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Pages: 1 SilentKnights member Reged: 10/04/12 Loc: Northeast Help with collimating a NexStar telescope       #5630547 - 01/18/13 08:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have a NexStar 8SE what is the best collimating device to use for a guy who is pretty much a rookie to backyard astronomy ? I seen some but some look confusing and hard to use I am hoping for something that works well and is not hard to use. Any help would be appreciated thank you !!! Post Extras:       Tel Postmaster Reged: 03/31/06 Loc: Wallingford England Re: Help with collimating a NexStar telescope [Re: SilentKnights]       #5631064 - 01/19/13 05:13 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Steve, There's much been written on the subject of Schmidt Cassegrain telescope collimation and of tools reported to ease the process: noteably lasers. However, in my opinion, those which are perfectly suitable for Newtonian 'scope collimation are useless for this task while those claimed to be suitable for SCT collimation, are expensive and apparently still unproven, judging by a lack of any vast number of reviews that I've ever seen ! In essence therefore, all that is needed is one's viewing eye, a clear still night sky and an ambient temperature, acclimatised 'scope, (in this case your 8SE). However, there are one or two "tools" which might be employed on an indirect basis; namely, an artificial star, a simple webcam, linked to a laptop and, to facilitate centralisation of the out of focus star image on the LT screen, an overlaying grid pattern. The replacement of the existing collimation screws by a set of "Bob's Knobs" may also be beneficial to the adjustment process. Perhaps these links may be of interest to you ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqRVIDj4aZA http://sweiller.free.fr/collimation.html http://www.starrynights.us/Articles/Collimation.htm Hoping this helps, but if you've any further queries, I'm sure we can assist further. Best regards, Tel Post Extras:       Midnight Dan Postmaster Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl... Re: Help with collimating a NexStar telescope [Re: Tel]       #5631230 - 01/19/13 09:58 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Steve: What Tel said. Save your money. The vast majority of collimation devices are not helpful on an SCT. Hotech makes one specifically designed for SCTs, but it is $$$ ! The best SCT collimation device is a high powered eyepiece and a star. -Dan Post Extras:       Bob Griffiths Getting Grouchy Reged: 10/10/05 Loc: Frederick Maryland Re: Help with collimating a NexStar telescope [Re: Midnight Dan]       #5631419 - 01/19/13 11:52 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I agree with Dan...a star and an eyepiece and a allen wrench or a screw driver or Bobs Knobs... I do own an artificial star and I think I replied to a recent thread about them...What is said is althouht I do use the AS to collimate my scopes I do NOT use it on my Scts... Hoteck makes a $500 laser system for scts that reportedly works well once you set everything up correctly but for $500 bucks it is way too much money Bob G. Post Extras:       Arthur Dent Galactic Hitch-Hiker Reged: 10/23/08 Loc: South Yorkshire, UK Re: Help with collimating a NexStar telescope [Re: Bob Griffiths]       #5631900 - 01/19/13 05:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   +1 for Bob's Knobs. Oh, and Art's handy chart (reproduced below) Art Post Extras:       Pages: 1

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