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Collimation Tools

A Newtonian at f/4 has a collimation tolerance of well under a millimetre of primary mirror movement before stars visibly degrade. At f/8 you have several times that margin. This is why collimation tool selection is not a matter of preference but of matching accuracy to your telescope. David Astro carries collimation tools in Canada, in stock here and shipped without customs delays for Canadian buyers.

Tell us your focal ratio and telescope type and we will recommend a tool that reaches the accuracy you actually need, without paying for accuracy you do not.

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Original price $137.00 USD - Original price $137.00 USD
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Baader Laser Collimator Mark III

Precision Laser Collimator for Reflecting Telescopes Simplifies Secondary and Primary Mirror Alignment Enables Fast Collimation in Low-Light Condi...

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Original price $137.00 USD - Original price $137.00 USD
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$137.00 USD
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Current price $137.00 USD
Original price $25.00 USD - Original price $25.00 USD
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Current price $25.00 USD

Bob's Knobs Collimation Thumbscrews for C11 Metric Fastar - Stainless Steel

The collimation of an SCT can be a daunting task for a beginner, but it is an absolutely necessary process to get the most out of your telescope! D...

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Original price $25.00 USD - Original price $25.00 USD
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Original price $28.00 USD - Original price $28.00 USD
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Bob's Knobs Collimation Thumbscrews for C14 Metric Phillips

The collimation of an SCT can be a daunting task for a beginner, but it is an absolutely necessary process to get the most out of your telescope! D...

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Original price $28.00 USD - Original price $28.00 USD
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Original price $28.00 USD - Original price $28.00 USD
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Bob's Knobs Collimation Thumbscrews for C8 EdgeHD - Stainless Steel

The collimation of an SCT can be a daunting task for a beginner, but it is an absolutely necessary process to get the most out of your telescope! D...

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Original price $28.00 USD - Original price $28.00 USD
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Original price $25.00 USD - Original price $25.00 USD
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Bob's Knobs Collimation Thumbscrews for C9.25 Fastar - Stainless Steel

The collimation of an SCT can be a daunting task for a beginner, but it is an absolutely necessary process to get the most out of your telescope! D...

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Original price $25.00 USD - Original price $25.00 USD
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Original price $28.00 USD - Original price $28.00 USD
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Bob's Knobs for C5 SCT Metric - Stainless Steel

The collimation of an SCT can be a daunting task for a beginner, but it is an absolutely necessary process to get the most out of your telescope! D...

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Original price $28.00 USD - Original price $28.00 USD
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Original price $28.00 USD - Original price $28.00 USD
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Bob's Knobs for C6 SCT - Stainless Steel

The collimation of an SCT can be a daunting task for a beginner, but it is an absolutely necessary process to get the most out of your telescope! D...

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Original price $28.00 USD - Original price $28.00 USD
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Original price $28.00 USD - Original price $28.00 USD
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Bob's Knobs for C8 SCT - Stainless Steel

Fits: Most Celestron 8” (20 cm) f/10 SCT made in 2005 and later with black Phillips factory collimation screws that have metric threads. Includes S...

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Original price $28.00 USD - Original price $28.00 USD
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Original price $25.00 USD - Original price $25.00 USD
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Bob's Knobs for Celestron C6-N/NGT, C8-N/NGT and C10-N/NGT Secondary - 30mm

Part:CNsec30 or CNsec35Fits: Celestron C6-N/NGT, C8-N/NGT, and C10-N/NGT Newtonian telescopes, SkyWatcher (5”, 6”, 8”, 10”, 12”, 14”, 16”) Newtonia...

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Original price $25.00 USD - Original price $25.00 USD
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Original price $28.00 USD - Original price $28.00 USD
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Bob's Knobs for SkyWatcher Newtonian Primary with Factory Collimation Screws

Primary collimation Knobs: Black plastic, 16 mm (5/8”) diameter Threads: Stainless steel Primary Lock Knobs: Red plastic, 16 mm (5/8”) diamete...

