How to Collimate a Telescope - Orion Telescopes and Binoculars
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- Опубліковано 4 сер 2024
- This video demonstrates how to collimate your reflector telescope by hand as well as using an accessory like the Orion LaserMate Deluxe Laser Collimator.
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Another useful tool is our Orion Collimating Telescope Eyepiece.
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Wow, 9 years later and still the best there is.
I was thinking the same thing
Yeah, but 380p?
@@skysurferuk Welcome to 2011
@@HamTransitHistory :-)
Long time ago..
11 years later and I just got my first telescope and after so much reading online forums this one helped the most, thank you!!
Now, that! Is an INSTRUCTIONAL video. Very well done!
We’re going to Big Bend in a couple of weeks ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxSt0aBrzyS1nxONvwm1e0u7ZDFD_eypAO so I bought these to use during the hikes, didn’t want to miss anything. As you can see by the photos I tested the phone adapter by taking a phone of a power pole on the next block and you can see the results. It took a couple of minutes to line the phone camera up to the eye piece, there’s a bit of a learning curve, but once it was longed up it stayed in place without any issues. So far I’m impressed with the feel and the weight, the neck strap is wide and soft so it feels good on my neck. I look forward to using it with my friend and grandson in Big Bend!
The diagrams are excellent. Other videos do a valiant job of trying to hold a camera above the cap hole, but these diagrams are the best aid that I have found. I love my XT8. Thank you Orion for making such great product for beginners like me!
Best video on youtube about simple collimation. Others only confuse a beginner by introducing an exhaustive list of tools and jargons!
Thank you so much! I've read how to do this a hundred times but it didn't make complete sense until I saw the video. My Orion 8" Reflector is happy now :)
Orion I just got my 6ai, and I've never been more excited for a night sky in my life. Thank you so much for going the extra mile and including with my purchase some free extras due to a slight delay in shipping. Can't wait till I get my mid-life crisis telescope from you all! 😁😁😁
2021 Still the best video around. Hope they can redo one in HD.
Thanks so much, I spent four hours messing around with it and I couldn’t get it right on the star test. I did it in 10 minutes after watching the video, it makes everything so much more clear
clearer
@@desertpair2 Thank you Grammar Police.
I love correcting people who think that they’re correcting others.
‘So much more clear’ is correct and acceptable.
@@simonh10 lol thank you for correcting his incorrect correction. You are....correct
kenworthNH
“Correcter” 😜
Great! It worked for me. I have just purchased an Orion XT 8, 8'' Dobsonian.
As beginner astronomer, I did not realized that some abnormal effects like _coma aberration_ had something to do with *correct collimation* . After few "googlings" I've found that it really is important and the procedure in this video was straightforward to help me solving this issue.
Thanks guys!
Hi toughluck78,
Collimation is a step by step procedure, so you align different parts of the optical system in a certain order. At 4:12, it's showing the secondary mirror centered in the focuser (look at the large red circle - that's the part centered). At 5:47, the primary mirror is centered next (the large green area). And then at 6:43 we're showing the last part to be centered (the reflection of the secondary mirror).
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
A vid showing what you are seeing through the focuser would be of help.
Thank you for all your help, and the great videos! Keep making more vids, I enjoy learning from them all!
This video is significantly better than any other collimation video or article. Thank you so much for providing this.
A very useful video. Once you follow the directions and look through the cap yourself it becomes even clearer. Here's my take.
Stage 1 = is the big circle (the primary) in the middle of your field of view
Stage 2 = is the small black circle ( the secondary) in the middle of the big circle
Stage 3 = is the tiny dot in the middle of the white circle ( the hole in the collimation cap) lining up with the white donut ( the middle of the primary)
Usually only stage 3 needs adjustment.
This was very helpful. Thank you for taking the time.
Yeah nobody needs your take you're just needlessly complicating. It's already all there in the video stop trying to be a knowitall.
@@kishascape they can decide for themselves if they want to read it. Thanks for stopping by !
my XT6 didn't seem to come with a collumation cap. Is it necessary?
This video was very helpful. Thank you for making it.
