telescope collimation - how to collimate telescope

Step by Step instructions on how to collimate a Newtonian telescope. Reflector telescopes need regular adjustment and this process is easy with a laser collimator.

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Howto & Style

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• telescope
• telescopes
• collimate
• collimation
• laser
• collimator

[buytelescope]

Thanks everyone for the positive comments!

[fickitonetime]

Thanks for the tutorial, you should do more of them.

[buytelescope]

@fickitonetime - Hi, thanks for your comment. I do plan on making more videos eventually. I'm busy with other projects this summer, but I will be creating new videos in the fall.

[kingsalmonsteak]

Great video! It was very helpful for my first time collimating! One question though: whenever I get the laser into the donut it seems to go very dim, could this be because of the concavity of the mirror? My concern is that it isn't using it's full light-gathering potential. I looked at Saturn a couple days ago and it seemed to be fine though. Any insight is appreciated :)

[buytelescope]

@kingsalmonsteak - Hi, sounds like the babteries need to be replaced. When you turn it on initially, the red dot is bright, but then it can weakens a few seconds later. By the time you insert it in the focuser, it probably dims down. The mirror itself should not affect the brightness. Try changing batteries and see if that helps. Could also be related to the lighting conditions. If you're doign the collimation in a very bright environement vs a darker one, laser visibility may diminish a bit.

[stolenfeather]

I have been si anxious about collimating my telescope until I saw this tutorial. Thank you so very much for your help. I hope it will be as easy for my Sky-Watcher 10 inch Truss-Tube Dobsonian. 

Isabelle

[buytelescope]

@stolenfeather - Hello Isabelle! I'm glad you found this video helpful and thank you for taking the time to leave feedback.

[kILlz0n35017]

@buytelescope yeahh really huh? still have one video :/

[Mr1Grumpy]

Looks so easy. Nice 1

[mrs2mac]

Very helpful video and explained so simply - Collimating doesn't seem so scary now! You should do more vidoes!

[TheCHUCKY1992]

thanks so much very helpful and great video

[ff621]

Cool Thanks for the help, My 10 inch came with this laser and I had no idea how to use it, There was no instruction in the box.

[1980cossie]

Thank you for this vid, it was a great help, i have just ordered a laser collimation tool, i might actually get to use my Explorer-250 PDS now - excited :)

[Zenziba95]

how much would that telescope cost? it looks pretty good, a bit like mine but mines a bit shorter

[bicnarok]

can I use a laser pointer attached to a camera film holder?

[nikanj]

Is that a fan under the mirror? That's a pretty cool idea especially for larger scopes.