HyperStar 'EAA' with a Celestron 8' Evolution SCT telescope. Light pollution is no longer a problem!

Live in a populated suburb, or even brighter? You can observe deep sky objects from your driveway, with the addition of a HyperStar and a one-shot color astronomy camera, you'll be able to see all the wondrous objects up there, with no need to travel to a dark sky site, nor buy a 24" telescope. A HyperStar is a device that turns your standard SCT into an "astrograph", a telescope used for imaging. You won't use it with eyepieces, the camera will be your bionic eye. This changes the whole game, particularly for those without dark skies. What used to be a 60+ second exposure at f/6.3 and utterly unsuitable on an Altitude-Azimuth mount... is a quick 10-15 second one at f/2 -- with no need for EQ mounts, guide scopes, or any other complexity.

[MikeLikesChannel]

Equipment used:
Celestron 8” Evolution SCT
HyperStar 8
ZWO ASI294MC astronomy camera
Antlia Triband RGB Ultra Filter 2"
ASI Live software
Farpoint Bahtinov mask
Celestron aluminum dew shield
Celestron StarSense auto alignment camera
Celestron SkySync GPS
Pocket warmers 😆

[chanceydecoursey]

I thought so
Looks great
Same with the emblem you made
On the side off that evo
Awsome man
My wife and I I are going to the cherry springs star party in September
Hope to see you their
Liked the video
Nice job

[wattswheelhouse]

I've been a dedicated Meade Autostar user for years, but this is lightyears ahead of their setup!

[DavidShaneTrueCosmology]

I also have a Nexstar Evolution 8 SCT. I’ve been wanting hyperstar so bad! The mount is awesome! Tracking is phenomenal! I love that it has a built in battery plus wifi! Phenomenal design! Imagine putting it on a wedge + hyperstar! 🤯

[AstroGuy]

Wow! That was really impressive. I’m just getting ready to start using a Hyperstar on my C8 so this was really useful.

I should mention that I also use a StarSense, which I initially concluded was an enormous waste of money (since 2-star and 3-star alignment is so easy on Celestron mounts) but it really seems to pay dividends when using the Hyperstar. Many thanks for an excellent, short, to-the-point video!

Richard.

[AmatureAstronomer]

Nice. Just bought a Celestron C 6 Schmidt Cassegrain and a Hyperstar 6 v4. Am learning to take good flats to avoid vignetting as much as possible.

[jimwaller]

Great video and this makes complete sense as a next step with my Evo 8. I have really been enjoying the visual aspect, but there is so much the eyes just can't pick up. Was thinking about a Focal reducer, but may as well go right to the HyperStar. Can't take it with you!

[chanceydecoursey]

Is the power cord flexible at the very end or is mine broken
I’m curious about my cord
Or did I break it when I was panning around
I thought the symbol lite up when plugged in
An everything lit up when on
Let me know man please

[chanceydecoursey]

Hay where did you get that orange dew Shield

[truckernige]

Hi Mike, that’s incredible, for only 5 minutes of exposure… i need to see if my 8se can use a hyperstar… nice video.

[markiportable]

Hi Mike, since you have a hyperstar in the 6 inch and 8 inch do a comparison and show us the difference in Capture quality of a target.

[Fatal_Inertia]

Also is that a 3D printed fork arm mount for the hand controller? I NEED that!!

[Popsmke]

Wow man this is awesome. I have the 8se nexstar and im new to this but its been something ive been interested in astronomy since childhood. Im 49 years old now and out of work due to neurosarcoidosis. I have memory problems and im nowhere near 100% cognitively, so, i need all the help i can get. If you dont mind, could you tell me what i need for my particular telescope ? ....thanks , Mark

[mrassilyer]

I’m confused about the central area on the horse head with the vignetting on the outer area. When you changed the histogram it became even more obvious. It was a great video on the process of EAA, which I basically knew nothing about.

[dzrg]

Hello Mike this is a great video for me. I'm debating buying an 8HD to view and do some astro image stuff but I'm now thinking buy the 8 non Edge HD and get a Hyperstar within the budget. I know the 8HD has better optics but UK £3K is my budget and then I can shoot at F2. Realistically I've not got the location or time for EQ mounts so this feels like the solution? What do you think 8+ Hyperstar a good route? Thanks just for the video it's so informative. Darren

[tombennett]

Thanks Mike - this is exactly what I want to do for outreach events! I already have an Evo8 and have been getting good alt-az tracking results with a piggyback DSLR with a 135mm F/2 Rokinon telephoto lens. Your video convinces me that the next step should be getting a Hyperstar to image at F/2 through the C8 to zoom in 3X closer than the telephoto. F/2 is the way to go! I've heard that it's difficult to collimate the HS from Imagers but are the collimation tolerances less critical for EAA? How much time is needed to install the HS and get it collimated adequately for EAA? Also, would you recommend the ASI294MC or is there an alternative with less amp glow?

[evastronomy]

Hello, with that zwo294 camera do you get a lot of vignetting?...if so, it is fixed with calibration frames? Or just with software like pixinsight...thank you...clear skies

[Fatal_Inertia]

Hey I've seen your scope on CN! I have the 6" version. Do you recommend the starsense autoalight or should I just go for the autoguider?

[billkonkel]

Hi Mike, where did you get the holder for your hand controller that fits on the side of the mount? Is it something you 3D printed or can you buy it?

[NestecStudios]

Do you ever have any balance issues or overloading your mount with the extra weight? I have the Evolution 8 EdgeHD and I’m thinking of buying the HyperStar and a cooled ASI color camera. I’m just not sure if the mount is up to the task with that and all the other equipment on it.