Hi All,
I collimated my scope recently after purchasing a cheshire eyepiece and after the initial issues and learning, thought I had it pretty good after a quick view at some familiar subjects.
Seems I have jumped the gun. The other night I was looking at Saturn and Regulus and couldnt understand why everything looked like I was drunk (I wasnt) , even to the points right up to focus. I realised that my collimation had some issues and decided to fix it.
Well, that was 3 days ago and I have just about decided to get some fuel, some kindling and a few firestarters to make a nice, warm Newtonian Bonfire out the backyard to keep me warm while I use my binoculars instead.
My problem is this: I
cannot seem to get the secondary mirror to line up with the focuser AND be round in shape AT THE SAME TIME.
I can adjust the secondary to look like it is lined up and circular, but then I put the Cheshire back in and adjust the tilt and it goes oval and I cant seem to fix it.
I have read everyone's
and I mean everyone's instructions on collimation and have absorbed all I can on the subject. However, this doesnt help when you get an instruction that says: " Line up the secondary mirror so that it is in line with the focuser and then adjust the mirror's tilt so that you can see all three clips" and then goes to show you a pretty picture of what its
supposed to look like! What happens if you CANT get it to look like that?
I have almost stripped the central phillips head metal off the screw head, I have turned it in and out so many times and have just about had enough of adjusting it this way and that, trying to get it closer to centre and then tilt and I have officially now lost the plot.
Can anyone please help me? I need a tip or some inside knowledge of how to do this easily. As I said, I thought I got it right the first time, I dont think I have busted anything, but now, I am ready to take a sledgehammer to it if I struggle over it any longer. Add to this the last two nights have been clear all night and well, you get my drift.
I would even be prepared to jump in my car with the POS (piece of s#$%) and take it to someone who obviously knows more about this than me if only I could get it back to some semblance of working order again. I live in Kellyville NSW so if anyone nearby can whack me upside the head with a piece of 4x2 and help me sort this out, then I would be forever in their debt.
Sorry for the rant.
Chris