Collimation, Care and Maintenance, Cleaning Lenses

Reflective ring

1.25" adapter

Viewing hole

Figure 13. The collimating tool in the AstroView 100 focuser.

8. Collimation

The AstroView 100 EQ telescope has objective lens cell which incorporates a collimation adjustment; this helps to ensure peak optical performance. Collimation is the process of aligning the telescope’s optics. In the case of the AstroView 100 EQ, collimation entails tilting the objective lens assembly so that the optical axis is precisely parallel to the telescope’s focuser. The telescope has been collimated at the factory, so no adjustments to the lens cell are likely to be necessary. If you are unsure or uncomfortable about making collimation adjustments, we strongly recommend that you just leave it alone.

Your AstroView 100 EQ comes with a collimation tool. Figure 13 shows the collimation tool in place.

Use of the collimating tool is best done during the day, either outdoors or in a well-lit room. Point the telescope at a dark tar- get of uniform brightness, like a painted wall or a black piece of construction paper. The distance of the target is unimport- ant. You will also need a 2.5mm hex key and a Phillips-head screwdriver.

Insert the collimating tool into the telescope’s focuser. You will need to use the telescope’s 1.25" adapter in the focuser. Secure the collimating tool in the focuser with the thumbscrew on the 1.25" adapter.

Look into the viewing hole of the collimating tool. You are now looking straight down the interior of the telescope tube at the objective lens.

Loosen the securing thumbscrew, and rotate the collimating tool until you can see the reflection of the of the tool’s reflec- tive ring in the objective lens. To do this, you will need to point the wide hole in the collimating tool’s body toward a source of light. Ignoring the tiny central reflection, you should see two separate reflections of the ring in the objective lens. If you see only one reflection, then your telescope is already collimated.

Use the collimating screws in the lens cell to center the reflec- tions on top of one another (Figure 14). There are three pairs of screws; each pair works together to tilt the lens. Using your

Pair of collimating screws

Figure 14. The lens cell of the AstroView 100. There are three pairs of collimating screws; each pair of screws work together to adjust the tilt of the lens.

2.5mm hex key and Phillips-head screwdriver, loosen one of the screws and then tighten the other in the pair. Look into the viewing hole of the collimating tool to see if the reflections have moved closer together or further apart. Once you get the reflections as close together as you can get with one pair of screws, move on to another pair.

Continue making adjustments to each pair of screws until the reflections are precisely centered on each other, which will give the appearance of one ring. Once only one circular ring is visible, no further collimation adjustments are needed.

Your AstroView100 EQ is now collimated.You should not need to align the optics again unless the telescope is roughly han- dled.

9. Care and Maintenance

If you give your telescope reasonable care, it will last a lifetime. Store it in a clean, dry, dust-free place, safe from rapid chang- es in temperature and humidity. Do not store the telescope outdoors, although storage in a garage or shed is OK. Small components like eyepieces and other accessories should be kept in a protective box or storage case. Keep the dust cover on the front of the telescope when it is not in use.

Your AstroView100 EQ requires very little mechanical main- tenance. The optical tube is aluminum and has a smooth painted finish that is fairly scratch-resistant. If a scratch does appear on the tube, it will not harm the telescope. Smudges on the tube can be wiped off with a soft cloth and a household cleaner such as Formula 409.

Cleaning Lenses

Any quality optical lens cleaning tissue and optical lens clean- ing fluid specifically designed for multi-coated optics can be used to clean the telescope’s objective lens and the exposed lenses of your eyepieces or finderscope. Never use regular glass cleaner or cleaning fluid designed for eyeglasses