Now just do the same thing with a higher power EP.

Remember, after each adjustment, _first_ use the keypad direction buttons to
re-center the donut, and _then_ check the black dot to see if it's centered
in the donut. If the whole donut is off-center, the black dot won't won't
read accurately, so re-center the donut first.

At higher power and closer to focus, you won't exactly have a donut anymore-
you'll start to see the star at the center, with rings around it. But the
idea is the same: after adjusting, center the whole thing with the keypad,
and then check if it looks even.

A basic rule of testing any kind of equipment is that you want to test in as
close to "actual use" conditions as possible. A star, with all the light
concentrated at a point, is the most sensitive test of a good view, so an
actual view of a star makes the best test. Using any other method just adds
extra complications. Get it straight from the horse's mouth, as they say.

-John


>
>Hi John,
>Last night while I was looking at Mars, I noticed It was hard to get the
>Focus working. I would turn to look at the Moon and everything was fine.
>But I figured I might as well try to do a star Collimation, so I pointed
>towards Polaris. I made a Donut. I could clearly see that the black dot was
>off to the left side. Using a 33mm EP. I started to screw in Bob's Knob's.
>I noticed they were loose. So I centered the donut in the EP. (The scope
>was tracking at the time).There are three screws I decided to turn the top
>screw to see which direction it would move, and to see if there was any
>change in the black dot. It had moved down, with no movement of the black
>dot. So I moved it back,just a half turn. I then half turned the left screw
>to the left It moved and I started to see the black dot moving towards the
>middle of the eyepiece. I stop. re-centered the donut, and turned the same
>screw half a turn to the left again the donut moved left and the black dot
>moved even more towards the center of the donut. stop re-center the donut
>in the EP. (I could clearly see that the donut was starting to look much
>better, with the black dot moving towards the center.) I kept doing the
>same thing until the black dot started going in the opposite direction. so
>I replaced it and all you have to do there is go backwards, turn a half
>turn in the opposite direction. Once I got it close to center, I started to
>turn the right screw, and started to do the same thing Turn the screw half
>a turn to the left and It moved the donut and the black dot up towards the
>center of the EP.That's when I figured out that on my scope anyway the
>right screw makes the dot go up. the left screw makes it go right and the
>top screw makes it go down. after a few more adjustments, and re-centering
>the donut on the EP I was so close to perfect, I started to see the
>concentric rings . That's when I said I've got it. Once the donut was in
>the middle of the EP and the black dot was in the middle too, I made the
>donut even smaller, making the black dot move a little to the left. But by
>then, I knew which screw to turn to adjust. and presto Very nice
>collimation! I then looked at Mars and Oh My GOD! what a difference It made
>all of the white ghost affect around the 2 sides of Mars gone, I thought It
>was because It was so bright, I then focused on the Moon and I almost fell
>out of my chair. I could see so much more detail then ever before. and the
>stars Looked so nice and bright and in focus.
>
>Now what other EP should I use to do more collimation if I have too? But I
>have to stick to Polaris, because of my back as it was, I was having to
>hobble back and forth every time, (and that's with the Dew shield on!!) But
>It takes time and patience to make it right. I do want to try a yellow
>moving star I'm hoping I'm not that bad off in collimation NOW anyway! It
>should be easy to fix!
>I noticed that Bob's knob's were screwed in almost all the way when I was
>done. Which is good, You want a snug fit not over-tighten! Thanks John for
>all The HELP!! It finally sunk IN! (ps) You're right John I don't need
>none of that fancy SCT laser collimation STUFF! Thanks you just saved me
>plenty on money!! The STARS truley are the best tools!
>Osca

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