• If you intend to spend a long time on one target field, it is advisable to collimate the telescope using a star in the vicinity of your science target field.
  • XEPHEM SKY VIEW WINDOW: Identify a collimation object (magnitude < 7). Type the RA-Dec into TomPack Viewer > Main Controls > Sky coordinates, and hit Slew & Track.
  • Check/optimize telescope focus with science instrument prior to collimation
  • “Autocollimation” must be running throughout the collimation & focusing procedure!
  • Adjust focus with Secondary GUI, taking an exposure with the science camera, and when using the 4k CCD Imager, evaluate the distribution curve fit in IRAF xgterm
  • Guidebox GUI: insert Center field pickoff mirror
  • Use PHD2 to observe the object.
  • If you need to center the star in the field, use the Manual Control or the Manual Shifts (TPView > Main Controls). DO NOT USE GUIDER STAGES TO CENTER OBJECT.
  • Guidebox GUI: defocus to obtain “donut” (offset -30)
  • Secondary GUI: adjust TipX, TipY to even out light distribution in “donut”, re-centering object with paddle
  • Guidebox GUI: refocus (eliminate/adjust offset; it will be a value close to 0)
  • Guidebox GUI: select U-mirror
  • Check/optimize telescope focus with science instrument (after collimation)