Hi Mike,
We do collimate it at the factory, but yes it can get bounced around a bit in shipping. I can tell you from experience it will probably need at most only a little tweak to the collimation, but it won't be severely out of alignment. We package them very well and there shouldn't be any problem with it being shipped. Don't worry too much about the collimation process. It's really not that difficult and just takes a little practice.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Very thorough and well demonstrated collimation. Thank u so much!
nice job on this.......I've done this in the past, worked nice for me. I have friends that are confused by collimation but this is an easy way to explain it to them.
Thank you. Great explanation. I'll have the local shop do it the first time (the scope has been moved internationally and dented), but I think I got this after that!
Great video, I picked up anXT8 yesterday and removed the primary for cleaning, secondary needed a gentle wipe too....but no I know how to collimate this correctly. Thank you for this brilliant and very useful video.
I bought the XT8 last year, never checked the back holdings screws. Mine were all loose and my scope was out of collimation. This video was great, have it all aligned, now I need a clear sky!
Great video! P.S. Who else heard the fart at 4:19? 😂
It was his shoe probably
Hi Robert,
In a properly collimated reflector, the secondary mirror is offset in the tube. It's positioned slightly away from the focuser, and slightly down the tube. The amount of offset is determined by the focal ratio. Fast scopes have more offset. Make sure the shadow of the secondary is centered in the primary, but you don't have to worry about your eyeball reflection in the reflection of the secondary. It's a bit off towards the opening of the tube.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Ty for showing this video. Great information. Now do not feel bad for getting me a reflecter. Always use refracter but now, I'm getting a reflecter. ;)
Good job and honest sense on how to help us. Than you
Wish I watched this before I got started. Very helpful. Thanks
Thank you for this information! By far, your video is kickass!
Great Video!! Thanks so much!!!
Great video, saved me a lot of grief. Cheers.
Great video. I collimated my first ever scope in a few minutes after watching this!
Thanks a lot for your fast reply I'll check my manual
The best collimation video out there
Hi Andres,
That sounds perfectly normal. If you have the focuser positioned at its lowest point, the tube of the focuser will block some of the reflection of the mirror. Just rack the focusing tube out until you can't see it in the reflection. When an eyepiece is inserted and focused at the night sky, the tube is far enough out to not block any of the mirror.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Very well done. Thanks.
Excellent video, thank you
It took me a while to understand that the collimation adjustment screws on the bottom were all independent of each other. I finally got that dot in the middle! I'm in my early 50's, and this is my first telescope.
Thank you so much!
huge help man. thanks! have this same telescope
Very useful, thank you for sharing
Thanks! Great tutorial
This was very helpful, thank you!
Hi Assassain54,
Yes, you can still collimate your telescope without the collimation cap. The cap just helps center your eye in the focuser, and if you're careful, you can do that yourself without the aid of the cap. Also, you can make your own collimation cap using an old film canister with a small hole in the center of the cap, and the bottom cut off.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
This video is a lifesaver. The laser is "The way to go!". Thanks for the video. I'll keep buying Orion. Can you do one on star collimation?
Hi NoneofYourbusiness,
Thanks for the comment. Each scope is slightly different, and we recommend reading through the manual for the particular telescope. The threads on the XT-8 locking screws are fairly course, so they unscrew quickly. But I agree, they do have to be loosened enough so they don't re-engage when using the collimation screws. And they can just barely be tightened down afterwards - no need to really clamp down which can affect the collimation.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Very helpful!
I believe this is the only youtube video I know that doesn't have any dislike. Not even one😳 I guess no trolls here.. Great video for sure.. Thank you so much👌🙏🙏
Fantastic video.. Thanks..
1:10 When I bought my XT8, it came with the 2mm allen wrench. It also came with 2 wrenches. In fact, it came every tool you'd ever need for the XT8. How nice is that?
Hi Grannyhauenstein,
Yes, it sounds like your secondary mirror is pretty far out of alignment. Start with the secondary, and adjust it until the laser comes back onto the primary mirror. Once you get the secondary adjusted so it's hitting the center of the primary, then it's time to start adjusting the primary mirror.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
great vid thanks!
