Going to collimate the scope tonight with the LPI

[rumples riot]

Hi all, am going to collimate the scope tonight with the LPI and the laptop. I have read a couple of interesting articles on this process and apparently it can mean the difference between average shots and those fantastic shots the Bird and Wes produce. Anything you guys can think of would be appreciated. I plan on doing it at f30, but might have to start at f20 first.

Suggestions?

[Striker]

No Suggestion but I am happy to leach any tips and information off you when your done....

[[1ponders]]

We did the C11 at mapleon the other night with the ToUcam. It was pretty easy. Especially as we could watch the screen and not look down an eypiece and use a phillips head screwdriver :mad2: not allen screws, to adjust at the same time. One thing we did find though was not to rank the focus too far out as the offset disappeared when we were way out of focus. The hardest part using the ToUcam was continually recentering the image on the chip of the ToUcam as it moved out of view as we adjusted. Easy with two people though:)

Good luck Paul

ps we started at f/10 then jumped to f/20 with a barlow

[rumples riot]

Thanks Paul, will start at f10 then move onto f20. Luckily I have bobs knobs installed and this should make it a lot easier.

[Robby]

Be keen to see how you get on. I reckon you'd need pretty good seeing to collimate effectively at f/20 or f/30... I find f/10 hard enough!

[[1ponders]]

We were pretty lucky with the seeing Robby. We'd had a group through the observatory from about 6:30 and they left at about 10:00 so both the OTA and atmosphere had plenty of time to cool down and settle down. (see saturn image http://www.iceinspace.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=549 ). It was one of those few beautiful nights that you're glad you're under the stars. :D:astron: :cool2: :stargaze:

[Robby]

Thats a stunning Saturn image Paul. Well done. I'd better get out there.

[rumples riot]

All right I collimated the scope at f10 and got the shot below, at f20 if was slightly off centre. When I looked this morning I noticed that the collimation was a little different. The scope is permanently outside now and so cool down should not be an issue. So if the weather clears tonight I will try again to collimate.

What do you guys think, is this collimation good enough to take great shots? I would appreciate all input but especially Bird.

[gbeal]

Paul,
looks good. If anything, maybe try it with the focus closer to "in focus" and use the diffraction rings, rather than the donut.
Gary

[[1ponders]]

I agree with Gary. Try it with it less out of focus. I found that made quite a difference the other night. Its hard to tell on the screen but you central obstruction looks just abit closer to the lower edge between about 5 oclock and 5:30 by the hour hand. Does that make sense :P

[rumples riot]

Yes i thought the rings were a little compressed in that region also, but figured this was pretty good given the previous collimation.

Thanks for the tip on going closer to focus. Will try it when this rain abates. When I want to do something, that is going to take a bit of time the clouds come. Weird like the weather knows what I have in mind.

Still rain is good also.

Thanks again for the input.

[[1ponders]]

Striker hasn't come down that way for a visit has he? It suddenly cleared up here tonight :P

[rumples riot]

:D No Striker has not been here that I know of. Pretty funny.

[[1ponders]]

I'm surprised we're not building arks up here considering the spending spree he's going on.
:cloudy: :windy:

Two telescopes in a months plus eyepieces. Keep a lookout for cyclones everyone :D:P