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Collimating Tools For Telescopes

Optics that are out of collimation (with optical elements that are not all exactly aligned on the same optical axis) cannot produce good images. Stars will be elongated or lopsided, planetary details will be hazy and low in contrast, and binary stars will be difficult to split cleanly.

Some telescopes, such as reflectors, can easily be knocked slightly out of collimation, even by the simple act of carrying them outdoors. Catadioptric telescopes (Schmidt-Cassegrains) are less prone to lose their collimation, but should be checked regularly to maintain peak performance. Refractors rarely need collimation, unless they have been treated roughly.

Recollimating most optics to restore the best images is a relatively simple task, and should be done on a regular basis. The collimating tools below are mechanical and optical aids that will help you keep the optics of your telescope at their peak to give you the best possible image contrast and resolution every night you go out to observe.

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Optical Collimation

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Collimating tube

$63.00

The Takahashi TCE0030 collimating tube provides crosshairs to convert the Takahashi TCE0020 collimating eyepiece into a sighting tube for collimating Newtonian reflectors.
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Takahashi S coupling to connect TCE0100 to Takahashi scopes

$52.00

This Takahashi S coupling connects the Takahashi TCE0100 collimating scope to Takahashi telescopes.
$Collimating scope for Ritchey-Chrétiens, Dall-Kirkhams, and refractors$ $Takahashi Collimating scope for Ritchey-Chrétiens, Dall-Kirkhams, and refractors$

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Takahashi Collimating scope for Ritchey-Chrétiens, Dall-Kirkhams, and refractors

$354.00

This Takahashi 6 x 18mm collimating scope is designed to help you align the optics of Dall-Kirkham, Ritchey-Chrétien, and refractor telescopes.
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Collimating eyepiece

$63.00

The Takahashi TCE0020 is a collimating eyepiece used to collimate Newtonian and Cassegrain telescopes.
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Takahashi 2" adapter to use Takahashi collimating scope with non-Takahashi telescopes

$173.00

This Takahashi 2" adapter is used to connect the Takahashi collimating scope to the 2" focuser of takahashi reflectors and non-Takahashi telescopes.

Collimating Tools For Telescopes

Collimating tube

Takahashi S coupling to connect TCE0100 to Takahashi scopes

Takahashi Collimating scope for Ritchey-Chrétiens, Dall-Kirkhams, and refractors

Collimating eyepiece

Takahashi 2" adapter to use Takahashi collimating scope with non-Takahashi telescopes