Collimation Eyepiece— Model #94182

Collimation is the process of aligning the optical axes Using the Collimation Eyepiece
of all the optical elements in a telescope. When
properly collimated, all the mirrors (or lens) will be 1. Remove the eyepiece or any other accessory
centered and angled so that the light entering the from the focuser and rack the focuser all the way
telescope will form the sharpest possible image. The in towards the tube.
Collimation Eyepiece is a 2. Insert the Collimation
combination of a "sight Eyepiece into the focuser far
tube" and a "Cheshire enough that the bottom edge
eyepiece." The sight tube of the barrel appears slightly
portion of the Collimation larger than the outer edge of
eyepiece has cross hairs to the secondary mirror when
accurately define the center looking through the sight
of the optical axis, and is hole.
used to make sure that the 3. Rotate the eyepiece so that
secondary mirror is centered the cutout on the side of the
directly under the focuser. barrel is towards an external
The Cheshire portion of the light source. (If collimating
eyepiece has a polished 45° at night, shine a flashlight
angled element that reflects through the cutout). Never
light from the cutout hole in point the cutout side of the
the side of the barrel down eyepiece at or near the sun;
into the optical path. The serious and instant eye
polished flat element damage can result.
projects a bright ring of 4. Look into the sight hole to
light, providing a target for determine if the secondary is
aligning the primary mirror. positioned directly under the
focuser tube. The center of
Identifying What You See the secondary mirror should
be positioned directly under
Figure 2 represents what a
the intersection of the cross
properly collimated
hairs. If the secondary is not
Newtonian telescope would
centered in the cross hairs of
look like when looking into the focuser tube with the
the Collimation Eyepiece, it will need to be
eyepiece removed. The figure labels the major parts
adjusted. This is usually done by rotating the
of a typical Newtonian telescope. However, what you
threaded rod that holds the secondary holder.
see when looking through your telescope will depend
Additionally, the threaded rod can slide up and
on the manufacturer of the telescope. For example,
down through the spider for adjustments in the
many Celestron models use a single stalk to support
other axis. To adjust a stalk-type secondary
the secondary mirror instead of a four vane spider.
holder, there is usually a center bolt that can be
Therefore, when looking through the focuser you
would see a single vane leading out to the secondary loosened to allow rotation of the secondary
mirror as opposed to four vanes. holder.
5. Next, you need to adjust the tilt of the
secondary mirror so that the entire reflection
of the primary mirror is visible in the
secondary mirror. Use the three collimation

Celestron, 2835 Columbia Street, Torrance, CA 90503 • Phone (310) 328-9560 • www.celestron.com
 screws located on the top of the secondary mirror ring. If the view seen through the focuser tube
holder to center the reflection of the primary resembles that of figure 2, then your telescope is
mirror underneath the cross hairs of the properly collimated and ready for observing.
Collimation Eyepiece. However, if the collimation is noticeably off,
6. Now that you can see the entire primary mirror repeat steps 5 and 6 until aligned.
reflected in the secondary mirror, you my notice
that the reflection of the secondary mirror is not Collimating a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope
perfectly centered in the primary mirror (see Insert the Collimation Eyepiece directly into the
figure 4). To correct this, you must adjust the visual back of the telescope. The shadow of the
primary mirror collimation screws located on the secondary will appear as a dark circle near the
bottom of the primary mirror cell. Turn the middle of the field of view. Make adjustments to
collimation screws, one at a time, until the center the three collimation screws in the center of the
of the bright ring corrector plate to center the
reflected in the secondary mirror on the
secondary mirror is cross hairs. This is the only
positioned in the center collimation adjustment
of the primary mirror. possible for this type of
For added ease and telescope. It should take only
accuracy, a small black a fraction of a turn to make a
dot can be placed in the noticeable change in
center of the primary collimation. Never loosen the
mirror and be used to screw in the center of the
align the primary. secondary housing; it may
Simply adjust the mirror result in the mirror coming
until the dot on the off its mount.
primary is centered in
the middle of the bright

Warranty: Two-year limited warranty. For complete details, contact Celestron

#94182 (10-16).

Celestron, 2835 Columbia Street, Torrance, CA 90503 • Phone (310) 328-9560 • www.celestron.com