HoTech Advanced CT Laser Collimator for 2" Focuser
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CT Collimation Breakthrough! Collimate Your Cassegrain Telescope:
- Without using a star
- Indoor or outdoor
- Day or night
- Focus stays at final view setting
- Within focal distance from your telescope
- One-man operation
- Portable and simple to setup and use
- Works on CT, SCT, Maksutov, & RC
Package includes:
- (1) Advanced CT Laser Collimator
- (1) Premium Carrying Case
- (1) Fine Adjustment Stage (FAS-01)
- (1) 2" SCA Reflector Mirror (SCA-RM2)
- (3) External Alignment Tabs
- (1) Tab Strap
- (1) Paper Ruler
- (1) CR123, 3V lithium battery
"This is a very clever device. By using three perfectly aligned laser beams it simulates the parallel rays coming
from a distant star. The beams then pass through the telescope twice to amplify any error in the entire system
making even small miscollimation errors readily seen and fixed. David's done his homework on this one, coming up
with a very ingenious answer to daytime collimation of an SCT." Craig Stark, Ph. D. Associate Professor and
Founder of Stark Labs & PHD Guiding
"We have used the HOTECH Advanced CT Laser Collimator on our CDK Telescope to set the initial primary to secondary collimation with good result. HoTech's elegant design and high quality construction allows for ease of setup and makes this an invaluable tool for collimating a Cassegrain Telescope."Allan Keller, PlaneWave Instruments
"I heartily recommend this device to anyone, even seasoned "pros" as a way to collimate without wasting you previous
night hours and to collimate at least as accurately as most star tests, and certainly a way to collimate in areas
and during conditions where a star test would be impossible..." Bruce Prager, AstroSolutions LLC
Innovation brings Affortable and Portable Collimation into
Reality
Since the invention of the Cassegrain Telescope in 1672 by the French sculptor Sieur
Guillaume Cassegrain, the Cassegrain Telescope has evolved into various derivative designs such as the more popular
Ritchey-Chrétien, Dall-Kirkham, Schmidt-Cassegrain, and Maksutov-Cassegrain. The designs have gained their
popularity because of their compact and simple to produce design. With different designs, star collimation is and
has always been the only effective method to collimate for Cassegrain telescope owners.
Now, backyard astronomers have an alternative to achieve excellent collimation conveniently using the Advanced CT
Laser Collimator. The Advanced CT Laser Collimator brings the collimating star to your telescope within arm reaching
distance. With its short range capability, you can perform collimation indoors - day or night - without being
subjected to weather conditions. And best of all, this new collimator utilizes a clear and simple-to-read, large
target display for the telescope alignment diagnostic. This large target display is positioned within a short focal
distance of the telescope which allows you to collimate without guessing.
No Star Required to
Collimate
In order to achieve an accurate star collimation, normally the
amateur
astronomer requires good seeing conditions with no cloud, no wind, stable temperature, no light pollution, a
well-aligned telescope mount tracking system, telescope optical tube assemble (OTA) thermal equilibrium, and a good
visible magnitude star. The visual quality of the referencing star is greatly affected by the prescribed factors
most of which are all in Gods hand as you can see in the photo. Adjusting the collimation is guessing game where you
move between front and the back of the telescope adjusting the corresponding alignment screw and holding your breath
peeping through a high magnification eyepiece referencing the concentricity of the unstable defocused image. This
can be an incredibly frustrating experience.
An artificial star can never simulate a real star because it is impossible to
collimate with
the telescope focus set at infinity. After artificial star collimation, you will need to adjust your focus back to
infinity to view a real star by moving the primary mirror to a different position. The distance the primary mirror
has been adjusted can accumulate mechanical tolerance errors. For some of the mass produced SCTs, the “sticky
baffle” on the primary mirror focusing mechanism may also cause mirror-flop. If a mirror-flop has ocurred, it will
affect the alignment position which in turn will render the collimation useless. Ideally, It is best to collimate
your optics at the same viewing focusing position without major optical displacements to correspond to the final
view setting. The Advanced CT Laser Collimator can accomplish this task without all the possible accumulated
errors.
