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Since "Bob's Knobs" are on their way, and collumation doesn't seem that difficult...
I am thinking about getting a reticule EP.
I suspect/expect that it will help with both collumation (Since I should be able to see the defocused star relative to center axis
AND
I am thinking it will help me with aligning my spotter scop with my OTA
AS WELL AS
Help me more precisely do my initial polar alignment.
Thoughts please.
Don
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Thread: Collumation vs alignment
- 03-05-2012, 12:53 AM #1
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Collumation vs alignment
Meade LX200 8" F10/wedge, 4000 series flip mirror, LP and DS imagers, Criterion 6" Dynascope. Moon and color filter set, 18mmSWA, 6.7UWA, 2x apochromatic barlow, 2" celestron e-lux 40mm, 8.4-21 zoom original criterion 7mm, 9mm, and 18mm eyepiece. Canon EOS-1Ds, Rebel XT, T-ring 1.25" and 2" adapter.
- 03-05-2012, 01:07 AM #2
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I bought an illuminated eyepiece and it was one of my better investments! It saves me so much time and I get precise alignments with it.....
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8 SE, Heavy Duty EQ Wedge, Celestron 8mm-24mm zoom
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camera with T-adapter and
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- 03-05-2012, 02:52 AM #3
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For alignments -- Yes. For collimation -- no.
Clear skies.ETX 125PE, Stellarvue 80mm BV & Televue TelePod tripod,
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8" LNT, 10x50, 15x70mm binoculars, Stellarvue binoviewers, solar filters for all three
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- 03-05-2012, 02:53 AM #4
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which one did you buy?
I really only see one brand available Meade
I am thinking about the 12mm plossl, but I am concerned about the movable part and no recentering capablilty...seems kind-of worthless without accurate recentering.
Another options are the 12mm MA and 9mm MA, both corded (for my meade LX200 scope, or cordless (batteries).
I like the double cross and concentric circles of the plossl. Sure wish i could find one fixed.
I also saw one that had five or six different markings. not sure what they are for though.Meade LX200 8" F10/wedge, 4000 series flip mirror, LP and DS imagers, Criterion 6" Dynascope. Moon and color filter set, 18mmSWA, 6.7UWA, 2x apochromatic barlow, 2" celestron e-lux 40mm, 8.4-21 zoom original criterion 7mm, 9mm, and 18mm eyepiece. Canon EOS-1Ds, Rebel XT, T-ring 1.25" and 2" adapter.
- 03-05-2012, 02:56 AM #5
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i have the orion 12mm illuminated recticle. it has the double crosshairs and seems to work great for me.
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- 03-05-2012, 03:28 AM #6
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Why not for collimation?
I read an article that described using masking tape to mark one of the screws (Imaginary 12 o'clock) to form a shadow and then draw an imaginary line and adjust the defocused star toward center.
I'm thinking a real line would be easier to work with.Meade LX200 8" F10/wedge, 4000 series flip mirror, LP and DS imagers, Criterion 6" Dynascope. Moon and color filter set, 18mmSWA, 6.7UWA, 2x apochromatic barlow, 2" celestron e-lux 40mm, 8.4-21 zoom original criterion 7mm, 9mm, and 18mm eyepiece. Canon EOS-1Ds, Rebel XT, T-ring 1.25" and 2" adapter.
- 03-05-2012, 03:38 AM #7
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I was just looking at
Meade 12mm MA astrometric with illuminator
it's the one I saw earlier with more than one scale.
would this be useful? I hate buying 'single-taskers' ...learned from Alton Brown.Meade LX200 8" F10/wedge, 4000 series flip mirror, LP and DS imagers, Criterion 6" Dynascope. Moon and color filter set, 18mmSWA, 6.7UWA, 2x apochromatic barlow, 2" celestron e-lux 40mm, 8.4-21 zoom original criterion 7mm, 9mm, and 18mm eyepiece. Canon EOS-1Ds, Rebel XT, T-ring 1.25" and 2" adapter.
- 03-05-2012, 03:44 AM #8
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Because you collimate an SCT on a star in two steps-- first with a big doughnut de-focused star -- then you jump the magnification up and just barely defocus the star and watch if the tiny shadow of the secondary remains in the middle on both sides of focus.... and make tiny tweaks of the collimation screws (or Bob's Knob screws) -- to make it stay in the middle as best you can.
Masking tape or lighted crosshairs not needed.
On your reflector a laser with a return beam screen will work just fine-- add a barlow if you want to be extra precise.
http://www.smartavtweaks.com/RVBL.htmlLast edited by Joe Lalumia; 03-05-2012 at 04:57 AM.
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- 03-05-2012, 04:04 AM #9
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What Joe said. A Cheshire is good too.
Lee
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I make mistakes, so others don't have too!
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- 03-05-2012, 02:08 PM #10
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Joe is correct an illuminated eyepiece will be of no help when collimating and to be honest not much of a help (if any) when aligning...just defocusing the star so it appears like a big fat donut in the eyepiece makes centering a star a piece of cake...
Compare centering a pancake on a dinner plate against centering a grape on the same plate...
Bob G.CPC1100 housed in a slotted domed observatory (Exploradome) 4 and 5 inch refractors for use from the lawn, a 8" Sct (NS 8i) for star parties...
I Hate the winter so I use heated Motorcycle clothing to stay warm while observing in winter
Retired, also have 2 other hobbies
1. tinker with older Corvettes (6 in garage)
2. make a heck of a lot of sawdust in my wood shop.
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