Almost complete newbie, trying to figure out how to see a false star in focus.

[solpete]

Hi all! 

Since there is cloudy outside I tried getting a photo of a false star, i.e. a led-lamp that I put behind some alumina foils with a needle point in the foils. Distance is 7 meters.

I cannot get anything resemling a star, I just see the secondary mirror holder in (or not in) focus...

My equipment follows below...

Here are some photos of parts that I have, but I have no clue how to assemble them to get focus. At one point I managed to get pritty decent focus on stars the other night, but I have no memory of how I did 😃

If you could help a lost soul figuring this pussle out I owe you a beer or three!

The distances below are approximate in mm, disregarding the "mounting joint screw-thing"..

Thank you!

Peter W

If you

This is my equipment:

Orion Mount Atlas EQ-G

Orion 10'' Newton Astrograph

Orion AccuFocus Electronic Telescope Focuser
Orion LaserMate Deluxe II Telescope Laser Collimator
Orion Collimating Telescope Eyepiece
Orion 2" 2x Barlow Lens
6mm Orion Expanse Telescope Eyepiece
12.5mm Orion Sirius Plossl Telescope Eyepiece
Orion 2" to 1.25" Precision Centering Adapter
Baader MPCC Mark III Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector
SBIG STF-8300
SBIG Filter Wheel FW-8
Baader filter 36mm LRGB Set
Baader filter 36mm H-alpha
Baader filter 36mm O III
Baader filter 36mm S-II
Baader filter 36mm UV/IR-Cut/L
2" Orion SkyGlow Astrophotography Filter
Orion Magnificent Mini Deluxe AutoGuider Package

[solpete]

I forgot to add the photo of what I see in Stellarmate... 

[Louis D]

7 meters is pretty close for a Newt.  You might need 2" or more extension to bring the image to focus.  Put a low power eyepiece in the fully racked out focuser and lift it up and out of the focuser while maintaining alignment, looking for focus.  Start with a tree or chimney outside a window and then work your way closer and closer with high contrast objects until you know where 7m focuses with your scope.

[solpete]

Thank you!

What now, this tree is about 20 meters away...

I attached two long things (photo below) and got focus... They seem really long.... Does it matter? 😃

I have a coma corrector that a friend of a friend of a friend told me is very important.... Dunno how to attach it and what else to add or get rid of? Sorry about my humour, Ive been up 15 hours trying to figure this out haha  cheers!

[Louis D]

Assuming it's a small chip imager, the added extension doesn't really matter.  Besides, when you focus at infinity at night, the extra extension shouldn't be needed.

The coma corrector needs to be spaced a specific distance from the imaging chip, 55mm in your case.  You need to figure out what combination of spacer rings accomplishes this.

Being a purely visual observer, that's about the limit of my knowledge of imaging.  Perhaps you should ask in the Getting Started With Imaging forum.  You might get more replies there.

[solpete]

7 hours ago, Louis D said:

Assuming it's a small chip imager, the added extension doesn't really matter.  Besides, when you focus at infinity at night, the extra extension shouldn't be needed.

The coma corrector needs to be spaced a specific distance from the imaging chip, 55mm in your case.  You need to figure out what combination of spacer rings accomplishes this.

Being a purely visual observer, that's about the limit of my knowledge of imaging.  Perhaps you should ask in the Getting Started With Imaging forum.  You might get more replies there.

Thanks!

Ill try to measure 55 mm from the chip with my coma!