The large target display on the Advanced CT Laser Collimator brings
you a clear visual queue
of three projecting laser dots as the alignment reference at a very comfortable visual distance providing an
accurate axial alignment error diagnostic. And during the entire collimation process, no major focusing is needed,
thus minimizing the possible accumulated errors from the focusing adjustments. The referencing adjustments are made
by bringing the three clearly discernable projected laser dots projected on the target, into a concentric ring. No
more peeping through the eyepiece looking for a changing, ambigu star image. This alternative collimation method
saves precious observing time by collimating the telescope and preparing the viewing programs at dusk or before dawn
without the influences of the external environmental conditions.
Collimate Within Focal Distance
From Your Telescope 
The Advanced CT Laser Collimator does not require long focal
distances to achieve high-accuracy collimation. Utilizing the installed flat mirror at the focal point (eyepiece
location), the collimator lasers double-passes both your primary and secondary mirrors and magnifies the alignment
errors to a higher accuracy level. In addition, it also cuts the collimating distance in half achieving near-field
alignment process. The collimator is stationed within your telescope's focal length directly in front of your
telescope. Setting up for collimation, you will be standing between the telescope and the collimator aiming both the
telescope and the collimator at each other. Then you will adjust the secondary mirror knob to bring the returning
lasers on the same track. This is a very convenient one-man operation.
At a Fraction of the Cost of Wavefront Interferometer Technology
The state-of-the-art advanced laser optical alignment technology used in the Advanced CT Laser Collimator achieves
the same rough alignment function of a costly large aperture interferometer commonly used in high-energy labs at a
fraction of its cost.
The Advanced CT Laser Collimator uses three collimated lasers, evenly spaced apart, to sample large aperture optical
elements in your telescope. The three parallel laser beams completely simulate the light path (flat-wavefront) from
a distant star and pass through the entire telescope’s optical elements and reflect back to its target for a
complete and accurate double-pass diagnostic reading of your telescope optical alignment. This innovative
collimation technique and technology enables the amateur astronomer achieving far-field collimation as a near-field
process.
Precision CNC Machined Panel and Components
This beautifully
designed instrument is precision machined from a solid block of aero-space grade aluminum. It is then hardened and
anodized to keep the entire mounted laser system thermally stable allowing you to achieve accurate collimation. The
rigid, ultra thin profile, and light-weight design makes the unit portable and simple to setup and use.
Collimates All CT, SCT, Makustov, & RC
The Advanced CT Laser Collimator
simulates a real distant star light path, and as a result it can collimate most telescopes which primarily rely on
star collimation. The collimation technique can be implemented on any size telescope. The current production model
is designed to collimate telescopes with a primary mirror greater than 7-1/5-inches and a secondary mirror
obstruction diameter less than 6-1/2-inches.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Intes Mk-91
|
Celestron EdgeHD
|
Takahashi FRC-300
|
Celestron CPC
|
Collimates following types of telescopes
- Classic Cassegrain
- Schmidt Cassegrain
-
Maksutov-Cassegrain
- Ritchey-Chretien
- Dall-Kirkham
- and most dervative Cassegrain telescope designs
Laser Specification:
- Output Power: Class II, 1mW
- Wavelength: 650nm
- Alignment Lasers:
170mm diameter spaced apart
- Crosshair Laser: 90 deg. divergent optic
- Power Supply: One CR123, 3V Lithium
battery
Telescope aperture limitation on ACT-M2 model:
- Primary mirror larger than 170mm(6.7") diameter
to accept the alignment lasers
- Secondary mirror obstruction smaller than 170mm(6.7") diameter without blocking
the alignment lasers
Additional Info
SCT Introduction (Video 1): Setup and concept of the Advanced CT Laser Collimator
SCT Collimation (Video 2): All optical axis collimation on a 9.25" Celstron EdgeHD
- Read about Andrew Cooper's experience with this product on his blog.
