Collmination

[JonnyK]

Has anyone got a dummies guide?I followed the technique in the celestron instruction manual that came with the 8Se but it's still out. Jupiter looks stunning through the eyepiece but terrible through the webcam, really out of focus.

[leelee970]

what eyepiece were you using?

there is a world of difference in image quality if you're viewing with say a 25mm - 32mm EP and the webcam.

You need to record the image and run it through something like Registax or AS!2 and process it in PS or Gimp to get a good(ish) quality image

[JonnyK]

I use registax but the images I'm getting are much worse then ones I've taken with my old 127mak. The diffraction rings are slewed to one side so it's definately collimination that's out

[lestergibson]

I don't understand; if Jupiter is looking good through the ep, then would that not mean that the collimation was at least good enough? Might it be the webcam that's meeing things up?

[JonnyK]

It's good enough for viewing but can't get good results through webcam when the images are processed, i think (correct me if I'm wrong) that imaging usually exacerbates errors in collimation?

[ardbeg74]

Hi Jonny,

This is a video guide to collimation, and a pretty good one too IMHO. http://www.andysshotglass.com/Collimating.html

The other guide that comes to mind is this one: http://www.astro-baby.com/collimation/astro%20babys%20collimation%20guide.htm

The latter is pretty in depth and I found it made the whole process seem more complicated than it really was... but its good to have in depth when you need it.

You will also need a cheshire collimator ( can also use the lid from a 35mm film tub with a pin hole in the middle.. dunno if your scope has 2" EP though so maybe wont fit? )

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/cheshire-collimating-eyepiece.html

Anyways clear skies and hope you sort out your problem.

Cheers

Mark

[lestergibson]

I don' know because I'm not into AP but I wouldn't surprised if you're right.  As far as collimation is concerned, this flash animation helped me big time, along with AstroBaby's guide (search for it in SGL; it's everywhere). You have to give it a go sometime so bone up on those guides, get yourself a cheshire collimating tool and go for it.  After the first times, you'll get into it and it won't seem like such a big thing. You'll probaby only have to collimate the primary anyway, unless the OTA has had a few knocks.

[lestergibson]

Holy ****; Mark was reading my mind or I was reading his; I forgot to include this link in my reply:

http://www.andysshotglass.com/Collimating.html

[ardbeg74]

hehe lester, great minds think alike and all that

They are two great guides though, helped me alot....

Mark