Fuzzy Telescope Problem

I have a Dobsonian 8" telescope made by Discovery Telescopes. "Up close"
objects are fine, water towers, trees, even the moon. However, when I try
to focus on any planet or star I can't get it in focus. All I get is a
fuzzy image.

I don't see anything wrong with the mirror (I'm not a professional, so I
might be over looking something here). Anyone have any ideas that I can try
to fix this thing? Thanks

Warren
warren_wickline at msn

John Smith wrote:

I have a Dobsonian 8" telescope made by Discovery Telescopes. "Up close"
objects are fine, water towers, trees, even the moon. However, when I try
to focus on any planet or star I can't get it in focus. All I get is a
fuzzy image.

I don't see anything wrong with the mirror (I'm not a professional, so I
might be over looking something here). Anyone have any ideas that I can
try
to fix this thing


1. Make sure the optics are well-collimated. If you don't know how to do
this, a google search on "collimation" will provide you with plenty of links
for easy instructions.

2. Make sure the objects you are viewing in the sky are at least 30 degrees
off the horizon.

3. Back off on the power.

--
Martin
Remove "ilikestars" from email address to reply

"John Smith" wrote in message
...
I have a Dobsonian 8" telescope made by Discovery Telescopes. "Up close"
objects are fine, water towers, trees, even the moon. However, when I try
to focus on any planet or star I can't get it in focus. All I get is a
fuzzy image.

I don't see anything wrong with the mirror (I'm not a professional, so I
might be over looking something here). Anyone have any ideas that I can
try
to fix this thing? Thanks

Warren
warren_wickline at msn


Forgive me if I am teaching a granny to suck eggs, and I am a novice at
this, but what you describe is what I got too...and my problem was caused by
trying to view thru a warm scope...leaving it to cool for 3 hours did the
trick, even at high power.

HTH

David

Hi Warren,

I would start with a couple of possibilities.

(1) Reduce power. You didn't mention what magnification you are using, but
start with low power and work up.

(2) Let it get a good cooldown. Set it outside an hour before you want to
use it.

(3) Check collimation. You can find more at:

http://www.efn.org/~mbartels/tm/collimat.html
http://perso.club-internet.fr/legault/collim.html
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~mbartels/kolli/kolli.html

Some Collimation Myths and Misunderstandings

http://w1.411.telia.com/~u41105032/myths/myths.htm

(4) Try a couple of different eyepieces.

(5) test on a bright star. With a dob, Polaris has the advantage of not
needing much tracking.

(6) If none of this gets you going, check at
http://skyandtelescope.com/resources/organizations/ to find a local astro
club. Call ahead and ask who their optics gurus are. Take your scope to
their next public night and get some of their people to look through it and
give you a hand.

Clear Skies!

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
************************************************** **********




"John Smith" wrote in message
...
I have a Dobsonian 8" telescope made by Discovery Telescopes. "Up close"
objects are fine, water towers, trees, even the moon. However, when I try
to focus on any planet or star I can't get it in focus. All I get is a
fuzzy image.

I don't see anything wrong with the mirror (I'm not a professional, so I
might be over looking something here). Anyone have any ideas that I can
try
to fix this thing? Thanks

Warren
warren_wickline at msn

Have you checked your alinement of the mirrors?




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towards an east that would not know another dawn.
But elsewhere the stars were still young and the light of morning
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again."

Arthur C. Clarke, The City & The Stars

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"John Smith" wrote in message
...
I have a Dobsonian 8" telescope made by Discovery Telescopes. "Up close"
objects are fine, water towers, trees, even the moon. However, when I try
to focus on any planet or star I can't get it in focus. All I get is a
fuzzy image.

I don't see anything wrong with the mirror (I'm not a professional, so I
might be over looking something here). Anyone have any ideas that I can try
to fix this thing? Thanks

Warren
warren_wickline at msn




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My problem is similar, except what I see is black spots in low
magnifications! If I use a high one, (20x is my biggest),It works fine!

Candace

Candace M ) wrote...
My problem is similar, except what I see is black spots in low
magnifications! If I use a high one, (20x is my biggest),It works fine!

Candace



Do the black spots move around? If they do, it could just be "floaters"
in your eyes. "Floaters" being cellular debris that floats around in the
eyeballs. Sometimes they'll appear as spots and other times as strands
of material. Not uncommon to see especially if you're looking at
something bright like the moon.

-Chris.