1. The process of aligning optical elements or instruments so that light rays are parallel or focused correctly.
Usage: technical; commonly used in astronomy, microscopy, and optical engineering
2. The adjustment of a telescope or other optical instrument to ensure that its optical axis is properly aligned.
Usage: astronomy; instrumentation

Examples

• The telescope required careful collimation before the astronomers could observe distant stars.
• Proper collimation of the microscope's lenses improved the clarity of the specimen.
• The technician performed collimation checks on the laser system to ensure accurate beam delivery.
• Without correct collimation, the optical instrument will produce blurred or distorted images.
• The collimation process involved adjusting multiple mirrors and lenses to achieve perfect alignment.
• Astronomers spend time on collimation to maximize the quality of their observations.