Is it easy to learn how to colminate a telescope by yourself or easier to have someone show you ?

Question

i have a newtonian dobsonian

Answer 1

Have someone show you one time-- not very hard to do.

Answer 2

I wanted to add that while Newtonians can be relatively easy;  some short tube models have internal corrective lenses and spherical mirrors.  Collimating those can be a bear, and even then you will still have some abberations.  The old model Celestron 150HD comes to mind;  according to Celestron customer service, they collimate them by projecting a laser through the tube at a desinated target mounted on the ceiling, and touching the secondary is to be avoided.

Answer 3

Yes, it very much depends on what kind of telescope.  Newtonians are easy.

A Newtonian in a dobsonian mount is straightforward.  There are only two degrees of freedom that need adjustment (the x and y tilts of the mirror) and those are not too critical.

Answer 4

B

Although it can be easy to learn it by yourself, it is ALWAYS easier to have someone show you (as long as that person knows how, of course).

Plus, on some telescopes, it is easier to do it with two people (especially some bigger telescopes).

Answer 5

Newtonians are relatively easy to collimate, providing that you are careful, have the right tools and proceed with caution and patience (go in little steps).  Cassegrains should be collimated by a professional (or somebody very experienced).  It's ALWAYS easier if somebody shows you how to do it, but there are several decent on-line tutorials.

When it comes to collimating refractors (apos), there are probably less then 20 people in this country who know how to do it (and have the right equipment).