Thread: Collimation
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Old 01-04-2016, 02:10 AM
AEAJR (Ed)
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 372
If you check and everything looks good then there is no need to adjust anything. You are just confirming so nothing to wear out.

At first I was checking collimation about every other use but it was holding pretty well so now I check it maybe every 6-8 uses, about every other month. Mine lives in the garage on a cart and I roll it about 100 feet to the observing area, lift it gently off, then back on the cart and back into the garage. Rarely goes in the car and does not have to go through a cool down cycle, it is at ambient temperature. I have not had to adjust anything in months.

I would expect that if you travel a lot with the scope, bounce it around in the car, it is more likely to go out of adjustment. If it gets gentle treatment I presume it will hold.

I use a simple collimation cap for mine. I had checked it a few sessions back. One night I had friends over that evening. One has a Z8 and had his laser tool with him so he checked it. Said it was right on the money so that added a level of confidence that I am doing it correctly and that it is holding well. If you know someone who could check it after you think it is right that is another level of confidence you can achieve.

A simple eyepiece check is to put the scope on a bright star, centered in the eyepiece. I have heard around 10 mm as a good choice of eyepiece. Now, defocus the star. If it produces a concentric circle, even all around, you are well collimated. Nothing to adjust and you don't need any tools to do that. I do this every time I go out just as a spot check.
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