Telescope I've just got a Celestron Nexstar 102 SLT. Complete novice. I am finding that after alignment the scope slews either vertically up or down before I have selected any target. I have to switch it off before the scope hits the mount. Any ideas ??

Is there a calibration process?

A nice little scope. Manuals from here

http://www.nexstarsite.com/Manuals.htm

or here

http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/celestron-nexstar-102slt.html

Scroll down and select the Support Tab

Contact Celestron. They may sell you a replacement leg-- maybe.

http://www.celestron.com/c3/page.php?PageID=37

The manual for this scope is available on the Meade web site here.

http://www.meade.com/manuals/index.html

First do a RESET on the hand controller and make sure TIME, DATE, and SITE, are correct.

If this does not work then RE-load the firmware in the hand controller. If that fails contact Celestron customer service.

http://www.celestron.com/c3/page.php?PageID=37

You need to synchronize the telescope with stellarium. Center the telescope on a known star, then select the same star on the laptiop and 'synch' with it.

You must set TIME, DATE, and SITE-- probably does not know your actual location. Read the manual and perform all of the setup procedures.

Some of these have a "starting position" again read the manual and make sure you are in the "home" position before you start the alignment. Read my TIP on my profile page about GOTO telescopes, and join the NEXSTAR forum on www.cloudynights.com

Several questions-

1. Are you SURE you are choosing the correct alignment star?

2. Are all the settings correct like-- Location, Time, Date, Daylight savings time.

I also have an 8i, but decided not to upgrade the controls yet. I've had my scope for about four years. I have experienced the same problem and am not sure what what causes it. Some nights, the scope tracks alignment all night, other times it does not. When the later occurs, the only thing that helps is to repeat the alignment picking new targets. One night, I had to repeat alignment 3-4 times. Also, I highly recommend a book by Michael Swanson, "The Nexstar User's Guide". It's an easy read, very specific and keeps the novice in mind. It should be included with every Nexstar sold. Go online to: http://www.Nexstarsite.com. Hope this helps. John

Be sure that the telescope is configured for EQ SOUTH mode to tell it is in the southern hemisphere. Once a star alignment is completed NEVER manually move the telescope. Use only the control panel to slew. Everytime the telescope is move by hand, the motors do not know it has been done, and assume it is still pointing at the old direction. Check the manual for setup.
Here: http://www.celestron.com/c3/images/files/downloads/NexStar_SLT_manual.pdf