Article: How to Align your Finderscope without Embarrassment

[iceman]

Hi all

Michael Viset (Michael V) has written an article on How to Align your Finderscope without Embarrassment.

You can check it out at the IceInSpace Projects & Articles (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/?projects) page, or directly by the link below:

How to Align your Finderscope without Embarrassment (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,477,0,0,1,0)

Thanks for Michael for writing the article for IceInSpace. If you'd like to submit a how-to, article or review, please Contact Me (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/?contact).

[iceman]

Article uploaded.

[PCH]

Terrific article Iceman - many thanks to Michael.

How many of us are putting up with an 'out of alignment' finderscope for want of an accurate and easy way to align. And then wasting time repositioning the scope by a 'known' amount once we've located our object in the finderscope:P.

This article is just what we-who-don't-have-a-distant-object-to-view were waiting for.

Bravo :thumbsup:

[Michael V]

Thanks PCH - I'm new to this caper, so great to have some positive feedback. Can't help sharing.

I made another target sheet for a larger aperture (that's diameter) telescope, a big (for me) 150mm. The finder is even further away from the centre of the main scope, so correct alignment is even more important. (see attachment)

The improvements are:
1) I marked the finder spot with heavier lines, so it was easier to see at zero magnification with the red dot finder
2) The finder spot marks are diagonal, at 45 degrees to the main this makes it easier to distinguish at a distance.
3) i have marked a circle around the centre of the main scope mark. The size is not relevant, and you can make several. The point is the circle or circles make it much easier to centre the main scope, easily and quickly and at any distance.

This one is even better.

Michael

[PCH]

Cheers Michael,

Points Noted :thumbsup:

[Astro_Bot]

I realise this is an older thread, but it might be useful to know that this method of alignment is frequently used outside astronomy. It's called an "offset benchmark" or "offset target" alignment and I have used it often when aligning "dish" optical and mechanical axes prior to RF collimation.

[jjjnettie]

I'd not seen this article before, so thanks for the resurrection.
You're a champ. :)

[deniseselmo]

Excellent!!! Thanks for sharing! Would you give me permission to translate it and share it in portuguese?

[mbyrr]

Ah, wonderful! :D

[[1ponders]]

Brilliant, a treasure from the vault. :cool2: