How to collimate a Nexstar 8se
- kenpresley
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How to collimate a Nexstar 8se
Do I use a normal collimator? Laser collimator? Play with it at night until I see clearly?
Should I take the Bob's knobs off and put the original screws back in?
Any help or video links are appreciated.
Thanks folks!
ken
Binoculars: Celestron Skymaster 25-125x80 zoom
- chicagorandy Online
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Re: How to collimate a Nexstar 8se
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/4042 ... telescope/
There are also a few youtube vids on the subject
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The older I get, the better I was.
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- Ozman
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Re: How to collimate a Nexstar 8se
Defocus the star into a small doughnut shape. You will notice that the doughnut is not concentric and stretched to a side if the scope needs collimating. You can determine which collimation screw needs adjusting by holding a rod like a pencil across the front of the corrector plate from the edge to the center (like the hand of a clock) but be careful not to touch the corrector plate. You will see the shadow of the rod, when it is centered with the stretched area of the doughnut pay attention to the position of the rod. If it is close to an adjustment screw, that one needs adjusting. If it is in between adjustment screws, the one on the opposite side needs adjusting.
Adjustments need to be made by very slightly backing off the other two first (to give adjustment room) and then slightly tightening the one needing adjusting. Make VERY small adjustments and do not pinch the optics (over tighten), if you notice the stretching is getting worse, work back the other way. It is not hard, but it can be tedious. Once the doughnut is concentric on both sides of focus, the scope is collimated.
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Re: How to collimate a Nexstar 8se
Make a Duncan Mask from the lid of a recently delivered pizza box lid (a GREASELESS lid) and use that. It takes about 20 minutes to make and then another 20 minutes to use to get back into near perfect collimation. Always do a star test afterward (that whole de-focus routine that Ozman just described above) to sanity check your collimation.
http://alpha-lyrae.co.uk/2013/12/31/sch ... ncan-mask/
I use a Duncan Mask to collimate all my SCTs.
Cheers,
JT
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- kenpresley
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Re: How to collimate a Nexstar 8se
Randy, wanted to follow up after I got a chance to work on this. Finally had a clear night, some time (and patience) and used this link you provided: http://www.starrynights.us/Articles/Collimation.htmchicagorandy wrote: ↑Sun May 26, 2019 10:52 pm IF it's OK to post a link to another forum from 2013?
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/4042 ... telescope/
Once I figured out all the instructions related to viewing the scope from the front (not the eyepiece) end, it worked well. I now have my telescope back in working order.
Thank you my friend!
Peace and clear skies
ken
Binoculars: Celestron Skymaster 25-125x80 zoom
- Tim456
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Re: How to collimate a Nexstar 8se
Eye Pieces: TeleVue 7 mm Nagler, Celestron 12.5 mm Ultima, Plossl 25mm, 20mm Celestron, 10 mm Celestron, ES 62° 14 mm, Meade Illuminated Reticle 12 mm, ES 62° 9 mm.
- Gulf Coast Guy
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Re: How to collimate a Nexstar 8se
GCG
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Re: How to collimate a Nexstar 8se
Just posted by Dylan O'Donnell
Regards
Graeme
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