Now if Orion could make the clouds go away tonight I'd be a lifelong advocate
@oriontelescopes Thanks so much for the reply. Guilty as charged, Jupiter was no more than 30 degrees off eastern horizon. I used to have an XT10 a long time ago and am just now getting back into observing. Again thanks for the response explaining the color shift.
best regards,
Andy
GREAT tutorial! Thanks, it's really awsome. By the way, did you try the auto-subtitles? They are just hylarious
Hi liveLAsunday,
In what way is the main mirror not in the center of the secondary? Do you mean when you take the laser out and look, or do you mean the returning laser beam up near the focuser is not in the center. If that's the case, then the primary mirror needs some adjustment. If it's the first case, then your secondary mirror may not be centered under the focuser left to right or up and down and it might be distorting the results.
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Thanks !
Hi SV544,
It sounds like you actually have it collimated well. In a perfectly collimated reflector that has a fairly fast focal ratio (f/6 or faster), the last reflection of the shadow of the secondary will be offset towards the opening of the tube. This is an optical effect caused by one side of the secondary mirror being farther away from you eye than the other side.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
ORION is the best!
XT10 is Fantastic! It comes with multiple Allen wrenches too.
Thanks andcveryveasybto do with your instructions.
Hi Brian, I'm a beginner with telescopes and I bought a Bresser Pollux 1400/150 telescope and I get a blurry image with my 10 mm Eyepiece although with the 25 mm eyepiece the image is fine. Is that a collimation problem and if so does the collimation works the same for all reflector telescopes ?
Thanks.
So I have a Celestron Astromaster 130 and my instructions say not to tighten or loosen the center screw on the secondary mirror but It doesn’t look like it’s centered through the focuser. What should I do
Does bad collimation result in chroma shift like a refractor? Looking at jupiter tonight with xt-8, I noticed red and blue at opposite edges like a cheaper achromatic refractor. Is this the byproduct of bad collimation, they eyepiece (25mm sirius plossl) or barlow (generic short barlow)? I was under the impression that reflectors didn't have refractor- like color shifts at edges.. Thanks,
Andy
I have the XT6 Dobsonian and was able to get it pretty close to bull's eye by adjusting the primary mirror (Stage 3 like Jonathan Shields says below) The secondary mirror, however, does it require something other than a 2 mm elan wrench? Because the 3 openings seem to accommodate this size, but the actual screws at the back are much smaller. This is the part that remains a bit off for me. Also, I can tell my primary mirror is pretty disturbingly dirty. Also, Saturn and Venus for instance are almost double images recently even in focus. The moon is still pretty remarkably clear, but I can't seem to get a clear view of Saturn especially, or even Mars for that matter, now that they are both pretty easily accessible in the hour preceding dawn. Is that a result of collimation being off, or dirty mirrors, or both? How big of a pain is it to remove and clean the mirrors? Thanks very much in advance to anybody who may be able to help, and thank you for this video! Cheers!
Great collemating video. I did mine. Yay. But what if the manufacture from you guys tighting the screws so tight on my 130mmST? Yes, I have had so many very tight screws they resending me the parts 1 at a time. Phew. The collemating screw was so tight had to get a vise grip on it. Surprised i did not mess up the spiders.
does the 4.5 come with the cap thing?
With the laser are you supposed to tighten it in the focuser like with an eyepiece or leave it loose.
What replacement size collimation adjustment screws and replacement locking screw size should I get for my orion starblast 6
Would it be ok to tilt the open end of the tube slightly downward instead of having it horizontal so if you were to drop something in the tube it would have to roll uphill in order to contact the mirror?
Currently trying to collimate our xt8 however having a hard time loosening the screws using our hex key
I just got my xt6 and hope it doesn't get out of adjustment because I'm lost haha.But thanks for the video anyway,most people can probably do it.
As good as this video is at explaining the alignment, I am amazed that of all people, those that know good optics would put out a video explaining how to have great images, on a 360 mega pixel video. Crazy.
Just to give you a little info. 360p isn't the megapixel count, but instead an indicator of the resolution with the p meaning "progressive scan". Likely the video is something like 640x360 which is around 0.23 megapixels.
Though, I do entirely agree with you. No excuse for it to be 360p.
