Orion Collimating Eyepiece
Optimize your Newtonian Telescope with the Orion Collimating Eyepiece
Keeping your Newtonian reflector operating at peak performance is no trouble with this remarkably cost-effective Collimating Eyepiece from Orion! This must-have collimating tool is perfect for night sky enthusiasts and astrophotographers using Newtonian reflectors and Dobsonian telescopes.
The Orion Collimating Eyepiece is a simple, yet capable collimation tool that combines the precision of a wire crosshair sight tube with the user-friendly design of a Cheshire eyepiece. It has a sleek, black-anodized aluminum housing, durable steel wire crosshairs, and fold-down eyeguard that reduces glare while providing extra protection for your eye. The polished 45 degree internal surface has been carefully polished to provide the ideal level of illumination needed for precise primary mirror alignment. The eyepiece housing is compatible sized perfectly for Newtonian reflectors and Dobsonian telescopes with 1.25-inch focusers. When used with a 1.25 to 2-inch eyepiece adapter (sold separately), this collimating eyepiece will also work with telescopes with 2-inch focusers.
Orion Collimating Eyepiece At a Glance
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An Economical Collimation Solution!
Achieving accurate alignment is a simple and straight forward process with this precision engineered Collimating Eyepiece from Orion. Read on to learn how this must-have collimating tool will keep your Newtonian telescope operating at peak performance for years to come!
Precision Machined Components
The Orion Collimating Eyepiece is a precision machined collimating tool that facilities simple and accurate alignment of your Newtonian telescope's mirrors. The main housing is crafted from durable and lightweight aluminum, and the 45° reflecting surface is carefully polished to ensure ample light delivery to the steel crosshair wires. The pin-hole viewing aperture features a soft rubber eyeguard that blocks stray light while providing a clear and comfortable view of your telescope's mirrors.
Steel Wire Crosshairs
Unlike other collimating eyepieces designed with copper wires, the Orion Collimating Eyepiece features large steel wire crosshairs that bright and easy to see. The durable steel construction ensures long-lasting use, without worry of warping, corrosion, or damage. If needed, the crosshair cartridge can easily be removed from the main housing for a quick cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is collimation?
Collimation is the process of adjusting a telescope’s optics so the mirrors are precisely aligned relative to each other and the telescope tube. For a reflector telescope, both the primary and secondary mirrors must be accurately aligned to ensure optimal visual and imaging performance. A collimating eyepiece, such as the Orion Collimating Eyepiece, simplifies the collimation process while offering the potential for more accurate results.
How do I know if my telescope needs to be collimated?
You can quickly determine whether your telescope is properly collimated by pointing it at a bright star and slowly racking the image out of focus with the focusing knob. If the telescope is correctly collimated, the expanding disk should be a nearly perfect circle with a series of internally aligned concentric circles. If it is unsymmetrical, the scope is out of collimation. See the image below for a visual representation of the star alignment test.
How often do I need to collimate my telescope?
How often you choose to collimate your telescope is matter of preference. It is good practice to check and adjust collimation regularly, and some users go as far as to make adjustments before every observation session. Doing so can reduce the time and effort needed to align the mirrors; however, choosing to collimate your telescope from time to time is perfectly fine. Either way you choose, the Orion Collimating Eyepiece will help simplify the collimation process!
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