Jacquie
You don’t have anything to be defensive about. I got brand new scope from you, still in the box for the good price. And I am happy for it. You didn’t make this scope so it can’t be your fault if it’s not perfectly aligned. And the fact is it’s not. To prove this I found which way the focuser should be tilted to make it in the centre. And while I was looking at couple of objects I loosen the focuser screw on top so I could tilt the whole focuser and the quality of viewing improved. Not dramatically but still noticeable.
In my free estimation it is approximately 10-15% better when I find sweet spot by tilting the whole focuser, that’s all.
The reason I mentioned you in my post is that when we spoke while we checked that everything is in the box, you mentioned that Tucane looked great through this scope, that’s all. Not 17.5 reflector, not Astrophysics nor Meade, but this particular scope. Of course Omega looked great through some scopes I looked through recently. Scopes like 16” Meade, 18” Obsession, Takahashi, 14” Celestron with full set of Ethos eyepieces.
Anyone who looked through those scopes would notice what difference aperature makes. Maybe you were talking about some other scopes you looked through when you told me that Tucane looked great. Maybe I misunderstood. I also have 12” Bintel Dob, and I didn’t buy this refractor for DSO anyway. I was just curious to find out what it can or not do, that’s all. The last thing on my mind is to blame you or anyone for that matter.
Rob,
I did the test as you recommended and it did resolve the double stars, but just. When I found sweet spot by tilting whole focuser it gets slightly better, something I will not worry about. I experimented with taking dew shield off and holding a mirror flash on top of the tube so the laser has return beam
I also tried with piece of paper cut to size and make a hole in the centre, so I knew where the centre is, and then use Chesshire.
Philip,
That sounds like the way to go mate. But when I removed those 3 screws I could not take it apart, looks like its glued together too. I don’t want to force it or damage it. I tried grabbing it really hard and then pull or twist but no go. The only way I could centre it was by loosening the focuser bolt on top inside focuser itself so I can tilt it. But unfortunately I have to hold it with my hand this way otherwise its very floppy.
Thanks everyone for help
Cheers
bob