Suggestion: The telescope should be pointed at a downward slope when adjusting the secondary mirror just in case the screwdriver is dropped. If the telescope is pointed upward, the screwdriver will slide down the tube and hit the mirror and scratch it up or chip it.
Some people have no business making videos of how to do something but this one is well done...A major plus with this video is that it doesn't sound like it is in an echo chamber.... lol ....Thanks for a simple explanation of how to do this...
Good video. But a word to the wise. Laser collimators can lead you to misalign your secondary mirror very easily. Then you wind up making endless adjustments to both mirrors and perhaps never getting them properly aligned. Use a collimation cap for the secondary mirror, the laser for the primary, and always use star alignment afterwards to be positive.
Hi I like all the videos. You make it a lot more interesting and you cut out all the ball. A lot of video's go on and on and on. Lot's of good tips. thanks
@benjaminpoole9383 Hi Benjamin, Thank you for your contribution to amateur astronomy. You did a really good job presenting the materials progressively, methodically, and in a manner clear and easy to understand. Thank you! And I hope you are still active and are able to continue your contributions perhaps via extending the series you have here. Cheers!
Very good video. Helped me get used to doing manual collimating again. One tip is to replace any screws at the primary and secondary mirrors adjustments with knobs. That way there's no risk at all of dropping a screwdriver or even carry around tools. Should be able to find them in specialty online stores or ebay. \
If you want to set up a Alt/Az mount really well. 1, mount your base on a lazy susan bearing. 2 get rid of those pieces of plastic for the Alt bearing and replace them with sealed ball bearings. Then worry about collimation. Turn the laser around so the face of the collimator faces forward and make sure the secoundary is a 45 degrees so you can see the secoundary mirror in the primary and it is obvious where the secondary needs to be and you can see if the focuser is centered in the secounday. then put the laser in the center of the primary mirror. Rotate the laser so you can see it from the back of the scope to adjust the primary mirror DONE! Make your scope as easy as possible to move and stay on a target, that can not be done with friction bearings. Balance your scope with weight on the opposite side of the focuser and finder scope, when that is done the friction knob will hardly be used. In other words put the counter balance weights on the bottom of the scope at the back were the primary mirror is. I used a fanny pack with BB's so I can add or subtract weight easily. I wheel my 10" around on a garden cart and use small trailer stabilizing jacks to keep the scope steady. This works and with use it will become very easy and is not rocket science. You will get very tight stars and double stars will show very good separation Just give it a try and hope your results are as good as mine. I'v been doing this for over 20 years. Please read my college paper on double stars in the Journal of double stars. use my name and look for double stars using a 3" Tasco refractor In the Journal of double stars 2007 or 2008. Have great nights and use your imagination to make your viewing great. There will be a picture of me and the little Tasco.
Thanks for the quick tut. I seriously need to fix my collimation. And I got this weird thing where my Superview 68 degrees eyepiece from GSO when attached to the scope. I can see a circle tiny reflection of me in the middle. I just noticed it and I got no idea wtf is causing it lol.
I don't think you mentioned it but something to pay attention to when you are viewing is moisture in the air. In the South in particular when humidity levels are high, dew will form on the secondary and primary mirrors quite quickly. And a Telrad if you're using that or a finderscope. Check out heaters for these mirrors. Not especially cheap (couple hundred bucks when you buy the ones you really need) but they make ALL the difference in your sky watching. If you live in desert conditions, they're not needed. If you're thinking of a collimator, I personally recommend Howie Glatter units. I had a great Hotech collimator and was not especially pleased with how long it took me to collimate. With the HG unit, 2 minutes, done! If you're starting out do not, please do not, buy one of the department store telescopes. You'll waste your money. Check out the Meade offerings, among others, and you'll start with a quality, useful telescope. It's a great way to start watching the skys and search youtube videos. They will teach you everything you need to know. Videos like this excellent series. It's a hobby for the rest of your life.
John Smith Thanks for all the great advice. I have a lot of trouble with condensation in New Zealand on cold nights especially on the finderscope and on the eyepieces. I actually thought about putting some resistors together and making my own heaters! I'm moving to Australia, so maybe I'll have less trouble there anyway. Right on with the advice about buying a quality scope out of the gate. Nothing is more frustrating than using poor equipment!
