How do I know if my scope needs collimating ??? The Image on my new skywatcher 200p makes all objects (planets as well as stars) have the spikes and in the spikes there seems to be dark steps or if joined up together would form dark rings. The scope is brand new and I never had this with my old celestron 114 powerseeker and I'm wondering if transportation may have upset things before it was delivered ??? Thanks in advance for any advice. :)
If you look through the viewfinder without an eye piece in you should see a reflection of the primary mirror and your own eye in the centre of it. If it is all centred then collimation is fine. If anything is not centred then you need to collimate it. I may not have explained it very well bit if you look in the viewfinder with no eye piece in it you will see straight away what I mean, Its really noticeable if anything is put of line. Hope that helps. Collimation is easy, three screws on the bottom of the primary mirror and a the same on the secondary mirror is how it works on my Celestron dob. It will be similar on yours me thinks.
Thanks Paul. I had a read up on Google today and the Primary was slightly out, A turn on one screw and a half turn on the other and all has come into perfect alignment. Although I still need somebody in the Bristol area to help me with the understanding and correct use of the EQ5 mount. :)