- Read Rod Mollise's review of this product on his blog.
- Instruction Manual
- Laser Safety Precaution
Other Information
- Country of Manufacture: China
CT Collimation Breakthrough! Collimate Your Cassegrain Telescope:
- Without using a star
- Indoor or outdoor
- Day or night
- Focus stays at final view setting
- Within focal distance from your telescope
- One-man operation
- Portable and simple to setup and use
- Works on CT, SCT, Maksutov, & RC
Package includes:
- (1) Advanced CT Laser Collimator
- (1) Premium Carrying Case
- (1) Fine Adjustment Stage (FAS-01)
- (1) 2" SCA Reflector Mirror (SCA-RM2)
- (3) External Alignment Tabs
- (1) Tab Strap
- (1) Paper Ruler
- (1) CR123, 3V lithium battery
"This is a very clever device. By using three perfectly aligned laser beams it simulates the parallel rays coming
from a distant star. The beams then pass through the telescope twice to amplify any error in the entire system
making even small miscollimation errors readily seen and fixed. David's done his homework on this one, coming up
with a very ingenious answer to daytime collimation of an SCT." Craig Stark, Ph. D. Associate Professor and
Founder of Stark Labs & PHD Guiding
"We have used the HOTECH Advanced CT Laser Collimator on our CDK Telescope to set the initial primary to secondary collimation with good result. HoTech's elegant design and high quality construction allows for ease of setup and makes this an invaluable tool for collimating a Cassegrain Telescope."Allan Keller, PlaneWave Instruments
"I heartily recommend this device to anyone, even seasoned "pros" as a way to collimate without wasting you previous
night hours and to collimate at least as accurately as most star tests, and certainly a way to collimate in areas
and during conditions where a star test would be impossible..." Bruce Prager, AstroSolutions LLC
Innovation brings Affortable and Portable Collimation into
Reality
Since the invention of the Cassegrain Telescope in 1672 by the French sculptor Sieur
Guillaume Cassegrain, the Cassegrain Telescope has evolved into various derivative designs such as the more popular
Ritchey-Chrétien, Dall-Kirkham, Schmidt-Cassegrain, and Maksutov-Cassegrain. The designs have gained their
popularity because of their compact and simple to produce design. With different designs, star collimation is and
has always been the only effective method to collimate for Cassegrain telescope owners.
Now, backyard astronomers have an alternative to achieve excellent collimation conveniently using the Advanced CT
Laser Collimator. The Advanced CT Laser Collimator brings the collimating star to your telescope within arm reaching
distance. With its short range capability, you can perform collimation indoors - day or night - without being
subjected to weather conditions. And best of all, this new collimator utilizes a clear and simple-to-read, large
target display for the telescope alignment diagnostic. This large target display is positioned within a short focal
distance of the telescope which allows you to collimate without guessing.
No Star Required to
Collimate
In order to achieve an accurate star collimation, normally the
amateur
astronomer requires good seeing conditions with no cloud, no wind, stable temperature, no light pollution, a
well-aligned telescope mount tracking system, telescope optical tube assemble (OTA) thermal equilibrium, and a good
visible magnitude star. The visual quality of the referencing star is greatly affected by the prescribed factors
most of which are all in Gods hand as you can see in the photo. Adjusting the collimation is guessing game where you
move between front and the back of the telescope adjusting the corresponding alignment screw and holding your breath
peeping through a high magnification eyepiece referencing the concentricity of the unstable defocused image. This
can be an incredibly frustrating experience.
An artificial star can never simulate a real star because it is impossible to
collimate with
the telescope focus set at infinity. After artificial star collimation, you will need to adjust your focus back to
infinity to view a real star by moving the primary mirror to a different position. The distance the primary mirror
has been adjusted can accumulate mechanical tolerance errors. For some of the mass produced SCTs, the “sticky
baffle” on the primary mirror focusing mechanism may also cause mirror-flop. If a mirror-flop has ocurred, it will
affect the alignment position which in turn will render the collimation useless. Ideally, It is best to collimate
your optics at the same viewing focusing position without major optical displacements to correspond to the final
view setting. The Advanced CT Laser Collimator can accomplish this task without all the possible accumulated
errors.