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Original price $28.00 USD - Original price $28.00 USD
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Original price $34.95 USD - Original price $34.95 USD
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$34.95 USD
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Celestron Collimation Eyepiece 1.25 in

Precise Newtonian & SCT Collimation Fits Standard 1.25" Focusers and Diagonals Bright Internal Surface for Viewing Mirror Reflections Integrat...

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Original price $34.95 USD - Original price $34.95 USD
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Original price $22.00 USD - Original price $22.00 USD
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$22.00 USD
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David Astro Cheshire - Long Style

1.25" barrel Long style for secondary mirror placement Passive tool, no batteries For Newtonian reflectors Description FAQ Specifications In th...

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Original price $22.00 USD - Original price $22.00 USD
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David Astro Cheshire - Short Style

1.25" barrel Compact short style Passive tool, no batteries For Newtonian reflectors Description FAQ Specifications In the Box ...

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Original price $22.00 USD - Original price $22.00 USD
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Original price $19.00 USD - Original price $19.00 USD
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$19.00 USD
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David Astro Collimation Knobs for Celestron C6 SCT

Hand adjustment of the C6 secondary mirror Replace the stock collimation screws No screwdriver or hex key needed Adjust while at the eyepiece D...

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Original price $19.00 USD - Original price $19.00 USD
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Original price $19.00 USD - Original price $19.00 USD
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David Astro Collimation Knobs for Celestron/Sky-Watcher Newtonians

Hand adjustment of collimation Replace stock collimation screws For Celestron and Sky-Watcher Newtonians No screwdriver or hex key needed Descr...

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Original price $19.00 USD - Original price $19.00 USD
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Original price $32.80 USD - Original price $32.80 USD
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$32.80 USD
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David Astro Laser Collimator - 1.25"/2"

For Newtonian reflectors Fits 1.25" and 2" focusers Usable in the dark Shows which mirror screws to adjust Description FAQ Specifications In th...

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Original price $32.80 USD - Original price $32.80 USD
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Original price $42.90 USD - Original price $42.90 USD
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$42.90 USD
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Farpoint Cheshire Collimator - 1.25"

Farpoint 1.25 Inch Cheshire Collimator is a simple tool that helps align the optical axes of the mirrors of a Newtonian Reflector, a process called...

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Original price $42.90 USD - Original price $42.90 USD
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Original price $157.30 USD - Original price $157.30 USD
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$157.30 USD
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Farpoint Collimation Kit with Case- 1.25"

Farpoint 1.25 Inch Collimation Kit includes a 1.25" stepped barrel 650nm laser collimator plus 1.25" cheshire. These tools help align the optical a...

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Original price $157.30 USD - Original price $157.30 USD
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Original price $48.40 USD - Original price $52.80 USD
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$48.40 USD - $52.80 USD
Current price $48.40 USD

Farpoint Knob/Spring Kit - Meade LightBridge

Upgrade standard telescope primary mirror collimation springs and collimation knobs with Farpoint Knob/Spring Kit. These replacement springs are ma...

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Original price $48.40 USD - Original price $52.80 USD
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$48.40 USD - $52.80 USD
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Current price $48.40 USD
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Original price $80.00 USD - Original price $80.00 USD
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$80.00 USD
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Current price $80.00 USD

Howie Glatter Barlow Laser Collimator Attachment

Enables precise Barlowed primary mirror collimation for Newtonians Integrated design combines a Barlow lens and a white viewing screen in one disc...

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Original price $80.00 USD - Original price $80.00 USD
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Original price $110.00 USD - Original price $110.00 USD
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$110.00 USD
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Howie Glatter Holographic Attachment w/ Concentric Circle Pattern

Projects a pattern of 9 concentric circles 10° pattern spread ideal for f/5.7 and slower optics Brighter pattern is ideal for Cassegrain collimati...

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Original price $110.00 USD - Original price $110.00 USD
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Original price $60.00 USD - Original price $60.00 USD
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Howie Glatter Holographic Attachment w/ Cross Hair Pattern

Projects a simple cross-hair pattern Designed for aligning the returning laser beam Fits modern Howie Glatter collimators with 3/8-32 thread Remov...

