Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephane
Thanks everyone for your kind comments.
Martin, I would like to expose a little more and might add some integration to reveal the finer details. There are also some nice background galaxies lurking that I would like bring out. I also need to learn to collimate properly. I can get the laser dot in the center of the primary mirror and reflected back into the center of the collimator target easily. The problem is, as I rotate the collimator in the focuser, the dot goes way off. The focuser might be little tilted, the cheap collimator itself might also be faulty.. any tips?
Anthony, I enjoyed your three champagne references there!
Clear skies,
Stéphane
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Stephane,
To check your collimator is collimated you can make up a V block
The collimator just sits in the V block on a table within 2m to 3m of a wall. Whilst holding the timber base of the V block , slowly rotate the collimator 360degrees and ensure red laser dot remains in a fixed position or stationary
Are you using an Orion laser collimator or similar ?
How to make a V block
Materials
A 300mm long 40mm x 40mm piece of Aluminium angle ( or 30mm x 30mm )
A piece of ply wood or similar 300mm long x 90mm wide x 30mm thick ( approx) to be used a base
2 x 25mm long 8 gauge wood screws
Drill 2 x 6mm holes (about 100mm apart and 20 mm in from one end) in the base of the aluminium angle or in the V.
Using 2 screws fix the aluminium angle ( V pointing down ) into the timber base
Ensure the V block set up resembles the letter capital “K” tipped on its back
Sit the collimator into the V block ensuring fixing screws heads are clear. Now whilst holding the timber base slowly rotated the barrel of the collimator with your index finger with the red laser targeted at a brightly painted wall
If the red dot doesn’t deviate at all , your collimator is collimated ok
Cheers
Martin
