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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
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
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.
Pair of
collimating
screws
Figure 13.
The collimating tool in the AstroView 100 focuser.
1.25" adapter
Viewing hole
Reflective ring