Used my laser collimater and got the secondary and primary mirror aligned. Then only about 10 minutes later it was out of alignment. I didnt bump it at all, i only spinned it around a few times on the mount.
please come back and do more videos!! do you have a social media account to follow? Your videos have really helped me and made everything easier to understand.
Remember any number of degrees can add up to 45 degrees. The most important part is to get the secoundary mirror exactly at 45 degrees to the eye piece. When you put the collmenater in the eye piece, when it is rotated in the eye piece, if it does not stay centered ,work at the adjustments until the laser spot stays in the center. When that is done stars will appear as good as a refractor telescope. This is time consuming and assumes that the laser its self in correctly collimated. I us a V block and point the laser on a object such as a wall as far away as possible and see if it draws a circle when rotated, if it does ,use the set screws to adjust it. good luck!
i suggest a cheshire combo sight tube...more reliable and does not have to be collimated,...a laser colli needs to be checked for collimation itself..also get a RACI finderscope, or Telrad
Normally it is properly positioned under the focuser and you have to align it using the aligning screws on the back of the secondary mirror. If you are using a laser collimator, it is aligned when the red dot is in the center of the primary mirror. Just make sure you don't drop your screwdriver! Let me know if this doesn't answer your question.
Hi hope you can help. I have a skywatcher 10 inch collapsible and a hotech laser collimator. I first adjusted the secondary so the laser disappears inside the donut in the center of the primary. Then center the primary so the laser dot is centered in the grid on the collimator. BUT when I then go back the laser dot reflecting on the primary mirror is no longer in the center of the dounut, it is on the edge of the donut. When I observed my airys disc seemed centered, but the scope stars just did not focus cleanly. Is there something I am doing wrong? Thx
THANKS A LOT FOR THE VDOS! PLEASE MAKE ONE MORE ON ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY. I AM THINKING OF GETTING A 8 INCH DOB.THAT COMES WITHIN MY BUDJET. I DO HAVE A DSLR. WHAT KIND OF ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY CAN BE DONE WITH THEM?
Dobs are not a good choice for photography, except for the moon and maybe planets. If you want to make pictures of deep sky objects you need an equatorial mount
Well I read, "pattyvisioncenters" webpage which says,"Type I lasers have a power output of under .4 milliwatts and are incapable of damaging the retina. Most laser pointers are classified as type II or IIIA and have a power output of between 1 to 5 milliwatts. Theoretically, that is enough power to damage the retina......The most common problem associated with laser pointers and the eye is a condition called flash blindness. Flash blindness occurs when the eye becomes dazzled after being exposed to a bright light. Most people have experienced flash blindness after having their picture taken by a camera with a flash. This condition is temporary and most people regain their vision after a minute or so."
Great video. I just gota Dobsonian 6 " and tried for thr first time yesterday to see the moon. It was cloudy so didn't have much time to see. I'll probably buy a laser to help me colimate. I was wondering what's the best 2" eyepiece I should get. I find the 1.25" to "small" to observe. Cheers
Keep seeing all these videos talking about "there is a little circle on the mirror". I've got 3 scopes and none of them have that circle. My friend has 2 scopes, and no circle.
Hi, I am amature and just began my adventure with astronomy, got Meade LX90 (SCT). The question is: can I use this laser tool in my telescope or are there some contraindications ?
I'm not really sure. I've never had an SCT. I did come across a laser collimation tool for SCT's online, but it was really expensive. Here is a link to the telescope manual www.manualslib.com/manual/100932/Meade-Lx90.html?page=43
Great video! I just got an 8 inch dob... The Orion xt8. I'd like to buy 2 eyepieces for it... Something better than what came with it. What would you recommend as far as brand and focal length for both planetary viewing and deep space objects. I'm looking forward to your next video thanks!
