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Collimating Orion StarMax and Apex
Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescopes
(StarMax 90,102, and 127, Apex 90, 102, and 127)
(9821,9824,9826,9820,9823,9825)
Collimating is the process of aligning a telescope’s optics.
Your StarMax or Apex’s primary mirror was aligned at the
factory and should not need adjustment unless the telescope
is handled roughly. This manual contains information on how
to test the collimation of your telescope and instructions for
proper alignment should that be needed.
focus the image with the focusing knob. If the telescope is
correctly collimated, the expanding disk should be a circle
(Figure 1). If the image is unsymmetrical, the scope is out of
collimation. Also, the dark shadow cast by the secondary mir-
ror should appear in the very center of the out-of-focus circle,
like the hole in a donut. If the “hole” appears off-center, the
telescope is out of collimation.
Star-Testing the Telescope
If you try the star test but the bright star you have selected is
not accurately centered in the eyepiece, the optics will
always appear out of collimation, even though they may be
perfectly aligned. It is critical to keep the star centered, so
over time you will need to make slight corrections to the tele-
scope’s position in order to account for the sky’s apparent
motion.
Before you start adjusting the primary mirror of your tele-
scope, make certain that it is actually out of collimation by
performing a star test.
Take your telescope out at dusk and let it acclimate to the
outside temperature; this usually takes 30-60 minutes. When
it is dark, point the telescope upwards at a bright star and
accurately center it in the eyepiece’s field of view. Slowly de-
Collimating the StarMax/Apex
To collimate your telescope, remove the diagonal and eye-
piece and look into rear opening of the tube (also remove the
dust cover from the front of the tube). This should be done
indoors, with the telescope pointed at a white wall in a well-
lit room. Try to keep your eye centered with respect to the
rear opening of the tube as best as possible. Using an Orion
Collimating Eyepiece will aid greatly in keeping your eye cen-
tered and is strongly recommend.
Alternatively, you can make a crude collimating tool out of an
empty, black plastic 35mm film canister. It will not have
crosshairs, so it won’t be as precise, but it will be better than
nothing. Cut 1/2" from the top lip of the canister and put a
1/16" to 1/8" diameter hole in the center of its bottom. Insert
the film canister collimating tool into the focuser like an eye-
piece with the bottom end out.
Out of collimation
Collimated
Figure 1: A star test will determine if a telescope’s optics are
properly collimated. An unfocused view of a bright star through the
eyepiece should appear as illustrated on right if optics are perfectly
collimated. If circle is unsymmetrical, as in illustration on left, scope
needs collimation.
IN 183 Rev A 03/02
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Figure 4a
Figure
4b
Figure 4c
Figure 4d
Figure 4a: Using the 3mm
Allen wrench, turn the large
screw clockwise a small
Figure 4b: Now, with the
2mm Allen wrench, turn the
two adjacent small screws
counterclockwise no more
than 1/4 turn.
Figure 4c: Turn the small
screw that is 180° opposite
the first screw clockwise no
more than 1/4 turn.
Figure 4d: Turn the two
large screws adjacent to the
small screw counterclockwise
no more than 1/4 turn.
amount, no more than 1/4 of
a turn. (Note, actual selected
alignment screw will vary.)
If the alignment screw is a large screw
Turn the two large screws adjacent to the small screw
(Figure 4d) counterclockwise no more than 1/4 turn.
First, using the 3mm Allen wrench, turn the large screw clock-
wise a small amount, no more than a 1/4 turn. (Figure 4a)
Repeat the above steps until the front opening is centered in
the direction you wanted it to go.You may need to repeat this
(or the small screw adjustment process) with other screws in
order to align it in other directions.
Now, with the 2mm Allen wrench turn the two adjacent small
screws (Figure 4b) counterclockwise no more than 1/4 turn.
Locate the small screw that is 180° opposite the first screw
(Figure 4c) and turn it clockwise no more than 1/4 turn.
Figure 5a
Figure 5b
Figure 5c
Figure 5d
Figure 5a: Using the 2mm
Allen wrench, turn the large
screw counterclockwise a small
amount, no more than 1/4 of a
turn. (Note: Actual selected
alignment screw will vary.)
Figure 5b: Now, with the
3mm Allen wrench turn the
two adjacent large screws
clockwise no more than
1/4 turn.
Figure 5c: Turn the
Figure 5d: Turn the two
large screws adjacent to the
small screw clockwise no
more than 1/4 turn.
large screw that is 180°
opposite the first screw
counterclockwise no more
than 1/4 turn.
If the alignment screw is a small screw
Turn the two small screws adjacent to the large screw (Figure
5d) clockwise no more than 1/4 turn.
First, using the 2mm Allen wrench, turn the small screw
counterclockwise a small amount, no more than a 1/4 turn.
(Figure 5a)
Repeat the above steps until the front opening is centered in
the direction you wanted it to go.You may need to repeat this
(or the large screw adjustment process) with other screws in
order to align it in other directions.
Now, with the 3mm Allen wrench, turn the two adjacent large
screws (Figure 5b) clockwise no more than 1/4 turn.
Repeat these two procedures as needed until the view
through the scope resembles Figure 2b.
Locate the large screw that is 180° opposite the first screw
(Figure 5c) and turn it counterclockwise no more than 1/4 turn.
Finishing Collimation
If you have gone through this process and your telescope is
still out of collimation, please contact Orion customer sup-
port.You may need to return the telescope for repair (covered
on warranty for 1 year after purchase).
Once you have finished adjusting your telescope, you will
need to perform another star test (described earlier) to check
the collimation. If your telescope appears collimated after
star testing, it should not need adjustment again unless it is
roughly handled.
3
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