RA-88-SA have been dropped! Getting double image. How do I re-align (collimate)?

Here are the steps to collimate your Nikon Venturer II10x23 6.3 degrees compact binoculars:

1. Adjust the diopter: The diopter adjustment is usually located on the right eyepiece, and it helps to adjust the focus of the image for your right eye. Close your left eye and adjust the focus of the right barrel using the diopter adjustment until the image is clear.
2. Look at a distant object: Choose a distant object, such as a building or tree, and focus on it using both barrels. Keep your eyes on the object while you perform the next step.
3. Adjust the barrel alignment screws: The barrel alignment screws are located on the hinge that connects the two barrels. You may need a small screwdriver to adjust them. Use the screws to adjust the alignment of the barrels until the images in both barrels are aligned. If the image on the right barrel is above and to the right of the image in the left barrel, you need to adjust the right barrel downwards and to the left.
4. Test your binoculars: Once you have adjusted the alignment screws, check the alignment of the barrels again by looking at a distant object. If necessary, make further adjustments until the images are aligned.
5. Repeat the process: Over time, the alignment of your binoculars may shift slightly, so it's a good idea to check the alignment periodically and make adjustments as needed.

Your friend may have dropped it, causing it to go out of collimation (optical alignment).
To test this, set it up outside and allow it about an hour to cool to the surrounding temperature. Then point it at a star of low to moderate brightness, and defocus slightly. You should see something like one of these images
http://legault.perso.sfr.fr/airy_collim_2.gif

If the rings are not concentric, shown in the bottom row, the scope needs collimation. These scopes were not meant to be collimated by the user, being glued together, so you will probably have to send it to Meade.
If concentric, as in the top row, it is OK. In that case, seeing conditions were just not good, or your lenses need a clean, or there was dew on them.

You will see diffrection spikes when focused on a very bright object

http://www.goldastro.com/images/newtonian.jpg

and this can also appear around a bright planet. However it is very irritating, and to minimise it, make sure your scope is well collimated (optically aligned).

There is too much to collimation to include here, but there are many guides on the Net

http://www.cloudynights.com/documents/primer.pdf

http://www.atmsite.org/contrib/Carlin/collimation/

Yes, and unfortunately it will cost more than these binoculars are worth. What has happened is that one or more of the prisms inside the binoculars has shifted, putting them out of "collimation", or alignment.

You could have a go at this yourself, as a proper repair is not economic, but treat it as a learning experience.

This is a common problem with binoculars. One of the prisms has shifted and the two sides are therefore no longer in optical alignment (collimation). Unfortunately, fixing this requires a degree of expertise, which may cost more than you will want to spend. I have often taken old binoculars apart or found external adjustments that allowed me to realign them, but I have ruined a few pair this way. Not a good idea if they are valuable.

If you can find the paperwork and they are still in warranty, you might try to get Canon to repair them, but I suspect that they will say they have suffered an accident, not a manufacturing fault.

The binocular is out of collimation. They need to be sent to a qualified binocular repair outfit that can return the barrels back into alignment.

Well, you can't, but a repair guy can. The body actually splits into two to access the collimation screws. Not a job for the faint hearted as the plastic has a tendency to crack if you don't prise them apart at the right spot.

Your binoculars are out of collimation. That means that the optical path needs to be aligned. Binoculars are designed so that the focus point of each barrel is the same over long and as short as possible distances. Binoculars that are properly aligned will still show a double image if you attempt to focus at something close that is too close for the models design. However this is not the same for long distances. The image at a long distance must not be doubled.

If they are under warranty and you haven't damaged them by dropping etc send them for repair to the manufacturer or ask the retailer where to send them.

If you are going to pay to have them fixed get a quote first. Binoculars that are of the zoom variety are not well thought of among binocular officionados as the quality of image degrades at higher magnification. For the price of repair you may be able to source a higher quality non zoom binocular.