Hello! Congrats on your new telescope. I have made a video that covers this topic ruclips.net/video/gzAVgRh1QYQ/видео.html. It is a little technical, but important for understanding what eyepieces to buy. I really like my Baader Hyperion eyepieces. They are very good quality eyepieces, not too expensive, and you can purchase two expander rings for them that change the focal length, giving you 4 different focal lengths for each eyepiece. I bought the 17mm and 8mm versions, which should be good for you as well. Here are a couple links from Baader Hyperion www.baader-planetarium.de/sektion/s26/download/hyperion-okulare_englisch.pdf www.baader-planetarium.de/sektion/s26/download/hyperion_overview_en.pdf. The second has a little chart in the top middle that will show you all the focal lengths that you can achieve with the expander rings. There are reviews on the Baader Hyperions on youtube that you can look up. I bought my eyepieces from Amazon. Just for kicks, here is a video I made of the moon with the 17mm Hyperion... ruclips.net/video/gowcn6bxYGU/видео.html
What about a safety warning about lasers at the start of your video ? See,"How to Collimate a Telescope - Orion Telescopes and Binoculars" on RUclips channel, "Orion Telescopes and Binoculars" . At 9:30 the lecturer says to point the telescope at a white wall first of all to make sure the mirrors are not so far off that the laser is exiting the tube; otherwise it could enter your eye & cause damage. Well how far out would the spot need to be on the primary mirror to actually miss the secondary mirror and exit the tube ?
zytigon Thanks for your comments. I've seen the laser miss the secondary mirror before, I think due to the secondary mirror being pretty far out of alignment. It does happen. I know my collimater is really week, but, it is always good to be careful with your eyes!
Hi Ashwin, it has been a long time since I had that telescope, so I had to watch the video to remember! The black are collimating and the white are locking. I don't know if other scopes are a lot better, but on mine I had to be very careful when locking that I didn't mess up the collimation.
@@benjaminpoole9383 Good morning, I found the issue. It was the secondary mirror that was out of alignment. I have another question. We had clear night skies last night and I started looking at mar, Jupiter ect, but all I saw was a light ring and dark in the middle. Is it because it's out of focus? Thank You for your response. You are the only person who responded back to me 🙏🙏🙏
@@benjaminpoole9383 Well I have a 30ft tall flag pole and it has a solar panel with LED lights. I'm going to wait for another clear skies and move the telescope to a much darker place. I don't see the doughnut ring when zooming in to the moon which confuses me. Will let you know when we have the right clear skies
That could be the problem. Let me know how you go... Dark skies are always nicer, even if it's just so your eyes really adjust to the dark. If you can get out on a moonless night, that will be better for viewing everything other than the moon.
A lot of these telescopes seem to have a fan on the back off the mirror to gently circulate the air in the tube, so the temperature is stable inside the tube. At least that's what I think it's for. Hot spots or stratification of warmer air layers distort the image (I think). Probably somebody else can give a better answer in a few months, but that's the general idea. It's very common.
Wow... I hadn't given a lot of thought to that! If you are using a laser, you can try to eyeball the centre of the mirror. I did a quick google search and cloudy nights had a forum about this. I thought answers #9 and #10 were particularly interesting. www.cloudynights.com/topic/458210-collimation-of-primary-mirror-without-centre-spot/
hey benjamin i was hoping you could help me with my RA finder scope from bintel, it is clear short distances trees etc, but stars planets it is very blurry any tips on how to fix it? thank you
Hey there Newport5504. My finderscope isn't really as sharp as I would like it. I've never really looked into adjusting it. I would make sure everything is fully screwed together on it. Otherwise you might just have to contact the manufacturer. Sorry I'm not a big help on this question. If you figure it out, let me know!
hey thanks for a reply i tried for about an hour last night trying to get it in focus, unfortunately i think something has happened during transit, when i did open the box the right angled part was barely attached, also just wondering if you have a FB page or instagram page, trying to find people to be in contact around the world for astronomy, thank you for a reply
i ended up getting a replacement and i bought a telrad from the company as well from them just because of there great service with helping me. I contacted them again once they received the finder scope, a few of them looked at it and just said it could of been just a possible faulty batch
you should definitely get a telrad, makes star hoping great, and easy to find everything fast with no magnification, but i will be ordering a telrad riser, not sure if i should go 2inch or 4inch. A dew cover i will make today for it. There sure are alot of great accessories out there.
Dude - i know this was years ago but you could rock YT if you wanted to. Love your vids .......but also ....take advantage of your GOOD LOOKS!. Get out there and sell what your folks gave you because you are a handsome guy!!!!
