{"id":7535,"date":"2025-10-21T15:26:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T13:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.it\/blog\/?post_type=ht_kb&#038;p=7535"},"modified":"2025-10-21T16:28:49","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T14:28:49","slug":"make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use","status":"publish","type":"ht_kb","link":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Make your Celestron Alt-Az computerised telescope ready for astrophotography \u2014 and keep it easy to use"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many amateur astronomers start their journey with Celestron Alt-Az telescopes, especially the popular Schmidt-Cassegrain models like the NexStar SE, NexStar Evolution, CPC, or CPC Deluxe HD. These Celestron Alt-Az systems are among the most appreciated telescopes ever made \u2014 combining excellent optical performance with lightweight, portable, and easy-to-use Alt-Az computerised mounts. Just power on, align to a couple of stars, and you\u2019re ready to observe. No polar alignment, no counterweights, no meridian flip \u2014 astronomy made simple. However, when users become curious about astrophotography, many believe they need to switch to an equatorial mount or add a wedge. That\u2019s often where things get complicated: now you need to polar align, balance the mount, and deal with increased setup complexity \u2014 losing the very simplicity that made the Celestron Alt-Az telescope so enjoyable in the first place.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hC2pTjJgsPs\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>A new approach to Alt-Az astrophotography<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At PrimaLuceLab, we wanted to explore a different idea: <em>can we make an Celestron Alt-Az telescope ready for astrophotography \u2014 while keeping it simple and easy to use?<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The answer came from our new SESTO SENSO 3 SC focusing motor, designed specifically for Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. By connecting SESTO SENSO 3 SC and the ARCO 2\u201d rotator to your telescope, and controlling them with our PLAY astrophotography software, you can achieve precise focusing and even automatic field de-rotation \u2014 all without a wedge! This means that your Alt-Az telescope can now be used not only for visual observations, but also for planetary and even deep-sky astrophotography \u2014 maintaining the same intuitive experience.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Three configurations with your Celestron Alt-Az telescope<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Depending on how you want to use your telescope, you can easily switch between different configurations. Below we show three practical examples that demonstrate the versatility of this setup.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Visual observation configuration<\/b><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is the classic visual setup for observing the Moon, planets, or deep-sky objects with your favorite eyepieces. It keeps the telescope light and perfectly balanced for manual or computerised use. Components:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Celestron Alt-Az computerized telescope<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">2\u201d Visual Back<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">2\u201d Mirror Diagonal<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Eyepiece<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This configuration is ideal for visual sessions \u2014 you can still take advantage of SESTO SENSO 3 SC for precise focusing, even controlled via WiFi by using the Virtual HandPad on your smartphone or tablet (this way not requiring it to be connected to a Windows PC with USB.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7537\" src=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image1.jpg\" alt=\"Make your Celestron Alt-Az computerised telescope ready for astrophotography \u2014 and keep it easy to use\" width=\"1000\" height=\"625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image1-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image1-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image1-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image1-50x31.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image1-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image1-60x38.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image1-100x63.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Planetary astrophotography configuration<\/b><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With just a few adjustments, your telescope becomes ready for high-resolution planetary imaging. This setup allows you to record videos of Jupiter, Saturn, the Moon, and other bright targets. Components:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Celestron Alt-Az computerized telescope<\/li>\n<li>2\u201d Visual Back<\/li>\n<li>ARCO 2\u201d (optional connection in this configuration) with 2\u201d nosepiece (PL3600413) and 2\u201d visual back (PL8410001)<\/li>\n<li>Optional Barlow lens to increase magnification<\/li>\n<li>Camera with 2\u201d nosepiece (or 1.25\u201d nosepiece with 50.8mm\/31.8mm adapter)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this configuration, ARCO can also be left unpowered, acting purely as a mechanical adapter if you prefer. Thanks to SESTO SENSO 3 SC, you can finely adjust focus remotely while capturing planets \u2014 an important improvement over manual focusing.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7543\" src=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image2.jpg\" alt=\"Make your Celestron Alt-Az computerised telescope ready for astrophotography \u2014 and keep it easy to use\" width=\"1000\" height=\"625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image2.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image2-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image2-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image2-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image2-50x31.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image2-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image2-60x38.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image2-100x63.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Deep-sky astrophotography configuration<\/b><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here\u2019s where things get really interesting: you can use your Alt-Az telescope for deep-sky astrophotography \u2014 without an equatorial wedge! By combining SESTO SENSO 3 SC with ARCO, the system can automatically compensate for field rotation during long exposures. Components:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Celestron Alt-Az computerized telescope<\/li>\n<li>Focal Reducer<\/li>\n<li>2\u201d Visual Back<\/li>\n<li>ARCO 2\u201d with 2\u201d nosepiece (PL3600413) and 2\u201d visual back (PL8410001)<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Camera with 2\u201d (or 1.25\u201d) nosepiece<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PLAY software takes care of controlling SESTO SENSO 3 SC and ARCO together, enabling automatic field de-rotation while tracking the target. This configuration maintains the simplicity and portability of your setup while opening the door to true deep-sky imaging. We explained how to control Celestron computerized telescope with PLAY in the article <a href=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/how-to-remotely-control-your-celestron-equatorial-or-alt-azi-mount-with-play\/\">&#8220;How to remotely control your Celestron equatorial or alt-azi mount with PLAY&#8221;.