Talscopes (div. Tekelek Company Limited) web http://www.talscopes.

com
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Collimating a Newtonian Telescope

Collimating a telescope is the process of aligning the mirrors square and concentric about the optical axis of the tel-
escope. It is an easy job to do, and will allow your telescope to deliver its best possible performance. You cannot harm
your telescope in any way by performing these adjustments.

In general - the steps are:

1. mechanically center the diagonal mirror in the tube and under the focus tube.
2. Adjust the diagonal tilt so that it centers the view of the tube end/main mirror.
3. Adjust the tilt of the main mirror so it is in line with axis of the secondary mirror.

To make this easier you need the following;

1. 35mm film canister Fig.1 Fig.2

2. Center dot on your mirror
Spider
3. laser collimator (optional)
4. a little patience. adjustment screws
center bolt

Fig.1 back end showing main mirror cell and adjustment nuts
Fig. 2front end showing spider/secondary/diagonal mirror
diagonal holder
diagonal mirror

1. Center daigonal in the tube.This is just a simple case of measuring in from the tube wall to the center bolt of the
secondary holder. Most secondaries are supported by a ‘Spider’ of some description. Loosen and tighten opposite
bolts/screws at the vane ends to center the spider (and hence the secondary) in the tube.

2. Center dot your main mirror. Remove the mirror and cell from the rear of the telescope and using a mask or a
ruler, locate the precise center of the mirror and put a dot there with a felt pen or afix a gummed hole re-inforcing ring.
This will be hidden in the shadow of the secondary so don’t worry about degrading the mirror performance. Put the
mirror and cell back into the tube. The re-inforcing ring is preferred for laser collimators as the grid shows up better.

If you have a laser collimator - skip to step 7.

3. If your secondary holder can be removed from the spider leaving a center mounting hole - do so.

4. Look through the the center hole of the secondary (Fig. 2) and get someone to turn the main mirror adjustment
screws (Fig. 1) to bring the reflection of the hole in the main mirror and the mirror center dot together. This means that
your main mirror axis is now in line with the secondary axis. Re-install the secondary mirror/holder.

5. Now center the diagonal mirror under the focuser tube (1). To make this easier, it is important that your eye be in
the center of the tube. To ensure this, get a 35mm film cannister and drill a 1/8” hole in the end using the moulding
‘dimple’ as a guide. This will fit into a standard 1-1/4” focuser. When your focuser is racked all the way out - look into
the peephole you have made. Ignore any reflections for the moment and check to see that the circle formed by front

599b Norris Crt, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7P 2R9 Tel. (800) ***-**** fax (800) 866-7690
 Talscopes (div. Tekelek Company Limited) web http://www.talscopes.com
Email info@talscopes.com

surface of the diagonal (2) is centered for and aft under the focus tube. (1) If
not - adjust the forward/back position to acheive this.
What you see

6. Now, sighting through your peephole, adjust the tilt of the secondary so
that the reflectionof the main mirror (3) is centered in view. You’re done.

The next steps are for those people that have a laser collimator;

7. Install your laser collimator in the focus tube making sure shoulder of
collimator is sitting square on top of focuser flange. Do not overtighten thumb-
screw.

8. Adjust tilt of diagonal so that the laser dot (or center of grid - Helix type)
is projected onto the mirror center dot. 1. Inside of focuser tube
2. Front face of diagonal
9. If your laser is the grid pattern type (Helix), adjust tilt of main mirror so 3. Reflection of main mirror in diagonal
4. Reflection of secondary in main mirror
that shadow of secondary is centered in the grid that is projected out onto a 5. You
nearby wall,

or if a single dot type, adjust tilt so that the dot is reflected back onto itself.

10. Fine adjustments can be done to the primary when viewing a defocused star, but generally the above procedure
will give good results in F6 systems or higher. F5 or lower systems require meticulous care to the above steps and star
test adjustments to refine them.

From time to time, you should check the tilt of the main mirror as it can be jiggled loose by bumping or or jarring. Once
set, the secondarys usually hold their collimation failry well.

Star test for collimation.

This is a very sensitive test that can be done on any bright star. Use Polaris if possible
only because it will not drift during this test.

Center Polaris in the field of view and defocus the star image until you can see a pattern
similar to that on the left. If the dark round shadow of the diagonal is centered like a
bullseye in the rings - your collimation in spot on.

If it is off a little bit, gently turn one of the main mirror adjustment screws to move the
shadow to the center. This will move the image of the star a little. If the one you pick
doesn’t move the shadow in the right direction, try another one. At this point you should
only need very small adjustments. Re-center star image after each adjustment.

599b Norris Crt, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7P 2R9 Tel. (800) ***-**** fax (800) 866-7690