You pointed that laser right in my eye.
Suggestion: The telescope should be pointed at a downward slope when adjusting the secondary mirror just in case the screwdriver is dropped. If the telescope is pointed upward, the screwdriver will slide down the tube and hit the mirror and scratch it up or chip it.
Very good advice
Or smash it
CrossoverManiac I have collimating knobs.
Thank you. Your instructions were the easiest I've followed. Others are confusing. This is my first time collimating a reflector.
Some people have no business making videos of how to do something but this one is well done...A major plus with this video is that it doesn't sound like it is in an echo chamber.... lol ....Thanks for a simple explanation of how to do this...
Good video. But a word to the wise. Laser collimators can lead you to misalign your secondary mirror very easily. Then you wind up making endless adjustments to both mirrors and perhaps never getting them properly aligned. Use a collimation cap for the secondary mirror, the laser for the primary, and always use star alignment afterwards to be positive.
The best and easiest videos to understand I have ever seen 👍
WOW! Great video series. Very informative. Thank you for covering all the basics in astronomy with such clarity!
Thanks for the series. Very helpful.
Thanks for making this video. This was very helpful.
Thanks for the video, very useful! I just bought Bresser 10' used, so I cleaned primary mirror and now need to set it. Your video helps :)
Hi
I like all the videos. You make it a lot more interesting and you cut out all the ball. A lot of video's go on and on and on. Lot's of good tips. thanks
Your series is very informative and helpful. Thank you
Great videos i just got a telescope for my birthday and thank you for making a noob friendly series that is easy to follow!
I commend you good sir!
Happy these videos are still helping people!
Very well explained ... clear skies to you!
@benjaminpoole9383 Hi Benjamin,
Thank you for your contribution to amateur astronomy.
You did a really good job presenting the materials progressively, methodically, and in a manner clear and easy to understand. Thank you!
And I hope you are still active and are able to continue your contributions perhaps via extending the series you have here. Cheers!
great series. thank you so much for taking the time to make them.
Thanks Phil
@@benjaminpoole9383 I agree and we just found your channel and this video and bummed because it looks like the last one you made :(
Thanks for the informative video.
Very good video. Helped me get used to doing manual collimating again. One tip is to replace any screws at the primary and secondary mirrors adjustments with knobs. That way there's no risk at all of dropping a screwdriver or even carry around tools. Should be able to find them in specialty online stores or ebay.
\
Well done Benjamin. Thank you!
Huge thank bro .. very helpful videos
0:39 - OW MY EYE!!!!!
j/k very helpful. Thanks!
If you want to set up a Alt/Az mount really well. 1, mount your base on a lazy susan bearing. 2 get rid of those pieces of plastic for the Alt bearing and replace them with sealed ball bearings. Then worry about collimation. Turn the laser around so the face of the collimator faces forward and make sure the secoundary is a 45 degrees so you can see the secoundary mirror in the primary and it is obvious where the secondary needs to be and you can see if the focuser is centered in the secounday. then put the laser in the center of the primary mirror. Rotate the laser so you can see it from the back of the scope to adjust the primary mirror
DONE! Make your scope as easy as possible to move and stay on a target, that can not be done with friction bearings. Balance your scope with weight on the opposite side of the focuser and finder scope, when that is done the friction knob will hardly be used. In other words put the counter balance weights on the bottom of the scope at the back were the primary mirror is. I used a fanny pack with BB's so I can add or subtract weight easily. I wheel my 10" around on a garden cart and use small trailer stabilizing jacks to keep the scope steady. This works and with use it will become very easy and is not rocket science. You will get very tight stars and double stars will show very good separation Just give it a try and hope your results are as good as mine. I'v been doing this for over 20 years. Please read my college paper on double stars in the Journal of double stars. use my name and look for double stars using a 3" Tasco refractor In the Journal of double stars 2007 or 2008. Have great nights and use your imagination to make your viewing great. There will be a picture of me and the little Tasco.
Nice video, why you doesnt uploads more videos?
Thank you for uploading this video. It was useful for me. Liked and subscribed.
You have really good videos. Subbed. Keep em coming.
So helpful!
Hay thanks, you made this much easier and understandable.
Thanks for the quick tut. I seriously need to fix my collimation.
