Setting up your Celestron 130SLT to track the Moon involves assembling the hardware and then running the computerized alignment with the hand controller. The most important part of the process is aligning your finderscope with the main telescope during the daytime to ensure accurate pointing later on.
 
Phase 1: Assembly and finderscope alignment (Daytime)
  1. Level the tripod: Find a flat, stable patch of ground to set up. Extend the tripod legs and use a small bubble level (or a leveling app on your phone) to make sure the base is as level as possible.
  2. Attach accessories: Secure the accessory tray and mount the telescope optical tube to the mount head. Next, slide the StarPointer finderscope onto its bracket on the telescope tube. Remove the plastic tab from the battery compartment to activate the battery.
  3. Perform daytime finderscope alignment:
    • Insert your lowest power eyepiece (the one with the largest millimeter number, like 25mm).
    • Point the main telescope at a distant, stationary object, such as a street sign, chimney, or treetop.
    • Look through the eyepiece and use the arrow keys on the hand controller to center the object perfectly.
    • Look through the red dot finderscope. Turn the brightness knob to turn on the red dot.
    • Without moving the main telescope, adjust the two knobs on the finderscope bracket until the red dot overlaps with the same object you see in the eyepiece.
    • Your finderscope is now aligned, and you should not need to do this again unless it gets bumped. 
 
Phase 2: Hand controller setup and SkyAlign (At night)
  1. Power up: Connect the hand controller to the mount. Make sure you have fresh batteries in the base or are using an external power source like a 
    Celestron Power Tank
    .
  2. Enter initial data:
    • Turn on the power. When prompted, enter the correct time, date, and your current location using the hand controller. Be sure to specify your time zone and account for daylight savings if applicable.
  3. Start the SkyAlign process:
    • The hand controller should display a menu. Press the Align button and select SkyAlign.
    • The hand controller will instruct you to point the telescope at three bright objects. You do not need to know their names, and they can be stars, planets, or even the Moon. Pick objects that are widely separated in the sky for the most accurate alignment.
  4. Align the first object:
    • Use the arrow buttons to slew the telescope toward your first chosen object.
    • Center the object in the finderscope and press Enter. The telescope will slow down its movement.
    • Center the object precisely in your main eyepiece and press Align.
  5. Align the second and third objects: Repeat the previous step for two more bright objects in different parts of the sky.
  6. Confirm alignment: After centering the third object and pressing Align, the hand controller will process the information. It should display "Align Success". 
 
Phase 3: Tracking the moon
  1. Select the Moon:
    • Press the Planet button on the hand controller.
    • Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll to the "Moon" and press Enter.
    • The telescope will automatically slew to the Moon's position.
  2. Refine and track:
    • Make any final, minor centering adjustments using the DOWN and RIGHT arrow buttons. This helps with the gear backlash.
    • The telescope will now automatically track the Moon as it moves across the night sky, keeping it centered in your eyepiece.