Input request on first scope

[notFritzArgelander]

So the XLT 102 and EQ mount came today. Seems I have a lot to learn.....

Curious though why a collimation eyepiece came with this refractor???

Sometimes refractors need collimation.

[lsintampa]

So the XLT 102 and EQ mount came today. Seems I have a lot to learn.....

Curious though why a collimation eyepiece came with this refractor???

Sometimes refractors need collimation.

Told you I have a lot to learn. Thanks!

[Bigzmey]

So the XLT 102 and EQ mount came today. Seems I have a lot to learn.....

Curious though why a collimation eyepiece came with this refractor???

Congrats! Playing with it and learning is the fun part. And as Gabby said don't by any of those bundled color filter sets, they are useless.

[russmax]

Collimation piece? That is weird. I'm jealous of your telescope & mount, btw.
--Russmax

[ARock]

Collimation piece? That is weird. I'm jealous of your telescope & mount, btw.
--Russmax

I was surprised to hear about the collimating eyepiece as well, given that I don't see it in "whats in the box" at highpoint. But I see this in the celestron knowledge base which might be of use. Although you probably don't need to do it in the first year of ownership

https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowled ... -telescope

Congrats on the great first scope !!

Two other items to get you started....

• Stellarium (free on PC/Mac) a wonderful planetarium program.
• The book "Turn Left at Orion" (used copies on Ebay for about $5 shipped are fine), which will help you get started on what objects to attempt to see and how to see them.

[Lady Fraktor]

A refractor collimating eyepiece is handy if the telescope ever takes a hard knock or fall.
You will be able to check that the lens are still centered, nice that they included it as they normally do not anymore.

[russmax]

I couldn't agree more. In fact, I have Stellarium open in another window right now, and I found Turn Left at Orion very helpful the last time I took a telescope outside. My star mapping app while viewing is SkySafari Plus on my smart phone, however. I wouldn't trade it.
--Russmax
[/quote]
Two other items to get you started....

• Stellarium (free on PC/Mac) a wonderful planetarium program.
• The book "Turn Left at Orion" (used copies on Ebay for about $5 shipped are fine), which will help you get started on what objects to attempt to see and how to see them.

[/quote]

[Sky Tinker]

So the XLT 102 and EQ mount came today. Seems I have a lot to learn.....

Curious though why a collimation eyepiece came with this refractor???

The 102mm f/10 achromat of your kit comes with the ability to collimate the objective, to align the center of the doublet-lens with the center of the focusser and eyepiece...



...front to back, from one end to the other.

There are three sets of push-pull screws round the objective, which tilts same. It is expected that the collimation is spot-on when it leaves the factory and arrives at its destination, but that may not always be the case. The tool you received may look like this...

Tectron Cheshire.jpg (11.92 KiB) Viewed 2463 times

If so, you place the tool into the focusser and shine a pen-light into the side of the tool. You then peer through the small hole at the top of the tool, and you should see something like this...

In the end, you want to see the dot precisely in the center of the circle, there in the center of the collimation-scene, and for the sharpest images. In addition, the protective dust-cap must be placed over the front of the telescope when testing.

Refractors actually require the least amount of maintenance, in the form of collimation. Many refractors cannot be collimated, given a refractor's simplicity and tightness of construction...

Still, I prefer that a refractor be collimatable, just in case.

[Sky Tinker]

I have issues with reviews such as this.
1. If he realized they sent him the wrong telescope why did he not return it for the right one?
Meade sells both a 102mm f/5.9 and a 102mm f/6.5, dumb things happen.

Here is a clearer and closer image from that review...



It seems to be the same OTA as that of the Meade "Infinity" 102mm f/5.9 achromat. Meade does not offer a 102mm f/6.5 achromat, according to that specs-label within that review; only Celestron(Synta) does.

Have a look at this listing... https://www.meade.com/polaris-114mm-ger ... ector.html

..."Aperture: 114mm Reflecting Telescope with f/8.8 Focal Length".

I have that kit, and purchased last year. This is the specs-label from my own...

