on the back it says it is already collimated in factory but it obviously isn't, there are no actual screws to collimate it, only the secondary, what should I do?
how to collimate skywatcher explorer 130p
https://www.astro-baby.com/collimation/astro%20babys%20collimation%20guide.htm
Apparently there is a cover on the back side that you need to remove to access the collimation screws. See step 4.
Concise
Brian Puhl · Nov 22, 2025, 05:36 AM
https://www.astro-baby.com/collimation/astro%20babys%20collimation%20guide.htm
Apparently there is a cover on the back side that you need to remove to access the collimation screws. See step 4.
unfortunately the scope she is using isn’t my model. I have been experimenting with my scope and there really is no way to collimate the primary mirror.
Then you'll have to use the secondary mirror's screws and hope for the best.
Which isn't too unusual.
Can you share a picture of the back?
Nikolaos Bafitis · Nov 22, 2025, 04:28 PM
Brian Puhl · Nov 22, 2025, 05:36 AM
https://www.astro-baby.com/collimation/astro%20babys%20collimation%20guide.htm
Apparently there is a cover on the back side that you need to remove to access the collimation screws. See step 4.unfortunately the scope she is using isn’t my model. I have been experimenting with my scope and there really is no way to collimate the primary mirror.
As I understand it, your scope and hers are designed almost exactly the same. That's why I linked it.
Most of the time, I dob’t touch the secondary. I will explain why below:
These is only one element in a newt that has an optical axis: The primary mirror.
There are only two ways the optics can be misaligned si that you get abberrations
Off center of the optical axis.
Not perpendicular to the optical axis (essentially introducing tilt.
Is by far most critical. Especially for visual or planetary. You only neet a pinhole to fix that one. Only adjust the primary until the reflection of the pinhole is in the centre marking. Every bit as accurate as a laser.
Takes a chesire, a laser or an Ocal (kamera) I have all of them.
All the other ways a newt can be misaligned only affect vignetting.