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Collimation
Any optical system must be properly collimated for best image quality.
Collimation procedures can become a bit involved, as indicated by the
many articles and books in telescope literature. The design and
construction of the Teleport leaves only two variables that will nor-
mally need to be checked, namely the angles of both mirrors.
Laser Collimation
The fastest and easiest way to collimate your scope is with a Teleport
Laser Collimator or other laser collimation tool. Briefly, this procedure is:
1. Insert the collimator into the focuser.
2. Adjust the secondary alignment screws so the laser spot falls inside
the ring in the center of the primary mirror.
3. Adjust the primary collimation screws so the returning beam falls
back onto the source in the center of the collimator face.
➤ Details of this procedure are in the instructions for the Teleport Laser Collimator.
Other Collimation Tools
Collimation can also be done with optical tools, including a
sight tube
,
Cheshire eyepiece
, and
autocollimator
. These are available from
Tectron Telescopes, 352-490-9101, http://www.amateurastronomy.com,
tomclark@amateurastronomy.com
. Details of the procedures for these
tools are in their manual and are also covered in the Protostar Diago-
nal Mount Assembly manual enclosed. Its diagrams show the visual
appearance of the mirrors before and after collimation.
Collimation and Opening
Become comfortable with collimation of the Teleport to take full
advantage of its high quality optics. Understanding the collimation
procedures will help point out any problems you may have with proper
opening techniques.
If you find after opening your scope, that the collimation is far off from
the last time it was used, chances are you failed to get one or more
struts fully extended either this time or the last. (Prior collimation may
have partially compensated for this error, but performance will never be
as good as if the scope is properly opened then collimated). If it appears
way off, loosen all 8 clamps and partially close the Teleport and re-open
it, being sure to reach full strut extension, before collimating.
➤ The feedback provided by a quick check of collimation after opening your scope
will help you perfect your opening technique. When you become proficient at
this, you will find that your scope’s collimation is very close every time. “Close”
means that the laser spots on both the primary mirror and the collimator face
are no more than a few millimeters from center.