Mike:
Just for the record, buying a new SCT does NOT gaurantee you will recieve it in alignment. Shipping these scopes will often throw them out of collimation. Its the nature of the beast and the reason why the manufacturers make them so easy to collimate. Check out Rods site - it makes it easy.
Also, if you go to your local library and check out "The Backyard Astronomers Guide" by Dickinson and Dyer, there is a section devoted to collimation.
Hope this helps - Rob
PS - Don't panic and enjoy the great scope you just bought.
Just for the record, buying a new SCT does NOT gaurantee you will recieve it in alignment. Shipping these scopes will often throw them out of collimation. Its the nature of the beast and the reason why the manufacturers make them so easy to collimate. Check out Rods site - it makes it easy.
Also, if you go to your local library and check out "The Backyard Astronomers Guide" by Dickinson and Dyer, there is a section devoted to collimation.
Hope this helps - Rob
PS - Don't panic and enjoy the great scope you just bought.