And I got this weird thing where my Superview 68 degrees eyepiece from GSO when attached to the scope. I can see a circle tiny reflection of me in the middle. I just noticed it and I got no idea wtf is causing it lol.
I don't think you mentioned it but something to pay attention to when you are viewing is moisture in the air. In the South in particular when humidity levels are high, dew will form on the secondary and primary mirrors quite quickly. And a Telrad if you're using that or a finderscope. Check out heaters for these mirrors. Not especially cheap (couple hundred bucks when you buy the ones you really need) but they make ALL the difference in your sky watching. If you live in desert conditions, they're not needed. If you're thinking of a collimator, I personally recommend Howie Glatter units. I had a great Hotech collimator and was not especially pleased with how long it took me to collimate. With the HG unit, 2 minutes, done! If you're starting out do not, please do not, buy one of the department store telescopes. You'll waste your money. Check out the Meade offerings, among others, and you'll start with a quality, useful telescope. It's a great way to start watching the skys and search youtube videos. They will teach you everything you need to know. Videos like this excellent series. It's a hobby for the rest of your life.
John Smith Thanks for all the great advice. I have a lot of trouble with condensation in New Zealand on cold nights especially on the finderscope and on the eyepieces. I actually thought about putting some resistors together and making my own heaters! I'm moving to Australia, so maybe I'll have less trouble there anyway. Right on with the advice about buying a quality scope out of the gate. Nothing is more frustrating than using poor equipment!
Thank you for your videos. Hope you are doing well.
Used my laser collimater and got the secondary and primary mirror aligned. Then only about 10 minutes later it was out of alignment. I didnt bump it at all, i only spinned it around a few times on the mount.
Did you solve what the issue was???
You seem like such a cool dude to be around
And genuine
For me on secondary mirror is visual collimation better,laser is only for primary mirror.
I just asked why you don't upload content anymore? Your work is very good, where can we follow you? I hope you resume your channel.
Maybe one day I will! I made all the videos in one day and then that was it 🙂
please come back and do more videos!! do you have a social media account to follow? Your videos have really helped me and made everything easier to understand.
Remember any number of degrees can add up to 45 degrees. The most important part is to get the secoundary mirror exactly at 45 degrees to the eye piece. When you put the collmenater in the eye piece, when it is rotated in the eye piece, if it does not stay centered ,work at the adjustments until the laser spot stays in the center. When that is done stars will appear as good as a refractor telescope. This is time consuming and assumes that the laser its self in correctly collimated. I us a V block and point the laser on a object such as a wall as far away as possible and see if it draws a circle when rotated, if it does ,use the set screws to adjust it. good luck!
Very helpful Darrell! Whenever I finally get another telescope, I'll definitely be experimenting with this.
love your videos! keep updating LOL
i suggest a cheshire combo sight tube...more reliable and does not have to be collimated,...a laser colli needs to be checked for collimation itself..also get a RACI finderscope, or Telrad
How do I make sure that the secondary mirror is exactly under the focuser?
Normally it is properly positioned under the focuser and you have to align it using the aligning screws on the back of the secondary mirror. If you are using a laser collimator, it is aligned when the red dot is in the center of the primary mirror. Just make sure you don't drop your screwdriver! Let me know if this doesn't answer your question.
Thanks, I had no idea how to do this.
Don't you have to tighten the screws? There is a big difference in mine if its not tightened
Hi hope you can help. I have a skywatcher 10 inch collapsible and a hotech laser collimator. I first adjusted the secondary so the laser disappears inside the donut in the center of the primary. Then center the primary so the laser dot is centered in the grid on the collimator. BUT when I then go back the laser dot reflecting on the primary mirror is no longer in the center of the dounut, it is on the edge of the donut. When I observed my airys disc seemed centered, but the scope stars just did not focus cleanly. Is there something I am doing wrong? Thx
THANKS A LOT FOR THE VDOS! PLEASE MAKE ONE MORE ON ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY. I AM THINKING OF GETTING A 8 INCH DOB.THAT COMES WITHIN MY BUDJET. I DO HAVE A DSLR. WHAT KIND OF ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY CAN BE DONE WITH THEM?
