Dropped Celestron Nexstar Evolution 6

[timothy4]

Hi All.  Using my skill and judgement I placed my newish Celestron Nexstar Evolution 6 scope on my office chair last night after observing and turned my back and then about 30 seconds later heard an almighty crash as my scope crashed onto the wooden laminate floor.  There is no obvious outward signs of damage to the scope but there is now a dent in my nice laminate floor! Will the scope be alright or have I likely irreparably damaged it?  What should I do next; check the collimation?  I am a technically minded beginner and this is my first scope so I have never collimated before.  If collimation is what I need to do what is the easiest way to do this?  Is any specialist kit of use; I can see the advantage of an artificial star as you can collimate any time of day and not be weather dependent?

I feel really gutted about what happened as I am naturally a very careful person.  What happened is slightly mysterious too although I remember now that I may have the seat of my  chair set on a very slight slope; its meant to help protect the lower back.  Am hoping the damaged floor will be covered by my insurance so have to investigate that as well now.  Thank you in advance to all you kind stargazers for any advice on where to go from here.  

Edited February 19, 2021 by timothy4

[PeterCPC]

Check that the mirror is moving still using the focuser. Then collimate using a star - taking it in and through focus to get a uniform "doughnut" both sides of focus. Plenty of guides online.

[timothy4]

2 minutes ago, PeterCPC said:

Check that the mirror is moving still using the focuser. Then collimate using a star - taking it in and through focus to get a uniform "doughnut" both sides of focus. Plenty of guides online.

Will do, thanks

[The Lazy Astronomer]

If you haven't cracked the mirrors or the corrector, you're probably ok. You may have knocked the collimation out, so as has been said, check that (much better to do it on a star)

[timothy4]

Thanks.  I cannot see a crack in the mirror or corrector but guess it could be a hidden thing and will not know until I try to use.  I’m scared to look but will of course; worse case scenario that would be £1,300 down the drain

Edited February 19, 2021 by timothy4

[timothy4]

Just an update after following advice above; the mirror and corrector do not appear to be cracked after a fairly thorough inspection and also the focuser still works so hopefully I may have got away with it barring a possible need for collimation.  Probably a good idea for me to start checking collimation anyway...

[Highburymark]

Was it just the OTA or the mount too? They are both pretty robust, so there’s a good chance you’ll be fine. 

[ollypenrice]

You can only damage the mirrors and corrector plate by scratching them or breaking them so, if you haven't done either (and clearly you haven't), then they will be fine. They cannot be 'slightly cracked.'   Optimism!

Olly

[Sunshine]

I hope everything is ok after a star test, one night out will reveal any issues.

[timothy4]

14 hours ago, Highburymark said:

Was it just the OTA or the mount too? They are both pretty robust, so there’s a good chance you’ll be fine. 

Thanks for reply; it was the OTA and mount too

 

14 hours ago, Highburymark said:

Was it just the OTA or the mount too? They are both pretty robust, so there’s a good chance you’ll be fine. 

 

[timothy4]

12 hours ago, Sunshine said:

I hope everything is ok after a star test, one night out will reveal any issues.

Thank you

[timothy4]

12 hours ago, ollypenrice said:

You can only damage the mirrors and corrector plate by scratching them or breaking them so, if you haven't done either (and clearly you haven't), then they will be fine. They cannot be 'slightly cracked.'   Optimism!

Olly

Thanks, that is reassuring to know 👍

[RobertI]

Sounds like the scope is fine, hopefully the mount will operate fine too. These scopes are pretty robust. I once had a 7kg CG5 mount fall 4 feet into concrete - it was fine and still working years later! I also had my old apo refractor fall from a tripod onto a hard floor, thanks to a dodgy clamp - again no damage thankfully.