Need help with collimation of my nexstar 130 telescope

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quinnder1
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Need help with collimation of my nexstar 130 telescope

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Post by quinnder1 »


Hello, below i attached a image through my collimation eye piece, i have been messing around with it for awhile and this is the best i got it. but you will see that the white ring that indicates the center of the primary mirror is off by a bit, i am sure this is not good for the quality of my viewings. i do not know how to fix this, and i would appreciate any advice. thank you.

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helicon United States of America
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Re: Need help with collimation of my nexstar 130 telescope

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Post by helicon »


Welcome to TSS Quinnder1! I'm sure some folks will be along to help answer your question.
-Michael
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Juno16 United States of America
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Re: Need help with collimation of my nexstar 130 telescope

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Post by Juno16 »


Hi quinnder1,

Did you run out of screw threads preventing you from centering the mirror?
If so, you might have to back all three off and start over.

I haven’t touched my 130 SLT in awhile, but you are loosening the three taller knurled screws and adjusting the three wider and shorter knurled screws?
Jim

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OzEclipse Australia
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Re: Need help with collimation of my nexstar 130 telescope

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Post by OzEclipse »


Hi Quinnder1,

In the photo below, the outer white circle is on that I have drawn centred on the centre of the image of your collimating eyepiece. It should be concentric with the primary.

I think most of this can be fixed some minor adjustment of the secondary mirror.

Moving the secondary centres the image of the main mirror in the secondary mirror and centres your eye or the collimating cross in the centre. Moving the primary centres the black silhouette of the spider in the circular outline of the secondary.
collimating eyepiece.jpg
Collimating a Newtonian
https://joe-cali.com/astronomy/articles ... onian.html
Joe
Last edited by OzEclipse on Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Need help with collimation of my nexstar 130 telescope

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Post by AstroBee »


Joe beat me to it. Adjust the secondary mirror as he states to get the inner, lighter-colored circle (The primary) centered on the larger, darker-colored circle which is the shadow or silhouette of the secondary mirror. From there it should be very minor adjustments to the primary mirror. I'm not familiar with the configuration of the collimation and set screws but follow Jim's advice on making adjustments to the primary. make sure you are not confusing the set screws with adjustment screws.
Greg M.~ "Ad Astra per Aspera"
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