Is the secondary mirror supposed to be offset (not in the centre of the optical tube)? Mine is, and I'm finding it difficult to collimate the telescope properly when it is like this. If it isn't, how can I centre it in the tube?
Do the socket set screws have to be tightened back at the end and how about the center screw?
Why was the process for adjusting the secondary mirror so different when using the laser eg. no need for a screw driver and the hex bolts were used as adjusters instead of locks
With the laser collimator you cant really do the back and forth adjustment of the secondarys since the laser doesnt care where it hits the secondary, just at what angle (that should usually be fine unless something is way out of wack).
thats why the part with the center screw is skiped there.
The three other screws serve dual purpose as "lock" and adjusters in both cases but you just never loosen them enough for the secondary to become loose when using the laser collimator.
Hi Rickytan88,
It certainly could be due to poor collimation, so it's just something you'll have to look for. If the star image slightly out of focus doesn't look symmetrical, you'll have to adjust the collimation. Collimation is pretty much the same for all reflectors, but check your manual for the exact method. Some scopes need phillips screwdrivers, some need hex wrenches, and others have thumb knobs without needing many tools.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
How do u work out the secondary offset? I accidenltly took off the secondary by lossening it to much.. cant get it back in the exact right place
Hi, I have a Saxon Newtonian Reflector Telescope (200/1000) and I am unsure how I would align my primary mirror. The rear of the tube simply has 3 Phillips head screws, that is it. No knobs, twist screws or pairs of adjustment pieces.
So cleaning the primary with wd 40 is not good ?
Just kiddin. thanks heltp alot 👍
Just received a 130ST, I'm so excited, but since I'm form Costa Rica it arrived a little out of collimation! This is my first time collimating; When I thought I had everything collimated There seems to appear a strange reflection in my primary, I then realized it was a aprt of the focuser tube, I guess this is not normal; what should I do???
I have a cheshire collimator and i'm trying collimation for the first time. Is it the same like in this video with only a collimation cap?
Hi Trickybilly,
Yes, you can use this guide with a Cheshire or a collimation cap, both would adjust the same way.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Are there collimation knobs that fit the secondary mirror?
Can I have a copy of this file? I need to take it to my telescope and need to play it on my computer, (no smart phone).
Thanks!
Very helpful video, and I love my XT6, but would it really break the bank to include the Allen wrench??? Had to make a trip to the hardware store just for that purpose.
7:49 all my circles are aligned. Does it matter if the 3 squares inside the big white circle are not the same size or not equally spaced?
I have one issue with the instructions on this video with regards to using the laser collimator - you say that you only need one tool, to adjust the secondary tilt to have the laser hit the centre dot on the primary. You forget to understand that the secondary should be centred in the focuser BEFORE adjusting tilt on the secondary. I presume that you meant (and omitted) to mention to use the collimating cap FIRST, before then proceeding to use the laser.
Hi SV544,
Yes, sorry, that's what I meant. The last (furthest part) of the reflection is your eyeball and the inside of the collimating cap. That is the part that will be offset towards the opening of the telescope in a perfectly collimated fairly fast focal ratio telescope.
Now, you mentioned yours if f/9.3. That's very slow, so the offset will be pretty minimal. But you probably will still see some.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
iv'e got the dot in the circle but the main mirror is not in the center of the secondary mirror
I'm looking in to buying one of your beginner telescopes, but I'm not sure which one would be the best to start with.
I was thinking about the skyline 8" Dobsonain
Dobsonian*
Hello! Which telescope did you end up buying? I’m about to buy an Orion starblast 6 reflector
Hi John,
We just aren't set up for international shipping. But we do have dealers around the world that carry our products so there is a good chance there is a vendor near you who would have our products. I'm sorry we aren't able to satisfy your needs directly.
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Hi can you help me? I have a dobsonian telescope and i need your opinion if i make the right collimation. Please answer me.
Hi Christian, for assistance please call us when you have some time. You can reach us at 1-800-447-1001.
will this also work for a celestron 127eq scope?
Hi Nick,
This procedure should work for any standard Newtonian reflector, but of course, you should check the manual for your telescope for any specific details. Most all telescope manuals have a collimation procedure included.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Very good tutorial, well explained and described. I've just purchased two telescopes, my first ever at 71. I promised myself I'd get a telescope as a boy and it's taken this long to finally get one. Unfortunately the funds were limited so one was a wreck and the other was slightly better. I'm almost at the stage of needing to align everything.
