Center spotting the primary mirror is one of the activities you should be doing to properly align the scope. Even the best optics perform poorly if not aligned properly. Center spotting is not complex and can be simply done at home. As I am working on my 5″ scopes project, I thought to document it for everyone’s benefit. See the process below which I followed. You can do the same with any size of the primary mirror.
Steps
- First, you need to make a template with a small center hole. Use a compass to draw a circle on a thin cardboard sheet as the same diameter as your primary mirror. I used cardboard which came with a shirt packaging.
- Cut out the circle from the cardboard. Increase the size of the center hole by poking the sharp side of the compass into the hole a few times. This will complete the template-making.
- Place the template on the mirror face and then press gently around the center to secure it.
- Use a permanent marker and mark the mirror’s center through the center hole of the template.
- Buy the punch hole guard sheet from any stationary shop. These PVC guards are used to reinforce punch holes and come in various colors.
- Take one carefully on a toothpick and place it gently around the center dot.
- Once placed and confirmed position, press it firmly using the back of the toothpick
- Remove the center ink mark using an earbud dipped in Acetone.
Mirror center spotting is completed once the centre ink mark is removed using Acetone.
Astro Khan Telescope Making 
Extremely useful.
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Thank you Irfan
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I really appreciate the trouble you take to document your work.u r the only person at present who is systematically promoting ATM.i keenly follow ur work.please keep up the excellent and useful work u r doing
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Muralidhar Muddusetty Sir, thank you. Your kind words encourage me to write more. This is a small effort from my end to learn and share the knowledge with the ATM community.
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