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Original price $60.00 USD - Original price $60.00 USD
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$60.00 USD
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Current price $60.00 USD
Original price $80.00 USD - Original price $80.00 USD
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$80.00 USD
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Current price $80.00 USD

Howie Glatter Holographic Attachment w/ Square Grid Pattern

Projects a 10 x 10 line square grid pattern Wide 21° spread covers optics from f/2.7 to f/35 Removable diffractive optical element (hologram) Fits...

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Original price $80.00 USD - Original price $80.00 USD
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Current price $80.00 USD
Original price $470.00 USD - Original price $470.00 USD
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$470.00 USD
$470.00 USD - $470.00 USD
Current price $470.00 USD

Howie Glatter Single 532nm Green Beam Laser Collimator - 1.25"/2"

532nm Green Wavelength Single Beam Output Listed for 1.25" and 2" Eyepiece Holders 15 arc-second Alignment Accuracy Class IIIa Laser (maximum 5 mW...

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Original price $470.00 USD - Original price $470.00 USD
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$470.00 USD
$470.00 USD - $470.00 USD
Current price $470.00 USD

Collimation Tools and Their Accuracy Limits

Each tool addresses a different stage of alignment, and fast telescopes generally need more than one.

  • Sight tubes: Establish that the secondary mirror is centred under the focuser and properly rotated — the step most often skipped and the cause of most stubborn collimation problems.
  • Cheshire eyepieces: Combine a sight tube with an illuminated crosshair for primary mirror alignment, accurate and requiring no power.
  • Laser collimators: Fast primary alignment in the dark. Accuracy depends entirely on the barrel fitting the focuser without play, so a compression ring focuser helps considerably.
  • Barlowed lasers: Project a shadow of the primary's centre spot, removing sensitivity to the laser's own collimation and improving accuracy substantially.
  • Autocollimators: Multiple-reflection tools that reach the highest accuracy, and are effectively necessary below about f/4.5 where other methods run out of resolution.
  • Centre spot markers: Templates and spots for marking the primary mirror centre, which every collimation method depends on being accurate.

Why Choose David Astro for Collimation Tools

Buying the wrong tool for your focal ratio wastes money in either direction, and we would rather you bought the right one.

  • Tool matched to focal ratio: At f/8 a Cheshire is entirely sufficient. At f/4 you need an autocollimator or a Barlowed laser, and we will tell you which rather than selling the most expensive option by default.
  • Focuser fit checked: A laser in a sloppy focuser is a source of error rather than a fix. We check whether your focuser holds a tool squarely and recommend a compression ring if it does not.
  • Diagnosis first: If your images are soft, we will help you determine whether collimation is actually the cause before you buy anything.
  • Authorized dealer: Genuine tools with manufacturer warranty, in Canadian stock.
  • Ships from Canada: No duties or brokerage fees for Canadian orders.

Collimation Tools in Canada — Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate does collimation need to be?
It scales sharply with focal ratio. An f/8 Newtonian tolerates several millimetres of primary error before it shows; an f/4 tolerates a fraction of a millimetre. Faster scopes need better tools and more frequent checks.
Is a laser collimator accurate enough?
For f/5 and slower, generally yes if the laser itself is collimated and the focuser holds it without play. Below f/5, a Barlowed laser or autocollimator is a meaningful improvement.
Do refractors need collimation?
Rarely. A sealed lens cell holds alignment for years unless the telescope is dropped. If a refractor shows asymmetric star images, it is worth checking, but it is not routine maintenance.
Do I need to centre-spot my mirror?
For accurate collimation, yes. Every method references the primary's optical centre, and without a spot you are aligning to an assumption. The spot sits in the shadow of the secondary and costs no light.

Collimating a fast scope?

Tell us your focal ratio and we will recommend the right tool, not the most expensive one. Ships from our Canadian warehouse.