Dobs are not a good choice for photography, except for the moon and maybe planets. If you want to make pictures of deep sky objects you need an equatorial mount
when you will make new videos?
Well I read, "pattyvisioncenters" webpage which says,"Type I lasers have a power output of under .4 milliwatts and are incapable of damaging the retina. Most laser pointers are classified as type II or IIIA and have a power output of between 1 to 5 milliwatts. Theoretically, that is enough power to damage the retina......The most common problem associated with laser pointers and the eye is a condition called flash blindness. Flash blindness occurs when the eye becomes dazzled after being exposed to a bright light. Most people have experienced flash blindness after having their picture taken by a camera with a flash. This condition is temporary and most people regain their vision after a minute or so."
Every laser sold to collimate telescopes are safe. if in doubt do not use one. Simple!
All lasers are dangerous to the eye. Keep that in mind and save yourself any chance of going blind.
Good video 👏
Dude kind of reminds me of a bigger Apollo from the new Battlestar Galactica.
hey, i dont have the 3 screws infront of the telescope, oof
how many diameter and focul length newtonium mirror
It looks like your Dobsonian is from Bintel. Which laser collimator are you using?
Great video. I just gota Dobsonian 6 " and tried for thr first time yesterday to see the moon. It was cloudy so didn't have much time to see.
I'll probably buy a laser to help me colimate.
I was wondering what's the best 2" eyepiece I should get. I find the 1.25" to "small" to observe. Cheers
You just need better eyepieces. The ones coming with the telescope are generally not good.
Keep seeing all these videos talking about "there is a little circle on the mirror". I've got 3 scopes and none of them have that circle. My friend has 2 scopes, and no circle.
Hi, I am amature and just began my adventure with astronomy, got Meade LX90 (SCT). The question is: can I use this laser tool in my telescope or are there some contraindications ?
I'm not really sure. I've never had an SCT. I did come across a laser collimation tool for SCT's online, but it was really expensive. Here is a link to the telescope manual www.manualslib.com/manual/100932/Meade-Lx90.html?page=43
@@benjaminpoole9383 OK, Thank you for clearing :) Have a nice day
Hy mate, could you please let me know what kind of cooler are you using for your primary mirror? THX!
This is why beginner astronomers get refractors.
Great video! I just got an 8 inch dob... The Orion xt8. I'd like to buy 2 eyepieces for it... Something better than what came with it. What would you recommend as far as brand and focal length for both planetary viewing and deep space objects. I'm looking forward to your next video thanks!
Hello! Congrats on your new telescope. I have made a video that covers this topic ruclips.net/video/gzAVgRh1QYQ/видео.html. It is a little technical, but important for understanding what eyepieces to buy.
I really like my Baader Hyperion eyepieces. They are very good quality eyepieces, not too expensive, and you can purchase two expander rings for them that change the focal length, giving you 4 different focal lengths for each eyepiece. I bought the 17mm and 8mm versions, which should be good for you as well.
Here are a couple links from Baader Hyperion www.baader-planetarium.de/sektion/s26/download/hyperion-okulare_englisch.pdf www.baader-planetarium.de/sektion/s26/download/hyperion_overview_en.pdf. The second has a little chart in the top middle that will show you all the focal lengths that you can achieve with the expander rings.
There are reviews on the Baader Hyperions on youtube that you can look up. I bought my eyepieces from Amazon.
Just for kicks, here is a video I made of the moon with the 17mm Hyperion... ruclips.net/video/gowcn6bxYGU/видео.html
thanks for the info... greatly appreciated!
I would recommend Tele View eye pieces, get the best!
What about a safety warning about lasers at the start of your video ? See,"How to Collimate a Telescope - Orion Telescopes and Binoculars" on RUclips channel, "Orion Telescopes and Binoculars" . At 9:30 the lecturer says to point the telescope at a white wall first of all to make sure the mirrors are not so far off that the laser is exiting the tube; otherwise it could enter your eye & cause damage.
Well how far out would the spot need to be on the primary mirror to actually miss the secondary mirror and exit the tube ?
zytigon Thanks for your comments. I've seen the laser miss the secondary mirror before, I think due to the secondary mirror being pretty far out of alignment. It does happen. I know my collimater is really week, but, it is always good to be careful with your eyes!