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7541\" src=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image3.jpg\" alt=\"Make your Celestron Alt-Az computerised telescope ready for astrophotography \u2014 and keep it easy to use\" width=\"1000\" height=\"625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image3.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image3-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image3-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image3-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image3-50x31.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image3-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image3-60x38.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image3-100x63.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Example images captured with Celestron Alt-Az NexStar Evolution 8 HD and Player One Astronomy SATURN-C<\/b><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Below you can see a few example images captured using the same Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 HD telescope and the Player One Astronomy SATURN-C camera, controlled by PLAY software. These results show what can be achieved with SESTO SENSO 3 SC and ARCO 2\u201d when using an Alt-Az mount \u2014 from the Moon and planets to deep-sky objects.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image4-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Make your Celestron Alt-Az computerised telescope ready for astrophotography \u2014 and keep it easy to use\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image4-scaled.jpg 1736w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image4-203x300.jpg 203w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image4-694x1024.jpg 694w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image4-768x1133.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image4-34x50.jpg 34w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image4-1041x1536.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image4-1388x2048.jpg 1388w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image4-41x60.jpg 41w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image4-68x100.jpg 68w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7559 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image5b.jpg\" alt=\"Make your Celestron Alt-Az computerised telescope ready for astrophotography \u2014 and keep it easy to use\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image5b.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image5b-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image5b-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image5b-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image5b-50x31.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image5b-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image5b-60x38.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image5b-100x63.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7554\" src=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image6.jpg\" alt=\"Make your Celestron Alt-Az computerised telescope ready for astrophotography \u2014 and keep it easy to use\" width=\"1000\" height=\"625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image6.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image6-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image6-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image6-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image6-50x31.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image6-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image6-60x38.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-image6-100x63.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Important notes and recommendations<\/b><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before configuring your Celestron Alt-Az telescope for astrophotography, please consider the following important points:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>Compatibility<\/em>: The SESTO SENSO 3 SC is not compatible with the Celestron EdgeHD 9.25 optical tube. If your Alt-Az computerised telescope uses this tube, you cannot install SESTO SENSO 3 SC (and therefore cannot use ARCO 2\u201d for field de-rotation). In this case, we recommend using the ESATTO 2\u201d focuser instead of SESTO SENSO 3 SC. More generally, ESATTO 2\u201d can be used as an alternative to SESTO SENSO 3 SC with any Celestron SC-type optical tube, providing even higher focusing precision, since focusing is performed through the external focuser rather than the telescope\u2019s internal focusing mechanism. However, this solution comes at a higher overall cost compared to SESTO SENSO 3 SC.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>Control system<\/em>: The example shown in this article was created using the EAGLE control unit, which provides excellent integration, advanced functions, and improved cable management. However, the PLAY software can also be installed on any standard Windows 10 or 11 computer, such as a laptop.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>Mount precision<\/em>: For long-exposure astrophotography, mount precision is a key factor. Using a Celestron Alt-Az computerised mount does not provide the same tracking performance as a mount specifically designed for astrophotography (even an equatorial one). This means that while SESTO SENSO 3 SC and ARCO 2\u201d make long-exposure imaging possible, results will not match those of a fully dedicated astrophotography setup.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>Backfocus and clearance<\/em>: Depending on your telescope model, it is essential \u2014 especially when using a focal reducer or EdgeHD optics \u2014 to set the correct backfocus distance from the corrector or reducer. This may result in the camera coming close to the mount base when pointing near the zenith. Since this depends on both the telescope and camera dimensions, we recommend checking your setup carefully. For best results, use compact planetary cameras with side USB ports to minimize clearance issues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><b>A bridge between simplicity and performance<\/b><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The combination of Celestron Alt-Az telescopes with SESTO SENSO 3 SC, ARCO 2\u201d, and PLAY software creates a unique bridge between traditional and modern \u201csmart\u201d telescopes. You keep the freedom and upgradability of your existing equipment, while gaining automation and astrophotography capability \u2014 without sacrificing ease of use. This technology developed by PrimaLuceLab offers this new possibility at an affordable price, allowing more users to experience advanced telescope automation and astrophotography features. Whether you\u2019re observing visually, capturing planetary details, or experimenting with deep-sky imaging, this setup adapts to your needs \u2014 all while staying simple, modular, and Made in Italy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many amateur astronomers start their journey with Celestron Alt-Az telescopes, especially the popular Schmidt-Cassegrain models like the NexStar SE, NexStar Evolution, CPC, or CPC Deluxe HD. These Celestron Alt-Az systems are among the most appreciated telescopes ever made \u2014 combining excellent optical performance with lightweight, portable, and easy-to-use Alt-Az computerised&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7539,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"ht-kb-category":[43],"ht-kb-tag":[],"class_list":["post-7535","ht_kb","type-ht_kb","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","ht_kb_category-sesto-senso-en"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v16.