The large target display on the Advanced CT Laser Collimator brings
you a clear visual queue
of three projecting laser dots as the alignment reference at a very comfortable visual distance providing an
accurate axial alignment error diagnostic. And during the entire collimation process, no major focusing is needed,
thus minimizing the possible accumulated errors from the focusing adjustments. The referencing adjustments are made
by bringing the three clearly discernable projected laser dots projected on the target, into a concentric ring. No
more peeping through the eyepiece looking for a changing, ambigu star image. This alternative collimation method
saves precious observing time by collimating the telescope and preparing the viewing programs at dusk or before dawn
without the influences of the external environmental conditions.
Collimate Within Focal Distance
From Your Telescope
The Advanced CT Laser Collimator does not require long focal
distances to achieve high-accuracy collimation. Utilizing the installed flat mirror at the focal point (eyepiece
location), the collimator lasers double-passes both your primary and secondary mirrors and magnifies the alignment
errors to a higher accuracy level. In addition, it also cuts the collimating distance in half achieving near-field
alignment process. The collimator is stationed within your telescope's focal length directly in front of your
telescope. Setting up for collimation, you will be standing between the telescope and the collimator aiming both the
telescope and the collimator at each other. Then you will adjust the secondary mirror knob to bring the returning
lasers on the same track. This is a very convenient one-man operation.
At a Fraction of the Cost of Wavefront Interferometer Technology
The state-of-the-art advanced laser optical alignment technology used in the Advanced CT Laser Collimator achieves
the same rough alignment function of a costly large aperture interferometer commonly used in high-energy labs at a
fraction of its cost.
The Advanced CT Laser Collimator uses three collimated lasers, evenly spaced apart, to sample large aperture optical
elements in your telescope. The three parallel laser beams completely simulate the light path (flat-wavefront) from
a distant star and pass through the entire telescope’s optical elements and reflect back to its target for a
complete and accurate double-pass diagnostic reading of your telescope optical alignment. This innovative
collimation technique and technology enables the amateur astronomer achieving far-field collimation as a near-field
process.
Precision CNC Machined Panel and Components
This beautifully
designed instrument is precision machined from a solid block of aero-space grade aluminum. It is then hardened and
anodized to keep the entire mounted laser system thermally stable allowing you to achieve accurate collimation. The
rigid, ultra thin profile, and light-weight design makes the unit portable and simple to setup and use.
Collimates All CT, SCT, Makustov, & RC
The Advanced CT Laser Collimator
simulates a real distant star light path, and as a result it can collimate most telescopes which primarily rely on
star collimation. The collimation technique can be implemented on any size telescope. The current production model
is designed to collimate telescopes with a primary mirror greater than 7-1/5-inches and a secondary mirror
obstruction diameter less than 6-1/2-inches.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intes Mk-91
|
Celestron EdgeHD
|
Takahashi FRC-300
|
Celestron CPC
|
Collimates following types of telescopes
- Classic Cassegrain
- Schmidt Cassegrain
-
Maksutov-Cassegrain
- Ritchey-Chretien
- Dall-Kirkham
- and most dervative Cassegrain telescope designs
Laser Specification:
- Output Power: Class II, 1mW
- Wavelength: 650nm
- Alignment Lasers:
170mm diameter spaced apart
- Crosshair Laser: 90 deg. divergent optic
- Power Supply: One CR123, 3V Lithium
battery
Telescope aperture limitation on ACT-M2 model:
- Primary mirror larger than 170mm(6.7") diameter
to accept the alignment lasers
- Secondary mirror obstruction smaller than 170mm(6.7") diameter without blocking
the alignment lasers
CT Collimation Breakthrough! Collimate Your Cassegrain Telescope:
- Without using a star
- Indoor or outdoor
- Day or night
- Focus stays at final view setting
- Within focal distance from your telescope
- One-man operation