They will not cause damage, warnings are mandated. If you are worried about this,DO USE ONE. Simple!
is the black screw collimating screw or tightening screw?
Hi Ashwin, it has been a long time since I had that telescope, so I had to watch the video to remember! The black are collimating and the white are locking. I don't know if other scopes are a lot better, but on mine I had to be very careful when locking that I didn't mess up the collimation.
I need help, I did exactly what you said but I'm not able to see anything in the skies. Any reason why?
Can you see anything with a low magnification? May be that you are not finding the focus?
@@benjaminpoole9383 Good morning, I found the issue. It was the secondary mirror that was out of alignment. I have another question. We had clear night skies last night and I started looking at mar, Jupiter ect, but all I saw was a light ring and dark in the middle. Is it because it's out of focus? Thank You for your response. You are the only person who responded back to me 🙏🙏🙏
That's a tough one. Is there much ambient light around you? I remember having a similar issue years ago, but I can't remember what the cause was.
@@benjaminpoole9383 Well I have a 30ft tall flag pole and it has a solar panel with LED lights. I'm going to wait for another clear skies and move the telescope to a much darker place. I don't see the doughnut ring when zooming in to the moon which confuses me. Will let you know when we have the right clear skies
That could be the problem. Let me know how you go... Dark skies are always nicer, even if it's just so your eyes really adjust to the dark. If you can get out on a moonless night, that will be better for viewing everything other than the moon.
Hey uhh question here. What’s up with that fan on the back of ya telescope there
A lot of these telescopes seem to have a fan on the back off the mirror to gently circulate the air in the tube, so the temperature is stable inside the tube. At least that's what I think it's for. Hot spots or stratification of warmer air layers distort the image (I think). Probably somebody else can give a better answer in a few months, but that's the general idea. It's very common.
How do you like the gso laser collumator. Thanks pat
It works just fine, and, if I remember, it was a pretty good price.
Lol me over here stuck on part one
What is the telescope model
My telescope has no circle in the middle of the mirror! Please help!
Wow... I hadn't given a lot of thought to that! If you are using a laser, you can try to eyeball the centre of the mirror. I did a quick google search and cloudy nights had a forum about this. I thought answers #9 and #10 were particularly interesting. www.cloudynights.com/topic/458210-collimation-of-primary-mirror-without-centre-spot/
hey benjamin i was hoping you could help me with my RA finder scope from bintel, it is clear short distances trees etc, but stars planets it is very blurry any tips on how to fix it? thank you
Hey there Newport5504. My finderscope isn't really as sharp as I would like it. I've never really looked into adjusting it. I would make sure everything is fully screwed together on it. Otherwise you might just have to contact the manufacturer. Sorry I'm not a big help on this question. If you figure it out, let me know!
hey thanks for a reply i tried for about an hour last night trying to get it in focus, unfortunately i think something has happened during transit, when i did open the box the right angled part was barely attached, also just wondering if you have a FB page or instagram page, trying to find people to be in contact around the world for astronomy, thank you for a reply
i ended up getting a replacement and i bought a telrad from the company as well from them just because of there great service with helping me. I contacted them again once they received the finder scope, a few of them looked at it and just said it could of been just a possible faulty batch
Glad to hear they replaced it! I haven't used a telrad, but it looks pretty useful. There are so many great accessories for astronomy!
you should definitely get a telrad, makes star hoping great, and easy to find everything fast with no magnification, but i will be ordering a telrad riser, not sure if i should go 2inch or 4inch. A dew cover i will make today for it. There sure are alot of great accessories out there.
Dude - i know this was years ago but you could rock YT if you wanted to. Love your vids .......but also ....take advantage of your GOOD LOOKS!. Get out there and sell what your folks gave you because you are a handsome guy!!!!
You have a 120mm fan to cool your mirror?
p331083 That's right. I've never used it though. I normally just put the scope out a half hour before I want to use it and I don't have a problem.
Anyone else just watching this because Benjamin is cute? (I know I am)
no problem Asian what it is is it is?? Did you really say that what it is is it is
Fookin laser sights
First check your laser is collimated otherwise you are wasting your time
Just do a star test, it's free and it's more accurate.
And you are fumbling around with screw drivers, and allen wrenches in the dark.