Collimate your scope, this might help.

AV

writes:
> I'm very new to CCD astronomy so this probably is a dumb question but
> I'm having a great deal of trouble getting the 416XTE to come into
> focus. Using a mag 3.5 star, I can start on either sides of focus
> where the image show the secondary in the image and carefully work
> towards the focus point. The image gets smaller and the current gets
> higher. I generally have to shorten the exposure time so the image
> doesn't overflow the well as it gets closer to what I believe is the
> focus point. So far I haven't been able to get the star image to a
> small pin point. At best the image of a globular cluster (M80) looks
> like a snow ball surrounded by snow flakes. I've checked collimation
> with a 3 hole Hartman mask and at high powers the three holes come
> together simultaneously as I would expect them to.
>
> If I image the Moon the image isn't to bad and I can see detail.
>
> I sure could use some guidance from the experienced folks out there.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Cliff Peterson
>
>

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