the "Scope Type".

My configuration is a Celestron NexStar 8SE, with an attached SkyPortal Wifi and StarSense AutoAlign. I have the SkyPortal Wifi and StarSense attached to a Aux Port Splitter, which is connected to the AUX port on the mount.  At the time of writing this, my hand controller and the camera are running the most recent versions:

HC=1.16.16055
CAMERA=1.02.13343

My general process has been to:

1. Open SkySafari 5 Plus
2. Tap "Connect"
3. Tap "Align"

With the above process I was always prompted to perform a manual alignment, regardless of setting "Align Using StarSense Auto".

Instead of doing the separate "Connect" and then "Align" steps, I decided to use the "Connect and Align" button which I had not used before.

When using "Connect and Align" it will perform an Auto Alignment as expected.

I'm not sure if this is a bug in the application, or whether this functionality exists for a reason. I had assumed that "Connect and Align" would work the same as "Connect" and then "Align", but that assumption is apparently incorrect.

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7 comments

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  Bill Tschumy February 03, 2017 18:20

  As you have found, to kick off a StarSense alignment, you have to use "Connect & Align".   The Align button adds the selected object (assumed to be centered in the scope) to the existing alignment model, independent of StarSense.

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  Edgar Mauricio Orjuela July 22, 2017 21:20

  Hello, How can I delete the selected objects from the model? currently I need to manual align using starsense, since I have a very obstructed surroundings where I live. Thanks!

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  Bill Tschumy July 22, 2017 22:31

  What do you mean by manual align?  Do you mean bypassing StarSense?  Have you chose Manual Align in the Celestron Wi-Fi Settings?

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  Edgar Mauricio Orjuela July 22, 2017 22:36

  Hello, thanks for the answer, what I meant was, doing a user align, as before when I was only using the HC StarSense I could perform a user alignment since doing an automatically alignment usually failed duento heavy obstructions where I live. Can I select that on StarSafari?
  Thanks in advance!

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  Bill Tschumy July 22, 2017 22:42

  If you are using Celestron Wi-Fi, then you can't align using the hand controller.  All alignment must be done with the app.  I don't know what you mean by "user align".  Is this a specific alignment type in the hand controller?  There is a Manual align type in the Celestron Wi-Fi settings but you will probably have to disconnect the StarSense camera to use it.

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  Edgar Mauricio Orjuela July 22, 2017 22:44

  Using the Wifi only. Not the HC.

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  Bill Tschumy July 22, 2017 22:46

  Then try the Manual alignment type and disconnect the StarSense camera.  There is no manual alignment using StarSense.  Celestron chose not to implement that feature.