4 replies to this topic

[cayoteboy]

I have a Brandon. Is there a standard alignment/set up method to use when getting the tele ready to use?

 

[RichA]

I have a Brandon. Is there a standard alignment/set up method to use when getting the tele ready to use?

It shouldn't need it, refractors usually stay in alignment.  If it does, it should have screws in the front around the objective.  Observe a star (2nd magnitude or so) at medium power and defocus it until you see various rings, make sure they are not skewed.  At high power, 300x, observe the in-focus star to ensure it has round diffraction rings and  that the diffraction disk is centered in the rings.  There will likely be six screws.  Three are uses to hold aligment, the other three are the push pull screws (often allen head grub screws).  The (likely) screws with the Philip's heads are loosened a little bit (not a lot) and the allen/grub screws are adjusted one at a time while observing a star until the star is correctly aligned

[Esso2112]

The Brandon 130 uses three Phillips head screws on the “ears” of the objective cell to collimate.  It is essentially a Unitron cell.   It’s easy to adjust them.  

 

Congrats on the Brandon 130, by the way.  It’s a pretty rare scope.    

[cayoteboy]

I should clarify. I have a mount for the Brandon. Dark shiny black, heavy weight and has silver calibrated adjustment wheels and three rods with handles for following objects. I need an "owner's manual"/ instruction for setting up and aligning (pointing it in the proper direction) the scope for the nights viewing. All comments are appreciated.

Edited by cayoteboy, 26 July 2024 - 10:03 PM.

[JonH]

The Brandon 94s often appear on Unitron mounts. Typically the 3 inch equatorial which sounds like what you are describing. But I think you would want to put a 130 on something a bit more substantial and so am guessing yours is currently on a 4 inch mount. I have attached a picture of one of my scopes with this type of mount. If this is what you have, you can find the manual for it at https://www.unitronh...tion-Manual.pdf. Really nice scope by the way - congrats.

 

Regards

 

Jon