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Make your Celestron Alt-Az telescope ready for astrophotography<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Make your Celestron Alt-Az telescope ready for astrophotography with SESTO SENSO 3 SC, ARCO 2\u201d rotator, and PLAY software\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Make your Celestron Alt-Az telescope ready for astrophotography\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Make your Celestron Alt-Az telescope ready for astrophotography with SESTO SENSO 3 SC, ARCO 2\u201d rotator, and PLAY software\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"PrimaLuceLab\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-21T14:28:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"PrimaluceLab\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/\",\"sameAs\":[],\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/#logo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.it\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.it\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/logo.png\",\"width\":300,\"height\":83,\"caption\":\"PrimaluceLab\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/#logo\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"PrimaLuceLab\",\"description\":\"Aim high\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"Make your Celestron Alt-Az computerised telescope ready for astrophotography \\u2014 and keep it easy to use\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/\",\"name\":\"Make your Celestron Alt-Az telescope ready for astrophotography\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-21T13:26:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-21T14:28:49+00:00\",\"description\":\"Make your Celestron Alt-Az telescope ready for astrophotography with SESTO SENSO 3 SC, ARCO 2\\u201d rotator, and PLAY software\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Articles\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Make your Celestron Alt-Az computerised telescope ready for astrophotography \\u2014 and keep it easy to use\"}]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Make your Celestron Alt-Az telescope ready for astrophotography","description":"Make your Celestron Alt-Az telescope ready for astrophotography with SESTO SENSO 3 SC, ARCO 2\u201d rotator, and PLAY software","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Make your Celestron Alt-Az telescope ready for astrophotography","og_description":"Make your Celestron Alt-Az telescope ready for astrophotography with SESTO SENSO 3 SC, ARCO 2\u201d rotator, and PLAY software","og_url":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/","og_site_name":"PrimaLuceLab","article_modified_time":"2025-10-21T14:28:49+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":1000,"filesize":168186,"url":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza.jpg","path":"\/var\/www\/vhosts\/primalucelab.com\/primalucelab.com\/public_html\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza.jpg","size":"full","id":7539,"alt":"Make your Celestron Alt-Az computerised telescope ready for astrophotography \u2014 and keep it easy to use","pixels":1000000,"type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"PrimaluceLab","url":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/","sameAs":[],"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/#logo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.it\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.it\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/logo.png","width":300,"height":83,"caption":"PrimaluceLab"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/#logo"}},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/","name":"PrimaLuceLab","description":"Aim high","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"caption":"Make your Celestron Alt-Az computerised telescope ready for astrophotography \u2014 and keep it easy to use"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/","name":"Make your Celestron Alt-Az telescope ready for astrophotography","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/#primaryimage"},"datePublished":"2025-10-21T13:26:21+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-21T14:28:49+00:00","description":"Make your Celestron Alt-Az telescope ready for astrophotography with SESTO SENSO 3 SC, ARCO 2\u201d rotator, and PLAY software","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/make-your-celestron-alt-az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Articles","item":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/support\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Make your Celestron Alt-Az computerised telescope ready for astrophotography \u2014 and keep it easy to use"}]}]}},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza.jpg",1000,1000,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza-768x768.jpg",643,643,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza.jpg",643,643,false],"ht-kb-thumb":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza-50x50.jpg",50,50,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza.jpg",1000,1000,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza.jpg",1000,1000,false],"ultp_layout_landscape_large":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza-1000x800.jpg",1000,800,true],"ultp_layout_landscape":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza-870x570.jpg",870,570,true],"ultp_layout_portrait":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza-600x900.jpg",600,900,true],"ultp_layout_square":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza-600x600.jpg",600,600,true],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza-60x60.jpg",60,60,true],"hkb-thumb":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza-100x100.jpg",100,100,true],"crp_thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Make-your-Celestron-Alt-Az-computerised-telescope-ready-for-astrophotography-and-keep-it-easy-to-use-evidenza-150x150.jpg",150,150,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Filippo Bradaschia","author_link":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/author\/admin\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Many amateur astronomers start their journey with Celestron Alt-Az telescopes, especially the popular Schmidt-Cassegrain models like the NexStar SE, NexStar Evolution, CPC, or CPC Deluxe HD. These Celestron Alt-Az systems are among the most appreciated telescopes ever made \u2014 combining excellent optical performance with lightweight, portable, and easy-to-use Alt-Az computerised...","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/7535","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ht_kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/7535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7575,"href":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/7535\/revisions\/7575"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-category?post=7535"},{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.primalucelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-tag?post=7535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}