- Portable and simple to setup and use
- Works on CT, SCT, Maksutov, & RC
Package includes:
- (1) Advanced CT Laser Collimator
- (1) Premium Carrying Case
- (1) Fine Adjustment Stage (FAS-01)
- (1) 2" SCA Reflector Mirror (SCA-RM2)
- (3) External Alignment Tabs
- (1) Tab Strap
- (1) Paper Ruler
- (1) CR123, 3V lithium battery
"This is a very clever device. By using three perfectly aligned laser beams it simulates the parallel rays coming
from a distant star. The beams then pass through the telescope twice to amplify any error in the entire system
making even small miscollimation errors readily seen and fixed. David's done his homework on this one, coming up
with a very ingenious answer to daytime collimation of an SCT." Craig Stark, Ph. D. Associate Professor and
Founder of Stark Labs & PHD Guiding
"We have used the HOTECH Advanced CT Laser Collimator on our CDK Telescope to set the initial primary to secondary collimation with good result. HoTech's elegant design and high quality construction allows for ease of setup and makes this an invaluable tool for collimating a Cassegrain Telescope."Allan Keller, PlaneWave Instruments
"I heartily recommend this device to anyone, even seasoned "pros" as a way to collimate without wasting you previous
night hours and to collimate at least as accurately as most star tests, and certainly a way to collimate in areas
and during conditions where a star test would be impossible..." Bruce Prager, AstroSolutions LLC
Innovation brings Affortable and Portable Collimation into
Reality
Since the invention of the Cassegrain Telescope in 1672 by the French sculptor Sieur
Guillaume Cassegrain, the Cassegrain Telescope has evolved into various derivative designs such as the more popular
Ritchey-Chrétien, Dall-Kirkham, Schmidt-Cassegrain, and Maksutov-Cassegrain. The designs have gained their
popularity because of their compact and simple to produce design. With different designs, star collimation is and
has always been the only effective method to collimate for Cassegrain telescope owners.
Now, backyard astronomers have an alternative to achieve excellent collimation conveniently using the Advanced CT
Laser Collimator. The Advanced CT Laser Collimator brings the collimating star to your telescope within arm reaching
distance. With its short range capability, you can perform collimation indoors - day or night - without being
subjected to weather conditions. And best of all, this new collimator utilizes a clear and simple-to-read, large
target display for the telescope alignment diagnostic. This large target display is positioned within a short focal
distance of the telescope which allows you to collimate without guessing.
No Star Required to
Collimate
In order to achieve an accurate star collimation, normally the
amateur
astronomer requires good seeing conditions with no cloud, no wind, stable temperature, no light pollution, a
well-aligned telescope mount tracking system, telescope optical tube assemble (OTA) thermal equilibrium, and a good
visible magnitude star. The visual quality of the referencing star is greatly affected by the prescribed factors
most of which are all in Gods hand as you can see in the photo. Adjusting the collimation is guessing game where you
move between front and the back of the telescope adjusting the corresponding alignment screw and holding your breath
peeping through a high magnification eyepiece referencing the concentricity of the unstable defocused image. This
can be an incredibly frustrating experience.
An artificial star can never simulate a real star because it is impossible to
collimate with
the telescope focus set at infinity. After artificial star collimation, you will need to adjust your focus back to
infinity to view a real star by moving the primary mirror to a different position. The distance the primary mirror
has been adjusted can accumulate mechanical tolerance errors. For some of the mass produced SCTs, the “sticky
baffle” on the primary mirror focusing mechanism may also cause mirror-flop. If a mirror-flop has ocurred, it will
affect the alignment position which in turn will render the collimation useless. Ideally, It is best to collimate
your optics at the same viewing focusing position without major optical displacements to correspond to the final
view setting. The Advanced CT Laser Collimator can accomplish this task without all the possible accumulated
errors.
