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Adjusting a Reflecting Telescope Without Collimation

A bit of pre-planning will go a long way toward enjoying an evening under the stars. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or just like to look at the stars to relax, having a properly calibrated telescope is a necessity. Learning how to do a quick calibration without having to use collimation will get you the maximum viewing time during the night and eliminate the potential of encountering a blurry star field.

Things You'll Need

Shims

Instructions

- 1
  Set up the telescope during the daytime for initial calibration. The calibration must be done on-site because moving the telescope will reintroduce minor misalignments.
- 2
  Choose a point in the distance on the horizon line. Center the point in the eyepiece field of view. Fine adjustments can be made by twisting the lens. If you need greater magnification, change the eyepiece.
- 3
  Lock the telescope down on the tripod. If the tripod isn't sturdy or you're on an uneven surface, you may need to use shims to level it.
- 4
  Adjust the finder scope until it's centered on the same object that the eyepiece is. Turning the knob on the finder scope clockwise will zoom in and counterclockwise will zoom out.
- 5
  Wait until nightfall and focus the finder scope on Polaris (the North Star). Look into the eyepiece and center Polaris there as well. This should be a minute adjustment as all the major adjustments were done during the daytime.
- 6
  Wait at least 30 minutes before trying to locate dimmer objects. You need to give your pupils time to adjust to the darkness. Once your eyes have adjusted, resume viewing.

Astronomy