[lsintampa]

Thanks everyone! I just got two more lenses - 9mm and 32mm - not top of the line - but decent celestron omni lenses. I've done a "rough" polar alignment. Having some difficulties getting the finder scope that came with - to align align consistently - but close enough. So far, aside from Polaris, all I've really observed is the moon - since it's a very easy target. Trying to learn how to use the mount to "find" other objects at this point. I think I get it, but I've got questions about my mount.

1. This should be the easier question. The mount moves (left to right) slightly when both DEC and RA clutches are locked. Is this normal? Here is a link to a short video showing the movement i'm asking about. https://photos.app.goo.gl/76coWfGdFb1Ewbu69

2. This is a tough one. How the heck do you set / read the dials on the RA settings?

I have an elementary understanding of RA, but I have a difficult time understanding how the "dials" on the RA work. Attached is a photo of the RA dials. There is the Vernier Scale (stationary) that is used to set the hours of RA. Then there is a large dial (presume for hours) that can be locked down with a locking screw. My understanding is that you have to align RA by putting some known object in center of your view, dial the hour to the Vernier Scale to the zero mark, then lock it down. Then there is another dial that I have no idea of what it is. It runs from zero to 12 - and it DOES NOT lock down.

Next is the polar finder scope area - that has a white notch on it - I assume that's for a polar scope - which I don't have for now.

RA is measured in hours / minutes / seconds. I can understand the larger dial - to set hours / minutes with help from the Vernier Scale - seconds seems rather moot.

What is the smaller dial for? It freely moves either by hand and or when I move the telescope on the RA axis.



Can't seem to get image thing to work.... link here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WJBC5mnwTvx6nLJv7

[lsintampa]

ahhh here is the photo of my RA dials.....

[Lady Fraktor]

Page 15 has a good explanation for setting these though you may want to try star hopping instead.
https://inter-static.skywatcher.com/upf ... 546576.pdf

If you are just doing visual I would not bother with a polar scope and just center Polaris in the bore hole.
More than close enough.

[lsintampa]

Page 15 has a good explanation for setting these though you may want to try star hopping instead.
https://inter-static.skywatcher.com/upf ... 546576.pdf

If you are just doing visual I would not bother with a polar scope and just center Polaris in the bore hole.
More than close enough.

OK, I get it. But, I'm trying to learn and understand stuff for the future. Since I posted my questions, I've figured out that the outward facing dial on RA for now is meaningless. The larger dial would be set once you locate an object and know it's position. Match it up with the larger silver dial, then use RA and DEC settings to get you close to other objects. That's my understanding at this point.

Still have the question about the video link I posted that shows how the mount moves left to right. Not sure if that's normal????

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EzAR5fAwMwB5Kit8A

[Lady Fraktor]

It appears your mount is moving in azimuth.
There should be a rectangular pin that sticks up from the mount that the two azimuth knobs go on either side of.
When adjusting the polar alignment you center Polaris (left/ right) by adjusting these two knobs then snug them so the mount does not move.
Adjust latitude knob up or down to center Polaris and then forget those exist while using the mount.

[lsintampa]

It appears your mount is moving in azimuth.
There should be a rectangular pin that sticks up from the mount that the two azimuth knobs go on either side of.
When adjusting the polar alignment you center Polaris (left/ right) by adjusting these two knobs then snug them so the mount does not move.
Adjust latitude knob up or down to center Polaris and then forget those exist while using the mount.

There is a pin and the mount sits over it. The two azimuth knobs are as tight as they can be. If you look at the video, the mount still moves (azimuth). I don't think it should. I'll take the mount off and take more photos. But I'm sure I have it on properly. Still moves - not a lot - but it does move.

[lsintampa]

Got it!.... there was a washer that needed to go inside the mount opening. I had it on the outside of the mount. With the washer in place "inside" the mount opening - she's tight now.

OK, I think I'm good now.

[Sky Tinker]

The setting-circles for both axes are little more than decorations, if at all. I have the same mount, the Celestron CG-4(EQ-3)...

Note that I had added a pier to the mount, which prevents the refractor from colliding with the hub and legs of the tripod when pointing the telescope at the zenith, directly overhead. Later, there on the right, I cut the pier down from 16" to 8.5", as I had felt that it was a bit too tall, for my purposes.

This is the pier-extension, which fits the CG-4 like a glove...