The large target display on the Advanced CT Laser Collimator brings
you a clear visual queue
of three projecting laser dots as the alignment reference at a very comfortable visual distance providing an
accurate axial alignment error diagnostic. And during the entire collimation process, no major focusing is needed,
thus minimizing the possible accumulated errors from the focusing adjustments. The referencing adjustments are made
by bringing the three clearly discernable projected laser dots projected on the target, into a concentric ring. No
more peeping through the eyepiece looking for a changing, ambigu star image. This alternative collimation method
saves precious observing time by collimating the telescope and preparing the viewing programs at dusk or before dawn
without the influences of the external environmental conditions.
Collimate Within Focal Distance
From Your Telescope
The Advanced CT Laser Collimator does not require long focal
distances to achieve high-accuracy collimation. Utilizing the installed flat mirror at the focal point (eyepiece
location), the collimator lasers double-passes both your primary and secondary mirrors and magnifies the alignment
errors to a higher accuracy level. In addition, it also cuts the collimating distance in half achieving near-field
alignment process. The collimator is stationed within your telescope's focal length directly in front of your
telescope. Setting up for collimation, you will be standing between the telescope and the collimator aiming both the
telescope and the collimator at each other. Then you will adjust the secondary mirror knob to bring the returning
lasers on the same track. This is a very convenient one-man operation.
At a Fraction of the Cost of Wavefront Interferometer Technology
The state-of-the-art advanced laser optical alignment technology used in the Advanced CT Laser Collimator achieves
the same rough alignment function of a costly large aperture interferometer commonly used in high-energy labs at a
fraction of its cost.
The Advanced CT Laser Collimator uses three collimated lasers, evenly spaced apart, to sample large aperture optical
elements in your telescope. The three parallel laser beams completely simulate the light path (flat-wavefront) from
a distant star and pass through the entire telescope’s optical elements and reflect back to its target for a
complete and accurate double-pass diagnostic reading of your telescope optical alignment. This innovative
collimation technique and technology enables the amateur astronomer achieving far-field collimation as a near-field
process.
Precision CNC Machined Panel and Components
This beautifully
designed instrument is precision machined from a solid block of aero-space grade aluminum. It is then hardened and
anodized to keep the entire mounted laser system thermally stable allowing you to achieve accurate collimation. The
rigid, ultra thin profile, and light-weight design makes the unit portable and simple to setup and use.
Collimates All CT, SCT, Makustov, & RC
The Advanced CT Laser Collimator
simulates a real distant star light path, and as a result it can collimate most telescopes which primarily rely on
star collimation. The collimation technique can be implemented on any size telescope. The current production model
is designed to collimate telescopes with a primary mirror greater than 7-1/5-inches and a secondary mirror
obstruction diameter less than 6-1/2-inches.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intes Mk-91
|
Celestron EdgeHD
|
Takahashi FRC-300
|
Celestron CPC
|
Collimates following types of telescopes
- Classic Cassegrain
- Schmidt Cassegrain
-
Maksutov-Cassegrain
- Ritchey-Chretien
- Dall-Kirkham
- and most dervative Cassegrain telescope designs
Laser Specification:
- Output Power: Class II, 1mW
- Wavelength: 650nm
- Alignment Lasers:
170mm diameter spaced apart
- Crosshair Laser: 90 deg. divergent optic
- Power Supply: One CR123, 3V Lithium
battery
Telescope aperture limitation on ACT-M2 model:
- Primary mirror larger than 170mm(6.7") diameter
to accept the alignment lasers
- Secondary mirror obstruction smaller than 170mm(6.7") diameter without blocking
the alignment lasers
Additional Info
SCT Introduction (Video 1): Setup and concept of the Advanced CT Laser Collimator
SCT Collimation (Video 2): All optical axis collimation on a 9.25" Celstron EdgeHD
- Read about Andrew Cooper's experience with this product on his blog.
- Read Rod Mollise's review of this product on his blog.
- Instruction Manual
- Laser Safety Precaution
Other Information
- Country of Manufacture: China
HoTech Advanced CT Laser Collimator for 2" Focuser