How to Collimate a Maksutov Newtonian

[@albertonegro5039]

Great video!. I'm getting close to perfetc collimation on my ES "Comet Hunter" thanks also to this video. I got Hutech laser and it helps a lot becouse you can trust the laser collimation! The only thing that I cannot explain is that, acting on collimation screws, i cannot get my secondary perfectly ROUND through the collimation eyepiece, quite round but not perfcetly round.

[@AVAstronomy]

Alberto Negro Thank you! so glad this video helped you Alberto. Once you get close sure you your final adjustments are very small. Good luck and clear skies!

[@RaysAstrophotography]

Hotech did a good job with their products. Excellent demo of collimation Aaron!

[@AVAstronomy]

Ray's Astrophotography Thank you Ray! Yes, I agree. Hotech is good middle ground between price and quality.

[@psegre]

I’ve got the Maksutov Newtonian 190, trying to get it better aligned. The part at 4:00 where you pretend to make adjustments and lock it is the troubling part for me. If I turn the central screw, or the side screw, the whole assembly rotates, it never seems to lock in place even if I try tightening the lock ring. I want it locked, no assembly rotation, how do I do that cleanly? I also found a great final check on collimating. To test, I just put a flat LED panel covering the whole tube opening, and take flat frames with my ZWO camera. There is just enough vignetting at the four corners of the photo to tell if the vignetting is perfectly centered, and I use this to adjust the secondary. This is a true photographic test.

[@terrymaurice6285]

Some pictures of what you are describing would have been more helpful than just a verbal description. Collimation is a visual task so seeing is believing.

[@baz_astra]

Another curious matter with this scope - I cannot reach focus with a 22mm low-profile filter wheel installed - the focuser goes right into the OTA and runs out of travel - it just can't get close enough. I'm not using any spacers; it's literally focus tube -> filter wheel -> camera and that's too long. I can reach focus with JUST the camera, but the focus tube seems too long!

[@baz_astra]

Hey buddy- lifesaving video, thank you so much! I just got the comet hunter, but I'm confused. I got the secondary lined up with the cheshire, and the laser dot moves around from the collimator with the front screws - but the back screws don't seem to move anything around at all - no matter how much I turn them. The mirror adjusts just fine, but the dot doesn't move at all. The only way I can adjust the dot is from the front. So I'm kinda confused as to the purpose of the rear knobs!

[@AVAstronomy]

Right, so that’s correct. Moving the primary will. It love the red dot. Moving the secondary is the only mirror that will move the red dot. The main thing with the primary is to make sure it’s centered in your eyepiece. Once you get that centered you just need to get that secondary aligned. That’s a great scope by the way. Wish I still had mine. Best of luck to you!

[@baz_astra]

@@AVAstronomy ahhhhh it clicked in my mind! I think I just ‘got’ collimation 😅 Have been on refractors too long! Thank you SO much for your invaluable video and fast reply. Truly a credit to the community. What’s your insta?

[@eirikkittelsen9787]

Great video!! I have the exact same telescope, so very helpful!! I noticed heavy vignetting on one side of my images, so suspect the secondary to be slightly off. Do you take the retention ring all the way of or just loosen it?

[@AVAstronomy]

Doghouse Barbecue thank you!! You should be able to make any necessary adjustments after loosening the retaining ring.

[@tommyknocker9550]

same problem with mine. I found out that the pollution comes through small slits under and in the focuser...i have put some black tape around, but it is still not 100%

[@eirikkittelsen9787]

Tommy Knocker OK. Maybe seal the focuser to the scope with some black silicone? Or make a piece of cloth and secure around focuser with Velcro?

[@tommyknocker9550]

@@eirikkittelsen9787 do not seal to much that the scope still can "breath". Yesterday i put black sealtape under the focuser and over the slits between tube and focuser. First test with the maclight was better.

[@eirikkittelsen9787]

Tommy Knocker sounds good!! Agree, something “less” permanent is probably the way to go.

[@tommyknocker9550]

Hi Aaron, how do you do? I have got the Comet Hunter too. But i`ve problems with light pollution on my fotos. The pollution comes through small slits under the focuser, even through it itself. If you had this problems too or can give some advise it would be great

[@AVAstronomy]

Tommy Knocker Hi Tommy, I haven’t Had this kind of issue before. Are the screws that hold down the focuser snug to the tube? If so and you’re still having that issue I would recommend reaching out to Explore Scientific on how to address this. Good luck to you sir!

[@enriqueboeneker]

Hey! Happy Holidays! Great video! Just one question: what brand is your Mak-Newt? I’m looking for a good quality reflector, but without the need of burning down my wallet.

[@AVAstronomy]

Enrique Boeneker Hi Enrique! Happy holidays to you too sir! I have the explorer scientific comet hunter. It’s actually on sale right now at Woodland Hills camera and telescope. Their website is telescopes.net. It’s actually cheaper than I paid for it. Another great choice is the 6” imaging Newtonian from astronomics. They are well regarded and will give you great performance from the start. Just be sure to get a decent mount and a parracor. Clear skies!

[@enriqueboeneker]

A.V.Astronomy thanks so much for the advise!!!

[@AVAstronomy]

Enrique Boeneker you are welcome!

[@XShadowAngel]

Something seems to have happened to this video. There's no audio in the vast majority of it.

[@AVAstronomy]

Shadow that’s odd. I just scanned through most of it and audio is loud and clear. It may be server/buffering issue. Should resolve itself. Thanks for checking out my channel. Clear skies!

[@XShadowAngel]

@@AVAstronomy In case you were curious, I figured out the issue! Seems the audio through most of the video only comes in on one channel. The starter song goes through both speakers in a set of headphones, but once you start talking it only comes through the left earpiece. For me, anyway. I often only have one side of my headphones on so I can hear what's going on, so never heard the left side audio until recently when I tried to listen again. Anyway, thank you for the video! Very helpful, as i'm about to buy my first mak-newt.

[@AVAstronomy]

Shadow thanks for the heads up on that. I think I’ve figured out my audio issue and it did have to do with a channel being off. Awesome decision about the Mak newt!!! Agena Astro has the 190mm mak newt if you’re interested. I think I have a link to one of them in the description of my newest video. Your gonna love that scope!

[@XShadowAngel]

@@AVAstronomy That's the exact one i'm looking at, actually! I'm currently using a little 400mm refractor, and a 2350 SCT...so I figure the focal length on a 190mm mak newt should put me right in that sweet spot between the two.

[@AVAstronomy]

Shadow yep, that should give you nice coverage over a wide range of focal lengths.