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Testing

Note that AOKSwiss has an AZ mount in this class, the AYOmaster and that encoder versions are available: http://www.aokswiss.ch/index_mont.html

I have never had a problem on a dozen or so trips. I have only been asked twice about it. On one occasion I was asked was it was and were satisfied with telescope, on the other occasion a security man wanted my observing list...

My set up: https://stargazerslounge.com/uploads/monthly_10_2011/post-22550-133877686183.jpg is still similar to what I describe in this thread: https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/122515-aircraft-cabin-baggage-compatible-astronomy/

Although the panoptic has 6 lenses, there are only 4 separate pieces of glass (6 elements, 4 groups). See: http://www.televue.com/engine/TV3b_page.asp?id=214&plain=TRUE#.U_hGzrtx0xA This gives only 48 arrangements (ignoring spacers), not all of which will be possible because of lens curvature. There is a diagram of the lens arrangement here which should be a useful guide: http://www.handprint.com/ASTRO/ae5.html#panoptic The problem is, from my own experience, solvable. You do have to be very very careful with the lenses which will get stuck and can be chipped if they go into the barrel at an angle. I have found it a help to support each lens in turn on a post of smaller diameter and to lower the partially assembled lens down, over the top. You need not worry about the lens getting dirty in trial assembly indeed it can be a help to mark the surfaces for identification purposes. Thorough cleaning for final assembly is vital and you may need more than one go to completely eliminate annoying dust. Of course return to base is a good option for Televue eyepieces but not for most other makes.

There are only a limited number of ways an eyepiece will go back together and only one way will be truly sharp. You have to be methodical in trialing different arrangements. An artificial star is the best way to test sharpness and has the advantage of allowing assembly and test in the light. If you do not have an artificial star, a pinhole in foil with a bright light behind will do. This needs to be far enough away for your telescope to come to focus (test with an eyepiece that is still intact!). Good luck

To my mind, this a problem of your choice of eyepieces rather than just the restricted focus travel of the scope. Bringing a scope to focus for viewing is actually bringing the eyepiece focus and the prime focus of the scope to a common point. Clearly the prime focus is fixed for any given scope so any variation in focal point is solely down to the eyepieces used. Personally I have selected eyepieces with a fairly small range of focus at least in part because it is really inconvenient to focus a long way when changing magnification on a very faint field of view. Apart from Teleview, few suppliers give the focal point so you have to try, However it was a major reason for my selling a Hyperion - its focus point was too far from my other eyepieces.