I saw the Saturn last night.. But I'm doubting that my 3" reflector telescope needs proper collimation.. ?
Seeing the moon is very easy.. I can clearly see the contours, craters and landscapes. But trying the Jupiter & Saturn, though I can recognize them, there's a tail (comet like) image. I tried focusing it, but that's the best i can get. Is there a way to know if i need collimation? And how to do it? Thanks!
cheap optics....possibly collimation.....possibly imprecise parabolic surfacing of the primary....most 3" reflectors are very cheaply made....it is called 'comatic aberration"...where the parabolic doesn't focus properly to a point....and a coma develops.
See here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coma_(optics)
June 8 Issue Nutmeg Classifieds