I have one problem, I removed both mirrors complete with the plastic surrounds so that I didn't overly disturb their alignment. I put a mark on the barrel of the telescope so that I knew which way I should replace the unit. What I forgot to take into account was the fact I was going to cover the barrel with a carbon fiber wrap which ended up covering the mark I made. DUH!
The secondary mirror is no problem, it faces the eyepiece, but that leaves me with a primary mirror with 4 possible positions. Does it matter which way the primary is attached? If it does, is there some way to figure out which way it should go? I could remove the wrap, but it's not a 5 minute job to replace it. I'm hoping there's some mark or pointer which the manufacturer used when it was being built, if indeed it actually requires one. If yourself or one of your viewers can offer advice to a silly old man, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you.
Hi there, congrats on picking up your first telescopes! If I understand you right, the orientation of the mirror shouldn't matter much. What matters more is the alignment, twisting the mirror in place shouldn't be a problem. If you have any other questions feel free to contact us on of the following ways:
Phone: 1-800-447-1001
Email: support@telescope.com
Live chat: www.telescope.com
@@oriontelescopes Thank you for your help, I appreciate it. The mirrors came up very well and I've given everything a good cleaning. Next up comes the wrap. Tomorrow I'll put everything back where it belongs. In the mean time I'll check out your site and make a few mental notes. You never know, I may save enough to buy something really good,
11.10 : BASIC BASIC question here (sorry) how do i know my secondary mirror angle is perfect? I.E. It can rotate! and I am unsure I have it precise. I have collimated both mirrors with a collimating laser to perfection but worry my mirror is not angled correctly... HELP!
Hi Jon,
If you pull out the eyepiece and look down the focuser (use the collimation cap to verify you're looking down the very center of the focuser barrel), you'll see the reflection of the primary mirror in the secondary mirror.
If the secondary mirror is rotated away from facing the focuser, you'll noticed that you can't see the entire image of the primary in the secondary. The sides of the primary closest to both tube walls will be clipped off, until you rotate the secondary until it's facing the focuser and angled correctly.
I hope that helps, thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
SUPER!!!
next question
I have a NEWTONIAN 150/750 and have collimated it to precision with a laser collimator but STILL SEE crosshairs!
Can you help? What am i doing wrong?
Hi, I've recently purchased an Orion sky scanner 100. Is the primary mirror perfectly collimated, as there are no collimation screws behind it? Thanks!
Hi Ronald. The SkyScanner 100mm telescopes are factory collimated but you may find over time that it may need to be adjusted. The owner's manual should include an addendum that outlines this process, which is slightly different for fixed-primary mirrors. You can see this addendum here on our site:
www.telescope.com/assets/product_files/instructions/29530_06-14.pdf
Which is more reliable, the cap or the laser ,because I'm having a mismatch between the two.
Actually my problem is the housing has 3 on the outside surrounding the rear body of the tube and 3 screws on the cap (plate) of the tube. Which are the locking screws and which are the focusing screws?
Nice :)
Hi. I don't understand what he said about the secondary mirror. First I loosen the allen screws, then I adjust them, then I tighten them? Won't tightening them ruin all the adjustments I've made?
Thanks!
You should only loosen one set screw at a time, by no more than 1/4 turn and then tighten the other 2 allen screws to take up the slack. You'll want to make small adjustments like that until the tilt is correct, and by the end all 3 should be reasonably tight. You can read more about the process on his collimation document here: bit.ly/2AAELP2
If you ever need additional assistance we would be happy to help, feel free to contact us by phone at 1-800-447-1001 or by email at support@telescope.com.
I just can’t seem to get the reflection of the collimation cap centred under the focuser. Any help.
I can set the secondary mirror so I can see the mirror clips and also I can set the primary mirror Center soon in the hole on the colimation cap.
Feel free to contact our Tech Support and we'll be happy to give you some additional assistance. Contact us any of the following ways:
Phone: 1-800-447-1001
Email: support@telescope.com
Live Chat: www.telescope.com