CPCP1100 corrector plate damaged by Celestron during repair - what effect will this have on my visual astronomy?

[StarGazingSiouxsie]

Hi,

I'll make a longer post about my nightmare experience with sending my CPC to Celestron for repair when I've calmed down but in the meantime I would like some advice please on this situation. 

My CPC1100, Cubble, has arrived back home with me after having a broken power socket repaired by Celestron under warranty. The repair seems OK but they have damaged his corrector plate. It seems they collimate larger scopes when they're in for repair, even if you don't ask them to (I didn't). I know that they collimated him because they said they did on an email to me. 

So there are 3 scratches on his corrector plate. I am devastated about this as I treat my telescopes like my children. Also for the record, Celestron just literally chucked him into a box with no extra padding or protection except the foam from the factory. The box arrived here split, damaged and Cubble was on his side in the box with corrector plate cover off and foam protection displaced. I just could have cried & cried.  

Two of the scratches are about 2mm long. The third bigger one is about 4mm x 2mm   They are all about half way between edge of secondary mirror housing and the plate edge. (They are defs scratches, btw - I've tried cleaning the corrector twice already.)

My question is this - what issues should I expect now in my visual astronomy (I don't do imaging) from these scratches? IE will I notice them or the effects of them in my observing?

 

Thank you,

Siouxsie  

Edited July 14, 2021 by StarGazingSiouxsie

[Stu]

55 minutes ago, StarGazingSiouxsie said:

My question is this - what issues should I expect now in my visual astronomy (I don't do imaging) from these scratches? IE will I notice them or the effects of them in my observing?

Ignoring all other aspects of your post and just focusing on this question, I would say you are highly unlikely to notice any impact on the image you see through the scope. They are small scratches and are a long way from the focus point so won’t be visible.

Coming back to how it happened, I would certainly pick this up with Celestron directly and send images of the damage to them. If you sell the scope then the scratches will have an impact on the resale value you get, that is the main issue you will face.

I’m sorry you have experienced this, I think all of us can relate to how you feel as any damage to a scope is hard to take and can be very upsetting.

Good luck.

[StarGazingSiouxsie]

35 minutes ago, Stu said:

Ignoring all other aspects of your post and just focusing on this question, I would say you are highly unlikely to notice any impact on the image you see through the scope. They are small scratches and are a long way from the focus point so won’t be visible.

Coming back to how it happened, I would certainly pick this up with Celestron directly and send images of the damage to them. If you sell the scope then the scratches will have an impact on the resale value you get, that is the main issue you will face.

I’m sorry you have experienced this, I think all of us can relate to how you feel as any damage to a scope is hard to take and can be very upsetting.

Good luck.

Thanks Stu, I very much appreciate your reassurance.  I've never had a damaged corrector plate before so I had no idea of the impact this would have on photon gathering and eyepiece image. 

Although he's damaged now, he's back home and will hopefully be as much of a joy to use as he ever was. 

Thanks, Siouxsie 

 

[Peter Drew]

If you need any further assurance  I concur with what Stu has said.  I was a CAT specialist and had agencies with both Meade and Celestron before retirement.  You have every right to be upset as a result though.       ☹️ 

[StarGazingSiouxsie]

2 minutes ago, Peter Drew said:

If you need any further assurance  I concur with what Stu has said.  I was a CAT specialist and had agencies with both Meade and Celestron before retirement.  You have every right to be upset as a result though.       ☹️ 

Thank you very much, Peter, that helps a lot. 

So what level of damage would affect the final image? If someone scratched their primary mirror cleaning during DIY cleaning (not guilty) would that have an effect?  

[Peter Drew]

Apart from complete breakage, it's hard to find anything that is more detrimental to a SCT's performance than poor collimation.  The only marks that can be seen visually are those within the focus of the eyepiece.     🙂

[StarGazingSiouxsie]

14 minutes ago, Peter Drew said:

Apart from complete breakage, it's hard to find anything that is more detrimental to a SCT's performance than poor collimation.  The only marks that can be seen visually are those within the focus of the eyepiece.     🙂

Thank you! 

[Highburymark]

No doubt your views won’t be harmed Siouxsie, but as Stu said, the resale value will be. Surely Celestron will look after you here - particularly if you didn’t ask for any work on the optics, and the scope was poorly packaged! 

[Robindonne]

Celestron is doing a nice job with all the scratched and broken optical parts of their sct’s.  
 

[StarGazingSiouxsie]

30 minutes ago, Robindonne said:

Celestron is doing a nice job with all the scratched and broken optical parts of their sct’s.  
 

If they devoted the same resources and care to their customer service as they do to their marketing campaigns they'd be a great company.

[StarGazingSiouxsie]

47 minutes ago, Highburymark said:

No doubt your views won’t be harmed Siouxsie, but as Stu said, the resale value will be. Surely Celestron will look after you here - particularly if you didn’t ask for any work on the optics, and the scope was poorly packaged! 

Hi Mark,

Thanks, I am relieved to hear that. Luckily for me resale values won't be an issue as I will never sell Cubs, I love him too much, but I hear what you're saying.

[Captain Scarlet]

A member of my local astronomy group (you know who you are @PeterW) mentioned, after I reported a not-dissimilar experience to yours buying an expensive but scratched mirror from a popular UK company,  that a largeish mirror he knows of shows no discernable visual defects despite having a bullet-hoie in the primary!

I feel for you though, neglect/negligence is one of those things I cannot abide, and it's so unnecessary.

M

[StarGazingSiouxsie]

1 hour ago, Captain Magenta said:

A member of my local astronomy group (you know who you are @PeterW) mentioned, after I reported a not-dissimilar experience to yours buying an expensive but scratched mirror from a popular UK company,  that a largeish mirror he knows of shows no discernable visual defects despite having a bullet-hoie in the primary!

I feel for you though, neglect/negligence is one of those things I cannot abide, and it's so unnecessary.

M

Thanks Magnus, I appreciate your sentiment   

[StarGazingSiouxsie]

2 hours ago, Captain Magenta said:

............. despite having a bullet-hoie in the primary!

 

I bet they'd been lookinbg at the Pistol Star  

[Stu]

12 hours ago, Captain Magenta said:

that a largeish mirror he knows of shows no discernable visual defects despite having a bullet-hoie in the primary!

This one I believe! 😱😱

[Starwatcher2001]

You can get away with quite a lot of obstruction as long as it's not in focus. One evening I was admiring the rings of Saturn when I realised it was now quite low and I was now looking through a privet hedge. 🙂

Sorry to hear of the injury Siouxsie.

 

Edited July 15, 2021 by Starwatcher2001