What are the effects of a poorly collimated telescope?

[Briddie]

How do i know if my scope needs collimating?

[Moonshane]

what scope do you have? not all scopes need regular collimation.

[Briddie]

Its a skywatcher skyliner 250 px dob.

[ronin]

I think objects become less distinct.

Stars may be the wrong shape - not nice neat dots or points.

Are diffraction spikes, if visible, sort of lobsided?

Suspect the only answer is get a cheshire or laser collimator and check it.

[Moonshane]

that's quite a fast scope (low focal ratio number - f4.8?). personally I check collimation every time and usually you'll find the primary needs a small tweak. I'd recommend you buy a cheshire eyepiece and then check it. this might help http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/197640-collimation-and-star-hopping/

it's nothing to worry about and after a few times takes a few seconds only

[Briddie]

The moon seems sharp enough. But if im looking at jupiter for instance, it seems sharp in the very center of the ep but anywhere else it gets a blue tinge around the edge.

[The_PSY3NTIST]

Loss of contrast and loss of detail in my experience.

[Moonshane]

that sounds more like chromatic aberration and distortion in the eyepiece. this is sometimes the case with the standard eyepieces that come with the scope.

[Briddie]

Thanks Moonshane, White Dwarf, im going to order a cheshire.

I must admit the thought of having to collimate it scares me a little.

[Briddie]

Yes they are cheap eyepiece's. Ive just ordered two Celestron x-cel lx's.

[Moonshane]

it does everyone at first but take your time and it will be fine. first;y, just check. you might not need to adjust anything. primary adjustments have the biggest impact on visuals. any problems just ask

[entropia]

Thanks Moonshane, White Dwarf, im going to order a cheshire.

I must admit the thought of having to collimate it scares me a little.

I am afraid to collimate, too, but I will have to do it sooner or later

Which telescopes don't require collimation?

[Briddie]

Thanks again Moonshane.

[Moonshane]

many refractors and maksutovs cannot be collimated. as far as I am concerned though it's a non-issue and newtonians give best aperture per £

[Tonys]

I am afraid to collimate, too, but I will have to do it sooner or later

Which telescopes don't require collimation?

I am the worlds worst mechanic, believe me, but my fear was overcome by reading web articles by trailblazers like Thierry Legault (Tal 2) and Joe Schatter (Orion XT-8 - very much like the Skywatcher 200p). The main things for me were to read as many articles on the task that I could find, make changes in very small steps, keep copious written notes for every step I took and never, ever rush to finish.